Let’s face it: reporting a case of sexual assault only becomes more challenging when those who should be supportive of a survivor are only pushing them into corners of guilt and fault. The culprits? The immediate doubt and blameful questions pointed toward a survivor indicating nothing more than the societal and cultural insecurities of realizing that individuals of “good” do, in fact, commit sexual assault.

“It’s On Us” is just one national campaign that we embrace annually at ASMSU. A message to help all of us realize that we have a responsibility and commitment to stand up against sexual assault on our own campus. We make a continuous effort to educate students and encourage a pledge to recognize non-consensual sex is indeed assault, and intervene in situations where consent has not or cannot be given; all in the hope of furthering a mission of making “tomorrow” a safer campus and unwelcoming of sexual assault.

But from the moment an individual is assaulted to the decision that comes down on the case, we must begin making strides toward a more efficient and responsive way of helping the survivors of sexual assault. In these post-traumatic times of disaster, the easiest for all of us is to start believing those who bravely come forward to report their case.

Suggesting ways for survivors to understand the effects of alcoholic substance abuse at a time when their life has been turned upside down is only showing an insecurity for defeating a system that has prized individuals for committing a sad act of deliberate force. Moreover, suggesting a wardrobe transformation and calling out someone’s civil liberties to choose their outfit is not an acceptable next-step in moving forward to finding justice against a horrific action. Call it out for what it is: sexual assault is a legitimate misconduct acted upon by choice and intent.

Again, the survivor in the Turner case said it best in her letter: “Regretting drinking is not the same as regretting sexual assault. We were both drunk, the difference is I did not take off your pants and underwear, touch you inappropriately, and run away. That’s the difference.” 

To survivors of sexual assault: I am sorry if you have never felt more isolated and guilty than a time of reporting your case. It is evident by the recent Turner case and others that you should never feel isolated at a time when you are left facing a world of detriment by misconduct and violence. To those who are approached by a survivor of sexual assault, because they have called you friend, mentor, or some other obvious term that denotes a sincere sense of trust; believe them. 

Believe them for the sole reason that they are not the ones with a wrongdoing in the process of finding justice against a world of individuals who find such ease with instilling pain, terror, and countless nights of unrest for their own messed up pleasure by way of forced sex; resulting in the many bruises on the body, mind and heart. 

Not only is “it on us” to end sexual assault specifically at MSU, but also a responsibility to start believing survivors (sadly, many of our own peers) who come forward with chilling post-traumatic effects authored in an unwanted chapter. We need to steer away from what currently stands: leaving survivors in the dark for finding help, consolation, and justice in an undesirable situation they so desperately wish their voice could be heard. 

Lorenzo Santavicca is the undergraduate student body president at MSU. He can be reached at president@asmsu.msu.edu