2008 Woodie Awards
It happened in a Davis Stairwell
Part Two in a Series on Sexual Assault
Kate Freed and Regina Pynn
Issue date: 4/27/07 Section: Campus News
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"The attack happened in a Davis Stairwell," one woman wrote. "I had been drinking. It did not start violent, but grew to be such. I knew and trusted my attacker."
"I was raped and attacked at a friend's home off-campus," another explained. "We had all been drinking. It was one of the more violent and forceful encounters I have experienced, but in the scheme of things, it was only moderately violent."
A Department of Justice report released in 2000 estimates that twenty-five percent of women will experience a sexual attack during their college career. There are about 425 female undergraduates and if Stevens follows national trends, approximately 100 current women have been or will be sexually assaulted during their time at Stevens. Surprisingly, from 2003-2005 no sexual offences of any kind have been reported.
"The attack happened in my off campus apartment, a place I thought I would be safe."
"I finally dealt with it five months later. I hid in my dorm room for a week… I cried and hyperventilated and passed out over and over again."
An informal investigation by the writers found five female undergraduates who had been assaulted while at Stevens and two close friends of survivors. Our investigation also uncovered 13 leads where we could not contact the survivor to confirm the story or where they were unwilling to discuss their experiences.
Sexual assault is a reality of the world we live in, but much of Stevens seems to be in denial about this. "I don't see what the big deal [is]," one male student said, "There are always going to be a few cases but, honestly, it really isn't a problem here."
Why is there this perception that Stevens is somehow immune to sexual assaults? Hoboken is one of the most densely populated cities in America, just across the river from New York City and adjacent to Jersey City. Yet, many perceive that Stevens students are invincible and that sexual assault is not even an issue.
Sexual assault is not addressed during freshmen orientation. The student handbook and code of conduct have only one line apiece about sexual assault, simply saying that it is unacceptable without any mention of the process taken if students report their experiences. The most comprehensive information is found on Women's Recourse Center website, which some students are not even aware exists. Our "Blue Light" system has five devices and even some upperclassmen do not know their use. "If I was attacked," one freshman woman said, "I would have no idea to go to them."
"I was raped and attacked at a friend's home off-campus," another explained. "We had all been drinking. It was one of the more violent and forceful encounters I have experienced, but in the scheme of things, it was only moderately violent."
A Department of Justice report released in 2000 estimates that twenty-five percent of women will experience a sexual attack during their college career. There are about 425 female undergraduates and if Stevens follows national trends, approximately 100 current women have been or will be sexually assaulted during their time at Stevens. Surprisingly, from 2003-2005 no sexual offences of any kind have been reported.
"The attack happened in my off campus apartment, a place I thought I would be safe."
"I finally dealt with it five months later. I hid in my dorm room for a week… I cried and hyperventilated and passed out over and over again."
An informal investigation by the writers found five female undergraduates who had been assaulted while at Stevens and two close friends of survivors. Our investigation also uncovered 13 leads where we could not contact the survivor to confirm the story or where they were unwilling to discuss their experiences.
Sexual assault is a reality of the world we live in, but much of Stevens seems to be in denial about this. "I don't see what the big deal [is]," one male student said, "There are always going to be a few cases but, honestly, it really isn't a problem here."
Why is there this perception that Stevens is somehow immune to sexual assaults? Hoboken is one of the most densely populated cities in America, just across the river from New York City and adjacent to Jersey City. Yet, many perceive that Stevens students are invincible and that sexual assault is not even an issue.
Sexual assault is not addressed during freshmen orientation. The student handbook and code of conduct have only one line apiece about sexual assault, simply saying that it is unacceptable without any mention of the process taken if students report their experiences. The most comprehensive information is found on Women's Recourse Center website, which some students are not even aware exists. Our "Blue Light" system has five devices and even some upperclassmen do not know their use. "If I was attacked," one freshman woman said, "I would have no idea to go to them."