Dating in college is supposed to be an enjoyable part of your college experience. Unfortunately, college dating turns violent more often than many people would like to admit.
As reported in the Campus Dating Violence Fact Sheet published by the National Center for Victims of Crime (NCVC), 32% of college students report dating violence by a previous partner; 21% report violence by a current partner; and 51% of college males admit perpetrating one or more sexual assault incidents during college. With such staggering figures, it's good to know where and how to get help if you, or someone you know, has experienced (or is experiencing) dating violence.
Make Sure You're Safe
If you, or a friend, has experienced dating violence of any kind, make sure you are in a safe place before doing anything else. If you need to, crash at someone else's apartment or head straight to a hospital. Just make sure that you are out of the situation in a way that ensures your safety.
Talk to Someone
It may be the first thing you want to do . . . or the last. But talking to someone is one of the best things you can do for yourself or your friend. There are a lot of resources to consider:
- On-campus resources: Check with your hall staff, counseling center, student health center, department of public safety, dean of students office, or anywhere else that offers services to students. If those offices are closed, check their websites to find out what campus procedures are. Call as soon as you can and schedule an appointment to meet with someone, even if you're not sure how exactly to talk about everything. Most campuses have administrators who are trained to work with students in similar situations and will know what to do, even if you don't.
- Off-campus resources: You may not feel comfortable talking to someone on-campus, but it's still important to connect with someone who can help. Many cities offer local resources (women's health and/or community organizations, for example) that can help. You can also tap into larger resources like the NCVC's Dating Violence Resource Center or the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
If you're not sure what's provided in your community, you can call 1-800-FYI-CALL to find out about local resources. You can also call the following numbers for information and help:
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE
- National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE
- Gay Men's Domestic Violence Project: 1-800-832-1901
- Network for Battered Lesbians and Bisexual Women: 1-617-423-SAFE
