On Aug. 1, 2007 Nicole Hall started her position as the first coordinator of Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program at Miami University. Since then, Hall, with the help of Miami, has made a number of efforts to increase sexual assault prevention education and decrease incidents of assault.

In 2007, only three attacks were reported while there have been none reported thus far in 2008, according to Captain Jason Willis of the Miami University Police Department (MUPD).

According to Willis, three is a small number but does not vary greatly with years past. In 2006, Willis said that only two incidents of sexual assault were reported, while in 2005 there were six.

"There is definitely not a trend where we see the numbers on the rise, it's more of a staggered reporting," Willis said.

Since 2000, 34 assaults have been reported to MUPD. The most sexual assaults were reported in 2001 and 2003, each with seven.

Willis does not believe there are any specific reasons more assaults take place during certain years, but believes that MUPD has been successful in prevention efforts.

"With our community relations effort, we really try to cover sexual assault prevention," he said. "I believe we do a good job of preventing sexual assault and dealing with victims."

Hall's new position is one way the university is working to combat sexual assaults.

According to Hall, her job was created to help centralize the sexual assault prevention efforts on Miami's campus.

"Basically, I keep in touch with the resident life (office) and how they train the Resident Assistants (RAs) during orientation," Hall said. "I train the judicial board who deals with sexual assault issues and work with Panhellenic (Association). I centralize the training to make sure (I know) what the message is."

Hall also works with both the Oxford Police Department (OPD), MUPD, the Women's Center and Miami's counseling center. She also acts as a victim's advocate, providing victims of sexual assault someone to talk to during recovery.

Hall also works with organizations aimed at preventing sexual assault, such as Women Against Violence and Sexual Assault (WAVES) and Men Against Rape and Sexual Assault (MARS).

According to Hall, both WAVES and MARS are in charge of hosting programs dedicated to educating new fraternity and sorority pledge classes.

Junior Kate Denison, vice president of new member education for the Panhellenic (PanHel) Association, was one of the people behind bringing the WAVES program to new sorority members and has been actively involved in getting the workshop started. One of her main goals this year for PanHel was to establish this program and make it mandatory for all incoming sorority members.

"Like Rick Barnes, the alcohol education speaker that came, the program is required for all sorority new members to attend because of the importance of the topic," Denison said. "If you are to sit in a room with a large group of women and ask the question 'how many of you have been or know someone who has been sexually assaulted' most hands are raised after a few seconds. That is a scary reality and really reflects the importance of education and exposure to the topic."

Sophomore Tristan Griffith, president of MARS, agrees that there is a frightening reality behind sexual assaults on college campuses.

"One in four college-age women will experience some sort of rape or sexual assault," Griffith said. "Freshman girls are more vulnerable anywhere. I think it's a problem anywhere, any city or any college campus."

MARS, similar to WAVES' education of new sorority members, educates incoming pledge classes for Miami fraternities. MARS' annual discussion-based presentation for new fraternity members will take place March 8 in the Psychology Building.

"It's a discussion presentation with videos about men who were raped and about a 1989 rape on Miami's campus," Griffith said. "We set up scenarios and discuss how to deal with these situations and also talk about how it feels. We don't want it to be a lecture or feel like we're coming down on them; it's more (of) a discussion."

Some Miami students agree that sexual assault is still a large problem at Miami.

"I definitely think it may be an issue," said first-year Haley Holman. "With the amount of alcohol consumption, stuff happens. You can definitely fear for your safety."

Jessica Stein, another first-year, believes the issue isn't recognized as the important problem it is.

"I think sexual assault is a very big problem on campus even though it may not seem like that," Stein said. "Once you are affected by sexual assault, you stay affected. It takes you a while to get over it. I know a few people who have been assaulted and they … are having a hard time."

Although Stein said she sees sexual assault as an issue, she acknowledges Miami's prevention efforts.

"I think Miami is trying to do the best they can, especially with the programs for sororities and fraternities," she said. "The new coordinator seems promising, as I'm sure she has a lot to bring to the table and some new ideas. There is definitely room for improvement, but Miami is definitely putting out an effort."

Other students, however, don't agree with Stein, and feel that Miami is not doing enough.

"I feel that Miami isn't really getting the word out about sexual assault prevention education," said first-year Kelly Harrington. "I mean, there is only one call-box on Cook Field and Cook Field is not very well lit. And, not everyone is in a Greek organization, so I didn't even know we had the programs people go to. It should be something that's part of our orientation or convocation."