How to Protect Yourself or Your Student This Semester

Starting college is exciting and it should be all about new experiences, roommates, friends and exposure to new ideas, concepts and activities. One of them should not be sexual abuse. And yet, it often comes with those risks.

Approximately one in five women and one in 16 men experience sexual assault while in college, according to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center. These are not stranger danger cases 90% of the time, the perpetrator is someone the victim knows.

At Andreozzi + Foote, , we’ve represented college students across the country harmed by professors, coaches, RAs, or fellow students, often in cases where the school failed to act or protect them. We fight to hold institutions accountable, enforce existing policies, and work toward eradicating sexual abuse from college campuses..

That’s why back-to-campus prep should include more than dorm checklists and textbooks. Understanding your rights and how to stay safe is crucial.

Know Your Rights Under Title IX:

Title IX is a federal law that protects students from sexual discrimination, harassment, and violence in any federally funded school including colleges and universities. That includes rape, fondling, assault, sexual exploitation and non consensual sexual contact.

The most common form of sexual abuse on college campuses is non-consensual sexual contact or assault perpetrated by someone the victim knows often a classmate, roommate, or authority figure such as a coach, teacher, or RA. This abuse frequently occurs in private settings like dorm rooms, locker rooms, or staff offices, and is rarely reported immediately due to fear, shame, or confusion about what happened.

In many cases, victims are pressured into silence or dismissed when they do speak up. Schools have a legal and ethical duty to respond seriously to all reports of misconduct but when they fail to act, survivors are left vulnerable and retraumatized.

The Rise of Online Sexual Exploitation and Digital Abuse

Sexual exploitation is evolving and increasingly, it’s happening online. From coercive sextortion to the non-consensual sharing of intimate images, young people are being manipulated into sharing content or engaging in sexual acts under threat, blackmail, or false trust. Predators may pose as peers or use social media platforms, gaming apps, or direct messaging to target vulnerable students. Once exploited, many victims suffer in silence, fearful of the public humiliation that exposure can bring. Unfortunately, we see this on college campuses often.

If you experience:

• Sexual assault or misconduct
• Stalking or dating violence
• Retaliation for reporting harm
• Sexual Explotatation

… your school is legally required to:

• Respond promptly and effectively
• Offer supportive measures (class changes, housing shifts, no-contact orders)
• Conduct a fair and impartial investigation

Ask: Who is the Title IX Coordinator? What are my options for informal or formal resolution?

Tips for Students Living on Campus:

• Trust your gut. If someone makes you uncomfortable distance yourself.
• Watch for red flags: boundary crossing, excessive flattery from authority figures, isolation tactics.
• Know how to anonymously report incidents on campus or through local hotlines.
• Talk to your RA or campus counselor about confidential resources.

For Parents of College Students:

• Encourage open communication. Let your student know you are a safe place to talk even about difficult topics.
• Familiarize yourself with the college’s Title IX and campus safety protocols.
• Ask about the school’s mandatory reporting policies and confirm whether the faculty receive training in trauma-informed practices.

“If something ever happens, you are not alone. You have rights. And we will help you navigate it.”

When Schools Fail:

Unfortunately, we’ve seen too many cases where colleges:

• Minimize student disclosures
• Delay investigations
• Protect institutional reputation over student safety

When that happens, civil litigation may be the path to accountability and justice. Our team of trauma-informed attorneys is here to advocate for you every step of the way.

At Andreozzi + Foote, we represent college students and families failed by their institutions. If you or your child reported abuse and felt ignored, contact us. We listen. We act. We fight for survivors.