Brief Introduction and Background
In the spring of 2015, the HEDS Sexual Assault Campus Climate survey was emailed to
1,326 graduate and undergraduate students at Claremont McKenna College (CMC).
Surveys were submitted by 376 students, for a response rate of 28.4%. Because the survey
was voluntary, and the topic of sexual assault and campus climate has the potential to
provoke strong opinions, it is not possible to determine the impact self-selection may have
had on the results. Therefore, it is important to keep in mind that this information does not
represent generalizations about the CMC community.
The findings are divided into the three following sections:
1. Perceptions of campus climate and sexual assault
2. Institutional information and education about sexual assault
3. Unwanted sexual contact and sexual assault
Table 1 - Survey Participant Demographics1
Respondents
CMC #
Women
207
Men
165
Another/missing gender2
2
White
194
Other than white
170
Heterosexual
313
Other than heterosexual
57
1Two
CMC %
55.1
43.9
0.5
51.6
45.2
83.2
15.2
UG %
64.6
33.4
2.0
54.1
43.4
74.2
24.3
7C %
63.8
34.3
1.9
51.1
46.1
74.7
23.4
completely blank survey submissions excluded in all calculations except for response rate.
gender not included in proceeding charts due to small number of CMC respondents.
2Another/missing
Chart 1 - Survey Participants’ College Class Year
Classification
30%
25%
20%
24.9%
15%
10%
5%
0%
22.9%,
n=86
19.7%
Freshman/First
Year
24.8%
19.6%
26.6%,
n=100
Sophomore
26.0%
24.3%
20.5%
19.2%
27.4%,
n=103
CMC %
Junior
UG %
22.1%,
n=83
7C %
Senior
20.5%
0.3%,
n=1
Graduate Student
or Other
Findings: 2015 Sexual Assault Campus Climate Survey | 11/5/2015
SECTION 1: PERCEPTIONS OF CAMPUS CLIMATE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT
The following questions are based on a 5-point scale, where 5 represents strongly agree, 4
is agree, 3 is neither agree nor disagree, 2 is disagree, and 1 is strongly disagree.
General respondent views on the campus climate are very positive. 90% from the 7Cs and
CMC, and 80% of undergraduate respondents agree or strongly agree that they feel safe on
their campus.
Table 2 - Responses to questions about general climate
Mean responses to questions about general climate
Faculty, staff and administrators respect what students think
Faculty, staff, and administrators concern for students' welfare
Faculty, staff, and administrators treat students fairly
Student concern about welfare of other students
I feel valued in the classroom/learning environment
I feel close to people on this campus
I feel part of the community
I feel safe on this campus
However, differences were observed among various populations.
CMC
Mean
3.74
4.18
3.81
4.12
4.31
4.20
4.10
4.37
UG
Mean
3.98
4.22
3.93
4.17
4.19
4.11
4.00
4.34
7C
Mean
4.01
4.21
3.96
4.12
4.19
4.01
3.94
4.34
Chart 2 - Disaggregated responses to the statement I feel safe on this campus
Men
White
Heterosexual
All respondents
Other than White
Women
Other than heterosexual
Another/missing gender
1
1.5
2
CMC
2.5
UG
7C
3
3.5
4
3.93
4
4.6
4.55
4.52
4.47
4.44
4.43
4.42
4.41
4.4
4.37
4.34
4.34
4.28
4.25
4.25
4.21
4.25
4.25
4.14
4.16
4.15
4.5
5
Note: Data for another/missing gender not included due to low numbers of CMC respondents.
Claremont McKenna College
2
Table 3 - Responses to questions about difficult or dangerous situations
Response to difficult or dangerous situations
Officials protect students from harm
Officials would handle a crisis well
Officials respond quickly in difficult situations
Officials handle in fair and responsible manner
There is a good support system for students going through difficult times
CMC
UG
Mean Mean
3.61
3.68
3.45
3.47
3.51
3.51
3.26
3.48
3.36
3.44
7C
Mean
3.72
3.54
3.54
3.51
3.47
Two thirds of respondents from CMC believe that other students would intervene if they
witnessed a sexual assault. 43% agree or strongly agree that they or one of their friends is
not at risk for being sexually assaulted on campus or during off-campus events or programs
sponsored by the institution. 46% perceive the number of sexual assaults that occur on
campus or during off-campus events or programs sponsored by their institution to be low.
