Title: The Truth About Domestic Violence on College Campuses - HAWC
Headings: The Truth About Domestic Violence on College Campuses
The Truth About Domestic Violence on College Campuses
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Content: Being away from home and from previous support networks can also make victims feel particularly alone and unable to access help in their struggle. Students experiencing abuse may also resist reporting their experiences because they are afraid that their parents will find out, their abuser will stalk them, or their administrators will not fully understand the issue. In short, victims are afraid of getting in trouble with their abuser, their parents, their friend group, and their school. Students who recognize that their friends are being abused experience similar hesitations when it comes to reporting the situation. Studies show that of people who have known someone experiencing abuse, 52% believe it is not appropriate to get involved and fear that by reporting the abuse, they may harm their own friendship with the victim or abuser. For this reason, it has become increasingly important to put policies in place to protect students who have experienced abuse from the dangers of retaliation, punishment, and ostracization. As it stands, the U.S. Department of Education put in place Title IX protections, which require colleges and universities to investigate instances of domestic violence among their students and take care to protect victims from their abusers. However, these laws do not require legal trials, and administrators cannot issue legal protective orders or jail time. As a result, many victims of abuse on college campuses who seek help from the administration are left more vulnerable than victims in the real world. If you or someone you know is a student experiencing abuse, consider contacting HAWC or your local domestic violence organization to begin exploring legal remedies that colleges may not be able to provide.