WASHINGTON – The following is a response from Coordinator of Victim Services and Educational Initiatives for George Washington University (GW), Kathleen Gleen to the article “Sexual Assaults on the Rise at George Washington University” that was featured in the Oct. 16 edition of Campus Clique. The article discusses the spike in sexual assaults (eight reported assaults within two weeks) at GW.
Gleen provides CS with insight on the rise of sexual assault victims coming forward and speaking to campus officials about their situations, with those officials being available to listen to victims/survivors in their time of need.
“The claim that ‘sexual assaults are on the rise,’ meaning they are increasing more than before (?), is without any historical or contextual analysis or proof. Rather the ‘rise’ is an opportunity to appreciate and congratulate the victims/survivors that are coming forward, sharing their experiences and exposing how IMPORTANT it is that universities across the nation have persons advocating for survivors/victims of sexual assault: students, faculty and staff.
“What is on the rise? Victims and/or Survivors’ strength and courage to report sexual assaults.
“The rise at GW, rather, means that persons are reporting, coming forward, putting their trust into the GW community, reaching out and contacting the University Police, the University’s Sexual Assault Crisis Consultation Team (SACC), Coordinator of Victim Services & Educational Initiatives for GWU, and GW offices/departments.
“As the Coordinator of Victim Services I have worked with more than 30 victims or survivors of crime (intimate partner violence, stalking and sexual assault) since I arrived in August. The RISE shows how vital and important that universities across the nation support and advocate victims or survivors of crime. It is important to have a coordinator of Victim Services person. She or he is NECESSARY for the university campuses. And it is necessary that campuses establish multi-disciplinary teams, including various offices/departments, coordinator, 24/7 sexual assault response teams, police officers whom work together to ensure that their institution is up-to-date, empathetic and knowledgeable about survivors and victims of sexual assault, the dynamics of how individuals experience traumatic situations like this (LGBTQ issues, race, ethnicity, multi-cultural, etc.) and the resources they deserve.
“The more university campuses show that we are here to listen, advocate for victims/survivors, the more the “rise” will continue. A RISE isn’t bad news, but rather begins to implement a level of prevention of sexual assault that shows that George Washington University is compassionate and takes care of the persons that make up its community. And exposes the necessity in creating such a national response on every campus so that the rise continues and survivors/victims come forward, become empowered and begin the process of recovery sooner than later.”
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