DCLPublicationDate: 9/1/96 DCLID: ANN-96-5 AwardYear: Summary: Developing and implementing a comprehensive prevention policy for campus violence against women. September 6, 1996 ANN-96-5 Dear President: Women on college campuses, and young women generally, are often at risk of being sexually assaulted or victims of violence. While many schools have created programs to raise awareness about stalking and sexual assault, including dating violence and acquaintance rape, some have not yet taken this step. We would like to encourage all schools to focus on these issues, and this letter provides some suggestions for your use in developing and implementing a comprehensive prevention policy. Many orientations for new students on campus already include information about sexual assault and stalking. Effective orientation programs could incorporate the following: explanations of what constitutes sexual assault, stalking or physical abuse; dissemination of effective strategies to prevent sexual assaults; discussion of the institution's policy on alcohol and the connections between alcohol abuse and sexual assault; resources available to victims; the methods of reporting such incidents; and the institution's policy on handling instances of sexual assault and other crimes. In addition, it is advisable to coordinate your efforts with local law enforcement, prosecutors, health care providers, rape treatment centers and shelters. This will reinforce for students the fact that sexual assault is a serious crime in need of attention not only by the educational institution but by law enforcement and health services as well. Inviting representatives from such organizations to speak during an appropriate campus event can reinforce this message. Schools are encouraged to include all organizations that are an integral part of campus life, such as the student council, the campus newspaper, intercollegiate athletics, the Greek system, organizations involved in preventing substance abuse and violence, and other student organizations, in the effort to educate and to prevent violence against women. A strong protocol for handling cases of sexual assault and stalking is a tool that many campuses have found effective in assisting victims, in ensuring appropriate disciplinary action and in preventing such incidents from occurring. These protocols generally specify actions a victim should take following an assault, resources available to a victim, and procedures that will be taken if an offender is identified. Page 2 If you wish more information on ways to combat violence against women on campus, the following resources may be helpful: Department of Justice Violence Against Women Office http:/www.usdoj.gov/vawo Department of Education World Wide Web site on campus safety http:/www.ed.gov/offices/ope/ppi/security.html Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention World Wide Web site http://www.edc.org/hec/ We have an important opportunity to inform students and affect how they perceive sexual assault and other forms of violence against women. We hope that you will join in this critical partnership to end the cycle of violence. Please let us know if any of our Departments can be of assistance. Sincerely, Richard W. Riley Janet Reno Secretary of Education Attorney General Donna E. Shalala Secretary of Health and Human Services |