The last Emerson360 Community Survey was administered during November 2023. The data below shows results from that survey.
Below is a summary of Emerson College's 2024 community climate survey, shared in accordance with the Campus Sexual Violence Act, M.G.L. c. 6 section 168D.
It is important to acknowledge the incidence and prevalence of power-based interpersonal violence in our society, our communities, and our campuses. Rather than minimizing, silencing or erasing the harm, we call attention to it in order to support folks impacted by it and to make institutional efforts to prevent and address it.
Survey respondents indicated that during their time at Emerson, they were more likely to experience power-based interpersonal violence from person(s) outside of the Emerson community.
Within the Emerson community, survey respondents were more likely to experience behavior that made them feel afraid for their personal safety, fearful, or alter their daily activities (17%).
In addition, folks were more likely to experience unwelcome advances (11%), unwanted contact (7%), than control (5%), coercion (5%), force (2%), or incapacitation (2%).
Profile of Survey Respondents
- Number of surveys sent to your organization: 5,731
- Number of respondents: 1,278
- Survey response rate: 22%
Incidents within and outside the Emerson Community
During your time at Emerson...
- Has anyone ever displayed behavior that made you afraid for your personal safety, feel fearful, or alter your daily activities?
- Person(s) outside of Emerson community: 19% (210/1,091 respondents)
- Person(s) within Emerson community: 17% (183/1,082 respondents)
- During your time at Emerson, have you ever been in a relationship with someone who has controlled or tried to control you?
- Person(s) outside of Emerson community: 6% (63/1,094 respondents)
- Person(s) within Emerson community: 5% (54/1,086 respondents)
- During your time at Emerson, have you ever been in a relationship with someone who has used, or threatened to use physical force against you?
- Person(s) outside of Emerson community: 3% (32/1,092 respondents)
- Person(s) within Emerson community: 2% (23/1,083 respondents)
- During your time at Emerson, has anyone ever made unwelcome sexual advances toward you or unwelcome requests for sex from you?
- Person(s) outside of Emerson community: 13% (143/1,090 respondents)
- Person(s) within Emerson community: 11% (120/1,085 respondents)
- During your time at Emerson, has anyone ever made unwanted or unwelcome sexual contact with you (e.g. kissing, touching, grabbing or intercourse)?
- Person(s) outside of Emerson community: 8% (87/(1,091 respondents)
- Person(s) within Emerson community: 7% (81/1,091 respondents)
- During your time at Emerson, has anyone ever had sexual contact with you when you were asleep, passed out, or incapacitated due to drugs or alcohol?
- Person(s) outside of Emerson community: 2% (26/1,089 respondents)
- Person(s) within Emerson community 2% (25/1,082 respondents)
- During your time at Emerson, has someone ever tried to convince you to have sexual contact with them or others?
- Person(s) outside of this institution: 5% (58/1,087 respondents)
- Person(s) within this institution: 5% (56/1,081 respondents)
Over half of the survey respondents indicated that the incidents occurred during the past 3 months. Most of the respondents indicated experiencing the incidents within the two years. In addition, survey respondents indicated several time frames, which suggests that they experienced multiple incidents or ongoing incidents.
Most survey respondents who experienced power-based interpersonal violence, including identity-based harm, on-campus indicated residence halls or another campus building (89%). Survey respondents who experienced power-based interpersonal violence off-campus typically indicated a residence (home/condo/apartment): someone else’s residence, their own residence, or their parent/family home.
If yes to any of the questions above...
