Vigil Honors Sexual Assault Survivors at Pentacrest

About 20 people gathered on the University of Iowa Pentacrest to honor survivors of sexual assault and raise awareness of campus resources.

Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Sex Crimes

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a single lit lamp on a stone plinth against a deep navy field, evoking quiet remembrance of sexual assault survivors. — About twenty people gathered Friday night on the University of Iowa Pentacrest for a candlelight vigil honoring sexual assault survivors, as local advocacy groups highlighted campus support resources. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Student Advocates for Planned Parenthood held a candlelight vigil Friday night on the University of Iowa Pentacrest for survivors of sexual assault. Speakers from local advocacy programs addressed attendees before participants wrote messages in chalk on the sidewalks.

Why it matters

The vigil comes as national attention on campus sexual assault reporting has grown, including the Cornell Seven case, in which seven men allegedly assaulted a student at a fraternity house in 2024. Organizers said the event was meant to make students in Iowa City aware of the support resources available to them.

The Clery reports cited at the vigil list more than 500 sexual assault cases on the University of Iowa campus, almost 300 of them classified as rape. The source does not state how many of these cases have resulted in charges or campus discipline.

The players

Student Advocates for Planned Parenthood

A student organization at the University of Iowa that works on reproductive and sexual health advocacy on campus.

Katy Rasmussen

A Johnson County sexual assault response team coordinator and sexual assault nurse examiner who spoke about survivor medical resources at the vigil.

Mariam Shaaban

A speaker at the vigil who cited University of Iowa Clery reports showing more than 500 reported sexual assault cases on campus.

The details

Speakers at the vigil included representatives from Sexual Assault Survivors at Iowa, the Domestic Violence Intervention Program, and the Rape Victim Advocacy Program, and Katy Rasmussen, a Johnson County sexual assault response team coordinator and sexual assault nurse examiner, described medical resources available to survivors. The University of Iowa has defunded the Women's Resource and Action Center, the Rape Victim Advocacy Program, and Night Ride, according to the event's organizers.

2024: Alleged assault of a Cornell University student at a fraternity house
September 2026: Cornell Seven case reported and became national headlines
Friday, November 6, 2026: Candlelight vigil held on the University of Iowa Pentacrest

Legal Context

The vigil's focus on reporting and response reflects the federal Clery Act, which requires colleges to publish annual crime statistics, and Title IX, which governs how schools must handle sexual misconduct complaints. The Cornell Seven case has drawn national attention to how those processes work in practice.

Students and community members in Iowa City can seek confidential help through the Rape Victim Advocacy Program and the Domestic Violence Intervention Program, both of which spoke at the vigil. The University of Iowa's defunding of Night Ride may affect how students get home safely at night.

The takeaway

Knowing where to get help before you need it can make a real difference. Campus and community sexual assault advocacy programs offer confidential support, and students can ask their school's Title IX office about reporting options.