Gustavus Adolphus College

Sexual assault is a particularly traumatic crime that is unfortunately too common on college campuses. Gustavus Adolphus College is committed to providing education and support to the entire college community in combating these crimes and helping survivors of sexual assault.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please see our information on receiving immediate assistance, reporting an assault, healing from an assault and sexual assault resources.

What is sexual assault?

• Sexual assault is actual, attempted or threatened sexual contact with another person without that person's consent. Consent must be informed, freely and actively given, and mutually understood. If you are physically threatened, coerced, or intimidated you are not consenting to sexual contact. If you are asleep or drunk or drugged you cannot give informed and free consent to sexual contact.

How common is sexual assault?

• Research shows that 20 to 25% of women experience sexual assault while in college.
• 90% of college women know their attacker
• Less than 5% of college rape survivors report the attack to the police

Male survivors

• Sexual assault is a male issue too. Research shows that 10 to 20% of men will be victims of sexual assault at some time during their lives.
• Our culture endorses ideas that can prevent male survivors from speaking out about sexual assault. Society can label male survivors of sexual assault as less manly for "allowing" themselves to be victimized.
• The myth that men assaulted by other men must be gay can add to this stigma. But sexual assault is not about sexual orientation or desire. It is an act of power and control. The motivation of the perpetrator is to humiliate and/or brutalize another person. If you are a male survivor it is important to know that there is help out there for you as well.