A new study released by the Association of American Universities (AAU) found that nearly one in four female undergraduate students have experienced a sexual assault of some kind since enrolling in college.
The AAU surveyed 27 of the top universities across the country.
11.7 percent of students of all genders said they have been assaulted, but the highest rates were among women and students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, nonconforming or genderqueer.
These numbers are alarmingly high, however Inside Higher Ed reports some scholars who study sexual violence are questioning the survey’s methodology.
Critics point out that only 27 of the 60 AAU member campuses participated in the survey, and less than 20 percent of students chose to respond.
Several scholars said the data should have been released for each individual campus, instead of aggregating data from all 27 of the campuses surveyed. Some said the process also lacked transparency and input from scientists who study sexual assault on campus.
Even some victims’ advocate groups were critical of the study’s results.
John Foubert, a professor at Oklahoma State University and founder of the sexual assault prevention program One in Four, criticized the AAU study for being biased towards more elite institutions. He also took issue with the survey questions, and said “throwing unwanted sexual contact into the mix risks equating a forced kiss with rape.”
Lawmakers, led by Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), have been pushing for legislation that would require colleges to conduct anonymous surveys asking students about their views of sexual assault on campus. The results of these “climate surveys” would then be published online for prospective students to see. The White House has also recommended that colleges conduct such surveys.
AAU’s associate vice president of federal relations, Mollie Benz Flounlacker, told Inside Higher Ed that the organization and its members are worried about the federally mandated campus surveys.
“We have concerns with the way current legislation would basically mandate the Education Department, without any outside expertise, to develop one survey for all of higher education across the country,” she said.
