Crime & Safety
Miami University Students Stage Small Protest In Reaction To Two Reported Sexual Assaults On Campus
Two sexual assault reports on Sept. 22 mark at least the third case reported this semester.
Elisabeth Dodd
Miami University Journalism Student
Two women made separate sexual assault claims Sept. 22, according to police reports.
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In the month students have been back to school, at least three reports of sexual assaults have been filed with authorities, sparking a small protest Monday, Sept. 25.
About eight students gathered in front of Armstrong Student Center on Miami University's campus holding protest signs and handing out marketing materials about sexual assault on campus. These students are part of 'The Collective," a group of students who organized the Anti-White Supremacy rally on campus earlier this month.
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As students walked to class, the protestors chanted and engaged students to talk about sexual assault at Miami.
"Hopefully this inspires people to speak out. Two sexual assaults were reported this Friday right next to my dorm. That is far too close," said freshman Black World Studies and Pre-Medicine co-major Niya Cunningham.
Details of assaults
At 12:17 am Sept. 22, a female student reported she was sexually assaulted in Symmes Hall, according to Miami University police reports. Just two hours later and several buildings down, a case of sexual battery and physical assault was reported in McBride Hall.
Authorities said there is no evidence to support that these incidents were related. Police have not made any arrests and more detailed information about the assaults were not immediately available.
Protest group has more plans for more rallies
Cunningham says the group's collaborative effort started because of social media, and that they have bigger plans in the future.
Miami University student "Devante (Montgomery) posted on social media that he wanted to do social disobedience, but we didn't have the numbers. So, we decided to stage a small protest to increase our following. Once we get a bigger platform we will take it to the streets," Cunningham said.
"We organized the Anti-White Supremacy rally and we are committed to speaking up as much as we can against any injustice," said sophomore Austin Lamewona, a business and arts management major.
Top photo: De'Vante Montgomery, 20, chanting while protesters march besides him.-- photo by Elisabeth Dodd.