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There are many terms individuals
use to describe what we recognize as sexual assault. Although different
terms signify specifics about an incident such as relationship to the
perpetrator or type of act, these terms do not signify a continuum of
lesser to greater offenses.
Some of the terms that
are often used to identify sexual assault are:
- Rape
- ?Acquaintance rape?
or ?date rape?
- ?Unwanted sex? or
?forced intercourse?
On college campuses,
most sexual assaults occur between people who know each other. A landmark
study conducted in 1987 by Koss, Gidycz, and Wisniewski indicated that 84%
of victims knew their attacker. Often referred to as acquaintance
rape, this type of sexual violence is an underreported crime. It
is important to remember that the word acquaintance describes the
association of the victim and perpetrator and does not imply a less
serious form of sexual assault.
The same study also
indicates that anywhere from 15 - 25% of college women have been victims
of sexual assault or attempted sexual assault at some point in their
lives. Regardless of what term an individual uses, all forms of sexual
violence are serious and are punishable under the New Jersey law. At
Rutgers, these offenses are punishable under the Student Code of Conduct.
If you need more information about the Student Code of Conduct or the
campus judicial process go to http://www.rci.rutgers.edu/~judaff/
No matter who the
victim is or what their relationship to the perpetrator is, many of the
emotional responses to sexual assault are similar. People who have been
sexually assaulted often experience a broad range of emotional, physical
and behavioral reactions. Although not everyone has these experiences,
some people feel betrayed, different, angry, guilty, self-blaming, shamed,
embarrassed, fearful, unclean and used.
Help is available at SAS/CVA. All
of our counseling services are free and confidential.
Back to Sexual Violence, Assault,
and Rape page
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