Enduring the Unexpected: Student Sexual Assault Survivors in the Midst of COVID-19

By Heba Estafanous

NVRDC’s Equal Justice Works Crime Victims Justice Corps Fellow 

Packing up your bags for a week long break in Florida with your best friends is something that many college students look forward to during the spring. Having to suddenly pack up your bags in the middle of the semester to head home to live with your parents…not so much. Some students may not even have the time, resources or support to find a home to go to with such little notice.

College students, along with many of us during COVID-19, have had to adjust to this new season. Students across the country have had to grieve what may look like a normal college semester; rushing across campus to avoid being late to class, meeting new people at student organizations, and choosing between endless meal options in the dining halls. Student-survivors of sexual assault have the added obstacle of managing all of these changes and also dealing with their sexual assault and Title IX cases away from campus. This season brings another layer of unique challenges for these students.

The challenges with leaving campus.

As student-survivors leave campus, they have, in turn, been forced to part ways from their normal support system that they have leaned on during the semester to help them through their trauma. Their close circle of friends have all scattered across the country, any therapy they have sought has now been moved to an online platform, and many support groups are now canceled.

The shift to living back at home has also impacted survivors, especially in their Title IX cases. For survivors who have chosen not to shared information about the assault or their Title IX case with their families, it is difficult to find private times to talk on their phone. This means that not only are survivors isolated from talking with friends, therapists, or other support systems, but survivors also will have more difficulty coordinating with their advisors and school officials to discuss their Title IX cases.

Survivors who do disclose the assault with their families may feel pressure to do what their loved ones want them to do, whether that is reporting to the Title IX office, filing a police report, or not taking any action at all. Even for survivors who know that the decision of how to respond to an assault is up to them, it can still be significantly difficult to resist the pressure that happens when friends and loved ones feel differently.

On the flip-side, some student-survivors have seen a small silver lining through the stay-at-home orders. One student survivor described that they were relieved that at least they wouldn’t have to worry about running into their offender or any of his friends on campus. At least that is something!

Adapting to online Title IX hearings.

As with everything else, Title IX hearings have now been moved online. An online hearing presents new challenges for survivors. For example, student-survivors have the right to have an advisor in the Title IX process. The advisor’s role is to support the student and advise them on decisions in the Title IX case. With hearings moved online, the advisors are no longer able to be in the same room as the student during the hearing, making it fundamentally challenging for advisors to provide the survivor with support and advice in real-time.

During a Title IX hearing, student-survivors often have to retell the details of their assault to a panel of students, faculty, or staff. The panel has an opportunity to ask the students questions about these details. Because of these online hearings, students are now having to share the details of the most horrible thing that has happened to them while their parents, or even children, may be in the next room. Imagine sharing intimate details of the most horrific event that you have ever experienced to a panel of strangers on a computer, while you are alone in your bedroom, and your loved ones are just within earshot. 

We, at NVRDC, are advocating to schools to schedule hearings according to the needs and circumstances of each survivor. For some survivors, it may be critical to reschedule hearings until after the COVID-19 crisis ends in order to eliminate unique barriers and create an equitable process. Other student-survivors may prefer to have the hearing occur sooner rather than later. There is no “right” or “wrong” way to do things, each survivor will have a different set of needs and NVRDC believes that schools should react accordingly!

If you are a student survivor reading this, please know that you are not alone. What you are going through is completely valid and very difficult. Your vulnerability and strength to continue your Title IX case during these difficult times shows have brave and resilient you are. Even if you have chosen not to start or continue your Title IX case, understanding that this decision is completely yours also shows your strength and empowerment to make this difficult choice.

If you are not a student-survivor reading this, thank you for spending the time to learn about what student-survivors may be experiencing during this time. Raising awareness on unique barriers that these students are enduring will bring a new level of understanding for these students. Consider supporting a student with a kind word of encouragement during this time.

COVID-19 has continued to bring changes to each of our lives. We must remember that we are in this together. As always, NVRDC is still here to help.  

If you’re a DC student-survivor struggling with having experienced a sexual assault and want to know more about your options, please contact NVRDC. 202-742-1727. To learn more about NVRDC’s Title IX & Clery Act Services, click here.

This program is supported by a subaward from Equal Justice Works as part of an award from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office for Victims of Crime, Award Number 2017-MU-MU-K131. The opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice or Equal Justice Works.