This article discusses sexual assault. If you need to report or discuss a sexual assault, please call the Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault at 801-736-4356.
2025 marks a second year of high assault rates at the University of Utah, following a staggering increase from 30 reports to 176. The U has many resources dedicated to helping survivors of sexual assault, including Victim Survivor Advocacy (VSA) and the Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO). Despite this, sexual assaults on campus have continued to increase in the past two years.
As students, we need to open our eyes to how we see and talk about sexual assault to protect victims and lower assault rates.
The U’s 2024 crime report showed 146 reported rapes, a slight decrease from 2023’s 176 reports. Both are far higher than the 30 reports in 2022. 2024 also had 41 reports of non-consensual fondling, following the 55 reports in 2023.
In the U’s 2024 report, 110 of the 146 rapes reported were from one relationship where near-daily sexual assault was occurring. Despite the fact that it was one victim, each assault was properly accounted for. The assaults in the relationship were reported after the duration of violence ended.
It must be mentioned that over 80% of assaults and rapes go unreported. The number of reported assaults at the U is far too high, and it doesn’t take into consideration how many assaults went unreported. 20% of assault victims who don’t report their assault cite fear of societal retaliation. As students, we’re not exempt from this retaliation because it permeates our day-to-day lives.
Victim-blaming and keeping silent
Retaliation is when someone is treated less favorably after they report discrimination, assault or harassment. This is usually within a workplace, but it’s applicable everywhere that interpersonal relationships occur. Retaliation can look like spreading rumors, threats of violence or actual violence, treating someone negatively, increasing scrutiny, or “actions by an individual that directly disrupt a peer’s ability to participate in University programs and activities.” The U’s OEO has strict regulations against retaliation. Even with these rules in place, reporting sexual assault is scary.
Many survivors say that they didn’t report a case of sexual assault because they felt reporting wouldn’t help. One survivor, in a 2023 qualitative analysis, said, “I don’t feel like I have enough information… I passed out that night and don’t remember much.” Another echoed the sentiment, saying, “I would not win a [court] case.”
Reporting sexual assault is re-traumatizing. One reason many survivors don’t report is to avoid reliving their sexual assault. An anonymous survivor said they have, “a huge fear of being in court and having a lawyer try to make it sound like it was my fault.” Another survivor added, “Involving myself in a criminal investigation this early in my processing period may compromise my degree of control over this situation.”
When I was deciding if I wanted to report my sexual assault or not, all of these worries echoed through my mind. I was consumed by fear and by thoughts like, “What if no one believes me? What if it was actually my fault?”
After many months of gathering the courage to report my assault, I realized that my story isn’t unique. When I finally started telling my close friends about my assault, I realized how important it is to talk about sexual assault. Even though 13% of all college students experience rape or sexual assault, assault can feel foreign or taboo, despite how likely it is to happen to someone you know.
Going through the lengthy and re-traumatizing process of reporting my sexual assault has helped me realize what other students can do to protect each other and support victims.
What can students do?
In a 2015 study, more than 1 in 10 students reported experiencing sexual violence since enrolling in college. Because sexual assault makes up 43% of on-campus crimes, it’s up to us as students to look out for each other and lower the rates of sexual assault on campus.
One Love Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to ending relationship abuse, claims that assault starts with the little things. Examples of more ‘minor’ boundary crosses can include non-consensual hugs, back rubs, and lingering touches. If someone brings up feeling uncomfortable from seemingly ‘small’ offenses like this, it shouldn’t be disregarded.
If you think an assault is occurring, speak out. Create a distraction, separate the parties, and make sure the victim is supported during and after the event.
It can be devastating to learn that someone you know has been assaulted. It can be even harder to learn that someone you know was the assaulter. Finding out someone you love and trust could have caused severe harm is challenging to deal with, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore, forget, or disbelieve the accusations. As unsettling as it can be, only 2-8% of assault allegations are false, so taking victim reports seriously is important.
If someone you know has been reported or otherwise accused of sexual assault, you have every right to remove that person from your life. “It’s important that our communities establish clear boundaries,” says Stanford University’s Title IX office. “It may also be helpful for you to seek counseling to help you.”
The last and most important thing that we can do as students is take care of ourselves. Being assaulted and learning about the assaults of others isn’t easy to deal with. The U has resources for all students, like VSA and the University Counseling Center.
As students, we need to make sure we create a safe environment where we can speak up against sexual assault. Only then can we see real change and begin to protect our fellow students.
We need to look out for our neighbors and classmates, support and advocate for victims and hold assaulters accountable for their actions, no matter who they are. Assault can happen to anyone at any time. It’s up to us to lower assault rates and help our communities heal.
