<p>Very unsettling news in the LA Times today. Over 36 Oxy students claim to have been raped or sexually assaulted on campus by a fellow student. Some of these women further claim that Oxy administration covered up the situation and thus possibly contributed to the occurance of additional abuse. Gloria Allred is now suing Oxy on behalf of the female students. If Oxy is found guilty, it stands to lose state funding. Would like to know how this news is being dealt with on campus.</p>
<p>Hi there. I would love to comment on the sexual assault situation on campus as a senior student and a supporter of Occidental’s Sexual Assault Coalition (OSAC). It is true that sexual assault is a problem at Oxy. It is also a problem on nearly every college campus in the US. Oxy is, unfortunately, not immune to the rampant rape culture that exists in our country. </p>
<p>What I do think is amazing about the Oxy community is that our students are fighting to change how sexual assault is dealt with on campus. I am confident that change is starting with these students and that by the end of this ordeal we will have impacted the way other schools handle sexual assault. While I am troubled by the experiences these survivors have had, I am also extremely proud of them and the many allies they have on campus for speaking out and demanding change.</p>
<p>Students and professors alike are hopeful that Oxy will soon be a much safer campus and I am personally really glad to be part of a student body that is living up to Oxy’s reputation of being a very socially aware and progressive school.</p>
<p>[Occidental</a> College Sexual Assault Response Subject Of Federal Complaints](<a href=“HuffPost - Breaking News, U.S. and World News | HuffPost”>Occidental College Sexual Assault Response Subject Of Federal Complaints | HuffPost College)</p>
<p>Hi! I am also a student at Oxy and would have to agree with SarahSterling on her response. The situation is incredibly complex and at times difficult for me to fully understand from the administration’s perspective and also from the students’ perspective. What makes me feel better about what is going on is to remember that sexual assault is an issue at every college, and what sets Oxy apart from the rest is the students’ ability to make a difference and the administration’s willingness to listen and try to change. I hope this helps!</p>