Kudos to the university for finally drawing up a plan to address the concern for this year's numerous sexual assaults on campus. It's about time.

University officials announced Wednesday that several new committees would be formed to inform students on how to avoid and report sexual assaults. The move came after the 10th sexual assault of the semester was reported at Holden Hall earlier this week.

It's vital for officials to take a proactive stance on sexual assault instead of just reacting to each incident as it happens. The newly-formed committees suggest just this kind of mentality - that university leaders are finally stepping back for a broader view of the big picture.

One task assigned to the committees is to determine the best method of communicating assaults to students. Some officials are concerned that too many warnings and mass e-mails will desensitize students to the seriousness of the situation.

It's a possibility that sounding the alarm too often will indeed numb students' ears. But until a more effective warning system has been worked out, this concern should not keep officials from notifying students of sexual assaults, wherever on campus they might happen.

At the very least, residents living in the hall or complex where an assault took place should be informed as soon as possible. But in theory, since so many officials maintain that MSU is a concerned and connected community, the entire campus should be made aware that assaults are taking place - whenever they happen. After all, it only takes a few minutes to walk from one residence hall complex to another.

After nearly a dozen sexual assaults in about two months, students wanted and needed assistance. It's encouraging that the university heard these cries for help and finally stepped up, outlining a plan to protect and educate the student body. The issue couldn't and shouldn't be kept under wraps any longer.