Although campus sexual assault has always been a problem, it's now gaining traction and attention in the national news media as well as on Capitol Hill. Dozens of colleges and universities across the country are currently under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education because they've been accused of mishandling sexual assault cases. At the same time that a bipartisan group of members of Congress like Senator Gillibrand (NY) , Senator Boxer (CA) , and Representative Speier (CA) are working to push legislation addressing campus sexual assault, survivors are acting out and fighting for justice.
Check out these stories and accounts we are hearing from students around the country:
Stanford:
At Stanford University, Leah Francis took matters into her own hands after Stanford found her rapist responsible for sexual assault. The University gave him only 40 hours of community service and a little more than a year suspension, but refused to expel him. He was even allegedly going to walk at graduation until Leah complained to the Title IX coordinator. Their explanation? He is not considered a "threat" to the Stanford community.
She then sent the campus an email detailing her experience with the university's administration that went viral.
As a result students organized a rally in solidarity to #StandWithLeah
Brown:
After being found responsible for rape by the university, Lena Sclove's rapist was given only a year's suspension and allowed to return to campus while Lena was still a student-- despite the board's recommendation of a two-year suspension, which would have allowed Lena to spend the rest of her time at Brown free from her attacker.
Lena held a press conference to spread the word about her experience dealing with the university about her sexual assault.
As a result, students around the campus created a petition to change the university’s sexual assault policies and staged protests at their graduation ceremony this May.
Amherst College:
Angie Epifano wrote a bold and deeply personal op-ed in her school's newspaper detailing what she described as the university administration's mishandling of the assault and an ever present, sexually hostile environment created by underground fraternities.
The editorial went viral and inspired survivors at other colleges to write op-eds in a similar vein.
As a result, a campus committee formed in response to her piece banned student participation in fraternities and sororities (including "fraternity-like and sorority-like organizations") either on or off campus. The Board of Trustees also upheld a 1984 decision to disallow "college recognition of Greek organizations" and is currently reviewing the college's sexual assault policies.
Columbia University and Barnard College:
At Columbia University and affiliated Barnard College, sexual assault was reportedly consistently mishandled, from lax punishments for those found guilty to pressure on students not to report harassment, and disciplinary hearings that favored the accused.
After student-led petitions, town hall meetings, and a new student group called No Red Tape, survivors took matters into their own hands when their school wasn't giving them what they needed and 23 of them filed a Title IX complaint.
Survivors of sexual assault and their allies are not going to wait for justice to come to them – they will make it happen no matter what. Big or small, just be sure to Act Out.
Want to know more about sexual assault on campus and your rights under Title IX? Check out this resource from the National Women's Law Center.
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