A study conducted by the Committee for Integrity at Appalachian (CIA) last spring found that one in every 18 women at Appalachian has been raped while attending school here. One in every seven women has faced sexual assault at Appalachian, according to the survey.
    These figures are at the national average, meaning that in the area of rape and sexual assault, Appalachian is no safer from sexual assault than many other schools.
    The study was modeled after a survey funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, and Dr. Bobby H. Sharp, director of Institutional Research and Planning, confirmed its credibility. This would seem to indicate that the survey is an accurate assessment of a serious problem.
    The CIA has asked for a grant from the U.S. Department of Education through Security on Campus, Inc. (SOC), a non-profit organization. The grant would go to help further research and educational efforts.
    The administration has not endorsed the CIA’s study or its attempt to get the grant. Members of SOC have said the administration has attempted to undermine their efforts.
    Why?
    If the administration is serious about a safe campus, one would think they would encourage student-led efforts to raise awareness of this problem.
    Director of University Police Gunther E. Doerr said he believed the problem was not with the CIA, but with SOC’s track record at other colleges.
    However, SOC, which has worked on six pieces of legislation that have been brought before Congress, received positive responses from Rowan University and Michigan State University.
    Even if SOC was a problem, they are acting mainly as a facilitator in applying for the federal grant to combat an important problem on campus.
    In light of that information, the probable reason for the administration’s objections lies in a fear that making statistics about rape at Appalachian widely known would lead to a drop in admissions and funds.
    To be fair, this is the reaction of the vast majority of universities nationwide toward similar problems. That does not make it right.
    The CIA began as a committee aimed at making changes to the old academic integrity code, a task they accomplished. The CIA then turned its attention to rape on campus.
    CIA’s past accomplishments show CIA is a committed and capable group of students. If CIA receives the grant, the organization should seek to be recognized by the institution through the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership so their efforts may go to increasing the effectiveness of the new university Prevention of Sexual Assault Coordinator position.
    Why wait until a rape-related fatality or a brutal sexual assault on a student occurs? The administration has shown a step in the right direction but should be taking a more active role in trying to prevent rape and sexual assault on this campus.
    Any attempt to raise awareness of this problem and address it should be encouraged.