Content Notice: Sexual Violence
written by: Rachel Thornton, F2F Intern Summer 2023
You have probably heard of Title IX, the federal law that prevents sex-based discrimination in schools receiving federal funding. You may have even heard of the Clery Act, which requires colleges and universities to provide sexual violence awareness and prevention programs. But have you heard of the Red Zone?
The Red Zone lasts from August until November and is the period wherein 50% of sexual assaults on college campuses occur [1]. This aligns with the start of the fall semester, when many students celebrate the return to campus with parties that can involve high usage of alcohol and drugs. While impairment certainly does not mean a survivor is responsible for being victimized, it is important to remember the increased risks that may be associated with consuming substances to help protect yourself in such scenarios.
Students who are especially vulnerable during the Red Zone are freshman and new transfers, who are more likely to be unfamiliar with the campus. Since they have just arrived on campus, they may also not know about resources they can seek out for help [2].
The first step to addressing the Red Zone is to raise awareness about it. If students are informed about the increased risk in their first few months at school, they can better protect themselves and their peers. To learn more, check out last summer’s blog post: What All Students Should Know About Their Campus & Sexual Violence Before Starting College. This article contains information on policies, transparency, supports, and prevention, as well as a useful resource sheet students can use.
As important as raising awareness on the Red Zone is, the culture on college campuses must also be changed for the long-lasting protection of students from sexual violence. This blog contains practical advice for students and parents on how each individual can work towards reducing the harm of the Red Zone at their school in small ways.
While it can be scary to learn about, the Red Zone should not cause you to lock yourself in your room and never leave. You are at college primarily to learn, but also to gain experiences and make connections. With some extra effort, you can have a great time at school and stay safe too! The best way to protect yourself and your friends is to make little tweaks, not entirely close yourself off.
Here are ten examples of how you can follow your original plan with an added-on safety measure to protect yourself and your friends from sexual violence or other harm.
By making minor changes to your daily routine, you can make a difference in your life, your friends’ lives, and your campus culture. All it takes is being intentional about your plans and choices.
Sending your children off to a place where you know they may be harmed is quite difficult. Make an effort to channel any fear or worries you may have into positive conversations to help keep them safe. Framing conversations in a way that respects the independence and maturity of your college-aged children is crucial, as this greatly increases the likelihood that they will take your advice.
Consider the following examples of how the same information can be communicated in different ways, one of which is much more likely to resonate with young adults.
Some of these examples are a bit dramatic, but the point stands: having calm, adult conversations about these issues is the best way to protect your children when they go off to college. You can make a difference, even from afar!
By working together to change campus cultures in small ways, students and parents can reduce the harm caused by the Red Zone. Unfortunately, more than 65% of sexual assaults that happen in the fall semester each year are committed against freshmen [1]. That is why it is so important for new students and their parents to educate themselves and learn prevention strategies together.
Remember, just because a college or university does not report high rates of sexual violence does not mean that no such incidents are occurring. Due to the stigma surrounding sexual assault on campus, it is estimated that 90% of undergraduate women who are assaulted do not report the crime to authorities or to the school [3]. So regardless of how safe you think a college may be, take the time to discuss prevention methods.
Together, we can work together protect freshmen and other students on college campuses during the Red Zone. Even small changes can add up to a huge result, making it all the more important to have the tough conversations in advance. Join us in our efforts to Be The Change to end sexual violence!
[1] NBC News, 2016 | [2] John Hopkins University, 2021 | [3] University Business, 2021