By Ma Xin
Many people believe violence on college and university campuses is rare and view campus as a “safe haven.” However, a significant minority of students reports experiencing some form of violence, including interpersonal and sexual violence, while in college.
For instance, research shows that 17 percent of college students reported experiencing some form of violence or harassment during the previous year, according to Lanford.
Violence affects the safety of everyone at the college and in the surrounding community. Violence is a complex behaviour with determinants rooted in biology, childhood experience, community norms, and social and economic conditions. Violence on campus takes many forms, including hate and bias crimes, hazing, rape and other sexual assault, stalking, suicide, and vandalism.
Survivors of violence may experience long-term physical and emotional consequences as a result of violence, which may lead to social or academic problems.
Recently, there was one case about campus bully in a middle school in China. There was one student, Gao Xiaobao, who was always bullying other students in school, among them four students have been his victims. Moreover, those four students can be bullied by anyone because Gao Xiaobao allowed them to do so.
This is a common issue in this middle school, even the teachers have no way to deal with it. Until last week, two students have suffered very serious injury. One student has broken his left arm, while another one became a vegetable. Due to this case has greatly influenced in society, the government is involved is this case.
The media has explored the dark-side in campus, they went to the school and interviewed the students who have been bullied. At the beginning some of the victims did not dare to point out who the executor was. Until one boy came out and pointed at Gao who he said had bullied them all the time. With the evidence, therefore, Gao has been sent to jail.
With this case, it is a warning to us, especially the parents. As a parent, it can be scary to contemplate the vulnerability of your son or daughter.
While it is important to acknowledge the problem of violence, it may be reassuring to know that students on university campuses generally are safer than their non-college peers. It is quite important for students to know how to protect themselves and how to prevent the violence from happening.
Thankfully, most students and members of our society behaved in healthy and safe ways. The threats of our connections to each other and our society at large and feelings of caring and responsibility towards one another can provide a basis to build greater safety. ***