Law violations on campus need to be reported

What would you say if I told you that the number of reported aggravated assaults, forcible sex offenses and drug law violations are on the rise on SRU's campus?

You'd probably freak out, right?

Well calm down. There can be several explanations for this rise in statistics, which were reported on this year's annual security report provided by the Slippery Rock University Police Department (SRUPD).

First, let's take a look at the numbers.

Aggravated assault has risen from one reported incident in 2008, to two in 2009 and three in 2010.

Forcible sex offenses have risen from two in 2008, to three in 2009 to four in 2010, all of which were in the residence halls.

Drug law violations have made the most drastic jump from seven in 2008, to eight in 2009 and 19 in 2010.

Perhaps it's not that more incidents are occurring, just that more are being reported.

That's the stance SRUPD Chief Michael Simmons is taking.

Simmons believes that better training of residence hall staff and CA's (community assistants) led to the increase in reports of drug violations.

That could explain that statistic.

But what about forcible sex offenses?

According to Chief Simmons, only one of the four listed on the annual security report was actually reported to the SRUPD.

The other three instances were reported by the SRU Women's Center, and the victims requested no further action be taken.

That's a scary thought. What if more incidents occurred, but no one reported them?

None of us want to think anything like this could happen in Slippery Rock, let alone on our own campus. But it does.

Now we need to decide what to do about it.

Since the forcible sex offenses were reported, Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) training has been offered by the SRUPD.

 That's great, we're very happy to hear about that.

You should be able to defend yourself in case you're ever in a situation that warrants it.

We don't live in a fantasy world. We know bad things happen, even at SRU.

But here's the thing you have to remember: If something bad happens, you need to report it.

That's the moral of these statistics, and the moral of this editorial.

Things will only get worse unless the problem is brought to light.

No solution can be found if no one knows the problem exists.

So, tell someone.

Call the police, call the counseling center, call a professor or call your best friend.

Just tell someone.