HILLSBOROUGH -- With college classes in full swing and dorms teeming with eager and excited students - there is one unwelcome part of back-to-school celebrations. The "Red Zone" describes the first six to ten weeks of the semester when a large percentage of sexual assaults occur on college campuses.

According to Irene Dwinnell, executive director at the Orange County Rape Crisis Center, activities at this time of year can create the perfect storm of assault risks.

"It's a transition time," Dwinnell said. "There's lots of reasons to have parties. It's a part of the culture of the welcome on most university and college campuses. And so with that unfortunately goes an increase in potential for sexual assault and rapes to occur."

Dwinnell advised students to be mindful of the amount of alcohol they consume at parties and to watch over their drinks at all times. Experts say it's also a good idea to travel in groups, and to watch out for others with you.

Students are also advised to become familiar with campus before heading out to parties, and to trust their instincts.

And, Dwinnell said parents should remember to not only advise their daughters of safe practices. Everyone can play a role in protecting fellow classmates.

"This is an everyone's responsibility," she said. "So for example, if you're going to tell your daughter, 'Don't go anywhere without your phone charged,' same information to your son - to ensure that our now college-age sons and daughters feel confident and competent to potentially interrupt the situation."

According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, nine out of 10 victims of rape or sexual assault knew their attacker. And it's estimated that for every 1,000 women attending a college or university, there are 35 incidents of rape each academic year.

More information is available at nsvrc.org.

(Information from Stephanie Carson, NC News Service)