Following spring break, the Wichitan learned that a student was refused treatment at the Vinson Health Center  after she was raped.

The female student was told she needed to have a psychological evaluation done first before they could do a STD test.

Students pay high tuition to be medically insured, while being far away from home. It is inappropriate and extremely concerning that students cannot rely on the university they are attending.

When looking for medical attention a student should receive care and respect, which are necessary to be seen as a trustworthy organization.

Apparently, the Vinson Health Center does not meet these standards, which should be obvious and granted.

A simple STD testing, which requires a urine sample, seems too complicated for the Vinson Health Center to handle. The excuse – a urine sample cannot be evaluated, because there is now laboratory, therefore it needs to be sent off.

According to the student, the excuse from the nurse was that a mental health examination and counseling is more important in this situation.

No, it is not.

Of course talking to a psychologist after a rape or sexual assault is preferable if not even necessary, but the first step is to find out if there are any medical problems.

Vice President Student Affairs and Enrollment Management Keith Lamb said he cannot believe that this case occurred.

“It is more than inappropriate and a problem that needs to be addressed.  I apologize that the university has failed in this matter,” Lamb said.

Associate Vice President of Student Affairs Matthew Park said he does not understand the logic behind the decision made.

The Health Care Center can refuse treatment on medical grounds, if that would not benefit the individual, but in this case it would have been unnecessary to withhold any treatment.

“The purpose of the Health Center is to look out for our students, who are our priority,” Park said.

Sending out testing urine samples may be expensive, but considering that the university might spend $3 million on a new baseball team, students should be frustrated by this.

Keith Williamson, medical doctor of the Vinson Health Center, refused to make any comments to the Wichitan.