[Editor’s Note: This article contains mentions of sexual assault]
In late September of 2026, news broke that a case alleging a gang-rape and sexual assault at Cornell University in late 2024 was being reopened for a civil lawsuit. This time, they were trying to achieve what was so desperately needed in the wake of the initial incident: justice. What came after was a viral outcry of support online for the victim, while the university and alleged abusers were left with virtually a slap on the wrist. Unfortunately, this is not a new phenomenon. Violence against women has been perpetuated time and time again with the criminals and institutions involved getting away unscathed.
With many, colleges, institutions, and even workplaces turning their backs on the victims in these situations, many individuals, including myself, start to wonder: Why are people turning a blind eye to this violence? It seems like every year there is another gruesome news article that consumes the media about sexual violence happening at a college or institution. To me, it begs the question, has there really been in increase in sexual violence on college campuses or are we just hearing about it more?
According to RAINN.org, a survey from 2019 explained that about 1 in 3 undergraduate women and 1 in 12 undergraduate men would experience a form of sexual abuse during their 4+ years in college. Surprisingly enough, statistics declined from 2019 to 2024 as a survey measuring Higher Education Sexual Misconduct and Awareness found that 19% of undergraduate women experienced nonconsensual sexual contact during their time in college. These hopeful comparisons seem to paint the picture that sexual misconduct is on the decline, but others might look at this from another angle.
When instances of sexual assault or rape occur, victims are notified of the resources to help in the aftermath. Arguably the most important resource is the information to which these incidents can be reported. However, most of the time this resource will go unused. Why is it that when the unthinkable happens, the thing that most girls fear for their lives about, they choose not to report it? It’s because it undermines the entirety of the assault.
The snide remarks said to criticize the victim’s choices undermine their trauma, the comments telling victims that these allegations will “ruin the abusers’ lives” undermine the situation, and the flow of campus police communication with virtually no solution undermine the justice victims are so deserving of. In a survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice, only 23.6% of rape or sexual assault victimizations were reported to police in 2024, down from 46% in 2023. When victims are criticized, blamed, and alienated for using a resource that is supposed to aid them, it’s no wonder why many survivors want no part in reporting these crimes. Some men stress the fear of being falsely accused of rape or sexual assault when, in fact, according to worldmetrics.org only 2-8 percent of rape or sexual assault allegations are reported as false.
It seems like every year there is another gruesome news article that consumes the media about sexual violence happening at a college or institution, but after a while, when the headlines start to wind down, people seem to forget about it. This is because the locations at which these horrific incidents happen use all of their time and resources to cover it up, rather than support the victim. Many of these institutions are more concerned about their prestige and image rather than the safety of their own student body. In the case of the 2024 incident at Cornell, after a report to campus police temporarily suspended the Chi Pi fraternity, a panel of three members concluded that not all seven men were deemed responsible for the alleged rape. What these men got instead were disciplinary essays meant to compensate for the lifetime’s worth of trauma and pain they allegedly caused.
Sexual assault and rape cases are no stranger to college campuses, as stated before. This is why every college campus is required to have their own Title IX handbook put in place to guide these types of incidents. However, in the wake of new political affiliations, the Trump administration overturned the expansion to Title IX agreements signed in by the Biden administration. Some of these requirements added protections for LGBTQIA+ individuals — an interview from NPR with Beth Gellman-Beer explains how this switch may have added confusion to universities.
Gellman-Beer, who worked at the U.S. Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights, stated that because members who are responsible for these campus cases are often improperly trained on how Title IX affects sexual abuse, this can create an environment of confusion for both victims and decisionmakers. In summary, many of these cases effectively get swept under the rug due to unfocused attention, lessened punishments, and improper decision making.
In the wake of deeply disturbing current events surrounding sexual assault and rape, it is important to understand what these instances are and how to educate yourself about them. Sexual violence does not discriminate. Staying educated and speaking out are simple ways that individuals can fight against sexual assault and rape.
If you are a survivor of sexual abuse, just know I believe you and I stand with you.
resources:
National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673
Report Sexual Assault to Law Enforcement – RAINN
National Sexual Violence Resource Center website: Find Help – National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC)