April is Sexual Assault (SA) Awareness Month, and Trojan Outreach is looking to spread awareness to students on campus.
Trojan Outreach is a peer education program that spreads awareness on a variety of topics and helps provide proper resources for students.
Sexual assault is classified as any sexual act that is done to person without their consent. Some examples include rape, unwanted sexual touching, sexual harassment, and indecent exposure.
According to American Psychological Association, campus sexual assault (CSA) makes up the greatest proportion (43%) of total on-campus crimes in the United States, resulting in approximately eight forcible sex offenses per 10,000 students (NCES, 2022).
Danielle Wormsby, a sophomore biology major from Birmingham, Alabama, and a peer educator for Trojan Outreach shared signs that someone may be a victim of sexual assault.
“Some people will choose to stay quiet after an assault because of embarrassment or fear, and in approximately 2/3 assaults the perpetrator is someone the victim knows,” Wormsby said. “Signs of sexual assault are the result of the physical and emotional trauma from the event.”
Wormsby said other tell include depression, self-harm, low self-esteem, sexually transmitted disease, avoiding certain people or places, falling behind in class, withdrawing from classes, anxiety, increased drug/alcohol use, and unexplained bruises.
“With there being a wide variety of signs to look out for, if you notice a change in someone, ask questions and be there to support them,” Wormsby said.
Becoming a victim of sexual assault is a traumatic event, and Trojan Outreach wants students to know they are there to provide aid.
“It is important to note that after sexual assault has occurred, do not shower, do not change your clothes, do not brush teeth, do not do anything that will wipe away evidence from your body,” Wormsby said. “Seek the nearest emergency room to treat any injuries, contact police, and find the nearest facility that can perform a forensic exam in order to save evidence that can be used in court.”
Although anyone can be sexually assaulted, Trojan Outreach said women are more likely than men.
“While sexual assault can happen to anyone, college-age women are 4 times more likely to be sexually assaulted than any other age group,” Wormsby said. “Unwanted sexual touching, drug facilitated rape (date rape pills, taking advantage of a drunk person...), and attempted forced rape are the most common assaults on college campuses.
“Sexual behaviors/acts require consent, victims cannot give consent if they are intoxicated, drugged, unconscious, or asleep.”
There are many ways people can support victims of sexual assault.
“Supporting a victim can mean helping them seek resources such as medical attention, sexual assault hotlines, or reporting the crime to police,” Wormsby said. “Being supportive could also mean listening to the victim talk and affirming their experience.”
Students who want to stand in solidarity with sexual assault victims can participate in Denim Day on April 24 by wearing denim to show support for victims.
Throughout the rest of the month, Trojan Outreach will be posting on their social media pages to share statistics and resources. Visit their Instagram @trojan_outreach.
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