Update: A previous version of this article stated that University administration could not be reached for a statement regarding this article. Below is an updated response from interim president Scott Coltrane.
One in 10 female students have experienced rape at the University of Oregon, a study conducted by a University of Oregon psychology professor published on Tuesday found. The Campus Climate survey was the work of Jennifer Freyd and doctoral students Marina N. Rosenthal and Carly Parnitzke Smith.
Of the 982 students in the study, only one in seven of the females who reported that they experienced rape also said that they contacted the University of Oregon Police Department to pursue charges.
Seventy-three percent of participants admitted to knowing their assailant, with 87 percent of those assailants being male.
Four in 1o of the students who experienced sexual assault felt they were subjected to institutional betrayal and believed the UO made the reporting process difficult or that the university fostered an environment where sexual assault seemed common.
The UO administration disapproved Freyd’s idea to conduct the survey, and initially rejected her request for funding. Administrators were worried that the survey would be biased.
Interim president Scott Coltrane released a statement thanking Freyd, Rosenthal and Smith for their contribution on the same day the results were released.
Interim UO President Scott Coltrane released a statement regarding the survey results:
“These survey results shine a light on a terrible, unacceptable problem. It shows us we have a lot of work to do. We appreciate Professor Freyd’s research and will use this information to help us improve our prevention and response efforts.”
UOPD communications director Kelly McIver said that he was not aware of the study’s results and therefore could not comment.
Administrators eventually funded the $20,000 survey, which was supported by the Center for the Study for Women in Society and private donors. The funds were dispersed among participants for completing the survey.
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