Once again in the wake of the Penn State scandal another organization that is entrusted with the education and, in this case, the medical treatment of children has delayed reporting child sexual abuse.  As a professional who provides support and treatment to children and adult sexual assault survivors and as an alumnus of the University of Michigan, I am appalled that university officials waited six months to notify campus police that a pediatric resident doctor allegedly possessed child pornography.

Sexual violence is a crime that affects the most vulnerable among us in our own communities where we should feel the safest – in our homes, our schools, our places of business and worship.  It is a crime perpetuated by the words of perpetrators who rely on the silence of the community in order to sexually abuse and assault children and adults.  Perpetrators use their words to threaten and manipulate victims into silence so they will not report the crimes committed on their bodies.  The biggest fear among survivors, though, is the fear they will not be believed.  All too often this does happen as survivors are blamed, shamed and humiliated when they do report a sexual assault.

Sexual violence is a crime we don’t want to believe happens.  Oftentimes it is a crime committed by a person the victim knows and trusts and that those in the community often know and trust. So we doubt the victims, we rationalize; we make excuses for the perpetrators.  This disbelief empowers perpetrators, silences survivors and puts our communities at risk.  To end sexual violence we must speak up, we must believe and we must prevent perpetrators from preying on our loved ones.  We must choose to support the survivors, hold perpetrators accountable, and stop providing a safe haven for sexual violence in our communities.

The Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan is committed to stopping sexual violence by providing counseling and support for survivors of sexual violence, their families and loved ones. The Women’s Center also partners with those in criminal justice, healthcare facilities, schools and other helping agencies to provide education and support in the fight to end sexual violence.  We need your help, too.  As family members, partners, coworkers, friends or members of a community group, we must speak up for the survivors and break the silence.

Change begins with each of us believing we can have a world without sexual violence.  Together we can make it happen.

Mary Hotchkiss is a Licensed Master Social Worker who has worked at the Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan (WRC) since 1995.  Dena Sydow is the agency’s Marketing and Communications Director.  The WRC provides immediate support, counseling, support groups and advocacy to sexual assault survivors and their families in Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Emmet and Otsego counties. If you or someone you know is a survivor of sexual assault, call the WRC 24-hour crisis and information line at 231-347-0082 or 800-275-1995.