Today’s edition of Student Life tells the story of a student who was raped and how she has grappled with the realization of her attack. This is just one of many rapes that goes unreported, and even unrecognized, on this campus.

As students, we must understand and address the fact that one in four women on college campuses, including our own, experiences rape or attempted rape during her time at college. Equally troubling, one in six men are sexually assaulted by the time they are 16.

It is widely known, though rarely acknowledged, that the majority of sexual assaults and rapes are perpetrated by acquaintances—even friends and significant others.

At Wash. U., fewer than 35 sexual assaults were reported in 2007, 2008 and 2009 combined. Unfortunately, this number is much smaller than it should be. And the underreporting of these rapes is only part of the problem.

The purpose of drawing attention to the under reporting of sexual assault on campus is not to admonish these women and men for not reporting their assaults. Rather, it is to call to change the dialogue and perceptions we have about rape and sexual assault. We need to realize that rape is not just a brutish attack that occurs between strangers. Rape most commonly occurs as an act between acquaintances. And rape, no matter the circumstances, is still rape.

We want to recognize too that, just as it is hard for a victim to come to terms with rape, many of the perpetrators of such actions would be horrified to learn of their actions. These are not terrible people, but they have done a terrible thing. And we realize that it is hard to reconcile both of these facts.

Wash. U. men, we urge you to be aware of the issues related to sexual assault. Although rapes and sexual assaults may be committed by women, the most common perpetrators are male. Students should be aware in situations that could lead to a sexual assault, and should not be afraid to step in when necessary. Students must make sure that they never take advantage of another individual, especially when they are under the influence of alcohol. As a campus, we can positively affect this culture and diminish the cases of sexual assault that occur at Washington University.

We also want to commend the students in charge of Sexual Assault Awareness Week, as well as the members of S.A.R.A.H., M.O.R.E. and C.O.R.E. for their efforts to enact this change. For those of you who are not involved in the discussion, please get involved. Attend an event this week, get S.A.R.A.H. safe trained, talk to someone who did, just be engaged. Make it a priority. Wash. U., it’s on all of us to make this campus a place where no one is a victim of sexual assault. We can’t just sit around if we want this to be our reality.