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WILKES-BARRE — U.S. Sen. Robert Casey came to Wilkes-University Friday to tout the fruits of his own work, citing changes students can expect courtesy of the Campus SaVE Act when they return to colleges and universities nationwide this fall, all designed to curb sexual offenses in higher education institutions.
“There are two words that describe what we tried to do ,” Casey, D-Scranton, said, “prevention and awareness.”
The law itself is a bit dusty, having been enacted in March, 2013. But it took until October of last year for the regulations to be written and published, and those regulations officially took effect July 1.
“This isn’t simply a challenge for college campuses and the victims,” Casey said. “This is a problem for everyone.”
The law targets four offenses, Casey said: “Sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking.” Under the new rules, created as part of the broader Violence Against Women Re-authorization Act of 2013, colleges and universities must now:
• Provide clear statements of their policies regarding those four offenses to all students.
• Develop and implement prevention and awareness programs for students and employees that define and prohibit each of the four offenses.
• Set up clear procedures to follow when an offense is alleged, including preserving evidence, how and who it is reported to, advising the victim of her or his rights and the institution’s responsibilities, and providing changes in academic schedules, living arrangements transportation and working situations for victims when needed.
• Provide more comprehensive statistical reports to the U.S. Department of Education that more closely align sexual offense definitions with those used by the FBI.
Casey highlighted the need for bystander intervention. “All of us have a responsibility to take action,” he said. If you have a sense that someone you know may have engaged in this conduct or you see something on campus or see something at a party, you have an obligation to act.”
Noting he has one daughter who will be a senior in college this year and another a freshman, Casey said the issue “is personal for many people.” He praised Wilkes for having adopted much of the spirit of the law before the regulations took effect.
He also stressed more work has to be done, and Washington has to listen to recommendations for improvements in the law.
Victims Resource Center outreach and education manager Pat Rushton praised the changes, noting that one in five undergraduate women will experience some type of sexual assault in their college careers, and that the majority will never report it and thus not get the help they may need.
Dean of Students Mark Allen and Associate Dean of Student Development Philip Ruthkosky both said Wilkes has been proactive in much of what the law requires, including recently creating a movie demonstrating how bystanders can respond when they suspect an offense is about to occur.
“It’s an institution-wide imperative,” Ruthkosky said.