A group of student protesters gathered on Wednesday at the Knox College campus in Galesburg, Illinois calling out the school's response to sexual assault cases.
The student protesters on Wednesday said while the school has made some changes since then, the administration hasn't done enough to help handle or prevent sexual assault cases on campus.
"A lot of people are assaulted here on this campus and the administration's respond is very inadequate," said Rachael Morrissey, a junior at Knox College. "I have reported somebody for sexual assault on this campus and I can tell you from experience that it has not gotten any better. It's a very victimizing and traumatic experience going through the process. I am aware they are trying to make changes for the better but we're not seeing any improvement."
"We've been meeting with the administration for several weeks now, trying to go over [our] demands and explain them and figure them out, and essentially the administration doesn't want to meet any of them," said Erica Witzig, a senior at Knox College. "
Some of the students' demands are closing sexual assault cases within 30 to 60 days of being reported, enacting stricter punishments for perpetrators, and creating a safer environment for sexual assault victims.
"There are a number of demands that are reasonable and [some] that are actually already being reflected in our procedures," said Megan Scott, Chief Communications Officer at Knox College. "We've started having bystander intervention training, we've been updating policies and procedures along the way, we've instituted a new unbiased, anonymous, sexual assault reporting form."
Scott said they have been meeting with students over the last 18-months and trying to work with their demands.
"Unfortunately sexual assault happens and I think Knox College is doing its best to responding to complaints when they are received and making sure they are being treated properly," Scott said. "It's a difficult issue but one that the administration takes incredibly seriously."
The student protesters disagree.
"There's hardly anyone who is ever punished if they even are found responsible [of sexual assault,]" said Morrissey. "We feel the school is protecting itself more than it's protecting the survivors on campus."
Another issue the student protesters were voicing on Wednesday were the racial injustices and anxiety some students felt on campus.
"I actually have anxiety coming onto campus because of the color of my skin," said Rebecca Mahon. "I don't feel safe on this campus."
Scott said Knox College has pledged to work towards equity in the college by taking these ten steps.
Still, student protesters said Knox College is not meeting their needs or demands and has not properly addressed the sexual assault issue on its campus.
"The administration is not being as compliant as they should be. We're basically being told that we don't know what we're talking about, these are things that are complicated and we just don't understand," said Alexis Toney, a freshman at Knox College.