UWG News Archive

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Series I

April 25, 2005

CARROLLTON, GA - As part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the University of West Georgia is taking proactive measures to prevent sexual assaults by raising campus and community awareness about the issue.

Jill Hendricks, patient advocate with UWG’s Health Services, said, “We want to educate our community because many area youth are preparing to leave for college campuses and they need to be very aware of this potential danger. Secondly, the majority of assaults against University students occur off campus in the local area.”

Hendricks noted that the first month of college on all campuses can be especially dangerous. Most of the women are away from home for the first time, are not accustomed to being constantly aware of their environment, and have received no education regarding the dangers of acquaintance assault.

While parents are careful to warn children about “stranger danger,” most parents do not realize the majority of young women are actually sexually assaulted by men they would not consider strangers. While society has become increasingly aware that this type individual commits child molestation, parents need to know that it is usually an acquaintance that preys on young women as well.

UWG staff present safety information sessions to both parent and student groups starting at new student orientation. Parents are encouraged to further discuss the issue with their students on the ride home, a strategy being used by colleges and universities across the country.

Statistically, 85 percent of sexual assaults against college students are committed by acquaintances. Steve Thompson, a national criminal profiler and lecturer, has conducted training at UWG regarding the behavioral profile of the acquaintance or familiar assaulter – an individual often referred to as “the nice guy.” This name has arisen from hearing countless survivors recount later, “He seemed like such a nice guy.”

According to Thompson, this is not the perpetrator who jumps out of the bushes to assault. This individual uses bars and parties as the hunting ground, selecting a potential victim based on the degree of vulnerability and controllability. The perpetrator then uses charisma, communication skills and manipulation to separate the victim from the group, moving to a place of isolation.

Alcohol or other drugs are often used to increase vulnerability. In 41 percent of all violent crimes committed against college students, the offender was believed to be under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. In the majority of non-stranger assaults, the victims are likely to also be under the influence. Without question, alcohol remains the number one date rape drug used.

The knowledge that alcohol is extensively used as a weapon in sexual assaults has led some states to enact protective laws stating a female cannot actually grant consent for sexual intimacy while under the influence, due to incapacitation.

Thompson’s theory asserts that once the attacker has the “target or score” under control,
the victim is then pressured for sex. If there is compliance, the “date” ends. If the victim refuses, intimidation is used. Following the attack, he resorts to being a “nice guy,” acting as though nothing is wrong.

Sometimes this type attacker will take measures to keep the victim under control, including discrediting the victim. While this type predator does not believe his actions were wrong, the survivor is left feeling responsible and guilty.

Since most assaults are not committed by strangers, the victim is more likely to encounter the assailant again. Some victims could find themselves attending classes or living in the same residence hall with their attacker. In order to insure a coordinated, effective response to address the specific needs of these victims, many campus departments work together to provide every opportunity for the student to regain control of his/her life, to avoid re-victimization and to move forward.

UWG has a Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) charged with ensuring that the campus has a comprehensive, coordinated and effective response to sexual assault. SART is comprised of the vice president of student affairs, the assistant to the vice president of academic affairs, the president of the University, the director of public safety, and representatives from residence life, student development, health services, student activities, the faculty and Carroll Rape Crisis. This team collaborates to protect the student and connect him/her with needed services.

To insure continuing effectiveness, members of SART, the Health Services Peer Educators, and the men’s “1 in 4” group regularly attend top national and regional training regarding sexual assault. They also work with Health Services to bring national speakers to UWG. This fall, attorney Brett Sokolow will conduct training for faculty, staff and students regarding the identification of safety risks at social events as well as on the campus in general. Sokolow is a nationally recognized speaker who has conducted such trainings for more than 250 campuses in the last two years.

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