New survey reports one in 5 women are sexually assaulted in college

college women
(Image credit: Jay Paul/Getty Images)

A poll jointly conducted by The Washington Post and the Kaiser Family Foundation found that one in five women have been sexually assaulted on a college campus. Five percent of men reported experiencing a sexual assault while in college.

More than 1,000 people who had attended college in the past four years were surveyed about their experiences with sexual assault on campus. The poll found a high potential risk factor in the use of alcohol (two-thirds of those who reported experiencing an unwanted sexual encounter said they had been drinking beforehand). Fifty-eight percent of male respondents said they believe the number of women sexually assaulted on their college campus is less than 1 in 5. The same percentage of female respondents said they think the number is higher than 20 percent.

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Sarah Eberspacher

Sarah Eberspacher is an associate editor at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked as a sports reporter at The Livingston County Daily Press & Argus and The Arizona Republic. She graduated from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.