White House Task Force Draws Attention to Issues of Sexual Assault on Campus

It was concern for a family member at college that inspired The Defender.  We have always thought that college students need to be carrying The Defender.  All parents are concerned with the safety of their children who are away at college.  Campus life is such an incredible experience; it can be forgotten than there are predators on campus.  Worse yet, when incidents of sexual assault and rape have occurred, there is emerging evidence that indicates coverup and wrongdoing by many prevalent at universities because of a lack of understanding.  Change is coming with a movement that will give a voice to victims.

This week’s announcement from The White House brings attention and accountability for colleges regarding sexual assaults on campus.  We caught this segment on PBS Newshour this week where a panel discusses how cases of rape and sexual assault on campus are being reported.  A White House task force has been assembled to shed light on the problems of sexual assault on campus and how victims are treated.  This Newshour segment brings together a panel of experts, including the president of Amhurst College who comment on the announcement made earlier in the day by Vice President Joe Biden.

A shocking, but under-reported statistic suggests that 1 in 5 women are a victim of sexual assault during their college experience.  This task force may cause this number to skyrocket once reporting reflects reality.  The students and advocates that championed these programs inspire us, giving a voice to Jane Doe, as one expert described in the Newshour segment. As a result of student activism, government action has followed with mandates to force responsibility and provide clarity for how to handle sexual assault cases.  In addition to reforms, 55 universities are being investigated for negligence with the mishandling of rape cases.  From the linked article on TheWire.com, Catherine E. Lhamon, the Department of Education’s Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, said in a statement,

“We are making this list available in an effort to bring more transparency to our enforcement work and to foster better public awareness of civil rights. We hope this increased transparency will spur community dialogue about this important issue. . .”

Watch the segment on PBS.

In an upcoming blog post, we will announce the Defender Campus Ambassador Program.  As part of our mission to give back, we will be providing students with tools and resources to educate their classmates. Look out for more information on The Defender Campus Ambassador Program or email lisa@getthedefender.com if you just need to know now!