Two years. A failed appeal to the district attorney. And a lawsuit against Cornell University. That’s what it took for Jane Doe’s pleas about alleged sexual assault and gang rape to be heard by the world. And in that time, Cornell failed to bring justice to her alleged perpetrators as they went out into the workforce and pursued careers, facing little to no permanent consequences. Yet for Jane Doe? Her life was forever smeared and would never be the same.
But these cases are by no means just limited to Cornell. According to a CBS news analysis of federal data, over 80 percent of large four-year colleges and universities report sexual misconduct cases at least twice a year, and according to the Association of American Universities Campus Climate Survey, roughly 13 percent to 20 percent of undergraduate students experience nonconsensual contact, assault, or rape while enrolled. At the high school level, that number is 11 percent in a given year, though these rates are highly underreported. In fact, 51 percent of high school girls fall victim to peer-on-peer sexual assault before graduation.
So why are we still having this problem, and what should our institutions do to prevent sexual violence and respond when students report it? Every school has its own policies in place for how it investigates allegations of sexual misconduct, but this can typically be a long and arduous process. Furthermore, university investigations are separate from prosecutions involving the police. Filing an official report with police detectives can be an emotionally challenging endeavor for the alleged victim. For example, it may involve describing and reliving their experience in interviews and testimony for hours, and a sexual assault forensic exam to collect evidence. Additionally, it can be frustrating for the alleged victim because, despite going through this process, not every report leads to a trial.
And what happens after someone comes forward? The hate they could face is beyond just harassment in person and online. Mobs of people on social media rush to try and unmask their identity, even offering up thousands of dollars as a bounty for doing so. Some send death threats, some mock the situation with jokes and memes, and some even claim that the case was the victim’s own fault.
Students who risk their own wellbeing reporting a case should not be left wondering if they will be heard or wondering what happens next. They deserve clear information from the university on their policies and processes, access to support, and a fair investigation. Students who come forward should feel supported by their school at the very least. What matters most is not lip service but concrete actions. The universities’ central questions should not be “How can we minimize reputational damage?” but rather “How can we prevent this from happening in the future?”. The recurring theme that these institutional priorities are misplaced should be cause for grave concern: a university that will go to such lengths to protect itself is protecting anyone but the victim.
For us, as high school students preparing for college, these questions are not distant. We are encouraged to look at universities’ academic programs, reputations, and opportunities. We should also ask how they handle reports of harm and what mechanisms they have in place to protect us and our peers.
Learning about those resources is useful, but preventing sexual assault cannot be left to students alone. Addressing this issue means more than responding to individual cases. It means making safety a part of everyday life, not just a concern when a case becomes national news.
This matters beyond college as well. Schools and workplaces alike should allow people to report harm without feeling like they are putting their futures at risk. A university’s commitment to their students is tested not only by the opportunities it offers, but also by how it responds when students need help. No student should have to choose between pursuing an education and feeling safe enough to continue it.