A pervasive and grim reality on U.S. college campuses is the common problem of sexual misconduct. This umbrella term, as defined by the source, specifically includes sexual harassment, stalking, intimate partner violence, and sexual assault.
According to the report, students have developed a rather cynical expectation regarding how their institutions will handle these serious issues. The prevailing assumption is that if a student ever musters the courage to file a report, the university's response will be, to put it mildly, a mishandling.
This expectation of institutional failure suggests a profound lack of faith in the very systems designed to protect and support survivors. It paints a picture of campuses where the protocol is as much a part of the problem as the initial offense.
The situation essentially creates a chilling effect where the fear of a botched administrative process may prevent reporting altogether, allowing the common problem to persist in the shadows. It's a bleak cycle where distrust is both a symptom and a cause.