Apps Against Abuse targets sexual assault, dating violence

WASHINGTON – Vermont colleges and universities may soon be adding another tool to prevent sexual assaults on campus —a smart phone app.

Thanks to a national competition, called Apps Against Abuse, schools could see an application that will encourage young men and women to “take an active role in the prevention of dating violence and sexual assault,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius when she announced the technology challenge last week in Washington.

The competition, which is sponsored by HHS and the White House, is looking for a smart phone application targeted at college and university students that will allow them to prevent dating violence and sexual assault.

What would Vermont schools like to see in app?

“It could include a feature that sends out a pre-written emergency message to a number of trusted individuals asking for immediate help, and either identifies the sender’s location via a GPS function or requires the sender to type in his or her location,” said Karen Guttentag, the associate dean of Middlebury College and the judicial affairs officer on a school committee charged with coordinating sexual assault policy, programming and prevention.

That pre-written message could also go to campus Public Safety to receive assistance from officials, Guttentag said.

A survey conducted by Guttentag’s committee in spring 2009 found that most students who experienced “sexually distressing encounters” did not seek professional assistance. Instead, they turned to their friends.

That research underscores the importance of goal of the Apps Against Abuse challenge, which seeks to empower young people to help each other.

Guttentag said there were a number of other features she would like to see included in the app, including a loud alarm to attract immediate attention if someone believes they are about to become the victim of an assault.

At least one of every five women on college campuses will be sexually assaulted by the time they graduate.

The University of Vermont has already taken an active role in sexual assault prevention on campus. This fall, incoming students will complete an online educational program on sexual assault before setting foot on campus. They are also given information during orientation on how to help each other in the event of dating violence or assault.

UVM also instituted a new sexual misconduct and abuse policy in March in an effort to clarify what resources are available to students to prevent and report sexual assault.

“We are just finishing that up to go out in the fall when campus re-opens,” said Annie Stevens, associate vice president for student and campus life at UVM. “We have standards on campus to revise our policies every two to three years.”

The National Institute of Justice study from 2007 found that 19 percent of female college students will be sexually assaulted before they graduate. Survey results released by the Department of Justice in the same year indicated that number is closer to 26 percent. Despite those figures, only six students at UVM and three at Middlebury reported being sexually assaulted in 2008.

“We know that this is one of those national instances with under reporting,” Stevens said.

Apps Against Abuse will accept applications until Oct.17, and a winner will be announced on Oct. 31. The winning app will allow real-time check-in by users, utilize discretion and connect with domestic violence and sexual assault resources.

“We would welcome a resource like [Apps Against Abuse],” Guttentag said, especially to increase discussion on the topic of sexual assault and dating violence.