The Sacramento state leadership announced a plan Tuesday to reduce the amount of sexual assault on campus.
Called the Sexual Violence, Prevention, Safety and Support Action Plan, some of the outlined “key action steps” include in-person workshops, in-person safety training and creating an educational curriculum for survivors. It also includes a slew of campus resources, such as more lighting, more security officers on staff on weekends and evenings, and the hiring of a social worker assigned to the Sacramento State Police Department.
Students and staff received information about this by e-mail.
Angela Hinojosa is a junior at Sac State. She thinks the university’s approach is one that more schools should try.
“I have friends who go to other universities, and sometimes their first reaction is to ignore it, so I think it’s good that there’s more security,” Hinojosa said.
The announcement of the plan comes as a man wanted in connection with two assaults last year has yet to be caught. Nida Muhammad Niazy, who identified himself as a Sac State student as “Zayn” for months before police discovered his real name, has a warrant for his arrest. However, university police said multiple attempts to arrest Niazy, including one at his home in November, failed.
“We have heard loud and clear your fear, pain and anxiety, and have pledged to work proactively rather than reactively to end sexual assault and ensure everyone feels safe,” wrote campus president Robert S. Nelsen in a statement announcing the plan.
The several assaults that happened last fall led students to hold a town hall meeting in November, where they discussed campus safety and frustrations. Campus officials said the action plans are in response to that town hall meeting.
“After listening to concerns and recommendations at City Hall, leaders across campus collaborated to create an action plan to ensure we improve campus safety,” Nelsen said in the release. “The plan focuses on prevention and support resources. The action plan for the prevention, safety and support of sexual violence has seven goals and 32 individual action steps.”
Isaac Cazares, a college freshman, said the topic of sexual assault and campus safety is often overlooked and was pleased to see the campus address student concerns directly.
“Honestly, when I read it, it was quite shocking. It was good to know that at least the school was doing something about it,” Cazares said. “I hope it helps people. It’s really sad to hear things like this happening in our school, where people are just trying to get an education, want to get their work done, and then such a tragedy happens to them.”
Details on those goals can be found online: Action Plan for Prevention, Safety and Support of Sexual Violence.
