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The Student Association stands in solidarity with survivors of sexual assault at GW. We are thankful for the bravery of the survivor for sharing her story. Sexual assault in any form should not be tolerated and their stories should never be silenced. Survivors have the right to feel safe, to be supported, and to be provided with expansive resources to help them heal.
Our campus community can only be strong if every member feels safe and supported. It is up to us to hold our community and its members to a high standard. For a University that has stated their top priority is the health and safety of its students, it is crucial that they actively listen to all survivors and continue to take intentional steps in supporting them. The conversation around this issue has been a continuous one, but the University must commit to concrete steps towards addressing this important component of student safety.
The SA will always be here to support students and advocate for their fair treatment by the University. As the outgoing executive team, we look to next year's student leaders to continue this fight and engage in the conversation around how the University can improve their care for survivors. The University should implement trauma-informed training for faculty and staff and be as transparent as possible in their processes without jeopardizing student privacy or safety. We recognize the positive changes that have been made over the past few years, but it is clear that there is still work to be done.
Outgoing- President SJ Matthews
Outgoing- Executive Vice President Amy Martin