Sexual assault victims may not have had a say in the crimes committed against them, but they do hold immense power when it comes to preventing future abuse for all potential victims.

Reports of criminal sexual assault increased a dismal 60 percent since 2003, according to the DeKalb police department’s 2004 annual report.

Thirty incidents were reported in 2003 and 48 were reported in 2004. DeKalb police credit the increase to victims’ willingness to come forward.

The Northern Star has the deepest respect for those victims who demonstrated the extreme courage to come forward and hopes more victims can find the will to tell their stories.

DeKalb Police Lt. Jim Kayes said an estimated 86 percent of sexual assaults involving college students go unreported.

Because their voices go unheard, one can only assume these silent victims do not speak up because of the stigma associated with being victims of sexual assault.

It takes only a handful of intrepid victims reporting sexual assault crimes to help stem sexual assault’s stigma.

The more victims who take the first daunting step to come forward, the more the DeKalb community is forced to address the very real problem of sexual violence.

If officials can sharpen the focus on the problem, it is more likely to be reduced or mitigated.

The first step for officials might be to address Lt. Kayes’ suspicions that males believe females, even unconscious, are ‘fair game.’

This alleged perception just proves sexual assault is a crime of violence and is not about sex. Sex is a gift for two people to enjoy, not for one person to cruelly rob from another because she is unable to grant consent.

The Northern Star wishes peace and healing for all victims of sexual assault not just during of April, which is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, but always.