April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Observed in the United States for more than 25 years, the purpose of this month is to educate and highlight issues associated with sexual assault.
This year, the University of Missouri’s Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention (RSVP) Center has scheduled various educational events throughout the month.
Danica Wolf, coordinator of the RSVP Center, said the center is working hard to raise awareness for these crimes, provide survivors with support and prevent future violent acts from happening through educating the campus and the community.
“Relationship and sexual violence affects everyone,” Wolf said.
Current data provided through the MU Police Department website shows seven assaults have been reported to the department so far during this school year. Captain Brian Weimer says that’s not a significant change from previous years.
“It’s important to remember that sexual assault on the university campus is not the stranger that’s jumping out the bushes, it’s more of acquaintance type situations, which don’t make them any less severe or traumatic for the victim,” Weimer said. “However, with that in mind, people need to look out for each other and help each other.”
Weimer said residents can look on MUPD’s website under MUPD Crime Stats to compare statistics on sexual assault as well as other crimes from various years.
Residents can also view the detailed schedule of events being hosted by the RSVP Center at http://rsvp.missouri.edu.
