Students react to recent sexual assault alert

Adrian Suarez Avila/ News Director

adrian.suarezavila@fiusm.com

 

In light of a sexual assault case in the Modesto A. Maidique Campus that was reported over the weekend, University students shared their thoughts.

 

The email, sent by External Relations, reached the University community on Saturday, April 4.

 

According to the email, no arrest of the perpetrator was made and it is alleged that the two individuals involved in the case knew each other beforehand.

 

The University Police Department cautioned students to be aware of their surroundings, avoid areas that are poorly lit when alone and ensure that friends and family know about their  whereabouts.

 

Camila Irrazabal, a freshman biology major, believes that the University needs to do more to ensure that incidents like the one that took place over the weekend don’t happen again.

“It’s simply ridiculous,” Irrazabal said. “The police are only around when no one needs them or at least when some idiot is driving over the speed limit.”

Waving her hands in the air as she spoke, she went on.

“We have the It’s On Us campaign and all this stuff, but people still don’t get the message that these things are not right,” she said. “We need stricter laws regarding sexual assault–that simple.

Jesus Pratt, a sophomore mechanical engineering major, also shared his sentiments on the recent assault case.

“To consider that the two people in the case knew each other just makes things so much more interesting and even worse, really,” Pratt said. “They say that these assaults are usually done by people who know each other and this case just proves it.”

Pratt went on to share Irrazabal’s feelings that the University needs to do more in order to prevent these types of crimes from happening.

Last year, University police held the campus safety walk, which sought to identify various areas in the MMC that could use extra lighting and added improvements to ensure student safety.

Student Government Association at the MMC President Alexis Calatayud and Vice President Tiffany Roman Biffa were present at the event and helped identify various areas that were poorly lit.

 

At the moment of publication, no information has been made available regarding the exact location of the assault.

Among the areas that were identified as being poorly lit at last year’s event were the corridor near the Graham Center fountain in the MMC, the parking lot adjacent to the Graham Center Ballroom, and parking lot 9D, which is located behind the Management and New Growth Opportunities (MANGO) building.

According to the Annual Security & Fire Safety Report for 2014-2015 created by the University Police Department, there were three, four and two reported acts of forcible sexual offenses in the MMC in 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively.

Within public property at the MMC, the amount of forcible sexual offenses were three, four and zero in 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively.

Some students expressed that they were unaware of the resources available to them in the case that they are affected by an issue regarding sexual assault.

 

Among the resources available to students are the Office of Counseling and Psychological Services.

In the office students can ask for advice and take advantage of services that help them deal with emotional or mental health issues. The office also offers services that deal with stress counseling and services that allow students to simply talk to someone after a tough situation.

University students can visit the CAPS office during the day at any time that best fits their schedule. Appointments can be made, and walk-in counseling sessions are also provided so that a trained psychologist may meet with a student and refer him or her to the correct department at the University for further help.

As part of CAPS, there exists the University’s Victim Empowerment Program.

According to its website, the mission of the Victim Empowerment Program is to provide confidential services to University students, faculty, staff and visitors who may have been victimized through acts of violence and to help guide them through the healing process.

In addition to providing these services, the VEP also hosts a variety of events in the University to provide students with educational tools that help them protect themselves from acts of sexual harassment and other forms of violence.]

According to Ralph Torres, who works with investigations in the University Police Department, the investigation to find the perpetrator is ongoing.
Those who know of any information that may aid in the investigative efforts are encouraged to call FIUPD at 305-348-2626.

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