As part of a statewide campaign to improve how university officials adjudicate reports of on-campus sexual assaults, Virginia Democrat Governor Terry McAuliffe recently announced the creation of a task force charged with reviewing the sexual assault policies of 76 Virginia colleges and universities. Along with his Attorney General Mark Herring and 17 public higher education leaders, the governor also signed an official declaration resolving to prevent sexual assault and ensure that schools enact fair judicial procedures to address reported incidences.
Misconduct by university administrators has come under greater scrutiny as sexual assault becomes an increasingly rampant problem on college campuses. Federal data alone shows a 50 percent rise in reported incidents of rape from 2009 to 2012. Most recently, James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA was put under federal investigation for Title IX violations after its administration found three students guilty of sexual assault and harassment, but responded only by banning the perpetrators from campus after graduation. The survivor, on the other hand, has since withdrawn from the school. Incidents such as this are not unique to JMU; McAuliffe’s initiative, which emphasizes bystander intervention and discourages the shaming of victims, may be just the push higher education officials need to address instances of sexual assault responsibly.
Unfortunately, the Georgetown bubble does not shield Hoyas from the problem. According to data released by the National College Health Assessment, one in four women—and one in 31 men—will be sexually assaulted during their time at Georgetown. First-year students are particularly at risk during their first six weeks on campus, a time period commonly referred to as the “Red Zone.”
Although Georgetown’s response to sexual assaults have historically been disappointing, over the past year the University has responded positively to student activism and taken several notable steps forward. The Student Code of Conduct now includes an alcohol amnesty policy, which disregards alcohol-related conduct violations when they coincide with reports of sexual assault. Additionally, Student Health Services has hired an additional staff member who specializes in counseling sexual assault survivors. These new measures are also proactive in nature. For the first time, New Student Orientation for the incoming freshman class included a mandatory workshop and dialogue about the prevalence of sexual assault on campus called Hoya RealTalk.
While Georgetown prides itself on fostering a safe environment for student development, as long as sexual assault remains an issue, campus will not be a truly safe space. Thus, the importance of inviting open dialogue and creating awareness about the realities of sexual assault—both at Georgetown and on campuses across the nation—cannot be overstated. Nevertheless, the much-needed initiatives pursued by the University and Gov. McAuliffe will require a commitment to continued partnership among students, university administrations, and local and state governments if they are to signal the first steps down a long road to creating permanent change.
