Off-screen, in Moscow — Rape is a real-life problem that hinders likelihood to report instances

Rape is a horror we like to pretend exists only in movies or novels, but the fact is it’s a reality that occurs even within the University of Idaho community.

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act requires most higher education institutions in the U.S. to report crimes that occur on their campuses, including forcible and non-forcible sexual assault. In 2010, UI reported six forcible sex offenses and three non-forcible sex offenses. But these numbers do not accurately reflect the occurrence of rape among UI students.

In 2011 seven forcible rapes were reported to the Moscow Police Department, while 30 incidents were reported to Alternatives to Violence of the Palouse. Already this year, 21 instances of rape have been reported to ATVP. These numbers are much higher than the statistics reported by UI, and are probably a more accurate representation of the occurrence of rape in our community.

College students face many pressures: the pressure to get good grades, to decide on a career, to try drugs and alcohol and to have sex. Even though it should be common sense, education about rape is necessary so students understand exactly what behavior crosses the line and that no really means no.

The statistics compiled in UI’s Clery report only include rapes that were reported to the MPD and occurred on campus. It disregards rapes that were reported to the MPD, but happened off campus. The procedure for reporting rapes is invasive and intimidating, and discourages victims from reporting incidents.

Rape victims must endure a full body examination and internal and external swabbing. The victim must also recount the entire incident for evidence to the police, and again in court — if it makes it that far. Many rapes on college campuses occur when the victim is under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, and institutions often punish them for these petty offenses, overshadowing the greater crime.

There are resources on campus to support rape victims such as the Counseling and Testing Center and the UI College of Law Victims’ Rights Clinic. But these resources are useless if the procedure for reporting rape discourages victims from taking action to protect themselves.

Rape is a real issue that needs to be addressed outside of an annual statistical report that does little to convey the true nature of the problem.

Victims need to know and believe it is OK to tell someone what happened without fear of negative repercussions. But before that can happen, a system needs to exist that encourages and protects that course of action.

— EE 


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