Why They Didn’t Report: Trump’s Challenge to Kavanaugh Accuser Provokes Stories of Campus Assault

Twitter exploded on Friday with tweets tagged #WhyIDidntReport. The tweeters — mostly women — shared intimate stories of assault and harassment, and detailed why they had not reported the incidents to the police or other law-enforcement authorities.

The hashtag sprang up as a swift response to a morning tweet by President Trump about Christine Blasey Ford, the psychology professor who has accused Brett M. Kavanaugh, Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, of sexually assaulting her when they were both in high school. Kavanaugh has denied the allegation.

“If the attack on Dr. Ford was as bad as she says, charges would have been immediately filed with local Law Enforcement Authorities by either her or her loving parents,” Trump tweeted.

That question will sound familiar to many survivors of campus sexual assault: Why didn’t you just call the police?

Advocates for victims of sexual assault say they choose not to report for a myriad of reasons, especially on a college campus, where official procedures and social life often add new layers of complicated concerns about reporting. Studies suggest that as many as 20 percent of women who attend residential campuses are victims of sexual assault, and the vast majority don’t report the experience.

Tweets tagged #WhyIDidntReport shed light on why: Some students were drunk at college parties and felt they’d be blamed for what happened to them. Some had heard horror stories from peers about the Title IX reporting process. Some were afraid to be socially ostracized. Some were concerned about college power structures. Some did report and weren’t believed.

In their own words, here are why some women didn’t report a sexual assault that happened in college. (The users have each given The Chronicle permission to republish their posts.)

I know so many people I went to college with who have reported their assaults to Title IX and been put through an unfeeling, uncaring system that didn’t do anything or prioritized the perpetrator’s story or education over the survivors. #WhyIDidntReport

— Elly Belle (@literElly) September 21, 2018

There were three. All popular. 2 sat on the steps nearby, watched, and laughed. All were wealthy whose families gave major donations to the university. I was a freshman, and scared their family’s prestige and connections would mute me anyways. #WhyIDidntReport

— Ashley Phoenix B. (@AshBeSeeing) September 21, 2018

Was in college, was drunk, was 19, he was my “friend,"didn’t know that I could, thought it was my fault, was in denial #WhyIDidntReport

— zareena baji (@zar_eena) September 21, 2018

#WhyIDidntReport
Because I was an 18-yr old naive freshman at a University of Texas frat party. My mom asked me why I went to the party; why I wore that skirt; why I drank the punch when I knew there were so many boys there. I was ashamed. I blamed myself. #IStandWithChristine

— C. Vargas McPherson (@VargasMcPherson) September 21, 2018

In college I was a witness to a harrassment and a rape case 2 of my friends braved reporting. The devastating outcomes taught me reporting assault is like reporting to HR. It appears the process’s there for you, but you learn it’s there to cover the institution. #WhyIDidntReport

— Monica Beletsky (@MonicaBeletsky) September 21, 2018

#WhyIDidntReport because I was 18, and drinking underage on a college campus. He was 27 and everyone on my rugby team said he was the nicest guy they knew. Because I was raised to believe that since I was drunk, and I let him walk me to my room, it must be my fault.

— Stella Anne (@snarkydogmom) September 21, 2018

I did report. But after all, he was the star football player on our college team. There I sat alone in a courtroom. His father, coaches and lawyers by his side. I said nothing. Case dismissed. #WhyIDidntReport

— Michele Brewer (@DocBrewer) September 21, 2018

Follow Claire Hansen on Twitter at @clairechansen, or email her at claire.hansen@chronicle.com.