Table 4 - Responses to questions about views on sexual assault
Views on sexual assault at institution
Low number of sexual assaults on campus
Don't believe I or one of my friends is at risk of sexual assault
Students would intervene if they witnessed a sexual assault
CMC
Mean
3.31
3.06
3.80
UG
Mean
3.29
2.95
3.78
7C
Mean
3.42
3.11
3.82
Chart 3 - Disaggregated responses to the statement I believe that students would
intervene if they witnessed a sexual assault
4.01
3.94
3.98
3.89
3.81
3.82
3.87
3.83
3.87
3.8
3.78
3.82
3.72
3.75
3.82
3.66
3.71
3.74
Men
White
Heterosexual
All respondents
Other than White
Women
3.46
3.64
3.65
Other than heterosexual
Another/missing gender
1
1.5
2
CMC
2.5
UG
7C
3
3.41
3.39
3.5
4
Note: Data for another/missing gender not included due to low numbers of CMC respondents.
4.5
5
Findings: 2015 Sexual Assault Campus Climate Survey | 11/5/2015
SECTION 2: INSTITUTIONAL INFORMATION & EDUCATION ABOUT SEXUAL ASSAULT
A majority of CMC respondents reporting receiving information or education about sexual
assault in the areas listed below.
Table 5 - Responses to questions about information or education
CMC: Did you receive information or education from institution
about
What sexual assault is and how to recognize it
How to report an incident of sexual assault
Confidential resources for sexual assault and how to locate them
Procedures for investigating a sexual assault
Action you can take to help prevent sexual assault
%
Yes
93.1
71.3
63.3
53.7
90.7
%
Yes
85.6
59.5
59.4
37.7
77.2
%
Yes
74.8
55.0
53.2
33.7
67.2
UG: Did you receive information or education from institution about
What sexual assault is and how to recognize it
How to report an incident of sexual assault
Confidential resources for sexual assault and how to locate them
Procedures for investigating a sexual assault
Action you can take to help prevent sexual assault
7C: Did you receive information or education from institution about
What sexual assault is and how to recognize it
How to report an incident of sexual assault
Confidential resources for sexual assault and how to locate them
Procedures for investigating a sexual assault
Action you can take to help prevent sexual assault
%
No
4.0
14.9
19.4
32.4
6.6
%
No
6.6
19.6
19.4
40.3
12.6
%
No
13.3
23.2
23.5
42.2
18.9
%
Unsure
1.9
12.5
16.2
12.8
1.6
%
Unsure
7
20
20.3
21
9.3
%
Unsure
10.8
20.5
22.1
22.9
12.6
Chart 4 - Respondent memory of and ratings of institutional information/ education
How much of the info/education
do you remember?
50%
45%
40%
35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
44%
37%
15%
12%
26%
49%
28% 27%
19%
6% 7%
3%
Almost all Most of it Some of it Very little
or none
CMC
UG
Claremont McKenna College
7C
How helpful was the
info/education?
