This work is important because it provides an in-depth analysis of the increasingly visual social problem of Sexual Assault (SA) within the intertwined social networks that college students study, work, and live. I was on a team comprised of University of Missouri females who observed victimization and political barriers for student survivors directly—both in our student social circles, and in the intimate partner violence prevention work we practiced on and off campus. We wanted to examine and report our understandings as female student researchers, using the social work framework for assessment at the level of institution and community. In the years surrounding this presentation, the enforcement of Title IX continues to be increasingly mandated alongside national media coverage of high profile cases of sexual assault in the world of professional and college sports. Our own athletic department at MU has since developed a student-athlete character development program as a component of prevention.

1. Abuse of Vulnerable
Populations in
Social Networks
Kristin J. McCowan
Rachel Finch
Michaela Much
Taylor Murrie-Robinson
Kimi Nolte

2. Small Activity
 We have handed out slips of paper to
everyone.
 Red dot: 6 classmates
 Silver dot: 21 classmates

4. Framework
Sexual Assault Female Students
The University of
Missouri & Boone
County, Columbia SDUs

5. Target Population
 Population: Females attending the University of Missouri,
Columbia, residing within Boone County
• Women were first admitted to the university starting in 1869
• Today women represent over 50% of the campus population
• Despite the presence of 17,953 women on our campus, they are highly
vulnerable to sexual assault
• This vulnerability is perpetuated by the campus climate of victim blaming

6. Target Population
Influencing Factors:
Within the target population (female MU students) are subgroups
who may experience intersecting oppression and/or increased
isolation. They require culturally competent prevention and
intervention efforts.
Ethnic
Minorities
Social
Networks:
Greek (20%)
Substance
Abuse
Mental &
Physical
Disabilities
LGBTQ
Age:
Freshmen

7. Problem
Federal legislation requiring reporting of crime statistics and mandating certain campus
policies was a step forward, but a recent study found only 37% of campuses’ reports
were fully compliant with law. (Title IX)
Although awareness has increased, reporting remains low and service delivery lacks
successful coordination.
Students may be better prepared for stranger assault, but most instances involve
acquaintances.
Survivor Impacts:
Survivors of sexual assault often suffer academic difficulties and are more likely to
leave school.
40% of victims acquire a sexually transmitted disease as a result of rape.
80% of victims suffer chronic physical or mental health

8. National Data
 “16 out of every 100 women will be sexually assaulted in a year, but only
2% will report their attack to the police or sexual assault center”
(Townsend, 2013).
 Women ages 16 to 24 experience rape at rates four times higher than the
assault rate of all women, making the college (and high school) years the
most vulnerable for women.
 About 9 in 10 college women who are victims of rape or attempted rape
know their assailant.
 The first few weeks of the first and second years of college is the period
when college students are most at-risk of being sexually assaulted.

9. Local Data
 2012 Campus Climate Study stated, “approximately 20-
25% of college women might be victimized by attempted
or completed rape over the course of a college career
(4-5 years)” (MU campus, 2012).
 Artifacts: A Journal of Undergraduate Writing, “in 41% of
violent crimes and 79% of rapes against students, the
offender is perceived to be under the influence of
alcohol or drugs” (Reagan, 2013).

10. Strengths, Issues and Social
Problems
 Diversity of
population
 Multicultural Center
 Learning
Communities
 SANE Clinic at the
University of Missouri
 Lack of discussion
about sexual assault
geared towards
students

11. Values
 Significant drinking culture at Mizzou linked
to sexual assault. When asked:
 “Have you ever done something more sexually
than you had originally planned because you had
been drinking alcohol or using drugs?”  25% of
women at Mizzou answered yes.
 6.3% of Mizzou students state that they were
taken advantage of sexually as a direct result of
alcohol consumption.

12. Formal and Covert Means of
Oppression and Discrimination
 Patriarchal nature of
administrators at the
University of Missouri makes
policies regarding sexual
assault of women difficult to
change
 Social discrimination and
victim blaming of sexual
assault survivors, particularly
when alcohol is involved

13. Community Differences
 Legal Terminology Medical Jargon College Culture
 Basic definitions and perceptions do not align.
 Student Center:
 Sexual assault is defined as any unwanted physical or sexual contact, including rape.
Consent is “enthusiastic participation” and must be freely given without the use of coercion,
manipulation or intoxication. We must go beyond stereotypical definitions of forcible rape
and more broadly consider the matter of consent.
 MO Statutes:
 "if a person has deviate sexual intercourse with another person of the same sex or he purposely subjects
another person to sexual contact or engages in conduct which would constitute sexual contact except that
touching occurs through the clothing without that person's consent" (Missouri Revised Statutes Sections
566.090-.095). Sexual contact "means any touching of another person with the genitals, or any touching of
the genitals or anus of another person or the breast of a female person for the purpose of arousing or
gratifying sexual desire of any person." (Missouri Revised Statutes 566.010).

