USU alerts: Keeping students safe and aware
Just before midnight Sept. 4, Utah State University sent out an alert to students about an incident of sexual assault. The assault reportedly occurred on Aug. 31 at around 11:30 p.m. within the vicinity of Central Suites Student Housing and the Logan Cemetery.
According to the report, an unidentified male entered into a vehicle occupied by a female student and forced himself onto her. The woman then left the scene.
The alert encouraged students to be aware of their surroundings, not to travel alone when possible and to report any suspicious incidents to 911.
According to the USU Department of Public Safety website, the alert is meant to keep students aware so that they can take proper precautions.
Felicia Gallegos, the outreach and prevention coordinator for the Utah State Sexual Assault and Anti-Violence Information Office, or SAAVI, called these alerts a “great education tool,” especially for new students.
Jenni Nuttall, a junior studying kinesiology at USU, agreed with Gallegos, saying the crime alerts have been informative during her time as a student.
Nuttall also explained that she signed up for the alerts because it was good to know what was happening on the campus and when.
Students can update their notification settings at myid.usu.edu.
“These alerts mean that somebody came forward and reported that experience, which is a good thing,” Gallegos said. “The crime alerts do a good job with the information they give out. It is so important for individuals to know about resources.”
Information on SAAVI was also included in the crime alert that students received.
The alert advised, “If you’ve been sexually assaulted, there are on-and off-campus resources ready to help you. You may report the incident to the police or file a Title IX report. If you are not ready to report to police or to the university through the Title IX Coordinator, visit with a confidential advocate or counselor.”
Kourtney Austin, a confidential advocate who works with SAAVI, hopes that students will take advantage of the help that they have to offer.
“Come visit us in TSC 311,” Austin said. “The paperwork is available online, and an advocate will reach out to you. Look at the contact us page. Call us. We have the resources to help you.”
These advocates hope to create a safe space for students where they can know that they will be heard and cared for by people who are trained on what to do.
Gallegos concluded, “Advocacy is a word that gets thrown around a lot. Advocates are trained professionals.”
The Sexual Assault and Anti-Violence Information Office is located in the Taggart Student Center in room 311. They can be contacted at (435) 797-7273 or at saavi@usu.edu. All of their information is available online at saavi.usu.edu.
-Jared.adams@usu.edu