ABOUT S.H.A.P.E.
Preventing sexual assault has been an important issue for Duke students for several years, but its prevalence across campus will not stop unless it is treated accordingly. Respect for survivors’ accounts, appropriate punishment, comprehensive education, and additional efforts must be made at all levels (from the administration to the students) to eradicate systemic rape culture.
We plan to put forth three connected projects to address this complex issue in different ways:
1) GLOBAL OUTREACH
2) CAMPUS ACTIVISM
The Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention & Education Week (S.H.A.P.E. Week)
3) INSTITUTIONAL POLICY REFORM
The Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention & Education Act (S.H.A.P.E. Act)
BACKGROUND
This project stems from major concerns about the rate of sexual assault within Duke’s community. According to a February 2019 school climate survey, 48% of Duke undergraduate women say they’ve been sexually assaulted since enrolling – and this only accounts for reported cases. The number of reports from male undergraduates has also risen from 10 to 14%. Students have become frustrated and believe this problem is unacceptable. Common concerns include our institution’s lack of transparency and insufficient abilities to hold perpetrators accountable. Less than half of students surveyed (48%) believe Duke is “doing a good job” of trying to prevent sexual assault.
This situation indicates that sexual assault training, prevention, & education
need to be taken more seriously.
While persistent inequities and patriarchal structures are realities, we have the power to reshape Duke as a microcosm of what we want our world to look like:
safe, innovative, equitable, and progressive.