Research finds shocking results about college rape victims

by Adam Keelan

University of Cincinnati study finds shocking results about rape on college campuses. Study also finds that college campuses are hot spots for criminal activity.

About 3% of college women experience a completed or attempted rape every year, according to a US government agency.

The Study

The US Department of Justice’s National Institute of Justice and the Bureau of Justice Statistics released their study today about rape in American colleges. The report, “The Sexual Victimization of College Women,” took an in-depth look into the frequency and nature of sexual assaults that occur on college campuses across the nation.


The Findings

The study found that 1.7% of female students were attempted rape victims. The study also found that 13% of college women have been stalked since the beginning of the school year.

Other important findings:
- 1.7% of college women report to be victims of forced sex every year
- 60% of completed rapes take place at the victim’s residence, on campus
- 31% were in other living quarters on campus
- Remaining 10% at fraternity houses

The Authors

The study was conducted by University of Cincinnati professor, Bonnie S. Fisher, along with Francis T. Cullen and Michael G. Turner. The study was also federally funded.

The study was conducted through a telephone survey of randomly selected, female college students. A total of 4,446 active students were questioned and the schools that were surveyed had to have a minimum of 1,000 students.

“Most victims knew the person who sexually victimized them,” the authors of the study tell us, “For both completed and attempted rapes, about nine in 10 offenders were known to the victim.” The authors also say that the offenders were usually boyfriends, ex-boyfriends, or other classmates.

Although many sexual assaults go unreported, the study clearly shows that rape on college campuses is a serious problem and that college campuses are growing hot spots for sexual and criminal activity.

For More Information:
University of Cincinnati Official Website
Bonnie S. Fisher Biography
Francis T. Cullen Biography