Utah’s culture is admittedly unique. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints comprised 62 percent of Utah’s population in 2014. The same year the state’s largest county, Salt Lake, was 51 percent LDS.
The church looms large in every aspect of Utahns’ lives.
Which explains why it is no surprise that students at the church’s flagship university, Brigham Young University in Provo, turn first to their ecclesiastical leaders – their bishop – when they are victims of sexual assault. Instead of the police, students make an appointment with their bishop, walk in and “confess” their sin.
Except it’s not a sin to be sexually assaulted. And students should be turning to police to report such assaults. Not bishops.
A recent survey out of BYU reveals that students are still not comfortable reporting sexual assault. The school provides little training about what to do if a student is assaulted, what even constitutes assault and how a bystander can help. Sixty-four percent of students who were assaulted did not report the assault. Fifty-two percent of victims responded that their attacker was a date or spouse. Twenty-six percent reported to a bishop.
Historically, the school’s Honor Code discouraged students from reporting because they would then face possible discipline for corollary rule infractions, like drinking alcohol or having someone of the opposite gender in a bedroom. The school updated its policy this year to provide students amnesty when reporting harassment or assault.
Julie Valentine, a BYU nursing professor and sexual-assault researcher, was not surprised to learn that many students are reporting to bishops instead of police. She said, “I think that’s very unique [to BYU],” and emphasized the need for training among church leaders.
The survey committee recommended this very thing. But for sexual assault, training for bishops should be simple and straightforward: communicate to the victim that sexual assault is not a sin, there is no need to repent and then help the victim call the police.
Chairman of the survey committee, Ben Ogles, said, “If we get more people reporting, then we can help them.” The church’s spokesman similarly said, “We will look carefully at the results of the survey from BYU, and then give ecclesiastical leaders further help to minister to those they serve — both in preventing and responding to sexual assault.”
At least BYU recognizes that preventing sexual assault is its first obligation, and getting students to report is closely related.
Hopefully the LDS Church can develop practices and procedures to provide comfort and support to assault victims, instead of leave them to wonder where they should turn.