RAINN Day

Facts About RAINN Day

Campus Sexual Violence Often Involves Someone the Victim Knows 

Research consistently shows that most sexual assaults among college students are committed by someone the victim knows, not a stranger.

The U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics found that about 80 percent of rapes and sexual assaults reported by college women are perpetrated by acquaintances, such as classmates, friends, or dating partners, underscoring why prevention efforts focus on consent within existing relationships rather than “stranger danger.”  

Alcohol Plays a Major Role in College Sexual Assault 

Studies have found that alcohol is involved in a large proportion of sexual assaults on college campuses, affecting either the perpetrator, the victim, or both.

One multi-campus study published in the Journal of American College Health reported that more than half of sexual assaults among college students involved alcohol use, which can impair judgment, limit the ability to give or recognize consent, and increase vulnerability in social settings like parties or dorm gatherings.  

The National Sexual Assault Hotline Pioneered Telephone-Based Crisis Support

When the National Sexual Assault Hotline launched in 1994, it was the first nationwide toll-free service dedicated solely to survivors of sexual violence in the United States.

Created in partnership with more than a thousand local sexual assault service providers, the hotline built a coordinated model that routes callers to nearby crisis centers, helping connect people to local counseling, medical care, and legal resources 24 hours a day.  

Online Hotlines Expanded Access for Younger Survivors

As more young adults began seeking help online rather than by phone, RAINN created the National Sexual Assault Online Hotline in 2006, one of the earliest large-scale, secure chat-based crisis services.

This platform allows survivors, particularly college-age users who may feel unsafe speaking aloud or worry about being overheard, to receive confidential, real-time support from trained staff and volunteers over the internet.  

Bystander Intervention Training Can Reduce Sexual Violence

Campus bystander intervention programs, which teach students how to safely step in when they witness risky or disrespectful situations, have shown measurable impact.

A long-term evaluation of the “Green Dot” program in Kentucky high schools found that schools using the training had significantly lower rates of sexual violence perpetration than comparison schools, suggesting that similar approaches on college campuses can help shift norms and reduce assaults over time. 

Sexual Assault Can Alter Brain Function and Lead to PTSD

Sexual assault is associated with high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder and measurable changes in the brain’s stress and fear circuits.

Research reviewed by the National Center for PTSD shows that trauma can affect the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex, contributing to symptoms like hypervigilance, memory problems, dissociation, and difficulty concentrating, which may affect a survivor’s academic performance and daily life long after the incident.  

Title IX Requires Schools to Address Sexual Harassment and Violence

Under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, federally funded colleges and universities must respond when they know or reasonably should know about sexual harassment or sexual violence that creates a hostile environment.

Guidance from the U.S. Department of Education explains that institutions are required to provide a fair grievance process, take steps to end the misconduct, prevent its recurrence, and remedy its effects on survivors, which can include academic accommodations and support services.