Utah State University is promoting the Start by Believing initiative to encourage people to support sexual assault survivors and help end the silence surrounding sexual violence. The campaign focuses on improving personal and professional reactions to disclosures to encourage more survivors to seek essential support.
According to a notice from Utah State University, national data from RAINN indicates that 4 out of 5 students do not report experienced sexual violence to law enforcement. Furthermore, a small minority of survivors file formal complaints with university authorities.
In a 2017 campus climate survey conducted by USU, 57% of survivors reported they feared being blamed or not being believed. More than one third of survivors stated they told no one about their experience. Common reasons cited for remaining silent included shame, concerns regarding privacy, the fear of not being believed, and the perception that the experience was not serious enough.
Since the launch of USU's Start by Believing efforts, the percentage of survivors who did not disclose their experience to anyone has dropped from nearly 38% to 17%.
The campaign provides guidance on how to respond when someone discloses a sexual assault. Recommendations include listening with empathy, validating the individual, and avoiding accusatory "why" questions. The initiative advises supporters to trust the survivor's decisions and to avoid acting as an investigator.
The campaign also addresses common myths, noting that research shows only about 2-8% of sexual assault reports to law enforcement are false. Supporters are encouraged to challenge these myths and to stand against victim-blaming in social interactions.
Utah was the first designated Start by Believing state in the country in 2015. Utah State University has been a leader in the movement since 2018. In 2021, End Violence Against Women International recognized USU as the only university in the country honored for its commitment to the campaign. In 2023, USU students and employees accounted for approximately 80% of all Start by Believing pledges made statewide.
