Ouray County has experienced a rash of sexual assaults in recent years. In response, two area organizations – Victim Advocate Support Alliance (VASA) and Men Ending Rape Culture (MEND) – formed to support those who have been assaulted, strengthen official response to these crimes, and increase public awareness of and opposition to not only the assaults but the underlying attitudes and belief systems that motivate them.

As members of those groups, we would like to draw your attention t...