University of Alaska Students’ Disclosures of Sexual Misconduct and Sexual Assault Victimizations Item Type Article Authors Myrstol, Brad A.; Blumenstein, Lindsey Citation Myrstol, Brad A.; & Blumenstein, Lindsey. (2016). "University of Alaska Students’ Disclosures of Sexual Misconduct and Sexual Assault Victimizations." Alaska Justice Forum 33(1): 1, 11–16 (Spring 2016). Publisher Justice Center, University of Alaska Anchorage Download date 24/09/2021 21:59:05 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/11122/7020 ALASKA JUSTICE FORUM A PUBLICATION OF THE JUSTICE CENTER Spring 2016 UNIVERSITY of ALASKA ANCHORAGE Vol. 33, No. 1 University of Alaska Students’ Disclosures of Sexual Misconduct and Sexual Assault Victimizations Brad A. Myrstol and Lindsey Blumenstein to disclose their victimization to others, with 2015, has someone attempted or succeeded In a recent Alaska Justice Statistical whom did they share their experiences? (3) in having nonconsensual or unwanted sexual Analysis Center (AJSAC) Fact Sheet issue Did the likelihood of sexual violence dis- contact with you under any circumstances (available at www.uaa.alaska.edu/ajsac) we closure vary signifi cantly according to UA (on or off campus), or do you suspect some- published initial fi ndings from the University students’ demographic characteristics (age, one did?” of Alaska Campus Climate Survey, a re- race/ethnicity, sex/gender)? Every survey respondent was provided search study funded by the U.S. Department This article uses the data collected for the following examples of sexual assault: of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics. The the University of Alaska Campus Climate sexual penetration with a fi nger or object University of Alaska Campus Climate Sur- Survey to explore how often UA students (someone putting their fi nger or an object vey was designed to establish the prevalence who experienced sexual violence, either on in the vagina or anus); oral sex (someone’s of sexual misconduct and sexual assault or off campus, disclosed their victimiza- mouth or tongue making contact with committed against University of Alaska tions to others. (Sexual violence is defi ned genitals); anal sex (someone’s penis being (UA) students both on and off campus. as sexual misconduct, sexual assault, or put into an anus); and sexual intercourse The estimates of sexual misconduct and both.) (someone’s penis being put into a vagina). sexual assault published in the Fact Sheet were based on the self-reported experiences Survey Defi nitions of Disclosure and Reporting of of 1,982 randomly selected undergradu- Sexual Misconduct and Sexual Assault Sexual Violence Victimization ate and graduate students enrolled at the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA), Sexual misconduct refers to unwanted, This article makes use of two terms to the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), uninvited, or coerced touching of a sexual discuss sexual violence victims’ efforts to and the University of Alaska Southeast nature, or unwanted or uninvited sexual make their victimizations known to others: (UAS) during spring semester 2016. Results commentary. Survey respondents were disclose and report. These two terms are showed that approximately 1 out of every 9 asked, “Since January 2015, has someone distinguished by the recipient of the infor- UA students experienced sexual misconduct, attempted or succeeded in having unwanted, mation. Disclosure includes all the victims’ sexual assault, or both between January uninvited, or coerced touching of a sexual discussions with others, but reports only 2015 and spring semester 2016, either on nature or unwanted/uninvited sexual com- includes the victims’ discussions with offi - or off campus. mentary with you under any circumstances cials such as university or law enforcement Using data from the University of Alaska (on or off campus), or do you suspect some- representatives. Campus Climate Survey, this article seeks to one did?” answer three basic questions: (1) How often Every survey respondent was provided Nondisclosure of did UA students who experienced sexual the following examples of sexual miscon- Sexual Violence Victimization violence between January 2015 and spring duct: kissing without permission; forced semester 2016, either on or off campus, kissing; touching of body or private parts in Within the realm of criminal offenses, disclose their victimization to others? (2) a sexual way without permission; grabbing, sexual violence is among the most un- For those UA students who did experience fondling, or rubbing up against a person in derreported. Table 1 (page 11) presents sexual violence victimization and who chose a sexual way (even if over clothing); taking findings from the 2014 National Crime a sexual experience further than wanted Victimization Survey (an annual nationwide INSIDE THIS ISSUE even if consent was given for minor sexual survey conducted by the U.S. Department of contact such as kissing or touching, without Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics), which • A summary of the provisions of Senate Bill it leading to intercourse; and, lewd