U.S. Rep. Bob Dold (R-IL) helped introduced legislation on Thursday that would prevent colleges and universities from retaliating against victims and witnesses of sexual assault.
Dold joined U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA) in introducing the Campus Sexual Assault Whistleblower Protection Act, which would protect victims and witnesses of sexual assault from minor misdemeanors or conduct code violations resulting from investigations.
“As a father of young daughters, the prevalence of sexual assault on college campuses is absolutely terrifying,” Dold said. “We need to do everything we can to stop sexual assault, and when it does occur, we need to create a culture that helps survivors instead of shaming them. Our bipartisan bill will support survivors and reduce sexual violence on college campuses by ensuring that any student who reports violence will not be subjected to retaliation.”
The legislation takes aim at the practice of colleges and universities enforcing code of conduct violations against victims and witnesses rather than supporting sexual assault investigations.
“Universities have a duty under Title IX to protect their students by preventing and addressing sexual assaults on campus,” Speier said. “Students who witness such a crime should never fear reprisal for bravely coming forward. It is beyond outrageous that students have been forced to suffer in silence after a sexual assault for fear that their university will punish them for drinking a beer or dating someone of the same sex.”