I have a theory that properly handling allegations of sexual violence on a college campus (or within a company, community organization, or other group) will actually increase people’s interest and investment in that group rather than create a negative image of that group by the association with violence. This theory will form one foundation for the research I intend to conduct as I begin doctoral study at Arizona State University later this month. I was pleasantly surprised to see that this theory is already being put to test, and the research supports my theory. Researchers from Montana State University, American University, and Texas A&M wanted to see if there was a correlation between publicized Title IX investigations (under which allegations of sexual violence, rape, stalking, etc. on a college campus are handled by the university) and future applications or enrollment. Their research culminated in a working paper for the National Bureau of Economics, and shows that applications actually go up following publicized Title IX investigations.
My theory is that people, especially undergraduate aged individuals, know that sexual violence is common in our culture, particularly so on college campuses. They have grown up being told the statistics. In fact, they are quite likely to have already been victim to violence by the time they are applying to college. As a result, I believe, they want to be part of a college community that takes sexual violence, and the experience of the survivor, seriously. I am eager to read the working paper fully, and building on the potential of these results in my own research and future advocacy work.
– Brett
Read more about the study via Salon, or the working paper in full (requires academic or institutional access, or with payment) via the National Bureau of Economic Research.
