Title IX prohibits gender discrimination at colleges that receive federal funding but it’s also used in sexual violence cases.
As it happens, the Hawaii Legislature’s Women’s Caucus introduced a resolution just days before the feds’ announcement that asks UH to “reaffirm its commitment” to Title IX and the Violence Against Women Act.
House Concurrent Resolution 12 essentially urges the university to beef up efforts to combat sexual violence on its campuses, come up with a concrete plan to address and prevent gender discrimination and provide a progress report to next year’s Legislature on its compliance with the federal laws.
The 55 schools on the list were selected based on audits that looked at statistical data, news reports and information from parents, advocacy groups and community organizations. It’s the first time that the DOE’s Office for Civil Rights has made public a list of colleges under investigation.
The list’s publication is part of a larger effort to make sure colleges are doing their part to prevent sex abuse on campus. One in every five women is said to be sexually assaulted in college, but only 12 percent of the attacks are reported.
“Sexual harassment and violence against women are horrific and debilitating crimes that cannot be shoved under the rug or hidden from view just because they make us uncomfortable to acknowledge,” said Rep. Della Au Belatti, co-chairwoman of the caucus, in a statement. “The light has got to be shined on these acts of violence so that we can create safer environments that provide opportunity for all women to thrive and succeed.”
Photo: Sexual assault. (Courtesy of alexandriava.gov)
— Alia Wong