50%
45%
40%
35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
45%
41%
14%
12%
13%
Very
helpful
46%
Helpful
CMC
29%
31%
UG
26%
Slightly
helpful
7C
4% 4%
7%
Not
helpful
4
SECTION 3: UNWANTED SEXUAL CONTACT AND SEXUAL ASSAULT
Most respondents have never experienced unwanted sexual contact in the following forms:
Unwanted verbal behaviors – such as someone making sexual comments about your body;
someone making unwelcome sexual advances, propositions, or suggestions to you; or
someone telling you sexually offensive jokes or kidding about your sex or gender-specific
traits
Unwanted nonverbal behaviors – such as sending you sexual emails, texts, or pictures;
posting sexual comments about you on blogs or social media; showing you sexually
offensive pictures or objects; leering at you or making lewd gestures towards you; or
touching oneself sexually in front of you
Unwanted brief physical contact – such as someone briefly groping you, rubbing sexually
against you, pinching you, or engaging in any other brief inappropriate or unwelcome
touching of your body
Chart 5 – Frequency of unwanted sexual contact while on campus or while off
campus during events or programs sponsored by the institution
CMC: Reporting of Unwanted Sexual Contact
100%
80%
60%
40%
48%
20%
0%
77%
28%
18%
Verbal
16%
5% 1%
Never
Rarely
52%
6%
1% 0%
Nonverbal
Sometimes
Often
27%
16%
4% 1%
Brief Physical
Very often
UG: Reporting of Unwanted Sexual Contact
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
77%
43%
29%
18%
Verbal
5% 1%
Never
Rarely
51%
14%
5%
0% 0%
Nonverbal
Sometimes
Often
25%
15%
4% 1%
Brief Physical
Very often
Findings: 2015 Sexual Assault Campus Climate Survey | 11/5/2015
7C: Reporting of Unwanted Sexual Contact
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
50%
79%
26%
16%
Verbal
12%
4% 1%
Never
59%
4% 0% 0%
Nonverbal
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
21%
12%
3% 1%
Brief Physical
Very often
Chart 6 - Disaggregated percentages of unwanted verbal behaviors experienced
often or very often
Other than heterosexual
Women
7%
White
7%
6%
6%
6%
All respondents
9%
9%
8%
5%
Heterosexual
3%
Other than White
Another/missing gender
Men
11%
9%
8%
3%
0%
2%
2%
1%
1%
5%
5%
4%
5%
4%
5%
10%
CMC
UG
15%
7C
20%
25%
30%
Note: Data for another/missing gender not included due to low numbers of CMC respondents.
In response to the question “Has anyone attempted, but not succeeded in, sexually
assaulting you while you were on campus or while you were off campus during an event or
program sponsored by your institution?” 8.2% of CMC respondents answered yes and 5.9%
suspected that someone attempted to sexually assault them, but were not certain.
Claremont McKenna College
6
Chart 7 – Attempted sexual assaults
CMC Attempted Sexual Assaults
20%
15%
15.8%
10%
7.0%
5%
0%
Other than
hetero
12.6%
8.2%
Women
9.3%
8.2%
4.6%
White
7.1% 7.1%
5.9%
All respondents
Yes
Suspect
Other than
White
7.0%
5.8%
Heterosexual
2.4% 3.0%
Men
Note: Data for another/missing gender not included due to low numbers of CMC respondents.
UG Attempted Sexual Assaults
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
11.4%
6.9%
Women
10.5%
6.7%
Other than
hetero
8.2%
5.4%
8.1%
5.4%
White
All
respondents
Yes
8.1%
5.2%
7.5%7.5%
7.5%
5.0%
Other than Another/miss Heterosexual
White
gender
Suspect
1.8%2.3%
Men
7C Attempted Sexual Assaults
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
9.4%
6.0%
Women
9.2%
6.2%
Other than
hetero
6.7%
4.7%
7.0%
4.9%
All
respondents
White
Yes
6.5%
4.3%
8.5%
6.4%
6.1%
4.3%
Other than Another/miss Heterosexual
White
gender
Suspect
1.6%2.1%
Men
Findings: 2015 Sexual Assault Campus Climate Survey | 11/5/2015
8.3% of all CMC survey respondents indicated that they had been sexually assaulted while
they were on campus or while off campus at an event or program sponsored by their
institution. An additional 4.3% suspect that someone attempted to sexually assault them,
but were not certain.
