In response to the recommendations of a special sexual assault task force, the University of Kansas will now officially collaborate with an off-campus rape crisis center.
University officials say they don't know how many victims fail to report incidents of sexual violence, but they know the number is high. Victims often want anonymity, and seek services off campus to reduce their chances of running into other students, faculty or staff.
That’s one reason the task force recommended a formal relationship with The Sexual Trauma and Abuse Care Center, a Lawrence counseling, advocacy and response agency.
Jane McQueeney, Executive Director of the university's Title IX office, hopes the collaboration will help the university improve its services and foster an increase in reporting.
The agreement says that the off campus site will, with the consent of the victim, provide numbers and demographic information so the university can better understand why victims are not utilizing campus resources.
"If they don’t want to go to our counseling services, (we hope this) will help us learn why and help them come forward," McQueeney says.
Today's announcement reflects the the university's response to 27 recommendations by a special sexual assault task force. KU either has implemented, or is in the process of implementing, 22 of them.
The University of Kansas is one of more than a hundred colleges and universities under investigation by the Department of Education for alleged violations of Title IX laws.
