As April begins, so does Sexual Assault Awareness Month where the campus PEACE Center, alongside Title IX, Human Resources, the UTSA police department and Wellbeing Services host events for sexual assault and harassment advocacy and education. 

Problematic legislation surrounding police involvement and university purview over investigations mainly causes mistrust from the student body. The secondary priority of UTSA being to sustain the university’s image, clouds its ability to ensure students have all the information needed to feel secure.

UTSA must regain the trust of students, since under-reporting crimes — including sexual assault and harassment cases — led UTSA to settle with the Department of Education to pay a $670,000 fine in 2023. Students remain uncertain of campus safety, asking the school to do better after being notified of suspected sexual predators at large and on-campus perpetrators. However, institutional services will not publicize resolutions to cases because such details about a case could jeopardize its integrity. The Annual Reports and Daily Crime Logs from UTSA PD as a result of the Clery Act are a few examples of where reporting is necessary, and UTSA has not shown interest in exposing itself beyond its means. 

While students may acknowledge the deeper systematic issues, it is crucial for students to mobilize their education and utilize real, tangible, on-campus resources around sexual assault advocacy. There is a need for student-facilitated peer support groups, as they do not exist at UTSA. In the meantime, SAAM events, The Peace Center and other advocacy programs like Green Dot provide free education on support and prevention services that do not serve a performative function. 

As the university continues its reform, students will provide feedback using programs established for reporting incidents and survivor support. If no action is taken to communicate these grievances, there will be a continual disconnect between the assistance of the departments and the student body’s needs.