It has recently come to my attention that The College of Saint Scholastica has failed greatly in helping a student handle a sexual assault case. No, it did not happen on campus, or even in this country, but having to read that this young woman asked for help and was nearly ignored is absolutely gut-wrenching.
St. Scholastica pushes and pushes its students to be "bold and benedictine," yet they seem to be struggling to practice what they preach. Not letting this young woman have a voice is just the start; she should have been able to speak out to her fellow students who are also planning to study abroad. She should have been offered immediate legal and mental/emotional support and/or resources. Upon trying to protect further students that study abroad, the assailant should have been completely exposed. His identity should not have been protected. Future study abroad students should be made aware that they need to be careful while away too.
And so, St. Scholastica representatives who failed this young woman, I hope you know how disappointed we all are. She trusted you enough to ask you for help, and you blew her off. How embarrassing. How embarrassing that a school that comes across as trustworthy, and proactive could handle a situation so poorly. No one's safety is a joke, whether on your campus or not, but you surely treated her's as such. I pray that no one else endures such a tragic experience; however, if they do, I also pray that the authorities handle it better. If someone doesn't feel they're being heard, you're not doing enough. St. Scholastica, I didn't imagine you'd be in the category of schools that doesn't do enough. Completely disappointing.
