The federal executive branch is gearing up to combat sexual assaults on college campuses.
Vice President Joe Biden unveiled the effort Monday in a speech at the University of New Hampshire.
“Students across the country deserve the safest possible environment in which to learn,” Biden said. “We’re taking new steps to help our nation’s schools, universities and colleges end the cycle of sexual violence on campus.”
White House officials say one in five women will face sexual abuse in college — most will be unreported.
Authorities also say 3,300 forcible sex offenses were reported at public colleges in 2009.
“Every school would like to believe it is immune from sexual violence, but the facts suggest otherwise,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. “Our larger goal is to raise awareness [of] an issue that should have no place in society and especially in our schools.”
The Department of Education is pressing public higher education institutions to crack down on sexual abuse, framing the issue as a female civil rights matter.
The Department of Education cites Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any federally funded education program or activity, as evidence schools are required to prevent abuse.
Sexual violence includes rape, sexual assault, sexual battery and sexual coercion, according to a White House fact sheet.
“Sexual coercion” is a general term for using social pressure, drugs or alcohol to force sex.
The White House Office for Civil Rights submitted a letter of guidance to schools and universities across the country emphasizing the responsibility to prevent sexual violence.
The letter says schools are obligated to intervene if an employee “knows or reasonably should know” violence has occurred.
The report also indicates schools are responsible for training employees to recognize and respond to sexual harassment and for posting public notices of non-discrimination.
Biden authored the Violence Against Women Act of 1994, which funded investigation and prosecution of sexual assault cases and strengthened penalties against offenders.
 
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Contact Matthew Albright at [email protected]