Members of the Fairbanks community gathered Monday at the Fairbanks Pipeline Training Center for an event recognizing Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
FAIRBANKS, Alaska - Members of the Fairbanks community gathered Monday at the Fairbanks Pipeline Training Center for an event recognizing Sexual Assault Awareness Month .
The event included remarks and a proclamation from Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s office, as well as words from the Alaska Department of Public Safety about the state’s efforts to combat sexual assault.
During her remarks, Erin Morotti — Executive Director for the Interior Alaska Center for Non-Violent Living — praised the work done by the Interior Alaska Sexual Assault Response Multidisciplinary Team , which is composed of eight entities, including the Alaska State Troopers, IAC, the police departments of Fairbanks, North Pole and the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and the State of Alaska District Attorney’s Office.
“In someone’s worst moment, they are met ... not just by a single doorway, but by a circle of care,” Morotti said. “Each of you is a part of a coordinated response that ensures that no survivor has to navigate this alone, and that really matters because healing, like nature, does not happen in isolation. ” Jessica Stossel with the troopers emphasized that Alaska has the highest rate of sexual assault in the U.S., three times the national average.
“Sexual assault is not only is a physical violation, but an assault on trust, dignity and identity,” Stossel said. “Sexual assault erodes the sense of safety in our communities, creating a sense of fear and distrust within them. ” Calling the Fairbanks SART team, created in 1997, a model of response, Jeremy Rupe with the state troopers said a working system increases trust between survivors and investigators.
“This leads to higher reporting rates and better follow-through in prosecutions,” he said. “Forensic nurses in SARTs ensure evidence is collected promptly and correctly, often within the critical first hours. This reduces the risk of contamination or loss, and strengthens the evidentiary foundation of the court. ” Cheryl Markwood, Fairbanks Regional Director for the governor’s office, read out remarks from Dunleavy which thanked the advocates present for their work responding to instances of sexual assault.
Markwood then read out the governor’s proclamation declaring April 2026 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the 25th anniversary of the observation. Calling sexual assault “a devastating crime that affects people of all ethnic, cultural and economic backgrounds in every community in Alaska, leaving lasting emotional, physical and psychological scars,” the proclamation pointed out that more than half of the victims reporting sexual assault in 2024 were juveniles.
“Every Alaskan deserves to live free of harm and without fear of sexual assault or abuse, and no one has the right to force, threaten, coerce, or manipulate anyone into a sexual activity,” Markwood read, adding that the state will continue to work toward preventing sexual assault in the 49th state. If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, resources are available on the Standing Together Against Rape website or by calling the statewide crisis hotline at 1-800-478-8999.
Additionally, a list of statewide resources can beMan hospitalized with serious injuries following frightening Slush Cup crash, family saysBody found in Spenard area prompts investigationFairbanks police share missing person stats with community
Fairbanks Pipeline Training Center Morotti Markwood Governor Dunleavy Rupe Stossel Proclamation
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