Thursday, October 27, 2016

Bringham Young University's rules regarding sexual assault

Bringham Young University  in Utah has announced that it would no longer look into honor code violations when students report sexual assault. The school is Mormon-run and has “Church Educational System Honor Code” that prohibits drinking, drug use, and premarital sex and requires modest dress.  After a sexual assault was reported the university would look into possible honor code violations made by the student before or near the time of the assault. So for example if drinking was involved the reporting student would face punishment. The mission behind the new ruling is to encourage victims to report assault without fear of honor code punishment. In 2008 a study in Utah found that only around 12% of sexual assault victims came forward.


It’s crazy to me that a school would look use an assault to launch an investigation against the victim but I’m glad that the old system is no longer in place and hope there is justice for the victims of sexual assault in the future.

2 comments:

  1. Yeah I feel like too often people are in situations where they need to go to a hospital but don't because they are scared they will get in trouble for whatever they're doing. 12 percent is too low of a number for something like sexual assault to go unrecognized because you are afraid you will be punished. I'm glad they have decided to get rid of that policy.

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  2. I am glad that they got rid of the honor code "violations." Those honor code "violations" were victim blaming. That is not okay. I think it is sad that it took this long to get rid of this policy. People should feel safe when they are reporting a sexual assault, not worried about if they are getting in trouble. I am very glad that they got rid of this policy that kept individuals from reporting.

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