This chapter places the findings of a national study of rape among college students in the context of relevant research to illustrate that the study findings are not isolated or spurious, nor do they constitute "highly sophisticated advocacy research," as claimed by Gilbert (1993). Rather, they are alarming findings that warrant further serious attention. Today, after an explosion of sexual assault research in the past decade, it is widely accepted that women have more reason to fear violence from acquaintances and those they know more intimately than from strangers. Because the true scope of rape has been hidden until recently, it is difficult to estimate the psychosocial and economic costs of sexual assault. Gordon and Rigner's (1991) study illustrates that these costs spread beyond the directly victimized and affect nonvictimized women as well by engendering fear that leads to personal restrictions on their behavior and relationships. Victims of sexual assault often experience fear, anxiety, and depression in addition to difficulty in sexual relationships. Almost one-third develop rape-related posttraumatic stress disorder at some point in their lives. The scientific community can respond to controversies regarding intimate violence in several productive ways. These include further exploring the implications of widespread violence, examining discrepant research findings, developing and testing alternative hypotheses, and advancing scientific knowledge by refining theories regarding sexual assault. Criticizing existing research by misrepresenting the findings and by confusing empirical research with advocacy and education efforts reveals little regard for scholarship and hinders understanding. 65 references