Missouri State University is seeing an uptick in reports of sexual assault.
University officials say they are seeing an overall increase in reports and are encouraging students to come forward if something happens. Sexual assault includes a range of accusations from rape to inappropriate touching.
Since July, there have been five cases, compared to nine in all of 2018.
Not all cases have been investigated, but the University title IX coordinator, Jill Patterson, says the number is “alarming.” She adds that in 80 to 90 percent of cases, sexual assault occurs as an abuse of trust, and not from a stranger in the dark.
