SEXUAL ASSAULT AND ALCOHOL USE ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES

“One of the biggest threats on campus is sexual assault-it’s something that’s pervasive in college culture,” according to Corye Barbour, legislative director the United States Student Association. Sexual assault and acquaintance rape on campus can best be understood as resulting from multiple factors, including perpetrator attitudes toward rape, misperception of verbal and nonverbal cues, and alcohol and other situational risk factors (Berkowitz).

Up to 90% of all sexual assaults involve the use of alcohol, the most commonly used drug on college campuses. Tests show that alcohol has a negative effect on individuals before they think they are drunk. Beginning with the first drink, alcohol progressively changes behavior and judgment and is thought to often play a role in sexual assault because alcohol makes talking and listening more difficult, alcohol impairs judgment and inhibits clear thinking, and alcohol can increase aggression (UTPD). Many people are unaware that alcohol is actually a depressant and serves to only enhance the mood of a person. An old adage is that one drinks to forget, however, quite the contrary is true as alcohol causes one to hone in on the problems at hand. This, therefore, often leads to aggressive behavior and otherwise calm individuals become confrontational.

Alcohol and other drug use exacerbate problems with misinterpretation of sexual intent and are used to justify assaults (Finn). Most college men believe that alcohol increases sexual arousal and legitimates nonconsensual aggression and that women who have two or more drinks are more interested than other women in having sex (Abbey).

Specific to dating situations, 55% of the perpetrators who admitted committing a sexual assault on a date were under the influence of alcohol, and 53% of the college women who reported being raped were under the influence of alcohol at the time of the assault (Abbey).

Sexual assault is a threat on college campuses today. According to many studies, alcohol is seen as a contributing factor, both when used by the perpetrator and/or the victim. This threat is difficult to combat as sexual assaults often occur in nonpublic places between associates. Mannerisms affected by alcohol also play a prominent role in the assaults. As noted earlier, activities and social norms embedded in college campus life also play a significant role in this threat to college men and women.

Abbey, A. Acquaintance Rape and Alcohol Consumption on      College Campuses: How Are They Linked? Journal of      American College Health, 1991.

Berkowitz, A. College Men as Perpetrators of Acquaintance      Rape and Sexual Assault: A Review of Recent Research.      Journal of American College Health, 1992.

UTPD: Rape and Alcohol. University of Texas Student      Health Center.      http://www.utexas.edu/admin/utpd/rape.alcohol.html

              - Melissa Harrell, MSCJ, BSCJ

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