The national statistics on reported rape on college campuses estimate that 350 women were sexually victimized in colleges of 10,000 students. (Fisher, cullen, & turner. 2000) That is 1 rape for every 28 people on campus or 3.5% of the 10,000 student campus population. Most rapes are not reported and half of those raped defined the behavior as “rape.” According to the FBI, about one college woman in six will be a victim of rape or attempted rape during her college years or a 16% chance of being a victim of a rape crime (Silent Screams: a People Weekly report on sexual assault at the nation’s only university for deaf students. By Mary H.J. Farrell. People Weekly, June 20, 1994, v41 n23 p36(6)).
More than half of all college rape victims are attacked by dates or acquaintances. More than 4 out of 5 rape victims know their attackers. 1 in 15 rape victims contract a sexually transmitted disease as a result of being raped. 1 in 15 rape victims becomes pregnant as a result of being raped. (Statistics on Sexual Violence Against Women. Woodruff & Koss - A Criminological Study August 1990). In comparison to Gallaudet University the percentages of rape were exceedingly high for such a small campus. It was estimated that 60 students out of 2,200 students were raped during a 15-month period. (People Weekly – 6/20/1994, v41, n23 p36(6). Silent Screams: a People report on sexual assault at the nation’s only university for deaf students (Gallaudet University) by Mary H.J. Farrell) according to People Weekly that documented the pattern of sexual assaults.
According to one Freshman Advisor at Gallaudet University during the 1991-1992 school year said that "there is a least one rape a weekend in the freshman dorms" (see “Silent Screams”). It is noted that female freshman students are usually vulnerable during their first year on campus and away from home for the first time. But if what the Freshman Advisor said was true from his/her observation, then this would come out to be about 4 rapes a month (minimum) for an estimated total of 32 rapes (minimum) during a typical school year [note: this figure does not include older students (e.g. sophomore, junior and senior)] who may have been a victim of rape or sexual harassment during the 1991-1992 school year. According to Fisher, Cullen, & Turner in a 1995 study, over 80% of sexual assaults were never reported. What turns out to be disturbing was the number of rapes that were officially reported by Gallaudet University as required by Federal Law that year.
Gallaudet University officially reported only one rape during the 1991-1992 school year when the national statistics at that time showed it to be 3.5% which would be like having 77 rapes or sexual offenses among the 2200 students at Gallaudet University during a typical school year. Despite the 3.5% national reporting average for a large 10,000 student campus population, how can such a low number of rapes go reported when the “eyes and ears” of freshmen advisors were noticing “....at least one rape a weekend” on the campus of Gallaudet University in freshman dorms during the 1991-1992 year? Do Freshman Advisors advise or encourage victims to report the crime to the police? Even that alone presented problems back then whenever student victims tried to report the rapes.
There are lots of questions here. Was it fear, intimidation or power that stopped student victims in their tracks from reporting? Was it embarrassment that prevented victims from properly reporting the crime? Did a "good old boys network" exist on campus that protected each other in order to stymie student victims from getting the justice they deserved? Or was it a breakdown in ASL and communication? What about the Judicial Board? What were the board members relationship to other organizations such as fraternities or Student Life on campus? Did improprieties exist among Student Resident Assistants? What about Peer Advisors? What were their relationships to the upper management such as the Coordinators of Residence Education (CRE)? Did unprofessional behaviors exist that caused breakdowns in ethical conducts between staff members and/or toward vulnerable students? Were there any behind the scenes subtle "threats" to try and keep things quiet? Were there always an equal number of female and male Judicial Board members presiding in a student court room whenever the accused student was brought in to face charges? Were there differences of opinions among the female and male members when it came to rendering a judgement against the accused? Does all this really matter? However, People Weekly reported an insidious problem seen on the campus of Gallaudet University back then when it came to rape issues.One student related her story in detail in the article named above (ie "Silent Scream" - People Weekly). She was a 23-year old junior and a Student Resident Assistant (SRA) who counseled other students in her dorm. A male SRA suggested that they study together in his room. She agreed.
When coming out of the bathroom, he assaulted and raped her. She tried to push him away. She told him "no" several times. When herealized what he had done, he pleaded with her not to tell anyone. But she didn't listen to him anymore than he had listened to her.
She was taken to the school infirmary the next day and laterto the D.C. police. Accompanied the following day by a campus security officer, she had to type her own statement at the police station. The police officer orally said that her case was not strong enough to consider. There was no interpreter, no questioning of the victim, no investigation of the alleged crime.
