08/28/2026
College is exciting. It’s a time to meet new people, try new things, find your community, and figure out who you are. It should be fun, exploratory, and full of new experiences.
But there’s something important we need to talk about: the Red Zone - the period from the beginning of the fall semester through Thanksgiving when sexual assault occurs at disproportionately high rates on college campuses.
And while the Red Zone is an important pattern to understand, sexual assault doesn’t exist in a vacuum, and it doesn’t only happen during these months. It happens within the cultures and environments we create on our campuses and in our communities - including the ways we talk about consent, alcohol, relationships, boundaries, and looking out for one another.
That doesn’t mean students should be afraid to go out, have a drink, make new friends, or enjoy college. 💜 You deserve to have fun without expecting that you might be harmed. Awareness, consent, looking out for your friends, and knowing where to turn for support can help us build campuses where everyone can explore this exciting time in their lives more safely.
We’ve put together a blog post breaking down the Red Zone, the factors that can contribute to increased risk, common myths about sexual assault and alcohol, what consent really looks like, and what to do if you or someone you know experiences harm.
Give it a read, share it with a college student in your life, and keep the conversation going.
🔗 Read the blog post here: https://help4abuse.org/the-red-zone-what-you-need-to-know/
And remember: if something happens to you, it is never your fault – and you don’t have to navigate it alone. Options is here to help. 💜
