Take time to help victims

If you did not know, April is sexual assault awareness month.

UCF Victim Services is partnering with Victim Service Center of Orange County Inc. and the Sexual Assault Treatment Center of Orange County — part of the VSC — and holding an underwear drive in an attempt to raise awareness about sexual assaults.

The Under Aware campaign is accepting donations of new packets of men's and women's underwear in all adult sizes.

They have boxes set up in the Student Union by the information desk, in the community relations office across from the bookstore, in the Victim Services office on Research Parkway and in the Health & Public Affairs building by the elevators.

This community initiative is about raising awareness on a subject that is often ignored by people until they become a victim themselves.

A report on sexual assault among college women released in 2000 by the National Institute of Justice found that during the course of a typical college career, one in four women would be raped. Of the campus victims in the study, 90 percent reported they knew their rapists.

The victims also noted that almost 60 percent of attacks that occurred on campus took place in the victim's residence, 31 percent occurred in other living quarters and 10.3 percent occurred in a fraternity house.

It is easy to forget that sexual assaults are prevalent on college campuses. College is a fun place, and UCF always has activities planned for its students living on campus. This campaign plays the needed role of keeping students aware of dangerous situations.

Besides raising awareness, the drive is providing supplies that are needed for victims after they visit a victim services resource center.

The people responsible for the drive are trying to comfort victims of sexual assault in the UCF and Orange County communities.

Help the Victim Services staff help sexual assault victims by donating a packet of new underwear this month.

It is not an expensive project, and you'll feel good knowing you helped someone who is going through a horrible experience.

If you can't find time during the last week of classes and finals, then spread the word on Facebook.

We urge you to find the link for the Under Aware drive on the Orange County Victim Service Center's page, www.victimservicecenter.com, and share it with your friends.