Two weeks ago Campus Safety sent an email to the DU community alerting students of recent reports of sexual assault, detailing that, “Since January 2016, Campus Safety has learned of seven reported sexual assault-rape incidents in our community.” It goes on to state that six out of the seven incidents have occurred in the months since October 2015. Plus, the email denotes that these cases of sexual assault are rape, which is separate from the forcible fondlings also reported in past months. This separation is definitional in accordance with Title IX policies, further emphasizing the fact that sexual assault is a prevalent threat to DU students. It is important for students to be active in discussions and awareness of sexual assault in order to support victims and promote positive change in campus culture.
The month of April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, recognized by DU through various awareness and educational events. This month provides an important space of support and opportunity for DU students to be involved and aware of these discussions. Sexual assault is a very real issue for colleges across the nation as nearly one in four women say they are sexually assaulted before graduation according to a report completed by the Association of American Universities. Unfortunately, DU is not exempt from this issue, as displayed by the seven reports of sexual assault in the DU community in past months.
The Center for Advocacy, Prevention and Empowerment (CAPE) is always available to students for education, support, confidentiality and reports. Plus there are multiple campus organizations that students can be a part of in order to promote empowerment, such as Undergraduate Women’s Council, Undergraduate Student Government, Queer Straight Alliance and the Student Coalition for the Eradication of Sexual Assault. All of these organizations and more are involved in the events and recognition occurring during the month of April, and students are encouraged to take part, especially in light of the recent sexual assault-rape reports.
While April is merely a month to raise awareness, these organizations and centers work year-round to prevent these crimes and support the victims. Students can be involved in these efforts by attending events, joining conversations or even taking ten minutes to fill out surveys, such as the one sent to students on April 18. Though filling out information on a survey may not seem to make a large impact in the grand scheme of sexual assault prevention, it still helps to capture an idea of what perceptions, knowledge and willingness are held on DU’s campus. These ideas help to inform organizations, such as CAPE, about how to continue or improve upon reaching students and making an impact with messages surrounding sexual assault.
While the issue of sexual assault isn’t something that can be fixed overnight, student involvement in campus activities and programs can help promote a culture of support and awareness with the goal of a healthy and safe campus environment.
