Instances of sexual misconduct prior to coming to IU Indianapolis exceeds, in every case, those experienced since coming to IU Indianapolis.
5% of undergraduate women reported experiencing attempted or completed nonconsensual sexual penetration since coming to IU Indianapolis. This tracks much lower than the most-cited study, which indicates that 1 in 5 women experience attempted or completed rape during their collegiate experience (Fisher et al., 2000).
Undergraduate women who experienced nonconsensual sexual touching or attempted or completed nonconsensual sexual penetration most often cited being unable to consent or not giving affirmative consent verbally or otherwise in connection with the incident.
The majority of these incidents reportedly occur off campus, with “your own or other residence, off campus” receiving the highest rates from undergraduate men and women and from graduate women.
Undergraduates and graduate women most often reported that the incident negatively affected their romantic/intimate relationships and their mental/emotional health. Undergraduate women reported the highest rates of negative impact on mental and emotional health (59%). Undergraduates (33% men, 20% women) reported higher rates of negative influence on their academic performance than graduate women (20%).
The majority of participants reported that they told friends about the incident, and that regardless of who they told, they received a response that made them feel supported.
Participants reported similar numbers to national research with respect to whether the person who committed the sexual misconduct was a “Stranger (Someone you had never met or seen before).”
Among undergraduate women participants who did not tell anyone about the incident, 52% said it was a private matter they wanted to deal with on their own, and 53% said they did not think what happened was “serious enough to disclose to others.”
About 40% of students indicated that they did not consider the matter serious enough to report. A similar percentage of students stated they did not report the matter because they perceived it to have no connection to the campus.
Of those who reported the incident to someone, the likelihood they were to report to “someone at IU Indianapolis” varied by gender, with undergraduate men being the least likely to report to anyone on campus (9%); 18% of undergraduate and 26% of graduate women said they were likely to report.
Participants across all genders and levels in school reported higher rates of feeling safe on the IU Indianapolis campus than in the area surrounding campus.
The vast majority of participants reported feeling that the university would likely take a report seriously, and would take steps to protect the safety of the person making the report. Participants indicated high rates of feeling that other students at IU Indianapolis would likely support a person making a report.
The majority of undergraduate participants reported that they had completed an online educational program about sexual misconduct and bystander intervention (such as Haven) and/or attended new student orientation programming that included information about sexual misconduct.
Most participants reported that they had talked to a romantic/sexual partner and/or friends about the issue of consent.
Undergraduate and graduate participants reported high rates of agreement that the more alcohol a person has consumed, the less able they are to consent to sexual activity.
Women participants reported higher rates of agreement that sexual misconduct is a problem on the IUPUI campus (undergraduate men14%, women 22%; graduate men 14%, women 15%). Between 47% and 49% of all participants felt that they could do something about sexual misconduct.
Among participants who indicated that they had witnessed a situation they believed was, or could have led to, a sexual assault, participants most often reported that they asked the person who appeared to be at risk if they needed help (undergraduate men 49%, women 51%; graduate men 47%, women 48%).
Participants across all genders and class levels reported high levels of confidence to express discomfort when someone says that rape victims are to blame for being raped, and that they would help someone under the influence of alcohol or drugs get away from a potentially vulnerable situation to a safe place.
