| Sexual assault is rampant on college campuses. Unfortunately, even with the recent media attention on campus sexual assault policy changes, there is still a lack of research and understanding regarding prevention programing and why sorority members are at an increased risk for sexual assault. There is a current national debate about what college campuses should do to keep students safe, but there is little consensus about which programing and strategies would be most helpful in reducing the incidence of rape. The objectives of this dissertation were to create awareness that sexual assault is prevalent on college campuses, to create understanding of specific risk factors related to these events, to better recognize women who have experienced these traumas since women are not likely to report them, and to create better treatment strategies. This literature review includes an overview of the types of sexual assault, as well as the effects, and statistics about rape. Additionally, the review includes characteristics of sexual assault perpetrators, legislation and California State Law, and rape myths that society adheres to. Further, there is a look at college campuses in particular, and the use of alcohol and drugs to facilitate rape, and sorority and fraternity culture. There is also a review of prevention materials that are currently available on college campuses, as well as proposed intervention strategies for intervening at the collegiate level. Finally, there are recommendations for working with sexual assault victims. Clinical information from the review of the literature and interviews with professional experts on this topic was integrated into the creation of a formal PowerPoint presentation, which was delivered to a group of practitioners to enhance clinicians' knowledge, skills, and awareness of this issue. Discussion of the dissertation's implications, limitations, as well as suggestions for future research are also offered to help clinicians and researchers gain sensitivity and competency in understanding the unique issues surrounding sexual victimization of college women, specifically sorority women. |
