Kennedy Testifies on bill to Address Sexual Assault on College Campus
MILFORD- State Rep. Kathy Kennedy today testified in front of the Higher Education and Employment Advancement committee on a bill to address sexual assault on college campuses.
The legislation, HB 6374 does two things: It mandates each college conduct a survey about this issue every two years to help implement effective policies around this issue; and secondly, it establishes an amnesty program for victims that allow an underage student who has been drinking or using drugs to report an assault without fear of being charged with a violation.
Campus assault is a major problem. 50% of campus assaults occur in the first three months of school beginning. This is called the “Red Zone.” In 2018 there were 436 reported assaults and stalking cases reported at Connecticut colleges. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) estimates that only 5% of victims of sexual violence on any college campus in America choose to report their assault to university officials.
“This bill helps campuses respond to a real problem that has impacted college students, both female and male. I urge this committee to support the bill for the safety for our young adults,” said Rep. Kennedy.
The legislation has support of the Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence, who said in written testimony, ” Having access to these survey results will inform the work that these advocates do every day in preventing sexual violence and advocating for survivors. In addition to students and advocates, this legislation would be beneficial to colleges and universities. In reviewing responses from these surveys, they will have an opportunity to implement prevention and intervention practices based on the individualized needs of their community.”
The Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence also testified in favor of the legislation saying, “This bill is a natural extension of legislation passed by the General Assembly in 2014 aimed at reinforcing awareness, prevention and response methods regarding intimate partner violence, sexual assault and stalking on all college campuses. While the 2014 legislation concentrated on how institutions perceived their campus response to misconduct, it lacked significant feedback from enrolled students about their perceptions, experiences and needs.”
Watch and read Rep. Kathy Kennedy’s testimony here: