President Barack Obama announced Wednesday his concern with the prevalence of sexual assault and violence on college campuses nationwide, according to the Associated Press. Obama reported the issue’s importance in our nation today: One in five females are assaulted in their lifetimes, while only one in eight report any crimes.
The White House Council on Women and Girls states that college-age girls are the most at risk for assault.
Obama spoke out on the issue both as a president and father of two daughters nearing college age, said the AP. He called on young people, men and women both, to begin seeing sexual assault and violence as unacceptable. ”And they’re going to have to summon the bravery to stand up and say so,” Obama said, according to AP, “especially when the social pressure to keep quiet or to go along can be very intense.”
Obama assigned a task force comprised of administration officials to identify solutions and recommendations for institutions. Potential suggestions may include a more public disclosure of universities’ sexual assault reports records, following the Clery Act, as well as suggestions for universities in responding to the crime. In addition, the task force may suggest better partnership between federal agencies to hold accountable any schools that fail to properly address the issue.
Some legislation has already been enacted to address the issue of sexual assault: Title IX prohibits discrimination of institutions on the basis of gender, while the Clery Act requires institutions to disclose their campuses’ crime statistics each year. The Violence Against Women Act offers recourse and protections for women across the nation.
The White House report also stressed its intention to pursue more prosecutions and arrests. One of the largest problems that contribute to a lack of prosecution is police bias and inadequate training on handling sexual assault situations.
Paul Shang, the dean of students and assistant vice president for student affairs, is glad that the president has made the issue into a national priority. He hopes, however, that Obama’s task force, responsible for outlining recommendations for universities nationwide, will have adequate representation from higher education.
“People who make recommendations have often not been on a college campus,” Shang said. Such representatives on the task force may lack the perspective and experience unique to working in higher education.
Shang believes University of Oregon is already doing well to meet its obligations in responding to the issue, both legally and on behalf of students’ needs. “I think the University of Oregon is very conversant and aware,” Shang said, “and will continue to develop thorough and innovative ways to work with students in response to their experiences.”
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