or blatant asks crime victims if they reported their 91: Omnibus Criminal Law & Procedure; Corrections, which was signed into law in sexual comments that make a person feel victimization to police. Overall, less than July (page 2). uncomfortable, uneasy, or unsafe. half (46.0%) of all violent crime incidents Sexual assault refers to nonconsensual or were reported to police. Among the violent • Findings from a survey of Anchorage adults unwanted sexual contact with penetration, crimes examined, sexual assault/rape on perceptions of youth marijuana use even if consent was given for minor sexual victimizations were the least likely to be and youth non-medical use of prescription contact such as kissing or touching. Survey drugs (page 5). respondents were asked, “Since January Please see UA students, page 11 Alaska Justice Forum 33(1), Spring 2016 11 about youth marijuana abuse and its conse- substance use and abuse as a problem, they doing. Families with youth could gain from quences. Parents and other adults expressed are unlikely to promote or become involved information on how to keep conversations greater concern about youth prescription in community programs or services designed going when youth begin to spend more time drug abuse and its consequences than about to prevent or combat the problem. Substance outside the home and with friends than at youth marijuana abuse. use prevention programs and services should home with parents. It is especially important CDC data show that from 2009 to 2015 be multifaceted and include youth, adults, to provide parents with specifi c guidance in Alaska, youth alcohol use has declined schools, and families. Adults in Anchorage on how to talk with youth about the “tough substantially, youth marijuana use has could benefi t from information on how to stuff,” including substance use and abuse declined slightly, and prescription drug reduce youth access to substances including and other risk behaviors such as dating use has remained stable. Nonetheless, very alcohol, marijuana, and prescription drugs. violence, sexual behavior, driving while real risks of harm remain for those youth Parents and other adults who interact with texting, or driving after drinking, Parents who abuse these substances. The concern youth could also benefi t from resources to and other adults are highly infl uential in the of parents and other adults in Anchorage use when they sense that there is a problem. decisions youth make and must be part of suggests that they may be particularly ready Parents especially could be helped by solutions to problems experienced by youth to be part of solutions designed to prevent having information on effective techniques in Anchorage and the rest of Alaska. youth substance abuse and its harmful for monitoring youth and young adults, consequences. The community readiness— including communicating with youth about Marny Rivera is an associate professor of parents and other adults—is important where they are when they are away from in the Justice Center. Cory R. Lepage is an because if they do not perceive youth home, who they are with, and what they are assistant professor in the Justice Center. UA students college/university offi cials also means that (continued from page 1) victims may not be able to access on-campus Table 1. Percent of Victimizations victim advocacy, medical, counseling, and Reported to Police, by Type of reported to police—only about one-third other support services; receive referrals to Offense, 2014 (33.6%) of these types of victimizations additional off-campus resources; or seek Percent of were reported. As seen in Table 1, the administrative remedies or other forms of victimizations percentage of sexual assault/rape victimiza- redress provided for in college/university Type of offense reported to police tions reported to law enforcement is much policy. Finally, in the aggregate, high rates lower than for other violent crimes, as well of nondisclosure may have the unintended Violent crime 46.0 % as for most other property crimes with the effect of encouraging an overreliance on of- Sexual assault/rape 33.6 exception of theft. fi cial sources of data (e.g., Clery Act and/or Robbery 60.9 Reporting to police or other authorities Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program, Assault 44.6 occurs even less frequently when sexual see page 12) to (1) estimate the prevalence Simple assault 40.0 violence victims are college/university of sexual violence among students, and (2) Aggravated assault 58.4 students. A recent national study of sexual to gauge the level of resources needed to Domestic violence 56.1 violence committed against U.S. college/ develop robust prevention, intervention, and Intimate partner violence 57.9 university students led by Bonnie Fisher restoration programming. Property crime 37.0 % of the University of Cincinnati School of Burglary 60.0 Criminal Justice found that only 2 percent UA Students’ Sexual Misconduct and Motor vehicle theft 83.3 of sexual violence victims reported their Sexual Assault Victimization Disclosures Theft 29.0 victimization to campus or other police, and Source: Reproduced from: J.L.