University of Pittsburgh student Mia Larkin poses for a portrait on campus on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022, in Oakland. (Photo by Stephanie Strasburg/PublicSource)
Six people detailed to PublicSource how they were violated, its effects on their well-being and what support they sought and received.
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Content warning: This story contains references to sexual violence.
More than half of sexual assaults among college students occur in the fall. Resources, survivor stories and investigation into what’s being done to protect those at risk in the Pittsburgh area. Explore the series.
Assaulted by a friend or a crush. Coerced with alcohol or manipulated with persistent advances. Left confused and ashamed.
College students in Pittsburgh have experienced a spectrum of sexual violence.
While processing trauma, students are faced with decisions and logistics. Do they report or not? Can they continue their studies? How can they avoid the person who violated them?
Six people shared their recent and ongoing experiences of sexual violence or consent violations and the aftermath with PublicSource. One reported to a Title IX office but felt confused and traumatized by the process. Another is only beginning to process the consent violations they experienced as a freshman. A third is in a better place now but is “nowhere near being healed.”
Their stories — most of which are shared publicly here for the first time — illustrate the challenges in awareness among college-age peers and within higher education institutions as well as the barriers to support and healing.
Nearly all of the students featured in this story attend the University of Pittsburgh. Of the nine colleges and universities included in the project, Pitt’s student body on its Pittsburgh campus accounted for about 41% of the overall student population as of fall 2021.
PublicSource spoke with and sought survivors who represent other institutions as well, and we’d still like to hear from you.
If you are a survivor of sexual violence and would like to share your story, please contact yourstory@publicsource.org or fill out this online form. We’re also available through the Signal app at 412-432-9669.
Survivor stories
- When friendship turned into sexual assault, the survivor had her ‘head on a swivel’
- Is it OK to change your mind? Consent violations and ‘the tease’ label
- Closure or dead end? Reporting assault as an imperfect victim
- The shame and guilt that leads survivors to question their experiences
- After her assailant lawyered up, the Title IX process slowed to a crawl for Pitt student
- Struggles with getting university support, accessing Title IX
Read entire story here
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