Chart 8 - Reported incidents of sexual assault
CMC Incidents of Sexual Assault
20%
15%
17.5%
10%
3.5%
5%
0%
13.0%
Other than
hetero
5.8%
10.3%
Women
8.3%
3.1%
White
4.3%
6.7%
4.5%
All respondents Heterosexual
Yes
Suspect
5.9% 5.9%
Other than
White
1.8% 2.4%
Men
Note: Data for another/missing gender not included due to low numbers of CMC respondents.
UG Incidents of Sexual Assault
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
14.2%
5.4%
Other than
hetero
12.0%
10.3%
5.1%
Women
3.9%
White
8.9%
3.9%
7.5%
0.0%
7.3%
3.4%
7.0%
3.9% 3.2%
All
Another/miss Heterosexual Other than
respondents
gender
White
Yes
Suspect
1.7%
Men
7C Incidents of Sexual Assault
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
12.3%
5.0%
Other than
hetero
9.8%
4.3%
Women
Claremont McKenna College
8.8%
3.3%
White
7.2%
3.3%
6.4%
2.1%
5.7%
2.9%
5.4%
3.3% 2.6% 1.5%
All
Another/miss Heterosexual Other than
respondents
gender
White
Yes
Suspect
Men
8
Table 6 – Types of sexual contact occurring during the sexual assault
Which of the following happened
Touching of a sexual nature
Oral sex
Vaginal sex
Anal sex
Anal or vaginal penetration with other than penis or tongue
CMC %
80.6
22.6
51.6
3.2
3.2
UG %
86.9
18.8
38.1
4.5
6.3
7C %
87.2
19.6
38
5.6
6.7
Touching of a sexual nature - kissing you, touching of private parts, grabbing, fondling,
rubbing up against you in a sexual way, even if it was over your clothes
Oral sex - someone’s mouth or tongue making contact with your genitals, or your mouth or
tongue making contact with someone else’s genitals
Vaginal sex - someone’s penis being put in your vagina, or your penis being put into
someone else’s vagina
Anal sex - someone’s penis being put in your anus, or your penis being put into someone
else’s anus
Anal or vaginal penetration - with a body part other than a penis or tongue, or by an object,
like a bottle or candle
At CMC all reported assailants were drinking alcohol and 81% of those reporting assaults
were also drinking alcohol themselves. 58% of CMC respondents indicated that they were
unable to provide consent or stop what was happening because they were incapacitated in
some way (e.g., passed out, drugged, drunk, or asleep).
Table 7 - Involvement of force, drugs, or alcohol in sexual assaults
Did this incident involve
Other people threatening physical force, coercion, or intimidation
Other people using physical force
Other people drinking alcohol
Other people using drugs
Your drinking alcohol
Your voluntarily taking or using drugs
Your being given a drug without knowledge or consent
Were you unable to provide consent or stop what was happening
because you were incapacitated
CMC %
Yes
29.0
58.1
100.0
22.6
80.6
9.7
0
58.1
UG %
Yes
29.0
43.8
74.4
19.9
64.8
11.4
1.7
40.9
7C %
Yes
29.1
43.6
73.7
20.1
64.2
11.2
1.7
41.9
Many sexual assaults occur between respondents’ first year and completion of their second
year. However, about half of the 7C/UG and 61% of the CMC respondents who were
sexually assaulted experienced multiple incidents and were asked to think about one
incident for the survey. The largest proportions of sexual assault reporters were juniors
or seniors.
Findings: 2015 Sexual Assault Campus Climate Survey | 11/5/2015
Chart 9 – When the reported sexual assault happened
When did this occur?
