Effectively combatting sexual assault on college campuses involves more than legislation ­— it requires a greater cultural change on behalf of institutions and campus communities alike.

Last week, Syracuse University became the first large private university to endorse the Campus Accountability and Safety Act, a U.S. Senate bill that would require colleges and universities to survey students’ experiences with sexual assault and publish the findings, according to a summary of the bill published on the Congress website.

The act would also authorize federal penalties on institutions that fail to follow Title IX requirements concerning sexual violence, as outlined in the bill’s summary.

SU has done a respectable job creating a campus climate in which sexual assault is generally understood as a violation that is not tolerated. But sexual violence unfortunately still takes place regardless, and the university — and higher education as a whole — should work to make for a healthier attitude toward rape culture by consistently demonstrating visible and tangible measures that surpass legislation alone.

The significance of this perception is reinforced by the high rates of assault experienced by college students, considering 21 percent of female students and 7 percent of male students experience sexual assault on average during their undergraduate years, according to a recent study from the Bureau of Justice Statistics.

Despite the numerous pieces of legislation that legally ban it on school grounds in addition to local, state and federal policies, sexual assault is still prevalent. However, targeting the situations and behaviors that can lead up to sexual assault is instrumental in fostering a culture in which this violence is unacceptable and can ultimately be prevented.

These initiatives can even begin before a student steps on campus through the reform of programs like “Think About It,” an online course aimed to prepare students for the challenges of college life, including pressures regarding drug use and sexual interactions. Often, the program is perceived as a chore for students to click through in order to move into university housing and can be made more powerful if it was simplified to be more impactful and engaging for students.

The study and SU’s endorsement of the bill comes as a former Harvard University student has filed a lawsuit claiming that school officials failed to take her allegations of sexual assault and stalking by another student seriously. Alyssa Leader, who graduated from the Ivy League school in 2015, said the school forced her to live in the same dorm as her alleged abuser.

The lawsuit is a prime example of a lapse in judgment on behalf of the institution and the failure to bring about action that preserves the well-being of students — a situation SU can avoid through tangible measures that support a greater campus framework of countering sexual assault.

Endorsing anti-sexual assault legislation is a progressive move for universities seeking to do their part in administratively curbing sexual violence and is a valuable tool in holding institutions accountable in releasing these statistics. But legislation alone doesn’t stop some from having an attitude of entitlement in regard to other people and their bodies, and it should be remembered that powerful reforms against sexual violence have the potential to make their mark within institutions and grow to be reciprocated throughout the community.

Published on February 22, 2016 at 1:29 am

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