Perceptions of Safety within Residence Halls at a Midwestern College Campus

Presenter Information

Alissa Shape, Minnesota State University, MankatoFollow
Jade Anderson, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Stephanie Feldman, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Ellen Hammerschmidt, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Location

CSU 201

Start Date

18-4-2016 1:05 PM

End Date

18-4-2016 2:05 PM

Student's Major

Gender and Women's Studies

Mentor's Name

Shannon Miller

Mentor's Department

Gender and Women's Studies

Description

Sexual violence is often considered a widespread issue in American society. Though sexual violence takes many forms, the topic of campus sexual violence is especially pressing as it has occupied a fair amount of controversy in American media. The experience of sexual violence for college students is often traumatic as they navigate through the administrative systems and criminal justice systems of their respective communities and from a feminist perspective, students that become victims of campus sexual violence are often met with institutional resistance and inadequacies. This research surveys students in introduction level courses at a Midwestern college campus and seeks knowledge from its students on the topics of campus safety and sexual violence. The findings from this research help to critically address the climate of the college campus from the student's perspective and addresses the intricacies of identities and how those identities shape the experiences of both safety and violence.