Event to encourage reporting sexual assault incidents

Tables for informational and advocacy groups will line Bruin Plaza Tuesday for an event about reporting sexual assault.

Every Report Counts aims to educate students about the avenues through which they can report sexual assaults as well as give feedback to resources. The event will occur from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The event is part of 7000 in Solidarity, a student sexual assault prevention, research and advocacy campaign by the Undergraduate Students Association Council Student Wellness Commission.

Savannah Badalich, USAC student wellness commissioner and manager of 7000 in Solidarity, said the event will feature student resources including Campus Assault Resources and Education available at Counseling and Psychological Services, the Office of the Dean of Students, the Santa Monica Rape Treatment Center, Student Legal Services and university police. She added that each resource will accept student feedback during the event.

Badalich said she wants to provide a two-way conversation between students and these entities by allowing students to provide input about possible barriers to reporting.

Boards will be near every table for students to give direct feedback to the respective reporting resource, Badalich said.

She added that she hopes the event will give survivors the tools to report sexual assault and harassment to UCPD, so the number of sexual assaults recorded on and off campus will be accurate.

“If students are educated, they will be more likely to report,” Badalich said.

UCPD recorded 22 instances of forcible sexual offenses in 2012, according to the annually published UCLA Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics & Annual Fire Safety Report. Fifteen reported assaults occurred at on-campus properties, six at non-campus affiliated properties and one on public property.

Compiled by Kendal Mitchell, Bruin contributor.