On April 29 the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault issued its first report, which outlines ways to more effectively identify, prevent and respond to sexual violence on campuses.
“Colleges and universities can no longer turn a blind eye or pretend rape and sexual assault doesn’t occur on their campuses,” said Vice President Biden at the report’s release. A study of undergraduate women in 2009 found that one in five are sexually assaulted during college.
The task force recommends that schools issue campus climate surveys to learn the extent of the problem and to implement prevention programs that “engage men as allies in this cause.” When a sexual assault occurs, schools should provide trained advocates, as well as mental health and pastoral counselors, to support victims through the process of reporting and recovery.
The White House has also created NotAlone.gov, a website that provides information about students’ rights, school-by-school enforcement data and resources on how to file a complaint.
