Brandeis Students Against Sexual Violence (B.SASV) issued a progress report this week, two years after their petition calling on the university to improve services for survivors of sexual harassment and assault on campus. The Brandeis Hoot published an article this week covering the demands, which can be read on page 1 of the News Section. The full progress report can also be read on our website.

The Hoot supports B.SASV and their criticism of the university. In April 2014, the group first released their petition and in November they released the first progress report criticizing the lack of action. The university published a response, outlining point by point the ways in which they planned to improve services. However, a discouragingly small number of those plans have been enacted two years later.

The administration’s empty promises are nothing new to students, nor to our editorial board. Unfortunately, this does not make them any less dangerous. We urge administration to consider B.SASV’s comments and to take action immediately. We also ask the student body to continue to pressure administration and show support for B.SASV, because without pressure, certain administrators will neglect to create real action.

Sexual violence is a serious problem on this campus, and no one is debating that point. Students and the administration recognize that we need change. Last semester, the results of the Campus Climate Survey on Sexual Violence revealed upsetting statistics about sexual violence on campus. Now, B.SASV has again brought this issue to the forefront of people’s minds, yet there has been little direct action from the university. These students have enough ideas to fill a 17 page report, and it is time the university put them into action. Discourse is important, but it will only get you so far. The Hoot calls on the Brandeis administration to enact the proposals B.SASV has been advocating for since April 2014.