According to the U.S. Department of Justice, one in five college women will be the victim of rape or attempted rape. Even more staggering is that most cases of sexual assault are never reported. After receiving an alarming number of UF Alert text messages late last semester, that statistic hits closer to home now than ever.
Thankfully, Cosmopolitan, a popular magazine among college-aged women, partnered with national nonprofit organization SAFER (Students Active for Ending Rape) in August to launch the Cosmo Fights Campus Rape campaign for the current academic year. Cosmopolitan and SAFER urge female students to be knowledgeable of their schools’ policies and take action to improve awareness on campus. A large section of the magazine’s website is dedicated to the cause, featuring tips to stay safe, statistics and trends about previous campus rape reports and suggestions to join the fight.
The University of Florida has a mostly good review on SAFER’s database. The recent Medical Amnesty Policy development protects students from drug or alcohol-related disciplinary action, promoting honesty in crime reports. UF programs like SNAP, Rape Aggression Defense classes and text messaging or email alerts are in place to keep students safe. However, there is always room for improvement. No one is exempt from a sexual predator, but getting educated can be beneficial if a crisis should arise. Don’t wait, collegiettes™, join Cosmopolitan and SAFER in fighting against campus rape for a safer future.