Due to the recent increase in sexual offense reports on Ohio University’s campus, I believe it is time to put an end to it.
There have been five reported sexual offenses in the past three weeks and who knows how many have gone unreported. As a student of OU, hearing about such gruesome crimes makes me wonder: What are the police out there doing?
I know Athens’ finest are doing their best but rather then patrolling around the dorm rooms where no crimes of sexual offense reports have come from, why don’t they get active and patrol the streets?
The nature of these crimes is cruel and disgusting, and it speaks volumes on the character of some students here at OU.
Having grown up near an inner city area I know a few women who have had to go through traumatizing experiences such as these. Not only do these crimes harm the victims physically, but they harm victims mentally too.
Many victims of rape or sexual imposition are damaged permanently, suffering from various psychological symptoms such as depression, anxiety or even fear of the environment where they were preyed upon by these thugs. Attacks such as these instill fear not only in prior victims but in women in general.
If my girlfriend ever called me after a night when she was raped or a victim of sexual imposition, I would hope that justice would come swiftly and harshly on the assailant.
The purpose of this letter is to be a call to action; stop letting sexual offense reports tarnish the good name of OU. There are a few things that we as students can do to stop these attacks, and that is act.
When walking home at night don’t walk alone, and be with people you trust. Don’t put yourself in a position where you’re not comfortable, and use common sense.
Another thing you can do is report these crimes, and hope that the police can find these attackers. Not only do these people jeopardize their future at OU, but they deserve to lose their freedoms.
As a student of OU I hope that the student body can come together and help stop this problem. It’s time to truly embody a community, and stand up for what is right.
Stop the sexual offenses and clean up OU’s image.
Ian Lee is a freshman who has not declared an area of study.
