“Sexual Assault 101” is the topic of a Lunch Break Seminar in the Women’s Health Series sponsored by ETSU’s Women’s Resource Center on Tuesday, April 11.
According to the 2004 National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), there were 209,880 victims of rape, attempted rape or sexual assault during that year alone.
Contrary to the belief that rapists usually hide in the bushes or in parking garage shadows, almost two-thirds of all rapes are committed by someone who is known by the victim.
NCVS statistics showed that 67 percent of sexual assaults were perpetrated by non-strangers in 2004: –47 percent were friends or acquaintances of the victims, 17 percent were intimate with the victims and three percent were relatives.
And because of NCVS methodology, these figures do not include children age 12 or younger.
While there are no reliable annual surveys of sexual assault on children, the justice department has estimated that one in six victims is under the age of 12.
Although nothing can completely eliminate the possibility of an attack, women can make smart choices to try to prevent assault, one of which is being well-informed.
In this seminar, Leah Arthur, a community educator with the Sexual Assault Outreach Program in Johnson City, will discuss the legal definitions of sexual assault, behavior surrounding such actions, and the effects of these actions on women and society.
The free public seminar begins at noon in Meeting room 3 on the third level of ETSU’s D.P. Culp University Center. Participants are welcome to bring their lunch.
For more information or for special assistance for those with disabilities, call the Women’s Resource Center at (423) 439-7847.

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