Survey says most Michigan Tech students feel safe on campus

HOUGHTON — Nearly all of the Michigan Technological University students responding to a survey on sexual assault and relationship misconduct say they feel safe on campus, and most believe student safety is a priority of the University.

The results of the survey, called “Title IX: Speak Up Sexual and/or Relationship Misconduct Survey,” show approximately 97 percent of respondents “feel safe on the Michigan Tech campus.” Overall, Tech students agree –or strongly agree – that faculty and staff are concerned about their welfare, with 91 percent saying they believe protecting the safety of students is a University priority.

Beth Lunde, Michigan Tech’s Title IX coordinator, says the survey, which was conducted in April of this year, was distributed to all enrolled graduate and undergraduate students age 18 and over.

“Participation was voluntary,” she says, “students could choose to skip questions or stop responding at any point.”

Of the 6,597 students given survey invitations, slightly more than 10 percent responded. “Responses were anonymous,” Lunde says, “and students were informed that by responding they were not in any way making an official report of any incident or incidents.”

In response to the question: “Since the beginning of the current academic year, has anyone had sexual contact with you by using physical force or threatening to physically harm you,” 98 percent responded “no,” while 2 percent said “yes.”

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