A recent national study – that shows that females studying abroad in non-English speaking countries may be more likely to fall victim to sexual assault – should not concern Fairfield students, according to the Fairfield’s study abroad manager.
Frank Congin said he believes the school’s study abroad program properly prepares students to be safe and aware of their surroundings.
“I haven’t heard of these issues from our students. I think we do a good job of preparing them … It’s all in the preparation,” Congin said.
Congin says the orientation for students going abroad stresses the importance of “traveling in groups, reading up on the nation’s culture, and using good judgment … The more that we prepare our students … the less likely they are to engage in risky behavior.”
Junior Morgan Havard of Providence College, who studied abroad last semester through Fairfield’s program in Florence, Italy, agrees with Congin but also notes that it is up to students to put the preparation to use.
“I think Fairfield did a pretty good job at preparing us for what to expect,” said Havard, “but students still have to be aware of their surroundings.”
According to Congin, this preparation has been so effective that no incidents from Fairfield’s program have been reported.
The survey, conducted by the American Psychological Association, used information from 218 women to compile their report, in which they found about 28 percent of these woman had fallen victim to some form of “unwanted touching” while studying abroad.
Furthermore, the study also found that during a semester abroad, a female student was five times more likely to be raped than if she had stayed on campus.
In an article from Inside Higher Ed, about the 2012 study, it was noted that the data is limited and needs further investigation, but that the evidence that some areas put females at a higher risk of sexual assault is strong. It went on to say that schools need to be more proactive in warning their students of these dangers.
Fairfield students who have studied abroad have had mixed feelings. While Havard believes the numbers that represent “unwanted touching” were accurate, especially when considering the atmosphere “at the clubs,” Trish Doheny ‘14 feels the study was not consistent with her experience in France last semester.
Doheny believes the sexual assault issue has a lot to do with the positions that students put themselves in. “I definitely think alcohol contributes to this issue … You’re not aware of your surroundings and you are no longer secluded on a campus.”
Junior Bella Perone, who also studied in Florence last semester, agrees, “They assume studying abroad, girls are more vulnerable, especially when they are out drinking at bars and clubs,” said Perone, “It’s whether or not [they] put themselves in the right situations.”
It also appears this issue has not scared away Fairfield’s students who plan on studying abroad next semester. Sophomore Jennifer Colasuonno, who will study in Florence next spring, said she had not heard of the study and is not “really worried about it” as she always plans on “staying in a group” and vowed not to be alone with someone she does not know.
Due to these lingering, unanswered issues one may ask if Fairfield should put an end to study abroad. Both Doheny and Congin had a one-word answer: “No.”
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