Pittsburgh universities, like many across the country, report few cases of sexual and gender-based violence each year. Some annual counts even suggest that rape, stalking and domestic violence have not occurred at all. But these institutions — and most importantly, their students — know that violence is likely more pervasive than the numbers show.
PublicSource spent six months speaking with survivors, advocates, lawyers, police and university officials to investigate the prevalence of sexual violence on Pittsburgh college campuses and its effects. Here's what we found.
“I didn’t report it, not because I didn't remember what happened. I remembered vividly what had happened, but there was no one around to really believe me or support me and help me to understand what had happened,” writes one woman.
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People between the ages of 18 and 24, or of typical college-going age, generally experience some of the highest rates of intimate partner violence.
“It’s usually, in the minds of the public, something that occurs between a heterosexual couple who lives together, who is often married," said Pitt student Eva Steele.
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