It's a topic many don't want to talk about, but as another notice from South Dakota State University reminds us, sexual assaults can happen on any college campus.
In an alert issued earlier this week, the school reported that a woman in Binnewies Hall said she was sexually assaulted. This is the second case in a dorm since classes started in August.
Back in August, a victim reported a sexual assault in Pierson Hall. She knew the suspect and an arrest was made. While it's not something you want to hear happen, University Officials are encouraged that victims, and people who know the victim, are willing to come forward.
In an alert issued earlier this week, the school reported that a woman in Binnewies Hall said she was sexually assaulted. This is the second case in a dorm since classes started in August.
Back in August, a victim reported a sexual assault in Pierson Hall. She knew the suspect and an arrest was made. While it's not something you want to hear happen, University Officials are encouraged that victims, and people who know the victim, are willing to come forward.
A second sexual assault on campus has people now trying to prevent the crime from happening in the first place. Two SDSU Students are raising awareness and educating their peers on the resources available to victims.
Annelieke Sinnema is the President of the Feminist Equality Movement. The group just finished a project where people posted notes imagining world without sexual violence. Sinnema says it's all about removing the stigma surrounding the victims.
"Creating awareness and creating dialogue about it is very important. People should know that it is OK to report it. Getting stigmatized, it's not your fault if it happens to you," Sinnema said.
Jacob Gubbrud is a member of a SDSU Fraternity that is putting together a Sexual Assault Awareness Week. Starting Monday, there will be a number of events on campus. Gubbrud wants all students to talk about the problem and think of solutions.
"In our mind if it happens once it's too much for us and it hurts us every time we hear that another one happened. So we're just trying to do what we can to be the difference and to start the conversation and also join together as a group of male leaders on campus to get the conversation going amongst males," Gubbrud said.
It's a threat the university takes seriously. Assistant Vice President for Safety and Security Don Challis says SDSU works hard to educate students and staff about the importance of reporting sexual assault. The university provides orientation to incoming freshman and parents about sexual assault and what to look for.
All faculty and staff are required to go through Title IX training and are required to report any information. You can report sexual assault to the Dean of Students at 688-4493 and/or the Title IX Coordinator at 688-4128. There's also the Jackrabbit's Guardian, an app to report crime.
University officials also try to not re-victimize the person involved in the assault by minimizing the times he or she needs to talk.
With all these resources available, Challis says getting more reports of sexual assault might not necessarily be a bad thing.
"A byproduct of that is we have more reports of sexual assault and that's something we expected to happen. We would be very disappointed if we use all these resources and all this time and all this training and didn't see any increase in reporting," Challis said.
Challis says most of these cases on campus involve people who know each other, so officials work on educating students on relationships and the importance of "no means no."
There's counseling from SDSU available for victims. You can also call the Brookings Domestic Violence Shelter at (605) 692-7233.
Annelieke Sinnema is the President of the Feminist Equality Movement. The group just finished a project where people posted notes imagining world without sexual violence. Sinnema says it's all about removing the stigma surrounding the victims.
"Creating awareness and creating dialogue about it is very important. People should know that it is OK to report it. Getting stigmatized, it's not your fault if it happens to you," Sinnema said.
Jacob Gubbrud is a member of a SDSU Fraternity that is putting together a Sexual Assault Awareness Week. Starting Monday, there will be a number of events on campus. Gubbrud wants all students to talk about the problem and think of solutions.
"In our mind if it happens once it's too much for us and it hurts us every time we hear that another one happened. So we're just trying to do what we can to be the difference and to start the conversation and also join together as a group of male leaders on campus to get the conversation going amongst males," Gubbrud said.
It's a threat the university takes seriously. Assistant Vice President for Safety and Security Don Challis says SDSU works hard to educate students and staff about the importance of reporting sexual assault. The university provides orientation to incoming freshman and parents about sexual assault and what to look for.
All faculty and staff are required to go through Title IX training and are required to report any information. You can report sexual assault to the Dean of Students at 688-4493 and/or the Title IX Coordinator at 688-4128. There's also the Jackrabbit's Guardian, an app to report crime.
University officials also try to not re-victimize the person involved in the assault by minimizing the times he or she needs to talk.
With all these resources available, Challis says getting more reports of sexual assault might not necessarily be a bad thing.
"A byproduct of that is we have more reports of sexual assault and that's something we expected to happen. We would be very disappointed if we use all these resources and all this time and all this training and didn't see any increase in reporting," Challis said.
Challis says most of these cases on campus involve people who know each other, so officials work on educating students on relationships and the importance of "no means no."
There's counseling from SDSU available for victims. You can also call the Brookings Domestic Violence Shelter at (605) 692-7233.