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Sexual Assault on College Campuses
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1957 - First study published about sexual assault on college campuses
The title of the study is titled "Male sex aggression on a University Campus" and is published in the American Sociological Review (Zimmerman, 2016). The study referred to assault survivors as "offended girls (Goodwin)." -
1965 - Higher Education Act
The Higher Education Act of 1965 provided more resources on college campuses to help and protect students (assaultservicesknowledge.org). Funds from this act will later contribute to sexual assault prevention awareness on campuses. The law was signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson. -
1967- 1975 - Radical Feminism
Up until 1967, the issue of Sexual Assault on college campuses did not receive much priority as a major issue. At this time, feminist groups began to raise awareness on the issue by voicing their concerns publicly to bring attention to the issue. This began the "Rape Crisis Movement" (Goodwin). -
1972 - Title IX and the Education Amendments
This Amendment demanded the equality among genders in all educational programs that received funding from the government. This law included the addressing of sexual harassment against students (assaultservicesknowledge.org). -
1975 - The term "date rape" is invented by Susan Brownmiller.
Susan Brownmiller used to term "date rape" to describe a situation on a date when, "an aggressor may press his advantage to the point where pleasantness quickly turns to unpleasantness and more than the woman bargained for" (Zimmerman, 2016). -
1985 - A psychology professor at Kent State University conducts one of the largest scientific studies on date rape.
Mary R. Ross a psychology professor surveyed more than 6,000 undergraduate female and male college students about their experience with date rape. The results showed alarming results indicating that 1 in 4 female students had an experience that fell under the definition of rape or attempted rape (Zimmerman, 2016). -
1990 - The Jeanne Clery Disclosure Act of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act
The Jeanne Clery Disclosure Act of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act demands that post-secondary institutions inform its students about crimes on campus and close to the area. Schools must maintain a public crime log, provide warnings in a timely manner and have emergency response plans in place (assaultservicesknowledge.org). -
1994 - The Violence Against Women Act
The Violence Against Women Act enhanced investigations and prosecutions of sex offenders. This Act allowed enhanced sentencing for repeat offenders and provided restitution for for victims. It also provided necessary resources to local law enforcement to investigate and prosecute crimes against women (assaultservicesknowledge.org). -
1994 - Professor Mary R. Koss's 1985 survey results come to light.
In 1994, Professor Koss's results from her 1985 study about rape in college become the focus for the book, "I Never called it Rape" by Robin Warshaw (Zimmerman, 2016). -
1997 - Office for Civil Rights establishes the "Hostile Environment Standard."
The Office for Civil Rights "Sexual Harassment Guidance: Harassment of Students by School Employees, Other Students, or Third Parties" introduces the Hostile Environment standard in 1997. This standard states that sexual harassment is any conduct that prohibits the student's ability to benefit from his/her education or creates a hostile or abusive environment (assaultservicesknowledge.org). -
1998 - Davis v. Monroe County Board of Education
In Davis v. Monroe County Board of Education, the Supreme Court stated that schools could also be held liable for student-student harassment if the school has knowledge of the harassment (assaultservicesknowledge.org). -
1998 - Gebser v. Lago Vista Independent School District
In Gebser v. Lago Vista Independent School District, the Supreme Court ruled that a school district could be held liable for money under Title IX for the knowing of teacher-student sexual harassment and not reporting it (assaultservicesknowledge.org). -
2004 - Office of Civil Rights Dear Colleague Letter Guidance
The Office of Civil Rights Dear Colleague Letter Guidance was a reminder to post-secondary institutions that Title IX requires those receiving government funds to A.) Designate a Title IX Coordinator B.) Adopt and disseminate a nondiscrimination policy and C.) Put grievance procedures in place to address complainants of discrimination on the basis of sex ( assaultservicesknowledge.org). -
2011 - Office of Civil Rights Dear Colleague Letter Guidance
The Office of Civil Rights Dear Colleague Letter Guidance discuss proactive measures that schools need to be taken to prevent sexual harassment and violence and also provides key details on the responsibilities of the schools when dealing with these sensitive issues (assaultservicesknowledge.org). -
2013 - The Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act
The Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act requires schools to report a broader range of sexual violence incidents occurring on campus. This includes domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking (assaultservicesknowledge.org). It was signed by President Obama in 2013. -
2014 - The White House releases Sexual Assault Report
The White House tasks force releases it first report titled "Not Alone" the defines the problems of sexual assault on college campuses ( Zimmerman, 2016). -
2014 - The Office of Civil Rights Title IX Question & Answer Guidance
The Office of Civil Rights Title IX Question and Answer Guidance demanded schools require more explicit requirements to reduce re-traumatization including; language that makes clear which employees are required to report sexual harassment, confidential reporting options, counseling services free for students who have experienced sexual harassment, and training for faculty and staff (assaultservicesknowledge.org). -
2014 - Columbia University
In April 2014, 33 students at Columbia University filed a complaint with the federal government for the mishandling of sexual assault claims and mistreatment of victims by the university (Zimmerman, 2016). -
2015 - Documentary released
"The Hunting Ground" is released. A compelling documentary focusing on rape on American College Campuses ( Zimmerman, 2016) -
2016 - Baylor University fires football coach
Baylor University fires head coach Art Biles and the President of the University Kenneth Starr resigns after investigators determine the mishandling of accusations of sexual assault committed by its football players ( Zimmerman, 2016). -
2016 - "It's on us" Campaign
The Obama Administration starts the "It's on us" campaign to encourage men/women to intervene before sexual assault takes place. Over 344,400 students have taken the pledge. Over 500 colleges in 48 states have used the campaign to bring awareness to their campuses about sexual assault (Eilperin, 2016). -
2016 - Stanford University Swimmer convicted of sexual assault
Brock Turner, a Stanford University student and member of the swim team, is convicted of assaulting an unconscious woman. He was only sentenced to six months in jail and was required to register as a sex offender. A public out cry began as many felt the punishment did not fit the crime. The district attorney in the case stated " Campus rape is not different from off- campus rape" (Zimmerman, 2016). -
2017 - The future of sexual assault on college campuses
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos states she will revisit Obama's sexual assault policies. DeVos stated to The New York Times " We can’t go back to the days when allegations were swept under the rug,and I acknowledge there was a time when women were essentially dismissed. That is not acceptable." (Stolberg, 2017) No strides have been made by the Trump Administration in continuing the progress the Obama Administration started to prevent sexual assault on college campuses. -
References
(n.d.). Retrieved August 21, 2017, from https://images.google.com/ Campus Sexual Assault Laws & Regulations Timeline. (n.d.). Retrieved August 21, 2017, from http://assaultservicesknowledge.org/docs/librariesprovider8/default-document-library/sa-ed-laws-timeline.pdf Eilperin, J. (2016, July 03). Biden and Obama rewrite the rulebook on college sexual assaults. Retrieved August 21, 2017, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/biden-and-obama-rewrite-the-rulebook-on-college-sexual-assault -
References
Goodwin, K. (n.d.). Origins and Evolution of Campus Sexual Assault Prevention and Policies. Retrieved August 21, 2017, from https://www.uvm.edu/~vtconn/v16/goodwin1.html Stolberg, S. G. (2017, July 13). DeVos Says She Will Revisit Obama-Era Sexual Assault Policies. Retrieved August 21, 2017, from https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/13/us/devos-college-sexual-assault.html?mcubz=1 -
References
Zimmerman, E. (2016, June 22). Campus Sexual Assault: A Timeline of Major Events. Retrieved August 21, 2017, from https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/23/education/campus-sexual-assault-a-timeline-of-major-events.html?mcubz=1
