This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

In July, The Salt Lake Tribune reported a troubling story about sexual assault at Utah State University. Four women — including three USU students — independently reported sexual assault by the same alleged perpetrator, a USU football player. No charges were filed. The alleged perpetrator received no sanctions. At least two of the women left campus.

At every turn, the system failed the brave women who reported their sexual assaults.

Regrettably, in this regard USU is not alone. As many as 20 percent of undergraduates experience sexual assault while in college. Recent cases at Stanford, Baylor, BYU and elsewhere have revealed the failure of university communities across the country to hold perpetrators accountable.

We thank The Salt Lake Tribune for bringing public scrutiny to the apparent mishandling of these reports. Many questions remain regarding the alleged perpetrator's stature as a USU athlete and extents to which various entities failed to protect victims. We await clear answers.

Title IX prohibits sex-based discrimination — including sexual assault — in education, mandating that universities immediately address reports of discrimination. Our university, police department, prosecutor's office and, ultimately, our community are legally and ethically obligated to protect all students. We must do better. This can never happen again.

As feminists and gender scholars at USU, we affirm the obligation of police and campus administrators to treat sexual assault like the egregious crime it is. We demand more transparency and accountability from local institutions.

We stand in solidarity with the women who stepped forward. Your courage is extraordinary. We write with sincere hope that our campus community will use this apparent failure to implement necessary changes. And we commit ourselves personally and collectively to agitate for needed change. Our students deserve better.

Gabriele Ciciurkaite

Susan Gogan

Alison Cook

Christy Glass

Alicia Ingersoll

Debra Jenson

Jess Lucero

Maya Miyairi

Megan Oka

Candi Carter Olson

Jennifer Peeples

Peggy Petrzelka

Jennifer Roark

Rebecca Walton