Discussion List for campus-based and allied personnel working to end gender-based violence on campus.

[Melanie Matson <>]

Hi Lauren! In California, there is Education Code 67385.7 and 67390:


67385.7.  (a) (1) The governing board of each community college

district and the Trustees of the California State University shall,

and the Regents of the University of California are requested to, in

collaboration with campus-based and community-based victim advocacy

organizations, provide, as part of established campus orientations,

educational and preventive information about sexual violence to

students at all campuses of their respective segments. For a campus

with an existing on-campus orientation program, this information

shall be provided, in addition to the sexual harassment information

required to be provided pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section

66281.5, during the regular orientation for incoming students.

   (2) Each campus of the California Community Colleges and the

California State University shall, and each campus of the University

of California is requested to, post sexual violence prevention and

education information on its campus Internet Web site.

   (b) The educational and preventive information provided pursuant

to this section shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, all

of the following:

   (1) Common facts and myths about the causes of sexual violence.

   (2) Dating violence, rape, sexual assault, domestic violence, and

stalking crimes, including information on how to file internal

administrative complaints with the institution of higher education

and how to file criminal charges with local law enforcement

officials.

   (3) The availability of, and contact information for, campus and

community resources for students who are victims of sexual violence.



   (4) Methods of encouraging peer support for victims and the

imposition of sanctions on offenders.

   (5) Information regarding campus, criminal, and civil consequences

of committing acts of sexual violence.

   (c) Campuses of the California Community Colleges and the

California State University shall, and campuses of the University of

California are requested to, develop policies to encourage students

to report any campus crimes involving sexual violence to the

appropriate campus authorities.

   (d) Campuses are urged to adopt policies to eliminate barriers for

victims who come forward to report sexual assaults, and to advise

students regarding these policies. These policies may include, but

are not necessarily limited to, exempting the victim from campus

sanctions for being in violation of any campus policies, including

alcohol or substance abuse policies or other policies of the campus,

at the time of the incident.

   (e) The Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges

and the Trustees of the California State University shall, and the

Regents of the University of California are requested to, develop and

adopt regulations setting forth procedures for the implementation of
this section by campuses in their respective segments.




67390.  The Legislature hereby finds and declares all of the

following:

   (a) College students are more vulnerable to rape than any other

age group.

   (b) The majority of reported victims and offenders of rape are of

college age.

   (c) At most colleges and universities today, few students,

faculty, or staff are alerted to crucial information about sexual

assaults, especially acquaintance rape.  Many people have

misconceptions about these crimes that enhance their vulnerability to

victimization.

   (d) Colleges should implement a variety of effective educational

programs to inform all students and other college personnel about

sexual assaults on campus.  These programs should be implemented to

disseminate factual information about sexual assault, promote open

discussion, encourage reporting, and provide information about

prevention to faculty, staff, and both male and female students.

   (e) Colleges need to emphasize to students the seriousness of the

offenses of rape and sexual assault.

   (f) Students need critical factual information about the

prevalence of stranger and acquaintance rape, how and where it

happens, its impact, and the relationship between alcohol and drug

use and sexual assaults.

   (g) It is not sufficient to develop policies, brochures, and other

informational materials; once these materials are developed they

must be distributed in a way that emphasizes their importance and

stimulates the interest of students.

   (h) Fraternities, sororities, and other student organizations

operating on campus should undergo rape-awareness training each year

before they are permitted to hold any events.

   (i) Residence life student staff and all students living in campus

recognized housing should receive acquaintance rape training every

semester.

   (j) Comprehensive information about acquaintance rape and other

kinds of sexual assaults should be provided at all new student

orientation programs and at any campus program that students are

required to attend.

   (k) Colleges should provide special sexual assault seminars for

all athletic coaches and administrators and members of athletic

teams.  These seminars should take place during a student athlete

orientation program or prior to the first team meeting.  Seminars

should use the campus media, newspapers, radio, and television to

heighten awareness of campus violence and its prevention.

   (l) To provide appropriate information and counseling to sexual

assault victims, all college student services professional staff

members or student affairs professional staff members and campus

police should participate in annual sexual assault education

seminars.


Melanie

Melanie O. Matson, M.A.
Director, Rape Prevention Education Program
Women's Center, University of California - Santa Barbara
1220 Student Resource Building
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-7190
805-893-2628

www.sa.ucsb.edu/women'scenter<http://www.sa.ucsb.edu/women'scenter>
Does anyone out there live in a state that has a statute regarding mandatory 
sexual assault education for state colleges/universities? I know Wisconsin 
does this and PA is working on passing legislation.
Anyone else?! Thanks!

Lauren

E. Lauren Sogor, MPH
Prevention Campaign Specialist

National Sexual Violence Resource Center
123 North Enola Drive, Enola, PA 17025 717.909.0710 x118
877.739.3895 Toll Free

collaboration | prevention | resources