The University of Missouri campus has been rocked by the several recent reports of sexual violence. Since the beginning of September, there have been three reported cases of sexual violence towards women on or near campus. One was classified as a sexual assault, and the other two were classified as rapes. In each of these cases, the victims did not know the attackers.
Information about all three of these instances was released to University of Missouri students via two separate Clery Releases, which can be found here and here. This is in accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act of 1998, which requires all colleges and universities to disclose information about crime on and around campuses.
These incidents put the safety of females on campus in question. It is unacceptable that in the month of September alone, there were three reported instances in which a woman was sexually assaulted.
Along with the second Clery Release, which provided information on the incidents that occurred on Sept. 13 and 14, MUPD included information about general safety tips to be shared with the community.
Even with personal safety resources available to students, such as STRIPES and the blue-light poles on campus that can be used to immediately contact police by pressing a button, sexual assaults are evidently still a problem facing the University of Missouri.
According to The Washington Post, 22 forcible sex offenses were reported on our campus from 2010 to 2012. This is lower than the number of forcible sex offenses on many other campuses. However, people are not numbers; each specific case reported is a life potentially changed forever by a single incident that should not have occurred.
The Missouri Students Association has reacted by taking a stand against sexual violence on campus with their “Enough is Enough” campaign. The campaign encourages students to be activists and to look out for each other as a part of “One Mizzou.”
As a female student, it is quite terrifying to know that women like myself have been attacked in a place that I now call home. Even in broad daylight, it can sometimes feel eerie walking alone in a secluded area. However, I do find comfort in knowing that there are people on campus who are concerned with the safety of others. If the notion that students should look after each other becomes present in the entire student body, it is possible that the total number of sexual assaults reported will decrease.
Campaigns like “Enough is Enough” certainly are promising, but they only work if students make a commitment to get involved with them. The prevention of sexual assault should not rely on the potential victim; it is the responsibility of the community to keep an eye out for the safety of men and women alike.
Anyone with information about the sexual assaults that have been reported is encouraged to contact MUPD.
To get involved with MSA’s “Enough is Enough” campaign and fight against violence and sexual assault, contact MSA at msa@missouri.edu.Â