Sexual Assault Reporting
Dear Editor in Chief:
We are writing to provide clarification for some of the statements made by JoAnna Smith, president of the Women's Initiative, in an article published on March 29 ("Sex assault reporting may violate law"). In that article, Smith comments that the number of sexual assaults reported in AU's 2006 Annual Security Report is lower than she expects and that "[i]t's silly to think that only one sexual assault happened on our campus last year." She then states, "I can think of about 12 people, off the top of my head, who have told me that they have been sexually assaulted in the last year here on campus."
Smith highlights one of the most significant issues in reporting the incidence rate of sexual violence. Department of Justice studies, among others, report that sexual violence is, in general, greatly underreported by victims. Within the scope of the Clery Act requirements, the Department of Public Safety actively seeks information about crimes, including sex offenses, that occur on campus and in the surrounding areas. Each year, they survey campus administrators who have significant responsibilities for student and campus activities to gather the necessary information for the Annual Security Report, which is made widely available.
We hope that Smith will encourage the individuals who have told her that they have been sexually assaulted to come forward. AU has an array of resources available to assist survivors of sexual assault, and we want to make sure that every student who needs services receives them. The article of March 29 states that AU has a "strong rape prevention program." While the university is in compliance with the Clery Act, we welcome suggestions to improve the reporting process.
Sincerely,
Katsura Kurita Beltz
Director, Judicial Affairs and Mediation Services
Michael McNair
Chief, Department of Public Safety
TDR woes are nothing new
I met a good friend for TDR last Thursday. I like to meet people for dinner - I can catch up, eat, hear old stories, not worry about running to classes or jobs or internships. We swiped in, scavenged for a table, and went about our ways rounding up food. Much to my dismay, there were no fries or tots, nor were any being fried. There were no ribs; there were no burgers, not even a greasy hot dog. There was no cheese. There were no cookies; we had to wait for those. Most of the ice cream flavors were out; I had to get the cake one. There was no ice in three of the machines; not that it mattered - there were no cups. There wasn't any potato bread, only white and wheat. There were no ripe bananas, nor steamed rice. Cereal is usually my default last resort - no bowls there, either. I could write a book about what was missing from TDR last Thursday night, but the problem is, no one would read it. It's the same old story.
Carl Seip
Sophomore, School of Public Affairs
