‘I feel unsafe’: Virginia Tech students seek support for sexual assault on campus

BLACKSBURG, Va. – One week into the brand new semester, Virginia Tech junior Tori Walker and sophomore Rebecca Housey mentioned they obtained an alarming e-mail.

“Studying it was heartbreaking,” mentioned Walker.

“You’d by no means really feel any safer after studying a notification like that,” mentioned Housey. “I really feel unsafe. I really feel like this might have been one other woman like me.”

On September 2, Virginia Tech Police notified the campus group of two sexual assaults, each involving rape, and strangulation.

Police mentioned each incidents occurred within the Creativity and Innovation District Dwelling-Studying Neighborhood Residence Corridor within the 185 block of Kent Avenue.

One assault occurred on Wednesday, August 24 and the opposite occurred on Friday, Aug. 26. In each incidents police mentioned they every knew one another and had been described as acquaintances, authorities mentioned, and the offender is a Virginia Tech scholar.

Police mentioned the incidents meet the weather of rape as outlined in Virginia Code 18.2-61 and strangulation as outlined in code 18.2-52.6.

Sexual assault is a actuality seen throughout the nation. Research printed by the American School Well being Affiliation present greater than 50% of school sexual assaults happen between Aug. and Nov.

This week, Senator Tim Kaine proposed laws to deal with the issue: the Survivor Outreach and Help on Campus Act, or S.O.S. Campus Act, which might require each school and college that receives federal funding to have an unbiased advocate devoted to campus sexual assault prevention and response.

The S.O.S. Campus Act would require the unbiased advocate to conduct public info campaigns on sexual assault prevention and guarantee survivors of sexual assault have entry to:

• Emergency and follow-up medical care,

• Steerage on reporting assaults to regulation enforcement,

• Medical forensic or evidentiary exams,

• Disaster intervention, ongoing counseling, and help all through the method,

• Info on their authorized rights.

In response to the current assaults, a Virginia Tech College official launched an announcement to 10 Information that reads partly:

“Offering college students and workers with well timed entry to essential campus crime and security info is only one instance of how Virginia Tech works to boost security and safety for all those that be taught and work on the college. Additionally it is required below the Clery Act. You possibly can learn extra about our work to construct a tradition of security, consciousness, and help right here.”

Nonetheless, Housey would love extra transparency.

“We’re not given sufficient info ourselves on easy methods to keep away from such conditions. We’re not given any statistics. We’re not given something greater than the very naked fundamentals of what occurred,” mentioned Housey.

Walker mentioned extra must be carried out to help survivors and lift consciousness.

“I really had a private expertise with this and I truthfully assume that regardless that they’ve all these sources, it’s a really deeply traumatizing occasion. And it’ll stick with you for like a lot longer, even for those who’re speaking to folks. And for those who don’t find yourself urgent fees, like that haunts you too since you by no means actually get that closure,” mentioned Walker.