With recent news about the sexual assault on campus after the Gasparilla Parade, some students and faculty outwardly responded to this issue.

“It is important for people to know that these issues come up,” explained Alaina McGinnis, president of the UT Women’s Organization.

McGinnis, along with Dr. Hayden, director of Women’s Studies and associate professor of English, organized a sit-in outside of Vaughn Center last Thursday.

The sit in was in response to UT administration not informing the school about the events of Gasparilla weekend, and was meant to raise awareness about the threat of rape on campus.

Members of the Women’s Organization and P.E.A.C.E. held up signs about rape, revealing statistics and startling messages.

“Rape is rape, and we need to get that message out,” Dr. Hayden stated.