While the federally mandated Title IX law requires public universities to have a process for reporting instances of sexual harassment, the resources made available to students are far from fully utilized, as survivors of sexual assault and harassment often face many barriers to reporting such acts.
Jessica White, associate director of the Office of Student Conduct, said that while there can be generalized circumstances that deter survivors from reporting harassment, barriers can be specific to each person.
“Barriers to reporting can be very personal and individualized,” White said.
A lack of trust or confidence in the university’s process for handling sexual harassment can be a factor in deciding not to report sexual assault, according to White.
“There can be an uncertainty about what will happen and a lack of understanding of university processes,” White said. “That can be scary for someone. There might be the fear that the university won’t take a complaint seriously, or that they may not be supported through a process.”
Marginalized groups can also face unique barriers, according to Janine Kossen, associate director of the Women’s Center.
“Some international students are not accustomed to talking about such stuff as a part of their culture,” Kossen said. “There may be stigma associated with seeking mental help, or there may be other visa issues. If a student is from an overly policed population, they might not want to involve law enforcement.”
Kossen pointed to cultural norms as reasons for possible difficulties in reporting sexual harassment or assault. Pop culture can play a large role in normalizing some behaviors.
“A lot of what we see in movies, hear in music and see in news perpetuates rape cultures,” Kossen said. “The more we let misogynist and sexist comments pass by, the more is the possibility of such cases occurring. Such things build upon each other and lead to sexual assault as being the byproduct of rape culture.”
Additionally, students may not always have a thorough understanding of what a healthy relationship looks like, which may lead to fewer students reporting incidents of sexual assault, according to Kossen.
“Many students are away from their families and in the process of developing their identities,” Kossen said. “Such students may be in the initial stages of their dating lives and not be aware of what a healthy relationship looks like. They may not understand what consent looks like or may not know how to *accept ‘no’ gracefully.”
Having to face their harasser or even talk about the experience can also be challenging for a survivor, but as per NC State policy, survivors don’t have to directly face or speak with their harassers, White said.
NC State policy also dictates that if a survivor was found to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol because of a sexual harassment investigation, the student would not face conduct charges related to those substances, according to White.
White works on Title IX cases brought to the university and said that the goal with the process is to ultimately be as fair as possible.
“Really what we want to make sure as a university is that we are providing essentially a fair, prompt and equitable resolution for both parties,” White said.
The Women’s Center provides resources for survivors of sexual and relationship violence online.
*Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to correctly represent the quote from Janine Kossen.
