While the physical injuries eventually began to heal, the emotional impact has been much harder to leave behind. Since that night, I have done everything the criminal justice system asks victims to do. I provided statements to law enforcement. I cooperated with investigators. I attended court proceedings. I testified under oath. My friends did the same. Together, we relived one of the most traumatic experiences of our lives because we believed accountability mattered. Recently, a judge determined there was sufficient evidence for the case against Scranton resident Nasir Moore to proceed in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. The charges include Aggravated Assault, Simple Assault, Recklessly Endangering Another Person, Disorderly Conduct, and Harassment.

The criminal justice system will determine the ultimate outcome of this case, and I fully respect the principle that every person is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. However, my concerns extend beyond the courtroom. As a victim, one of the most difficult realities has been watching life continue as normal for the defendant while I continue dealing with the consequences of that night. Medical appointments, court appearances, anxiety, and recovery became part of my daily life. Meanwhile, the person accused of causing those injuries continues participating in campus life while the case moves forward.

This raises a larger question that affects victims far beyond my own experience:
What responsibility do colleges and universities have when students face serious violent criminal charges? I am not suggesting that institutions should ignore due process. I am not asking schools to determine guilt before a court does, but universities make temporary decisions regarding student conduct every day. Students can face interim suspensions, restrictions, housing changes, and other disciplinary measures while investigations are ongoing. Institutions routinely act when they believe there are concerns involving safety, conduct, or liability.

When a case involving multiple alleged victims and serious felony charges proceeds through the court system, many victims are left wondering where those same concerns are. For victims, the impact of violence does not end when charges are filed. We live with the injuries. We attend medical appointments. We answer difficult questions in courtrooms. We replay events in our minds. We worry about our safety. We spend months navigating a legal process that is often emotionally exhausting. At times, it can feel as though victims are asked to carry the burden of recovery while institutions struggle to determine where accountability begins and ends. This is not about revenge. It is not about demanding punishment before a verdict.

It is about asking institutions to seriously consider the message they send to victims, students, and communities when individuals facing serious violent criminal charges continue participating in school activities without any visible response.

Should universities have clearer policies regarding students charged with violent felony offenses? Should victims have a voice in those discussions?

Should student safety concerns be weighed differently when allegations involve significant violence against multiple individuals? These are difficult questions, but they are important ones.

My hope is that sharing my experience encourages a broader conversation about victim advocacy, institutional accountability, and the support victims receive after coming forward. The courts will determine the outcome of my case, but accountability should not begin and end at the courthouse doors. Victims deserve to know that their voices matter, that their experiences matter, and that their safety matters too.

The opinions expressed in this article are my own and are based on my personal experience as a victim and participant in an ongoing criminal case. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.