National Context
The White House vs. Rape in CollegeTo make college campuses safer, the White House believes that institutions must adopt better policies and practices to prevent these crimes and to more effectively respond when they happen. Nevertheless, federal agencies must ensure that schools are living up to their obligations. To accomplish these and other goals, the President established, on January 2014, a White House Task Force to protect students from sexual assault. 1
The Task Force has been responsible for:
Policies and LawsTitle IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any education program or activity that receives federal funding. Sex discrimination includes sexual harassment, sexual battery, sexual assault, and rape that are "so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively bars the victim’s access to an educational opportunity or benefit." 2
The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (known as the Clery Act) is a federal law requiring United States colleges and universities to disclose information about crime on and around their campuses. The Act is enforced by the United States Department of Education. 3 The Campus Save Act, passed in 2013, restores The Clery Act and includes other manners of protections for survivors of interpersonal violence and stalking, along with other protections. 4 Author, Jon Krakauer, speaks about his new book, "Missoula," which targets the college rape epidemic in the United States.
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"It is up to all of us to ensure victims of sexual violence are not left to face these trials alone. Too often, survivors suffer in silence, fearing retribution, lack of support, or that the criminal justice system will fail to bring the perpetrator to justice. We must do more to raise awareness about the realities of sexual assault; confront and change insensitive attitudes wherever they persist; enhance training and education in the criminal justice system; and expand access to critical health, legal, and protection services for survivors."
President Barack Obama, April 2012 |
1 "Rape and Sexual Assault: A Renewed Call to Action." The White House Council on Women and Girls | The Office of the Vice President, 2014. Web. 15 Mar. 2015. .
2 "Title IX." END RAPE ON CAMPUS. Web. 15 Mar. 2015. .
3 "The Clery Act." END RAPE ON CAMPUS. Web. 15 Mar. 2015. <http://entydrapeoncampus.org/the-clery-act/>.
4 "The Campus SaVE Act." END RAPE ON CAMPUS. Web. 15 Mar. 2015. <http://endrapeoncampus.org/the-campus-save-act/>.
2 "Title IX." END RAPE ON CAMPUS. Web. 15 Mar. 2015. .
3 "The Clery Act." END RAPE ON CAMPUS. Web. 15 Mar. 2015. <http://entydrapeoncampus.org/the-clery-act/>.
4 "The Campus SaVE Act." END RAPE ON CAMPUS. Web. 15 Mar. 2015. <http://endrapeoncampus.org/the-campus-save-act/>.