To the Editor:
The heading, "BGSU has sex assault program" was misleading in the Sentinel’s July 31 edition as
the article was not about a ‘program’ but instead, the practices employed by BGSU officials when a
sexual assault is reported by students. One resource which the reporter did not mention (but the
interviewees say they shared) is the Sexual Assault Awareness for Empowerment (SAAFE) Center, which is
Wood County’s rape crisis center. The SAAFE Center has been serving the entire county, including BGSU,
for the past 24 years and strives to have a visible presence on campus, as well as being prominent on
social media. Advocates with the SAAFE Center are available 24 hours a day by calling The Link hotline
(419/352-1545)-they outreach to where the victim/survivor is and can be present every step along the
way. Victims/survivors can also just call and speak with an advocate, if they’d prefer not to meet in
person. All services are free and confidential. The SAAFE Center exists to provide options and to
empower victims/survivors to make the decisions they feel are right for them.
Sexual assault on America’s college campuses has gained national attention since the President’s Not
Alone initiative was launched earlier this year. Last week several bills addressing this issue were
introduced in Congress: Campus Accountability and Safety Act, introduced in the Senate, and then a
companion bill in the House; Hold Accountable and Lend Transparency on Campus Sexual Assault Act (HALT),
introduced in the House; and Survivor Outreach and Support Campus Act, introduced in the Senate, with
companion legislation in the House. These bills call for greater support for survivors on campuses by
partnering with sexual assault coalitions and rape crisis centers, as well as greater accountability for
colleges and universities in addressing sexual assault on campus. The National Alliance to End Sexual
Violence (NAESV) issued a statement regarding the legislation, and the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual
Violence (OAESV), of which the SAAFE Center is a member, joined NAESV in urging all member rape crisis
programs, allied professionals, and supporters to advocate for this issue.
Julie Broadwell
Bowling Green