Your School. Your Paper. Since 1936.

The Suffolk Journal

Your School. Your Paper. Since 1936.

The Suffolk Journal

Your School. Your Paper. Since 1936.

The Suffolk Journal

Editor’s word: Growing attention on sexual assault

This is the second time this year an editorial is appearing in our paper on sexual assault.

The chief of the Suffolk University Police Department said in an interview with The Suffolk Journal that he does not believe sexual assault is becoming more prevalent on campuses, but rather, that it is getting more attention — something he believes is a good thing.

More attention, especially on a national level with campaigns like “It’s On Us,” will raise more awareness to sexual assaults. Hopefully, this will help survivors find the resources to report their assaults, if they choose to do so. Even more so, hopefully it will help raise awareness of the issue, and begin a decline in the amount number of assaults on college campuses.

SUPD has trained five officers to assist members of the Suffolk community who report a sexual assault, Chief Gerard Coletta said, and it is working on training other members of the university to do so as well.

Like Coletta said, sexual assault is receiving more attention now than in years past. The issue appears in our paper three times this week.

An article in our news section details the university’s annual security and fire safety report, with data on sexual assaults on campus. There have been no recorded assaults since 2010, when there were two. However, others have been investigated, but did not need to be reported under the Clery Act.

In our opinion section, one of our staff members discusses the frequency of sexual assaults at area colleges and the need for people to understand that only “yes” means yes.

In our sports section, a brief discusses the immediate suspension of University of Florida quarterback Treon Harris after sexual assault accusations from a female student.

A Boston Globe article published Monday stated that “forcible sex offences” at over two dozen colleges climbed 40 percent since last year.

By dedicating more attention to the issue, colleges can work better to treat reports of sexual assaults more effectively. But that doesn’t change the fact that sexual assault is something that shouldn’t happen, and is something no one should have to experience.

Hopefully with additional training by SUPD, Suffolk University can be sure to have all the tools necessary to help someone who has survived an assault.

If you are unsure of the university’s policy, you can check suffolk.edu as well as the full security and fire safety report. A link was sent to every student via umail.

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Editor’s word: Growing attention on sexual assault