Students attending a college or university are at a vulnerable place in their lives. The majority of students are between the ages of eighteen and twenty-two, which is a significant developmental period. For the majority, this is their first time away from home where they need to provide for themselves to some capacity. Many students are in unfamiliar environments surrounded by unfamiliar people. Overall, this is an age range where many people transition into being an independent adult, which can be difficult to navigate. 

Sexual assault among university students is prevalent, especially in the period of time from the start of the fall semester until Thanksgiving break. This period of time is known as the Red Zone, and it is when more than 50% of sexual assaults happen on-campus. Studies show that 26% of undergraduate women and 7% of undergraduate men report experiencing sexual assault during college.³ These rates can be even higher for minority students and students whose identity intersects with multiple marginalized groups. Many aspects of university life can contribute to rates of sexual violence, such as party culture, drug/alcohol-facilitated sexual assault, and greek life. After a sexual assault, survivors may experience disruptions to their education, or may drop out altogether.

Experiencing sexual violence while attending college or university is a unique experience with its own set of challenges. Finding shared spaces with other campus sexual assault survivors can mean the difference between feeling supported and feeling overlooked. In creating this space for college and university survivors, we hope to cultivate connection and foster true community.