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Sexual misconduct reports nearly double in one year at UT

According to an annual report, sexual assault reports are up on campus. However, campus leaders say more reports means progress.

KNOXVILLE — An annual report by the University of Tennessee's Title IX Office shows sexual misconduct reports doubled from 2016 to 2017.

It shows 115 reports of sexual misconduct for 2017, up from 64 in 2016.

Ashley Blamey, UT's Title IX coordinator, said that means progress.

“Reporting is a good thing. I think the idea that this is something that’s never happened before and is suddenly an issue and we need to address it is inaccurate," she said. “The goal is that you get to a place where those numbers start to reduce but I think first you have to get the reports in of the actual events.”

In 2016, the title nine office brought in new categories like dating violence and stalking which also contributed to the higher number of reports. Most reports involved alcohol for one or both parties involved, and many happened off campus.

“What that says to me is that our prevention work is getting the word out about what consent is, and how students report a sexual assault," said Laura Bryant, Director of UT CHEW or Center for Health, Education and Wellness.

Bryant said the higher number of reports is a sign that the student body is more educated about what sexual assault is and how to report it.

CHEW places signs around campus and holds many events to raise such awareness.

“We want to be catchy, we want to be bright, we kind of want to be in your face," said Bryant.

The report also showed that 26 of the total reported sexual misconduct incidents involved a faculty member.

Blamey hopes the trend begins to fall, but said before it can, students have to reach a maximum level of awareness and organizations like Title IX have to reach a maximum level of transparency.

“You can’t change events unless you’re honest about what they are and how you’re approaching them," she said. “This is the best time in history to be in school. This is a time in which we are taking this issue seriously...that we have a very specific and dedicated approach to how to address it and prevent it.”

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