Date rape

What is rape?

Generally speaking, rape is defined as forced sexual intercourse with any person without consent. Force may involve physical violence, coercion, or threat of harm. This includes situations where the victim is drunk, drugged, asleep, unconscious, or for any reason unable to give consent. Basically, not saying yes. Rape can be committed by a stranger, an acquaintance, a friend, a date... by anyone.

Rape is the most prevalent, serious violent crime committed on college campuses. In 1985 a survey of over 6,000 students on 32 college campuses was conducted by Ms. magazine, psychologist Mary P. Koss, and the National Institute for Mental Health. 

Thus, there is a high probability that you will, in some way, be affected by issues of rape before you leave college.

Rape victims rarely report

• 42% of the victims told no one about their assaults.
• Only 5% reported their rapes to the police.
• Only 5% sought help at rape crisis centers.

Without reporting, many sexual assault victims will not receive the assistance they need, assailants will not be brought to justice, and the number of campus rapes will continue to escalate.

Many rapes follow a similar pattern

College students are more vulnerable to rape than any other age group. The developmental tasks associated with entering college tend to put college students at risk. Alcohol consumption only serves to accentuate these risks.

Acquaintance rapes are likely to occur in off-campus apartments, fraternity houses and residence hall rooms. Frequently, the students involved have been drinking heavily or using other drugs. According to the Ms. report:

• About 75% of the men and at least 55% of the women involved in acquaintance rapes had been drinking or using illegal drugs just before the attack.

At SUNY Oswego

A random sample of 865 students were surveyed regarding their use of alcohol and related behaviors in spring 1993. According to these anonymous self-reports, a significant number of SUNY Oswego students had been taken advantage of sexually while under the influence of alcohol:

• 17% of women taken advantage of while under the influence
• 10% of men taken advantage of while under the influence

These statistics were taken from a general population and do not include cases of unwanted sexual contact where there was no alcohol involved.

Some things you should know

Below is a brief synopsis of Article 130 of the New York State Penal Law.