Sexual Assault Gets Much Needed Spotlight

There has been an avalanche of sexual assault accusations coming out of Hollywood, which is helping to shed light on sexual assault and harassment incidents closer to home.

Studies show as many as 1 in 4 female students will be a victim of sexual assault on college campuses.

Though many have doubted that statistic, the Hollywood scandals are proving that sexual assault is happening more frequently than people like to admit.

Beth Lunde-Stockero, Title IX Coordinator for Michigan Tech, says the attention being paid to sexual assault will allow more people to talk about it, more people to come forward and improves their believability when they do bring it forward.

Lunde-Stockero said, “I think we’re at a tipping point where people are starting to really realize that this is an issue and it’s a good time because I think it will allow victims to come forward and say what has happened, now or in the past, because they will be more believed.”

She says it’s important that society changes the cycle of harassment and discrimination so it can be stopped.

Lunde-Stockero said, “I think we’re finally at a point where women and men both are willing to speak up against violence in society and are willing now to change the culture of the workplace and in the educational environment, where perhaps they haven’t been able to do that before.”

Michigan Tech provides immediate support services to victims of sexual violence for their students and other resources, like Dial Help, are also available to all residents.