Alcohol, partying and students living on their own are all factors of why 25 percent of women are sexually assaulted in college, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

To lower that percentage and prevent sexual assault among college students, Sacramento State’s Women’s Resource Center and the program, Sexual Assault and Intimate Partner Violence Support Services, are joining sexual assault and alcohol awareness programs for April.

Patricia Grady, Women’s Resource Center coordinator, said college students care about sexual assault awareness because of the direct tie to high rates of alcohol use involved in sexual assault.

Jessica Heskin, the Sexual Assault and Intimate Partner Violence Support Services coordinator, said she believes almost 80 percent of sexual assault cases reported at Sac State involved alcohol.

According to a study by the National Victim Service that surveyed more than 6,000 students at 32 colleges and universities, about 75 percent of the men and at least 55 percent of the women involved in acquaintance rapes had been drinking or taking drugs just before the attack.

According to the Justice Department, acquaintance rapes may be defined as gang rape, date rape, or rape by somebody the victim knows.

“About 20 years ago, we thought perpetrators were strangers, but now we know 90 percent of the time it’s somebody we know,” Heskin said.

On March 25, Sac State participated in “Walk A Mile in Her Shoes,” a national event where Sac State male students walked a mile in high heels to spread awareness against sexual assault.

Grady said fraternities participated to not only raise awareness about sexual assault, but develop empathy for victims and see the men’s role in ending violence against women.

“Women can’t end rape; men need to get involved,” Grady said.

The Women’s Resource Center located in Lassen Hall co-sponsored the event “Take Back the Night,” a march and rally to end violence towards women.

The center encourages men and women to wear jeans to raise awareness about sexual assault for Denim Day on April 22.

According to the Denim Day in Los Angeles website, Denim Day was started when a judge in the Italian parliament overturned a rape case because he believed the victim, an 18-year-old girl, wore tight jeans which the man could not remove on his own. Women in the Italian parliament protested by wearing jeans, and the California Assembly and Senate decided to do the same, sparking Denim Day.

The center also has partnered up with WEAVE, a provider of crisis intervention services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in Sacramento County.

Lt. James Hodges of California State University, East Bay’s, police department said every month is sexual awareness month as far as the university police is concerned.

“There has been a very slight increase (of sexual assaults) from three sexual assaults reported in 2007 to four sexual assaults reported in 2008,” Hodges said.

Grady said since the development of the program, Sexual Assault and Intimate Partner Violence Support Services, the reports of sexual assault increased because the program gave individuals a place to receive help.

Sexual Assault and Intimate Partner Violence Support Services, located in the Student Health Center, offers help to women who have been sexually, verbally or physically abused by offering counseling and health care needs.

Heskin said she has helped victims of sexual assault file police reports.

Grady said Heskin can help a victim with any academic accommodations, withdrawing from school or give housing accommodations.

“Tell (the victim) you know ‘it’s not their fault’ and help them find help,” Grady said.

Women are not the only victims. Men also may experience sexual assault in college. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, 9 percent of sexual assault victims are male.

Grady said men have used the program in the past. He encourages them to get help if they believe they have been victims of sexual assault.

Jenny Chu, health educator from Student Health Services at CSU East Bay, said they conduct presentations about sexual assault for all first-time freshmen in their required general education classes and for campus residents.

According to the Justice Department, freshmen and sophomores are at the highest risk years, and the first few months of the school year are the highest risk time of the year for sexual assault.

Chu said the university also increases awareness about sexual assault by an event called Soberfest, an event designed to raise awareness about alcohol and its effects that may lead to sexual assault.

According to the sexual assault statistics, only 5 percent report sexual assault to the police, and 42 percent of victims tell no one of the assault.

Grady said the Women’s Resource Center is going to work with Psychological Counseling Services to help women in a yoga support program to provide counseling for female victims of sexual assault.

Grady said the decision is up to the victim to report the assaults. The victim will not be prosecuted for alcoholic or drug violations after reporting it to the police.

Catherine Robledo can be reached at [email protected].