UT’s Prevalence and Response to Sexual Assault

By Maddi Dolan & Gabriella Mendez

In an average semester, roughly 60 sexual assaults are reported to the campus by UT students, said Tim Nelson, Director of Student Conduct at The University of Tampa. However, most people are unaware of these reports because UT officials are allowed to withhold this information from the public, as most reports do not fall under the jurisdiction of the Clery Act. ​ The Clery Act is a consumer protection law that aims to provide transparency around campus crime policy and statistics. It requires colleges and universities to give a public annual security report (ASR) to employees and students. The ASR must include statistics of campus crime for the preceding three calendar years, plus details about efforts taken to improve campus safety. The Clery Act is only responsible for including the statistics of sexual assault reported on campus. ​ “This semester (Fall 2018) is considered to have the highest number of reports of sexual assault on campus obtained,” Nelson said. ​ Although Nelson said the reports have risen, he would not give specific numbers of how many reports there have been this semester. He kept referring back to the Clery Act, which does not include the total number of reports made. Under the column “non-campus property and public property” in the Clery statistic Report, there are zero reports of assault noted. ​ “Sexual assault is very prevalent at UT and I have seen and heard so many students talk about their experiences on and off campus,” said Alexandra Ortiz, a Freshman majoring in Nursing at The University of Tampa. “So for UT to not include such reports makes me feel extremely unsafe and uncomfortable.” ​ A report by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center stated that one in five women and one in sixteen men will be sexual assaulted at some point in their life while attending University. ​ “The amount of people who report not only at The University of Tampa but in different Universities is astonishing,” said Sabrina Griffith, the Director of Victim Advocacy at The University of Tampa. ​ Griffith and her staff of trained advocates provide information on reporting procedures to both on and off campus agencies. They also assist in legal appointments, hearing meetings and the emotional health of the victim. ​ With the reports of sexual assault made, The University of Tampa has recently implemented more resources that help those who are victims of Sexual Assault and aim towards prevention. Some resources, both new and old, include self-defense classes, The Student Advocacy Hotline which is open 24/7, including Title IX resources at the bottom of every Professor’s syllabus, having an assembly on sexual assault during orientation week, making new students take an online course on sexual assault, and having title IX deputies on campus. ​ There are also Title IX Deputies that associate specifically to Greek Life and the Athletic Departments. Within Greek life, there is a lecture given to both Fraternities and Sororities on Sexual Assault and what is considered legal consent. ​ The self-defense class, known as RAD (Rape Aggression Defense Systems), is taught by Campus Safety officers. William Paniss, Campus Safety Officer at The University of Tampa, is one of the main officers that teaches the course. These classes are offered at the start of each semester and consist of three days of training. ​ “Rad is for women. Majority of the crimes on this campus are against the women so we want them to be the focus,” said Paniss. ​ Campus Safety also has a strict protocol when it comes to reports of sexual assault. A campus safety officer will first try to get as much information from the victim, while making them feel safe and comfortable. They then will notify Tampa PD, Student Advocacy, the victims RA or where the incident occurs, as well as the area coordinator. ​ “We take sexual assaults very seriously because they are of a sensitive nature,” said Samuel Ponce, Assistant Director of Campus Safety at The University of Tampa. ​ The University of Tampa offers a protection to those who report Sexual Assault as well. Campus Safety offers things such as giving rides to classes or to dorm rooms. Student Conduct offers order of Protection against the offender if it is a UT student. ​ “I think it’s time that sexual assault reports made on and off campus should be equally recognized and added to The Clery Act,” said Gabrielle Highlander, a member of the Delta Zeta Sorority at The University of Tampa. “Just because it happened off campus, doesn’t mean it doesn’t involve UT Students. It’s all equally important and effects the campus.”