Dive Brief:
- U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer is asking California colleges and universities to create independent advocate positions on their campuses to help sexual assault victims.
- Boxer has proposed legislation that would, if passed, require higher education institutions to establish the advocate positions.
- The senator urged the creation of the positions in letters sent Tuesday to the chancellors of the University of California system, the California State University system and the state’s community colleges, as well as the president of the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities and the California Association of Private Postsecondary Schools.
Dive Insight:
If passed, Boxer’s bill would require advocate positions to help victims report sexual assaults and get emergency care, medical exams, counseling, legal aid, and information about their rights. Since that’s questionable, given the great divide between Democrats and Republicans in Congress, the Democratic senator’s best chance may be going the voluntary adoption route. And the school administrators may be receptive to the idea because of the U.S. Department of Education’s increased scrutiny of Title IX compliance issues.