When is it Rape?

Rape or sexual assault occurs when a person has sexual contact with the victim without her/his consent or when there is force or the threat of force. Approximately 75% of all sexual assaults are committed by an acquaintance of the victim; within the college population the percentage is even higher. Legally, acquaintance rape carries the same penalties as sexual assault committed by a stranger.

High school and college-aged women are the most vulnerable to acquaintance rape. Boyfriends, friends and acquaintances of the victim commit the vast majority of sexual assaults on a college campus. Most victims knew the person who sexually victimized them. For both completed and attempted rapes, about 9 in 10 offenders were known to the victims.

About 3% of college women experience a completed and/or attempted rape during a typical college year. 1.7% of female college students were victims of a completed rape, and about 1.1% were victims of attempted rape. About 1.7% of college women reported being coerced to have sex.

The vast majority of rapes on campus involve people who are acquainted. In a recent survey at UIUC, only 2.6% of the women who had experienced sexual assault described the offender as a "stranger". Approximately one third of offenders were nonromantic friends or classmates; one third was dates, partners or ex-partners; and one third were first time dates or someone met at a party or bar the same day/night of the assault.

Acquaintance rape often occurs on dates or at parties. It usually takes place in an apartment, car, or fraternity house. Drinking by the offender and/or the victim may play a part in the assault. More than one man may perpetrate acquaintance rape against a single victim.

Cultural views on sexual relationships between men and women play a significant role in acquaintance rape. 48.8% of college women who were victims of attacks that met the definition of rape did not consider what happened to them as rape. In this study rape was defined as "unwanted, completed penile, oral or object penetration by force or threat of force." Victims may believe rape can only be committed by a stranger, or may blame their selves for the rape.

More information about UIUC definitions and sanctions related to sexual assault and abuse can be viewed at the Student Code.

Information in this section taken from the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault and the National Institute of Justice, U.S. Department of Justice/Bureau of Justice Statistics.