College is supposed to be a fresh start. A place to grow. A place to explore and build a life full of new experiences. But for far too many young women, it becomes the setting of their deepest trauma. Sexual assault on college campuses is not rare. It is not an unfortunate exception. It is a quiet and persistent epidemic that we still do not talk about enough.
According to the Association of American Universities, more than one in four undergraduate women will experience sexual assault during their time in college. That number is even higher for LGBTQ+ students. Nearly half will face some form of sexual misconduct. Most of these assaults happen during the first few months of freshman year. This period is often called the Red Zone.
Yet despite how common this is, more than ninety percent of these incidents are never reported.
When Silence Feels Safer Than Speaking
As a college student, I have seen this unfold too many times. I know girls who were raped during their freshman year. Some in dorms. Some after parties. Some by people they trusted. And I have seen them sit in class months later with their attacker just a few seats away. No punishment. No accountability. No support.
Reporting is not easy. Survivors often fear they will not be believed. Sometimes their attacker is someone they know. A classmate. A friend. Even someone admired on campus. They worry about being blamed or shamed. About having to relive every detail in front of people who may question their story. About being asked what they wore. If they had been drinking. Whether they led him on. The burden of proof falls on someone already carrying the weight of trauma.
Many schools do not make it any easier. Survivors are often discouraged from filing official reports. The Title IX process, which is meant to protect students, is often confusing and traumatic. Nearly half of college students say the reporting process is unclear or makes them feel unsafe. Some schools underreport assault data. Others quietly pressure students not to file complaints.
And when someone does report, there is rarely justice. Only about one percent of rapists are ever convicted and sent to prison. When students see that nothing will happen, or that things might even get worse for them, silence starts to feel like the safer option.
We Deserve More Than Warnings and Worry
This is not just about one night. Or one person. Or one incident. Sexual assault can change the entire course of a student’s life. Academic performance drops. Some students withdraw from classes. Some transfer. Some drop out completely. The emotional impact can last for years. Survivors face depression. Anxiety. Post traumatic stress. And they often do it alone while trying to keep up a normal college routine.
So what can we do?
We can start by listening. By believing. By refusing to downplay or excuse the violence. We can build a world where women do not have to choose between silence and survival.
At Amulet SafeTech, we believe that safety should not be something you wish for. It should be something you can count on. Our safety necklace and mobile app were created to give women more control in moments when it feels like everything is slipping away. Whether you are walking home, attending a party, or sitting in a room where something feels wrong, you deserve to have a tool that helps you feel safe and in control.
You should not have to wait until something happens. You should not have to explain your fear. You should not have to prove your instincts are right.
To every woman walking across campus. To every freshman finding her way. To every survivor who has never told a soul. You are not alone. You are not to blame. And we are building this for you.
- Amulet SafeTech
