SALT LAKE CITY — Six years have passed since Lauren McCluskey, a former University of Utah student and track and field athlete, tragically lost her life on the university’s campus. This week, her family commemorated the somber anniversary, continuing to advocate for improved responses to incidents of relationship violence.
Jill McCluskey, Lauren’s mother, remembered her daughter in a poignant social media tribute, highlighting their ongoing efforts to transform the societal and institutional handling of such cases. The heart-rending post expressed the family’s enduring grief and their commitment to the cause: “We miss her every day & try to change the culture that responds poorly when relationship violence victims ask for help.”
The university annually hosts a 5K run in Lauren’s memory, organized in cooperation with the Lauren McCluskey Foundation, which aims to honor her legacy and raise awareness about campus safety.
The handling of Lauren’s case by campus police sparked protests and calls for reform from both students and victim advocates. Critics argued that the unprofessional handling of her situation by the university’s police department signaled a broader need for systemic change and potentially even the dissolution of the campus police.
In response to the outcry, the University of Utah has implemented significant reforms in its campus safety protocols. Keith Squires, Chief Safety Officer, outlined these changes in a recent review. He noted that now, any reports of threats or harm are escalated directly to senior officers, a practice not in place at the time of McCluskey’s death which, if implemented, could have potentially altered the outcome.
“The structure and heart of the department have been thoroughly transformed,” stated Squires. “Today, over 90% of our team members were not part of the department back in 2018. We’ve focused on recruiting officers who are not only experienced and skilled but who demonstrate genuine care for community safety.”
Additions to the team include victim advocates who work closely with detectives, ensuring that those threatened with violence receive both immediate attention and ongoing support.
Further emphasizing the university’s dedication to reform, the campus safety department has tightened its recruitment criteria and increased training to focus on sensitivity and responsiveness in handling calls for help. These changes reflect a commitment to preventing tragedies akin to that which took Lauren McCluskey’s life.
While the university has made strides in addressing the deficiencies exposed by the tragedy, for many it underscores the ongoing struggle against domestic violence. If anyone is experiencing domestic violence or knows someone who is, resources and help are available.
Through their grief, the McCluskey family’s unwavering advocacy continues to inspire measures that aim at better protecting individuals from relationship violence, ensuring their calls for help are never unanswered again.