In 2008, 20 Penn State students publicly reported being sexually assaulted. As the most underreported violent crime in the United States, this number accounts for only a small proportion of those that occur as it is estimated that fewer than five percent of sexual assaults are ever reported. While studies have correlated supportive resources with positive coping, many victims do not seek help. Penn State undergraduates were asked to share their perspectives of sexual violence and the accessibility of supportive resources in a questionnaire. Some common themes that arose in participant responses included the persistence of rape myths, particularly the misconception that acquaintance rape is not real rape, the propensity to victim blame, the tendency to minimize sexual violence encounters, and the lack of knowledge regarding supportive resources. The findings of this study indicate a need for greater education on sexual violence and supportive resources. Two specific recommendations are proposed: (1) mandating completion of the Division of Student Affairs Sexual Assault web module and (2) restructuring the student organization index to make it easier to find student groups that address sexual violence.