The young woman refused to let the matter stand. She took her case to the campus administrative board (ie. Judicial Affairs) and was granted a hearing. Another student present at the hearing was quoted as saying "that when the accused testified, he more or less admitted he attacked (the young female SRA). He said, 'Maybe she said no, but I didn't see it.'" According to the victim, "The verdict said I did not use the word 'force,' even though I described in detail what he had done to me."
- September 1994, Women & Guns
Was there ever an existance of a "big boys network" back then during the 1991-1992 academic school year that served to protect each other's interests? Were there always an equal number of female and male Judicial Board members presiding in a student court room whenever an accused student was brought forward? If we look at Gallaudet University year book during 1991-1992 year, it showed 9 males and 4 females who were members of the Judicial Board committee. And that was the year when Gallaudet University officially reported to the Federal Government of only 1 rape for that year while one Freshman Advisor reported that "there is at least one rape a weekend in the freshman dorms" as reported in People Weekly magazine.More troubling still, many sources interviewed by People Weekly say the Gallaudet administration has either denied the problem or failed to deal with it effectively. "I have talked to many women who have been raped, assaulted and harassed," says Allen Sussman, a professor of psychology and former dean of student affairs. "They would tell me that they were afraid to face the administration. Gallaudet has a history of covering up." An administrator who, like many, asked not to be identified for fear of reprisal, agrees. "In many ways this is a sick, secret community," he says. "It is time for the administration to put this issue out on the table, but they're afraid if they do, students won't come."
- Silent Screams.
Why the very low numbers reported even though most rape victims end up not reporting the crime? Gallaudet University back then was known for it's alcohol drinking problems among deaf students on campus in their dormitories back then when you had drunk students blacked out in dormitory halls and vomits in the stairwells and elevators.
Several years ago Gallaudet University instituted a new policy mandating dry dorms on campus. But even with dry dorms the number of rapes and sexual assaults on campus continues to go up when you compare official reports of 1 rape for the 1991-1992 year and fast forward to 1999 and beyond. For the year 1999 Gallaudet University officially reported 2 instances of forcible sex offenses or rapes. Even with the mandated dry dorms over the last several years official reports on forcible sex offenses or rapes did not stay low. In fact, it had gotten worse in most years since. In 2000 (3 forcible sex offenses or rapes), 2001 (5 rapes), 2002 (3 rapes), 2003 (7 rapes), and in 2004 with an official report required by federal law that 2 forcible sex offenses or rapes took place on the campus of Gallaudet University. Why has the number of officially reported rape increased from 1991 to 2004 when the campus student population went from a high of 2200 in 1991-1992 school year down to 1658 for 2005 while at the same time maintaining dry dorms? Despite these problems even with "guarantees" of confidentiality student victims are sometimes simply embarassed not to even discuss it, do not want to put up with extra efforts in overcoming the administration's hoops in filing a case or, incredibly so, do not want to risk putting "shame" upon the university.
According to Donna Ryan, a history professor at Gallaudet, the insularity of the deaf culture has made it hard for Gallaudet women in particular to come forward to tell their stories. "Part of the difficulty for deaf women in dealing with women's issues like rape involves a fear of trashing the deaf community," she says. In many cases, the women are afraid of being put down by their fellow students for bringing shame upon the university. "The deaf community is small and close-knit," says Denise Snyder, executive director of D.C. Rape Crisis Center. "If you make a fuss at Gallaudet, you've closed a big door."
- Silent Screams.
In a verified, exclusive report for this part II article one deaf student came forward and explained in great details that she was contacted by People Weekly magazine back then for a potential rape interview with her for the upcoming 1994 "Silent Scream" article. The problem with the People Weekly contact was that this deaf victim never confided to anyone else about her on campus dormitory rape ordeal. Wholly surprised, she declined for an interview. She quickly became angry upon realizing that the reporter of People Weekly somehow found out that she was a rape victim. How? After she declined for an interview she was soon contacted by her mother who said that People Weekly wanted to know more about about the rape of her own daughter. The mother never knew that her daughter was raped and had nothing to offer to the reporter of People Weekly. This deaf student NEVER once told her mother about her rape keeping the entire incident secret from her family and friends. The incident was only known by the rapist, campus police and the people who have access to confidential campus files on students. Who spilled the beans?
© Copyright 2006 Mike McConnell
Next week part III on Deaf Residential Schools and Other Dirty Little Secrets.
Deaf Residential Schools and Other Dirty Little Secrets - Part I
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