Sexual violence is a real crime and within a university context it can prove increasingly serious due to the social and mental resistance of the victim. Being boxed in by new people, new peers, and uninformed teachers can make things increasingly distressing and overwhelming for a person who has been attacked. Sexual assault is any type of sexual contact or activity to which someone has not consented. Sexual violence can happen to anyone; however, women are more likely to be sexually assaulted. According to studies, “The chance of a woman being sexually assaulted during college is about the same as her chance of contracting the flu during an average year. 1 in 5 women are targets of sexual assault while in college.” Victims of sexual violence suffer physical and emotional harm that can negatively impact their education. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Sexual assault on campus tends to go unreported due to drugs, a lack of evidence, and/or the number of schools that place blame on the victim. Sexual violence on campus is a problem that could be solved by creating prevention programs just for sexual violence or by taking self-defense courses. The effects of sexual violence can be devastating and traumatizing. Victims may suffer physical injuries so severe that they require medical attention, may become pregnant, or contract a sexually transmitted disease. The victim may also develop emotional problems such as anxiety, depression, or even post-traumatic stress disorder, also known as post-traumatic stress disorder. This could lead to a decline in the victim's academic performance: college student survivors of sexual assault rarely achieve previous academic levels, are sometimes unable to carry a normal course load, and often miss classes. These changes sometimes arise from social withdrawal, sometimes from a desire to avoid the offender. Assaulted students regularly drop out of classes altogether, drop out of school, or transfer. In addition to decreased academic performance and social withdrawal, long-term outcomes may include increased risk of depression, substance abuse, self-harm, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress, personality disorders, and suicide. Sexual assault can cause college students to lose focus and ruin their ability to further educate themselves. Although sexual assault happens so often on campus, many victims refuse to report the incident. One article reports: “A research study shows that of 100 rapes committed in the United States, fewer than 20 are reported to the police, fewer than five are prosecuted and result in conviction, and fewer than three result in prison time.” Many are reluctant to disclose their sexual assault incident for many reasons. One reason is that the school does not take their complaint seriously. In Alison E. Hatch's book, Campus Sexual Assault, she talks a little about how schools respond to victims. Hatch writes: “For example, an administrator at the University of North Carolina responded to Annie E. Clark's sexual assault complaint by saying that 'rape is like a football, if you look back at the game and you're the quarterback. ..is there anything you would have done differently?'” Schools often try to place blame on victims, which can cause victims to not report their incident. It can also cause the victim to develop resentment of the school, whichcould cause the student to withdraw from classes. Sexual assaults on college campuses also go unreported because some victims may not remember the attack due to drugs. The drugs used are known as date rape drugs. People use date rape drugs because they cause sedation in the victim and amnesia so severe that the victim cannot resist or is never aware of the sexual assault. One of the most common and dangerous is Rohyhnol. Although it causes sedation, some women still remember the assault: Women and girls across the country have come forward with harrowing stories of a particular drug being slipped into their drinks and of being raped while under the influence. This drug, Flunitrazepam or Rohypnol (known on the street as "roofies") is a powerful sedative 10 to 20 times more powerful than Valium and causes memory loss and loss of consciousness. It takes effect within 20-30 minutes and can last up to 12 hours. Rohypnol is on the market in 64 countries as a prescription sleep aid and as a pre-surgical medication. It is illegal in the United States and its possession is a crime. Rapes involving Rohypnol are rare, but they evoke a lot of fear. In 1996, state and local authorities nationwide reported 2,607 cases. Although Rohypnol, or “roofies,” is illegal, people can still get their hands on the drugs. People use Rohypnol because it is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. People also like it for its strength. According to research, “A single 2-milligram pill has the same potency as a 6-pack of beer, but the effects differ slightly.” If the victim cannot remember the abuse they suffered, the crime will not be reported. Sexual assault is one of the most difficult crimes to convict due to a lack of evidence. “Out of 1,000 rape cases, only 13 cases are referred to a prosecutor and only 7 cases will result in a felony conviction.” Most evidence is simply “he said, she said.” For example, the perpetrator may say he knows the victim because he has dated or been involved in sexual acts, which makes the victim less credible. The clearest evidence the victims have is their bodies. The first thing a victim wants to do is take a shower after the attack. “Do NOT shower, brush your teeth, take a shower or change your clothes. That of the body is the best proof." Additionally, women should seek medical attention before any evidence is lost or eradicated. Victims can get a rape kit, so they will have more than just words as evidence. Sexual violence on campus is an ongoing problem that needs to be addressed as soon as possible. One way the college can prevent sexual assault is to create sexual assault prevention programs that everyone must participate in. Hatch's book discusses different types of prevention programs. Some schools already have a program in place; however, it increased the fear of being attacked instead of decreasing sexual violence. An effective program, which many schools lack, is bystander intervention. It states, “Teach participants that anyone can recognize and help stop harassment before it becomes sexual violence.” This helps everyone realize that they are a community and need to look out for each other. This program has been proven through research to be effective. Another program that could help prevent sexual assault on campus is a resistance program. Hatch writes, “Furthermore, a randomized trial of an endurance program…found that it substantially reduced the risk of being sexually assaulted.” This particular program assesses risk and teaches self-defense and others.