Our front page story today concerns the investigation of a sexual assault on campus. Our decision to publish this story was not made lightly, nor was it made from malice or a desire to set off a witch hunt. It is no secret that sexual assaults on college campuses are an alarming epidemic. Sexual assault in any form represents a grave threat to the safety — both mental and physical — of college students. Even though it is easy, and perhaps preferable, to act as though such acts of viciousness could never happen here, that is simply not the case.
In September, UF released a survey showing that nearly one in five women attending this school has been sexually assaulted. Let that sink in for a moment.
The knowledge that this statistic is only slightly lower than the national average offers us little to no comfort. There is not a single individual in the Alligator office who wants to publish a story concerning the sexual assault of a fellow student.
However, it is our journalistic obligation to print the truth, no matter how unsettling it may be.
This piece is not being published with the desire to cause trauma, or to discourage other survivors from coming forward and speaking up about their own experiences. Although not all survivors are prepared to speak, it is critical that this matter remains an open dialogue.
The story in this piece is not the fallout of a public figure, but the horror of the circumstances.
As painful as it is, we as a university need to be willing to directly confront the unfortunate fact that we are no different from other universities, and sometimes, students are capable of hurting one another in a profound and irrevocable manner.
If this story is generating a strong reaction from you, our readers, this is a good thing: It means that something can be done to effect change.
Resources like U Matter, We Care and the Counseling & Wellness Center, and UPD Victim Services are important, but they are NOT enough.
A week of sexual assault awareness is not enough. It is the bare minimum. The university and students need to take a proactive stance against sexual assault.
As it stands, UF needs more help in confronting interpersonal violence and sexual assault. Although Alachua County offers a Victim Services and Rape Crisis Center, students should NOT have to venture further than their own campus to get the specific resources they need.
It is our hope in publishing this incident that we can take the next step in starting a conversation, where this issue is regarded with the importance it merits.
As students who love and cherish UF, it is easy to fall into the trap of thinking: "Not us. Not here." But yes us. And yes here.
