Act aims to prevent sexual assault nationwide

While UNC reviews its own sexual assault policies, national legislation has been proposed to improve sexual assault policies on college campuses.

The Campus Sexual Violence Elimination, or SaVE, Act, seeks to implement national sexual assault prevention standards for universities nationwide.

The provision is part of the Violence Against Women Act, which was reauthorized by the U.S. Senate last week and awaits approval by the House.

Current law requires that schools provide sexual assault victims with contact information for legal assistance, counseling and health services.

The SaVE Act would expand upon the law and require campuses to enact preventative educational sexual assault measures.

Colleges and universities would be required to provide educational programming regarding domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking for both students and employees.

In addition, the act would require that all incidents of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking be reported in an annual campus crime statistics report.

U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan, D-N.C., said in a statement that she supports the legislation.

“Sexual assault, stalking and domestic violence are serious issues affecting women today, and college women are most at risk,” she said.

The national proposal comes at a time when UNC has faced criticism for its own sexual assault policies.

A complaint was filed Jan. 16 to the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights concerning the University’s handling of sexual assault cases.

The University has since hired a student complaint coordinator, Ew Quimbaya-Winship, who will be the initial contact for sexual assault victims starting March 11.

Currently, UNC provides resources to sexual assault victims and employs some preventative measures.

The One Act program offers students and faculty training for sexual assault prevention and intervention — but the program is not required of all students.

At a forum Wednesday, campus and community organizations discussed interpersonal violence and sexual assault.

Monika Hostler, executive director of the N.C. Coalition Against Sexual Assault, said at the forum that UNC has some effective policies regarding sexual assault, but that all campuses have a long way to go in terms of prevention.

“In order to really do this work, it has to be integrated throughout the whole campus,” she said.

Beth Posner, a professor of law and supervising attorney of UNC’s Domestic Violence Representation Project, said she believes the legislation could have a lasting and beneficial impact.

“I think that preventative measures, by which I really mean community-based education programs, will go far in changing the culture, attitudes and expectations of students, faculty and staff,” she said.

Contact the desk editor at state@dailytarheel.com.