A 2010 study by the Department of Justice estimated that one in four college women will be the victim of rape or attempted rape before they graduate in four years.
Vittoria Santini, junior communication studies major, said, “I think that’s a part of reality. I’m sure it happens at parties and stuff. It’s a little bit shocking because one in four college students is a lot.”
Shane Lam, assistant director of field operations for Public Safety, said they prioritize the well-being of students, faculty and employees, especially in sexual harassment cases. A section of the Public Safety Campus Safety and Traffic Handbook is devoted to sexual harassment, encouraging victims to report all sexual assaults, including violent and acquaintance rape.
NSU has three Davie police officers who work on campus fulltime to patrol the residence halls. A Public Safety officer will also escort students from anywhere on campus to their car or vice versa.
Lam said the Office of Public Safety also conducts bimonthly checks of all external lights to ensure no place on campus is dark enough for a predator to attack.
“The parking garage is lit up like a light bulb,” he said. “It is one of the most well lit places on campus.”
Sexual assault victims have the right to have campus personnel cooperate in notifying the proper authorities, to have the assault investigated, and to have access to campus counseling services.
Jim Ewing, director of Public Safety, said, “We encourage victims to report these crimes. A lot of the time, girls won’t report a sexual assault because they think it was their fault, but it’s not. Reporting it is the only way we can catch the people and put them in jail.”
Lauren Llorente, freshman biology major, said, “I don’t feel like I will be sexually harassed on campus, especially if it’s only 30 percent guys. I just feel safe, and I think everyone feels that way. I went to University of Florida a week ago, and I didn’t feel as safe as I do here.”
Despite the measures taken by NSU to protect against the statistic, Lam said women also need to be proactive in protecting themselves from attacks.
“Girls need to be aware and not put themselves in situations where they can be victimized,” said Lam.
Ewing agreed.
“If you’re at a party, [there’s] safety in numbers. Most of the assaults are date rapes. If you’re drinking at a bar or at a party, never walk away from your drink. If you’re going to drink, drink responsibly. Don’t drink to the point where you’re not in control of your faculties,” he said. “If you’re out in public and somebody is trying to drag you off, yell and scream, and try to get someone’s attention.”
