UTRGV Student Rights and Responsibilities is encouraging students to report any incidents on campus — even after time has passed. This comes after a sexual assault incident on the Edinburg Campus on April 4th in the late afternoon.
In a press release, officials say the female student was sexually assaulted on the second floor of the library by a male Asian student. The conduct was reported as forcible fondling. We spoke to Student Rights and Responsibilities Program Manager, Jaime Richeson, on the process of reporting such an incident.
[su_quote] It would go through the Office of Institutional Equity Department, and then they would assign it to someone in the Edinburg or Brownsville Campus for them to investigate. We would then have the investigation transpired and, if the student was found responsible during the investigation that they violated the Student Code of Conduct, then they would be held accountable.”
-Jaime Richeson, Student Rights and Responsibilities Program Manager
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Richeson says there are many ways to keep yourself safe on campus: the Campus Shield App, Vaqueros Report It, and an emergency campus police number. The Campus Shield App can be downloaded on any phone. It allows you to push a button instead of having to dial the 911 number. Richeson adds that when students report crimes anonymously — it makes it much harder to protect the victim.
[su_quote] “We are going to be pushing anonymous reporting, and it’s ok that’s the direction they want to go. The thing is that they have to be very specific and very detailed, because there is no way we can go back and follow up.”
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Richeson adds that many times students fear reporting incidents because they feel they may also reveal their misbehaviors. He encourages all victims to come forward, because the campus does provide different accommodations.
[su_quote] “So let’s say because of their incident it causes extreme anxiety, then they can reach out to Student Accessibility Services in reference to temporary accommodations.”
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