In print | January 31, 2008

In addition to the news coverage we present in this issue regarding the issue of sexual assault and how it is handled on this campus, we received, independent of our editorial guidance, unsolicited opinions pieces this week expressing concern over the prevalence of sexual assault and the silence that accompanies it.

To us, this clearly demonstrates that the question of sexual assault on campus is one that warrants serious discussion and to date, it has not adequately been explored in a public forum.

While there are aspects of the administrative procedures for prosecuting sexual assault that some argue do not best serve the interest of the victims, we wish to acknowledge several mechanisms that are effective in helping with the healing and counseling process for victims of sexual assault. The SMART team’s ongoing support of victims throughout their ordeal has been indispensable in helping many of these students work through their options. We hope that our news coverage of the issue of sexual assault does not discourage victims from seeking support from the administrators or student resources like the SMART team and Swat Survivors. While we understand and are concerned that printing these articles could potentially trigger an emotional reaction in individuals whose lives have been affected by sexual assault, it is our sincere hope that the primary effect will be increased public awareness of these issues, which we hope will be a positive force in preventing or minimizing sexual violence on campus in the future.

As a community known for challenging norms and questioning the status quo, we cannot remain silent when confronted with the undeniable presence of sexual assault on our own campus. We encourage readers to respond to the coverage in this week’s issue and welcome letters to continue the discussion on the pages of this publication and beyond.

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