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

["Hotvedt, Carmen" <>]

Hi all:

 

Can someone provide clarification for those of us who do not read introduced legislative text regularly?  There are now two different versions of the bill on this email list. 

 

The attachment of the legislation from Cantalupo (from Boxer’s press office; AEG11417) indicates only a confidential victim advocate which I read in alignment with core competencies and values of victim advocates; the attachment from Carter (AEG11415) indicates a confidential advisor which “shall be trained to perform a victim-centered, trauma informed (forensic) interview…for which the goal is to elicit information about the traumatic event in question so that that interview can be used in either a campus or criminal investigation or disciplinary proceeding.” Which is the correct text for the bill that was introduced? Perhaps Boxer circulated the wrong information.  I’m unclear and was unable to find the bill on the senate.gov site.

 

Gillibrand and McCaskill’s websites both say “confidential advisor,” and the talking points circulating also indicate the confidential advisor rather than the victim advocate.   

 

Ultimately, the role of a victim advocate is NOT to interview victims in order to gain information for an investigation.  It is to provide a supportive and confidential space for the survivor to access what they need, not to “interview” victims for information the institution or law enforcement need for investigations.  This is a substantial conflict of interest in roles, skill sets, and victim access to safety and self-determinism. 

 

 

Carmen Hotvedt
Assistant Director for Violence Prevention (EVOC)
University Health Services
UW-Madison

EVOC:  End Violence On Campus
EVOC Change.  EVOC Equality.  EVOC Respect. 

 

 

 

From: Nancy Cantalupo [mailto:]
Sent: Wednesday, July 30, 2014 1:56 PM
To:
Subject: FW: Senator Boxer, Congresswoman Davis Introduce Bill to Provide Survivors of Sexual Assault with an On-Campus Advocate

 

And here’s another.

 

From: Boxer, Press Office (Boxer)
Sent: Wednesday, July 30, 2014 2:08 PM
To: Boxer, Press Office (Boxer)
Subject: Senator Boxer, Congresswoman Davis Introduce Bill to Provide Survivors of Sexual Assault with an On-Campus Advocate

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 30, 2014
 
Contact: Zachary Coile (Boxer) 202-224-8120

Aaron Hunter (Davis) 202-225-1686

 

 

SENATOR BOXER, CONGRESSWOMAN DAVIS INTRODUCE BILL TO PROVIDE SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT WITH AN ON-CAMPUS ADVOCATE
“S.O.S. Campus Act” Requires an Independent, Confidential Advocate for Sexual Assault Survivors

 

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) introduced the Survivor Outreach and Support Campus Act (S.O.S. Campus Act), legislation that would require colleges and universities to establish an independent, on-campus advocate to support survivors of sexual assault.

 

“Survivors of sexual assault deserve an advocate who will fight for them every step of the way,” Senator Boxer said. “Our bill, which has been endorsed by the University of California, will help encourage more victims to come forward and report these heinous crimes. I will work with my colleagues to pass this important bill and other broader legislation to end the epidemic of violence on our nation’s campuses.”   

 

“Victims of a sexual assault need to know someone is there for them, especially the learning institute they have entrusted their future to,” said Congresswoman Davis, a senior member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. “This advocate will provide victims with the critical support they will need when dealing with such a traumatic event.”

 

The legislation would require every institution of higher education that receives federal funding to designate an independent advocate for campus sexual assault prevention and response. This advocate would be responsible for ensuring that survivors of sexual assault – regardless of whether they decide to report the crime – have access to:

 

·         Emergency and follow-up medical care

·         Guidance on reporting assaults to law enforcement

·         Medical forensic or evidentiary exams

·         Crisis intervention, ongoing counseling and assistance throughout the process

·         Information on their legal rights

 

The advocate will also conduct a public information campaign on the campuses.

 

The bill is supported by the University of California, the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence, National Women’s Law Center, Break the Cycle, Jewish Women International, the American Association of University Women, Futures Without Violence and Savannah Badalich, Founder of UCLA’s 7000 in Solidarity: A Campaign Against Sexual Assault.

 

The legislation is the result of months of discussions with California university officials and advocacy groups on efforts to prevent and respond to sexual assault on campus. In May, Senator Boxer sent a letter to Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan, urging him to quickly finalize and release regulations to provide clear guidance to universities on how to address sexual assault.

 

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