Jacob Anderson, a Baylor University student accused of rape, did not receive jail time and was not required to register as a sex offender after pleading guilty to unlawful restraint in December 2018.
Judge Ralph Strother and several Texas lawmakers defended the deal, claiming the evidence of the case was unclear, but the trial’s outcome sparked conversations about how sexual violence is handled on college campuses.
Kristen Houser, the chief public affairs officer at National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) said she thinks the United States needs to develop a better understanding and proper handling of sexual violence.
“The language that is used to talk about the issue is actually a barrier to understanding it,” Houser said. “With the term sexual violence, people subconsciously think strangulation and getting beat up. While those are the most obvious signs of sexual violence, the term defines an entire spectrum of behaviors.”
The NSVRC reported college campuses are often targeted by sexually violent people, according to their 2015 study. NSVRC also reported that one in five women and one in 16 men are sexually assaulted while attending college.
NSVRC reported that the most common problem faced by sexual violence victims is responding appropriately. NSVRC found that retribution, social impact and loss of respect are among the concerns a sexual violence victim may face.
Houser said several components of sexual violence are generally not associated with the common perception, such as harassment, misconduct and assault, all of which are a part of what she calls the “sexual violence spectrum.”
“It’s very normal for people to just freeze during an assault because it’s hard for them to do what people would expect them to do,” Houser said. “Our nation continues to stubbornly reject the facts about sexual assault.”
Houser said the sexual assault on campus issue will not be solved by working against law enforcement.
“If you want this to be a crime that is taken seriously, we all need to shift our community values,” Houser said. “The problem is when we separate law enforcement and the community. We shouldn’t ask what they (law enforcement) should do differently, but we need to ask what we all can do to make this better.”
The University of Memphis employs specific protocols for sexual assault and offers resources for victims. The UofM’s Student Government Association leads the advocating of safety and comfort for students on campus with the direction of its president, Kevyanna Rawls.
“Efforts in the Title IX office and the development of programs across campus to support survivors has been extremely beneficial,” Rawls said. “Such abuse will not end with the efforts of a singular group of people; there is still room for growth.”
“Community involvement is a vital tool in minimizing sexual violence,” Rawls said.
On campus, the Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Coalition welcomes those who are interested in becoming peer mentors while Safety Net, a student-led organization, offers peer-to-peer support for survivors of sexual violence.
Many resources are available both on and around campus for victims of sexual violence, including UofM Counseling Center, campus police and the Shelby County Rape Crisis Center.
