MUSC conducts first student sexual harassment and assault survey

The first sexual assault and harassment survey of students at the Medical University of South Carolina finds victims often don’t come forward. “There is a disparity between what is experienced by our students and what is reported to the university,” said Daniela Sorokko Harris, deputy Title IX coordinator at MUSC.

The online survey of students in all six of MUSC’s colleges found that 29% said they’ve experienced sexual harassment. Four percent reported nonconsensual sexual contact and 2% reported nonconsensual sex.

It also found that many students don’t know that MUSC has a Title IX office. Title IX is a federal law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex, including sexual harassment and violence, in education programs and activities.

“In my opinion, these two findings are connected. If students don’t know who they can talk to about their experience, what will happen once they disclose an incident and what their rights are, they are less likely to report such incidents to the university,” Harris said.

“That is very unfortunate, because there are resources right on campus that exist solely to help students. By increasing awareness of university resources and campus policies, we hope to make MUSC a safe, equitable, and inclusive campus for all our students and employees.”

Harris is working on completing a comprehensive report about the sexual misconduct survey that will be made publicly available on the Title IX web page by the beginning of the fall semester.

Other key findings of the MUSC survey, according to Harris:

• Sexual assault, stalking and sexual exploitation are rare.
• Most incidents of sexual assault occurred off-campus.
• Alcohol was consumed by both victims and offenders just prior to the incident in most cases of sexual assault.
• Quid pro quo sexual harassment by faculty or staff is rare, with just 2 reported cases.

Harris said the survey will be conducted every year from now on. “The results from this year’s survey are a helpful snapshot of the student experience, but repeating the survey on an annual basis will help us see trends and changes. I’m also planning to administer a similar survey to our residents and postdoctoral fellows as well as to our faculty.”

Students who have been sexually harassed or assaulted can visit MUSC’s Title IX web pages, Harris said. “We have a section devoted to university and community resources. We also welcome anyone to call 843-792-1072, email, fill out an online form or visit us in person in room 104 in the Basic Science Building.

“If anyone experiences an emergency, the Department of Public Safety has sworn officers with statewide jurisdiction and arrest powers. Everyone should have their emergency number, 843-792-4196, and the LiveSafe app on their phones. We also have sexual assault nurse examiners available in the hospital emergency department who can conduct forensic investigations, assess for any possible injuries, provide emergency contraception and screen for sexually transmitted diseases. This service is completely confidential.”