- When did the incident(s) occur? (Mark all that apply):
- 0-3 months ago: 52% (239/463 respondents)
- 4-8 months ago: 37% (173/462 respondents)
- 9-12 months ago: 38% (169/449 respondents)
- 1-2 years ago: 39% (183/469 respondents)
- 3-4 years ago: 13% (56/440 respondents)
- 4-5 years ago: 5% (23/431 respondents)
- More than 5 years ago: 5% (23/425 respondents)
- Where did the incident(s) occur? (Mark all that apply): Off-Campus
- Your own home, condo, or apartment: 12% (59/476 respondents)
- Someone else's home, condo, or apartment: 19% (91/474 respondents)
- Parent/Family Home: 12% (57/471 respondents)
- College Vehicle: 1% (5/467 respondents)
- Another College's residence hall: 6% (29/473 respondents)
- Other Location: 11% (51/478 respondents)
- Where did the incident(s) occur? (Mark all that apply): On-Campus
- Your residence hall room or suite: 31% (149/488 respondents)
- Someone else's residence hall room or suite: 20% (97/474 respondents)
- Another location in a residence hall: 15% (68/465 respondents)
- Emerson Building: 56% (276/490 respondents)
- Other Location: 11% (51/444 respondents)
It is common to have mixed feelings when deciding whether or not to talk about the incident(s). People are more likely to confide in a friend or loved one than to report to an official. Most Emerson survey respondents indicated that they told a close friend (387), roommate (286), parent/guardian (253), or a romantic partner/spouse (219). Survey respondents were also more likely to tell a confidential resource, such as a therapist not affiliated with Emerson College (192), Healing & Advocacy staff (154), or Emerson Wellness Center - Counseling Services (149), than report to an official such as the Office of Equal Opportunity (148), Emerson College Police (118), or other police department (111).
Sometimes, people don’t tell anyone for a variety of reasons, including fear of not being believed, wanting to handle it themselves, and thinking nothing would be done about it. At Emerson, 264 survey respondents indicated that they did not tell anyone about the incident(s).
- Who did you tell about the experience(s)? (Mark all that apply)
- Close friend other than roommate: 387
- Roommate: 286
- No One: 264
- Parent or guardian: 253
- Romantic partner/Spouse: 219
- Therapist not affiliated with Emerson: 192
- Other Family Member: 167
- Emerson Resident Assistant: 156
- Emerson Healing & Advocacy Collective Staff: 154
- Emerson Resident Director: 151
- Emerson Wellness Center - Counseling Services: 149
- Emerson Office of Equal Opportunity Staff Member:148
- Other Staff at Emerson: 148
- Emerson Professor/Faculty: 147
- Medical Professional (e.g., physician, doctor, nurse): 129
- Work Supervisor/Boss: 126
- Spiritual/Religious Advisor: 123
- National confidential hotline: 118
- Emerson College Police: 118
- Other Police Department: 112
Most survey respondents indicated feeling supported by those they told or reported to (88%). Generally survey respondents indicated they were given resources/information, however they indicated they received more general than specific resource/information. Survey respondents indicated being informed of or referred to local, state, campus or other resources or victim support services, including appropriate medical care and legal services, as well as provided with information about resources for protection from retaliation, access to school-based supportive measures and civil justice and criminal justice remedies, in the following ways (duplicated):
- What kind of responses did you receive from those you told or reported to? (Mark all that apply)
- Responded in a way that made you feel supported: 88% (374/427 respondents)
- Helped you gather information, or find resources or services:42% (142/342 respondents)
- Gave you resources you could use if you wanted to: 40% *(136/341 respondents)
- Was with you when you called a resource, or went with you to keep you company: 16% (52/327 respondents)
- Referred you to the Healing & Advocacy Collective: 18% (61/332 respondents)
- Referred you to the Emerson Wellness Center - Counseling Services: 16% (53/325 respondents)
- Referred you to the Office of Equal Opportunity (formerly Title IX Office): 18% (57/324 respondents)
- Referred you to the Emerson College Police Department: 4% (13/314 respondents)
- Shared information about local, state, campus or other resources or support services, including appropriate medical care and legal services: 7% (21/317 respondents)
- Shared information about resources for protection from retaliation, access to school-based supportive measures, and civil justice and criminal justice options: 6% (20/315)