60%
55%
50%
40%
52% 53%
29%
30%
20%
10%
0%
0% 2% 2%
During
orientation
First year
0% 1% 1%
Summer after
1st yr
24% 23%
Second year
CMC
UG
7C
6%
12% 12%
Third year
3% 2% 3%
Fourth year
6% 5% 5%
Other
Chart 10 – Class year of survey respondents who reported incidents of sexual assault
CMC Class Year of Respondents Reporting Sexual Assault
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
2.3% 2.3%
Freshman/First
Year
6.0%
8.7%
2.0%
Sophomore
% Yes
15.7%
10.7%
1.2%
Junior
Senior
% Suspect
0.0% 0.0%
Graduate Student
or Other
UG Class Year of Respondents Indicating Sexual Assault
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
4.1%
2.1%
Freshman/First Year
Claremont McKenna College
6.6%
3.9%
Sophomore
% Yes
10.5%
% Suspect
6.3%
Junior
14.2%
3.3%
Senior
10
7C Class Year of Respondents Reporting Sexual Assault
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
4.1%
2.1%
Freshman/First
Year
6.6%
10.5%
3.9%
Sophomore
% Yes
14.2%
6.3%
Junior
% Suspect
3.3%
Senior
0.6% 1.2%
Graduate Student
or Other
Assailants were male in the majority of incidents reported for CMC, the 7Cs and UGs.
However there are reported incidents of female assailants, as well as males and females
together, within the consortium. The majority of assaults occurred on campus, in a
residential building.
Table 8: Sex of the assailant and the location where the assault occurred
Sex of the Assailant
Female
Male
Both males and females
I do not know
CMC
%
UG
%
7C
%
3.2
8.5
8.9
1.1
1.1
96.8
0
0
89.8 89.4
0.6
0.6
Location of sexual assault
On campus, in a residential
building
On campus, in nonresidential
building
Off campus, another
college/university
Off campus, not
college/university
CMC
%
UG
%
7C
%
71
60.8
60.1
16.1
26.1
25.8
6.5
6.5
6.8
5.7
The majority of the assailants were students at their own institution. In close to half of the
UG and 7C reported cases, and 77% at CMC, the assailant was a nonromantic friend or
acquaintance.
Table 9 – Institutional affiliation and relationship to the assailant
Was the person who sexually assaulted you
A student at my institution
A student at another school
A faculty, staff member, or administrator at my institution
A faculty, staff member, or administrator at another institution
Not affiliated with school or another school
I do not know
CMC %
77.4
22.6
0
0
6.5
3.2
UG %
60.2
36.9
0.6
0
4.0
4.0
7C %
60.3
36.3
0.6
0
3.9
4.5
7.9
6.2
Findings: 2015 Sexual Assault Campus Climate Survey | 11/5/2015
Relationship to assailant
Stranger
Nonromantic friend or acquaintance
Casual date or hookup
Current romantic partner
Ex-romantic partner
College professor or instructor
College staff member
College administrator
Employer/supervisor
Co-worker
Family member
Other
CMC %
22.6
77.4
16.1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
UG %
32.4
48.9
23.3
4
8.5
0
0
0
0.6
0.6
0
4.5
7C %
31.8
49.2
22.9
3.9
8.4
0
0
0
0.6
0.6
0.6
5
While over 80% of those who reported assaults tell a close friend, far fewer tell the campus
Title IX coordinator or deputy coordinator.
Table 10 – Who was informed about the sexual assault
Whom did you tell
No one
Close friend
Romantic partner
Parent or guardian
Other family member
Roommate
Resident advisor or peer advisor
Campus counselor
Private counselor
Faculty, staff, or administrator
Faculty, staff, or administrator at other school
Campus security, safety, or campus police
Local police
Local or national sexual assault hotline
Campus pastor, minister, rabbi, or other clergy
Campus sexual assault advocate
Campus title IX coordinator or deputy coordinator
Campus health services
Other
Claremont McKenna College
CMC %
6.5
87.1
16.1
25.8
3.2
22.6
16.1
19.4
6.5
22.6
6.5
6.5
3.2
3.2
3.2
3.2
12.9
22.6
6.5
UG %
13.6
81.3
23.9
22.7
9.1
26.7
14.2
15.9
9.1
18.8
3.4
4.5
2.8
2.8
1.7
7.4
13.1
11.4
6.3
7C %
13.4
80.4
23.5
22.9
8.9
26.3
14.5
15.6
9.5
19
3.4
4.5
2.8
2.8
1.7
7.3
12.8
11.2
7.3
12