14. Community Differences
 Campus acts as a Microcosm
 Women and their aspirations are marginalized, even under Title
IX protections.
 Faculty position by Gender 2004-2013
 “Chilly Climate”: subtle & overt behaviors on the part of faculty,
staff, and students that affect a woman’s academic performance
& preparation for entry into graduate school or career.

15. Differential Treatment & Prejudice
OVERT
 Focus on appearance, or personal
or family life vs. performance
 “Pimps and Ho’s” parties
 Counseling to lower academic
goals or encourage traditional
“feminine” career paths
SUBTLE
 Frequent interruptions, minimal
responses, ignoring, or preferring
to seek male comments and
suggestions
 Crediting ideas to males but not
females
 Expressing surprise or doubt at
career goals. “Take a few years
off”

16. Differential Treatment & Prejudice
OVERT
 “Party Girl”
 “Bar-Hopping”
 "It was important that they
suspend Dixon those first few
games because it wasn't in the
real season, and they needed him
to play during the actual games.”
SUBTLE
 Communication preferences
 Options for victims require more
effort and inconvenience than for
the accused perpetrators
 Think about personal examples that
you have experienced or witnessed
that might support the “chilly climate”
for women at-risk or at-need?

17. Values Conflict & Compete
Individuals:
At-risk &
At-need
Individuals:
At-risk &
At-need
Sustaining
Nurturing
Peers
Professors
Student Groups
SDUs
City/County System
University System
Learning
R
eputation
Supporting Students
($, A+, )
Program
Initiatives Social &
Academic
Status
Funding
(Alumni,
tuition, tax
payers)
Rankings,
notoriety
Sports
Safety
Publicity
Service toCitizensPublic
Research
Home/School/
Work Balance
Diversity
&
Progress
Patriarchal
Status Quo

18. Community Differences
A 2010 Missourian investigation examined the low prosecution rate on MU's campus. "At the heart of the matter is the question of consent. Victims'
advocates' definition of that word differs greatly from that of the law. And cultural biases about sexual assault find their way into jurors' thinking,
further complicating prosecutors' jobs. The result is a minuscule prosecution rate for sexual assault."

19. Community Structure
 Formal PREVENTION
resources
 RAD (Rape Aggression
Defense)
 Available to all women,
free of charge
 STRIPES taxi
 Free, 10pm-3am,
Thursday-Sunday
 Summer Welcome
 All incoming and
transfer students

20. Community Structure
 Informal PREVENTION
resources
 Security staff patrol
campus
 Key activated cards for
residence living in dorms
 Video surveillance in select
dorms
 Blue light emergency
phones
 Well lit walkways

21. Community Structure
 Formal REACTIVE resources
 RSVP (Relationship &
Sexual Violence
Prevention) Center
 Women’s Center
 Counseling Center
 Student Health Center
 MUPD
 University hospital
 Office of Student Conduct
 Student legal Services

22. Community Structure

23. SWOT Assessment
 Strengths:
 Diversity of Student Body
 Majority-women
 Abundance of SDUs
 Weaknesses:
 Poor Linkages-communication barriers
 Insufficiencies within SDUs
 Summer Welcome message and tone

24. SWOT Assessment
 Opportunities:
 Establish relationship with MO Crisis Hotline
 Enhance Summer Welcome- prevention &
reporting
 Improve collaboration-SDU linkages & role clarity
 Threats/Barriers:
 Chilly climate
 Perceived need for change amongst SDUs and
campus community

25. Recommendations:
 Take advantage of all identified opportunities
 Enhance the ‘message’ at Summer Welcome
 Establish relationship with Missouri Crisis Hotline.
 Anonymous reporting component/virtual support
 Create several GA positions that serve as liaisons between
units and develop concrete roles between service delivery
units.
 Reevaluate and update the University of Missouri Sexual
Assault Protocol annually and require that it be disseminated
to the entire campus community.