Research Blog #4 Research Proposal

Dionela Cruz

Professor Goeller

Research in Disciplines: College!

October 24, 2017

Research Proposal

Working Title: College Sexual Assault: The Ever-Lasting Haunting

Topic

I will explore all of the effects that sexual assault poses on a victim in a college setting including mental, emotional, physical, social, and academic effects.  I will also explore the responsibilities of the university in the cases of sexual assault as well as how the lack of response and under addressing of sexual assault effects its victims further.

Research Question

What are the dire effects of sexual assault on a student in a college setting in regards to their mental, emotional, physical, and social health and academic standing, and what is the role of the university in adding onto to these effects or lessening them, in regards to their responsibility?

Theoretical Frame

Cognitive Information Processing Theory is a theory that is used to process the sequence and execution of cognitive events. This is relevant in sexual assault victims who use Cognitive Processing Therapy to address post traumatic stress disorder.  Certain aspects of PTSD is very common in sexual assault survivors, and this approach is designed to treat specific aspects of the condition. This approach draws upon an information processing theory of PTSD that contains the information of a traumatic event that is stored in the brain in what is called “fear networks”. These networks consist of memories of traumatic stimuli and responses to go along with their meanings; all of which would have been developed after a survivor’s initial incident. This approach is meant to address rape survivors’ intense feelings that include anger, betrayal, disgust, shame, humiliation, anxiety, and confusion.  The victims may feel stuck after their experience, but this theory is meant to address the reasons why they feel stuck and after addressing those reasons, the victims should feel some effects of the sexual assault lessen.

Case

DOE v. BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

Ten women were allegedly the victims of sexual assault while enrolled at Baylor University. They brought legal action against the university, primarily with claims under Title IX, as they were under the belief that BU’s policy discouraged them from reporting about their incident. The university also failed to adequately investigate each of the assaults. The women claimed that these assaults created a harassing educational environment and it deprived them of a normal college education, as well as other educational opportunities. All the while, the university moved to dismiss these claims. Each student was harassed by another student and the individual reported the assault to either university counseling, the university police department, medical personnel, or another student services office. With each service, the university discouraged her from reporting the assault, failed to investigate, and failed to ensure that she would not be subjected to the continuing of the assault or harassment. Every Jane Doe suffered from either the harms of the university’s lack of response; including but not limited to, a decline in grades, loss of financial aid, severe stress, and/or depression.  

Jane Doe 1 alleges she was sexually assaulted by a player on the football team at the university. She reported the assault to a university physician after two days and the physician misformed her, concealed information about additional reporting options, and investigatory actions that can be taken under the university. No action was taken when she reported a second time, so she was subject to repeated on-campus encounters with the assailant. As a result, she developed severe anxiety and depression, which led to a decline in her academic performance and the withdrawal of her scholarship funds. Jane Doe 2 was assaulted at a house near campus, and with the inadequate responses from the police department, counseling services, and assistant Dean, she too unfortunately had multiple encounters with her assailant thereafter. Because of Baylor’s lack of response, Doe 2 alleges she experienced intense fear, nightmares, and a decline in academic performance which led to her suspension and the loss of her scholarship funds and financial aid. Jane Doe 3 and 4’s academic performance suffered, as well as her physical and mental health being severely repaired, as a result of Baylor’s lack of response. Jane Doe 5 was told not to come forward by a university counselor, and the police failed to do an investigation because of the amount of time that elapsed. Does 5’s physical and mental health were severely impaired,, her academic performance suffered, she lost her financial aid, and she eventually transferred schools. Jane Doe 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 claimed that their physical and mental health, general well-being, and higher education experience were severely and substantially impaired after the inadequate response from Baylor.

Working Bibliography

Hellman, Ann. "Examining Sexual Assault Survival of Adult Women: Responses, Mediators, and Current Theories." Journal of Forensic Nursing, vol. 10, no. 3, n.d., pp. 175-184. EBSCOhost, login.proxy.libraries.rutgers.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edswsc&AN=000349674900010&site=eds-live.

Tewksbury, Richard. "Effects of Sexual Assaults on Men: Physical, Mental and Sexual Consequences." International Journal of Men's Health, vol. 6, no. 1, Spring2007, pp. 22-35. EBSCOhost, doi:10.3149/jmh.0601.22.

Chang, Edward C., et al. "Sexual Assault and Depressive Symptoms in College Students: Do Psychological Needs Account for the Relationship?." Social Work, vol. 60, no. 3, July 2015, pp. 211-218. EBSCOhost, doi:sw/swv017.

United States District Court, W.D. Texas, Waco Division. Doe 1 v. Baylor University. 7 Mar. 2017. Westlaw, 1.next.westlaw.com/Document/I1b08c950347811e7815ea6969ee18a03/View/FullText.html?originationContext=citingReferences&transitionType=Document&contextData=(sc.Search)&docSource=4e8d5d3029494130935cc9cbad6f310b&rank=1&rulebookMode=false.

Ullman, S. E. (1996), Social Reactions, Coping Strategies, And Self-Blame Attributions In Adjustment To Sexual Assault. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 20: 505–526. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-6402.1996.tb00319.x.