Record number of sex assaults on and near MU campus

The City of Columbia had the highest number of rapes and sexual assaults in its history in 2013. In 2014, that number is on a similar track. Officers received 156 calls around the city for rape and sexual assault in 2013. 67 of those calls turned out to be confirmed cases. So far in 2014, Columbia Police officers have been called 117 times. A number of these rape and sexual assaults are happening where Mizzou students live.

“I thought I chose a safe place, but I’m a little worried about the rapes that are occurring around here, the sexual assaults,” said Veronica Long, a freshman at Mizzou. Long says she goes out of her way to avoid certain areas around Mizzou’s campus at night. The main area she doesn’t go to is ‘East Campus,’ a neighborhood near campus where many students live.

Long is not the only Mizzou student concerned.

“It’s definitely a concern walking home at night. It’s always in the back of my mind that someone could sexually assault me or rape me,” said Krista Parker, an ‘East Campus’ resident and student.

“I guess I just get nervous. It’s not just myself I worry about, I worry about all my roommates,” said Dana Yanow, a Mizzou junior.

Three reports of rapes happened on and near Mizzou’s campus this September, one of those was on Anthony Street, where we interviewed Parker and Yanow. Two more occurred in Mizzou residence halls during a weekend in October.

One complaint from students on ‘East Campus’ is how dark it is. We spoke to Columbia Water and Light. Assistant director Ryan Williams tells ABC 17 someone did make a complaint about the lighting on Anthony Street about 6 months ago. After review, Columbia Water and Light along with other city organizations found the lighting to be “already lit to an adequate level.”

Krista Parker mentioned her roommate and her roommate’s mother are in the process of collecting letters to send to the city about the lighting on ‘East Campus.’

Another topic student residents are worried about on ‘East Campus’ is the condition of the homes. Many are old, in need of repair and house multiple roommates.

“I feel like there needs to be something else put in motion to stop this. I feel like the police aren’t really out here. You don’t see them driving around,” said Parker.

“Rape and sexual assault is one of the most unreported crimes in the nation,” said MUPD Capitan Brian Weimer. The University of Missouri has taken a new approach in the last 9 months in hopes of encouraging more reporting.

Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin says MU has developed a new website outlining what students should do to learn more about and report rapes and sexual assaults. It can be found at: http://title9.missouri.edu/

It has also hired a full time Title IX investigator and coordinator. The Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention Center, also known as RSVP, is a big cornerstone of the initiative. The Center urges students to call, come in, email, text or even tweet a problem they may have encountered.

“People now know what to do. They know where to go. They know what they can in fact expect when they report a sexual assault,” said Chancellor Loftin.

ABC 17 News went around campus to see if students do in fact know what to do and what they can expect.

In reference to the Chancellor’s statement, Anwar Grimmett- Lee, a Mizzou freshman said, “I could see how he thinks that it’s true, but I don’t think all students feel the same way. No. not at all.”

Freshman Maribel Urrtia said, “Not necessarily. I don’t know if I would know what to do.”

Carolyn Heger, a sophomore, was a little more informed. Heger said, “I feel somewhat confident about what to do, but I have a general idea, but it’s something that I would like to learn more about.”

“I think we can always improve. We are so much better now I think, than we were 6 months ago. We will never stop trying to improve,” said Loftin.

Students are taking action in the mean time. Male students are making sure their female friends get home safe.

“Late at night or anything, I’ll make sure they get home. I’ll walk there with them and then walk back by myself,” said Grimmett-Lee. “All of my friends carry mace, we all carry mace,” said Long.