It is never OK when a man or a woman is sexually assaulted.

Rape or assault can scar an individual indefinitely, causing
feelings of shame, guilt, confusion and powerlessness.

Unfortunately, sexual assault is a growing and serious problem, not
to be taken lightly and should be regularly reported.

Rape is the most common violent crime on American college campuses
today, according to a 2002 study of college students by the Department
of Justice.

Women aged 16 to 24 experience rape at rates four times higher than
the assault rate of all women, making the college years a vulnerable
period.

People also suffer from many lesser, but equally serious, related
issues, such as stalking, abusive relationships, verbal coercion for
sex, sexual harassment and involuntary exposure to obscene and
inappropriate phone calls or incidents.

Fortunately there is help.

CMU’s Sexual Assault Peer Advocates do much to both help victims and
promote awareness.

More victims contacted the organization’s 24-hour crisis line last
year than they did in years past.

About 40 CMU students operate the phones as peer advocates, trained
to console and aid sexual assault victims.

Each advocate, an unpaid volunteer, receives more than 50 hours of
training every year, attending two training weekends at each school
year’s beginning, according to the organization’s Web site.

They encourage people to speak out about sexual assault and related
incidents that sometimes go shamefully unreported.

Victim’s pain should not be un-avenged. Those who commit the crimes
should not be left to commit more crimes.

Sexual assultants should be held accountable for their actions.

SAPA does much on campus to provide a needed and important service.

The time and effort they spend working to make sure people wronged
can get help and seek justice cannot be taken for granted.

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