The investigation into an alleged gang rape at Cornell University two years ago has raised concerns about sexual assault in college spaces across the country.
We spoke with faculty members from our local university, and they shared how they work hard to keep the campus a safe place for its students.
They told us police officers are always on campus and keep their office open during the week so students can come and ask for help when needed.
Daela Gibson, a Victim Services Coordinator for the University of Nevada, Reno, told us, "We have the center for Civil Rights and Equal Access, also known as title nine, and they're a very valuable resource, especially when it comes to sexual assault. NV Cares is another advocacy resource on campus, and then, of course, we have counseling services and the health center."
They told us they regularly host events where they talk about crimes on campus and tell students where to go to report something.
They say it's important to remind students that resources are always available to them when needed.
“That's something that the university values. That's part of our strategic plan of courses to help make sure that students have access to resources. If they need them during stressful times,” said Gibson.
Students we spoke with told us having a good relationship with their professors makes them feel more comfortable thinking about needing to have hard conversations with them.
Sumedha Varanasi, a student at the university, told us, "There's definitely a few members of faculty that I know personally very well, and my professors or just like counselors or people I know or just like I know them very well, and I would definitely feel safe going to a few of them."
Both faculty and students told us how important it is to communicate with your friends when out and making sure there's a plan for where everyone will go afterwards.
Students tell us they encourage others to speak up if they go through a sexual assault and find people they feel comfortable with taking those next steps in reporting it.
Varanasi said, "You should tell someone. You shouldn't just keep this inside by yourself. If you don't feel comfortable, maybe going to a faculty member or maybe like the police; tell your friends, like a trusted friend. Tell a trusted family member or someone. Talk it out with them and get a second opinion from someone you trust, and then take your next steps from there."
The number for the university’s police is 775-784-4013. There’s a link to a form students can fill out if they’ve been a victim of an assault in our newslinks section.
