State's female lawmakers speak out on sexual violence on campus

Published October 21, 2014 at 2:16 p.m.

By Jessica Wehrman from the Columbus Dispatch

Three Ohio lawmakers are reminding college and university presidents in the state about a new law aimed at combatting sexual assault on college campuses.

Reps. Joyce Beatty, D-Jefferson Township, Marcia Fudge, D-Cleveland and Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo, sent the letter Tuesday, timed to domestic violence awareness month.

The letter reminds the presidents that one in five students are raped or sexually assaulted during their time in college. Eighty percent of the time, the victim knows the attacker.

The new law, they write, requires data collection on a broader range of sexual violence incidents on campus and also alters the complaint process.

“This process should be one in which victims feel supported and their rights are known throughout their case’s progression,” they write.

Colleges and universities are also required under the new law to improve the current disciplinary practices, and offer schools federal dollars to improve current practices while requiring campus education and awareness programs.

The letter urges colleges and universities to connect with local rape crisis centers and advocacy groups as they work to implement the new law.

"Recognizing that less than five percent of rapes and attempted rapes of college students are reported to campus authorities or law enforcement, we must work together to find solutions to keep our students safe," they wrote.

“It is exciting for students to begin college, but entering campus life has risks that for too long have been swept under the rug and are not discussed amongst students or administrators,” said Kaptur. “It is unacceptable that one in five students experiences sexual violence while in college. No student should experience, or fear, these attacks while pursuing higher education.

Said Beatty: “Nearly one in every four Ohio women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime, this must stop, and our universities and colleges should be leaders in this effort.”

http://www.dispatch.com/content/blogs/the-daily-briefing/2014/10/10-21-2014-female-lawmakers-write-letter-on-ending-sexual-assault-on-campus.html