-
First Published Study
In February of 1957, Clifford Kirkpatrick and Eugene Kanin published a study on male sexual aggression on college campuses. This study consisted of 291 girls where 20 percent reported that they experienced forceful attempts at sexual intercourse. The researchers suggest that college girls should be trained in informed self-reliance. Kirkpartrick, C. & Kanin, E. (1957). Male Sex Aggression on a University Campus. American Sociological Review, 22(1), pp52-58. Pages. -
AAUP Statement of Professional Ethics
Originally adopted in 1966, the AAUP recognizes that higher academic professionals carry special responsibilities when working with college students. They state that professors will "avoid any exploitation, harassment, or discriminatory treatments of students" due to their nature of professor and student relationship (AAUP, 2009). Due to this ethical responsibility, acts of harassments clearly violate expected standards of campus conduct. AAUP. (2009) Statement on Professional Ethics. -
Title IX, Education Amendments of 1972
The Education Amendments of 1972 required gender equity in every educational program. Obligating colleges to address sexual harassment against students regardless of who perpetrates the harassments or sexual violence. TITLE IX OF THE EDUCATION AMENDMENTS OF 1972, 20 U.S.C. A§ 1681 -
"Date-Rape" Term
Susan Brownmiller coined the term date rape in "reference to a dating situation in which an aggressor may press his advantage to a point where pleasantness quickly turns to unpleasantness" (337). This terminology also defines nonconsensual sex within a dating context. Brownmiller, S. (1975) Date Rape. Women's Studies Encyclopedia. Vol. 1, pp. 337. -
OCR Sexual Harassment Policy Memorandum
In an August 1981 policy memorandum, the OCR reaffirmed its jurisdiction over sexual harassment complaints under Title IX. They adopted that definition that sexual harassment consists of the verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. OCR. (September 1988)Sexual Harassment: It's Not Academic. Washington, DC: U.S Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights -
Jeanna Clery
Jeanne Clery was raped and murdered in her dorm room at Lehigh University. This begins her parent's argument that if they had known the crime records at that university, they would not have permitted their daughter to attend school there. -
Campus Security Act
After the death of Jeanna Clery, the Clery Act was ammended to the Higher Education Act of 1965. This act requires all high education institutions to report crime statistics and security measures for students, employees, and the Secretary of Education yearly. Institutions must also describe what programs they are implementing to decrease crime on their campus. Campus Security Act of 1990. 20 U.S.C. §1092. (1990) -
OCR's Proposed Revised Sexual Harassment Guidance
In response to the Supreme Court cases, the revised guidance states that the appropriate official to report does not have to be someone who is in the position to correct the situation. Instead, any school employee the student might notify is required to report. Cantu, N. (January 2001). Revised Sexual Harassment Guidance. Washington, DC: U.S Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights -
OCR's Sexual Harassment Pamphlet
The Office of Civil Rights publishes a pamphlet noting that sexual harassment includes "criminal" conduct and that colleges are NOT relieved of Title IX obligations for notifying the proper authorities. Monroe, S. (September 2008) Sexual Harassment: It's Not Academic. Washington, DC: U.S Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights
https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/ocrshpam.pdf -
OCR's Dear Colleague Letter
The Dear Colleague Letter from the Office of Civil Rights focuses on student-on-students sexual violence, stating that one incident of sexual assault is sufficient to create a hostile environment. The letter discusses proactive ideas to prevent sexual violence in college campuses, as well as provide guidance on a school's responsibility when addressing sexual violence. Ali, R. (2011, April 4). Dear Colleague Letter. Washington, DC: U.S Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights -
Beckett Brennan
CBS News Magazine "60 Minutes" features the case Beckett Brennan, a basketball player at the University of the Pacific. During her freshman year, she was raped by three of the men basketball team players at her university in May of 2008. During the case in front of the school's judicial board, they expelled one student, suspended one for a semester, and suspended the third for one academic year. No criminal charges were pressed on the students. CBS News. (May 2011). The Case of Beckett Brennan. -
Yale Suspends Fraternity
In May of 2011, Yale University suspends their Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity for five years for having their pledge members march through campus chanting "No means yes. Yes means anal." and for carrying signs that read "We love Yale sluts" in October of 2010. Foderaro, L.W. (May 2011) Yale Restricts a Fraternity for Five Years. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/18/education/18yale.html -
Not Alone
NotAlone was launched by the White House Task Force to protect college students from sexual assault. Since it's establishment in January of 2014, thousands have shared their stories and discussed ideas on how to best eliminate sexual assault on college campuses. Center for Changing Our Campus Culture. (2016) Not Alone: Together Against Sexual Assault. Retrieved from http://changingourcampus.org/about-us/not-alone/ -
Obama's It's On Us
The Obama administration and the White House released a new campaign to encourage people to not to be a bystander to the problem, but to be a part of the solution with sexual violence. Many colleges have created It's On Us groups on campuses in response to this new campaign. Axelrad, J. (September 2014). Obama, celebrities launch campaign to prevent sexual assault on campus. Retrieved from https://www.csmonitor.com -
U.S. Department of Education changes Rape definition
In June of 2014 with the new steps to address growing concerns about sexual violence on college campuses by the Obama Administration, the U.S. Department of Education adopted the FBI's revised, more inclusive definition of rape. Additionally, they are requiring institutions to ensure their disciplinary responses to sexual violence are prompt and fair, as well as provide programs to prevent various sexual violence. Department of Education. (2014). Action to Help Colleges Keep Campuses Safe -
The Hunting Ground Documentary
In the documentary, written and directed by Kirby Dick, several young women and men recounted how they were raped at their colleges and were denied justice by those same schools. In "The Hunting Ground" arrived in the middle of the fueling discussion of sexual violence across the country, as many colleges were under investigation by the Department of Education for mishandling rape accusations. Dargis, M. (Feb 2015). 'The Hunting Ground' Doc, a Searing Look at Campus Rape. Retrieved from NYTimes -
Brock A. Turner Case
After being convicted of sexually assaulting an unconscious woman, Brock was sentenced to six months in jail, three years probation, and registered as a sex offender. Many, including the accuser, have described the punishment as a "slap on the wrist" for the incident in January of 2015. The Associated Press. (June 2016). Ex-Stanford swimmer Brock Turner's jail term decried as too lenient. Retrieved from NBC News. -
#MeToo
While the me too movement was founded in 2006 to particularly help young women of color after sexual violence, the recent #metoo hashtag as taken over the internet and social media. Thousands, of all genders and races and sexual preferences, have begun to tell their stories publically of their sexual assault. Since the viral hashtag, multiple policies have been implemented or updated to assist sexual violence survivors. me too. (2006) Vision. Retrieved from https://metoomvmt.org/ -
Texas Senate debated Bill to punish unreported assault
In January of 2017, Sen. Joan Huffman filed a bill to penalize staff and student leaders who do not report incidents of campus sexual assaults with a Class B or Class A misdemeanor. If the bill becomes a law, students who fail to report would face expulsion from their college. Donaldson, E. (March 2017) Debate on bill to prevent campus sexual assault turn to rights of accused. Retrieved from Community Impact Newspaper. -
Trump's Pending Policies - https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2018/08/a-guide-to-how-the-new-rules-on-campus-sexual-assault-could-work/569035/
Trump's new policies on college sexual misconduct could change how administrators handle sexual assault. Here is an overview:
The university is required to investigate if the party is on campus, but not legally required if it is off campus.
Institutions are allowed to choose their standard of a disciplinary process if the victim moves forward in a formal process, as long as it is consistent.
The accused would be able to request direct questioning of the accuser and allow for cross-examining.
