TRIGGER WARNING: Sexual Assault/Sexual Harassment
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, dedicated to awareness and prevention of sexual assault, harassment, and abuse. As we show our support for those affected by sexual assault and violence, it is important to recognize that the most impactful conversations are the ones that we start within our communities. Sexual assault and harassment are terrible and heinous occurrences, and they have the potential to happen everywhere, not just college campuses. According to the U.S. Department of Education, in K-12 schools, nearly 15,000 reports of sexual violence were filed in the 2017-2018 school year. Because sexual assault and harassment are also possible in our own school community, it is crucial that we better recognize and prevent sexual assault and harassment at MHS.
In this edition of The Union, we have published a story featuring interviews with MHS students who were sexually harassed or assaulted. The goal of the story is to bring more awareness to the fact that sexual harassment and assault happens to MHS students. This story could potentially help students who were sexually violated recognize that what happened to them was sexual assault or harassment. Often, victims of sexual assault may believe the inappropriate behavior is normal and avoid reporting the incident because they are unsure if they are overreacting.
Reading about the experiences of those who reported sexual assault or harassment also could empower other student readers to come forward and report instances of sexual assault or harrasment that might have happened to them. Crucially, we believe this story will also bring awareness to the adults in our school community, whether it be staff, teachers, or parents, about sexual violence in school environments, hopefully in a way that helps them better educate and support students to recognize and prevent sexual assault and harassment in the future.
The purpose of the article was not to provoke conflict, and it was not an attempt to pin responsibility or blame on any person, group, or institution. Especially with the limited information presented in the article at this time, it is not our intention to evaluate or comment on how sexual harassment or assault cases were handled by those involved or by school authorities.
If this topic brings up any stress, trauma, and/or negative emotions for you, please reach out to a CASSY counselor, your guidance counselor, an administrator, or another trusted adult.