Twelve US senators introduced a “strengthened version” of an act that aims to hold university administrators accountable for acts of sexual violence on their campuses.
The Campus Accountability and Safety Act, which was first introduced last year, would set uniform regulations for the disciplinary procedure concerning cases of sexual assault. Under the law, colleges would be required to adhere to several new initiatives including providing confidential advisors for victims of sexual harassment, violence and stalking, extending the time bracket in which students are able to report an incident after it takes place, and requiring investigators to notify the accuser and the accused within 24 hours if disciplinary action is pursued. Furthermore, students at every U.S. university will be surveyed about their experiences with sexual violence for the government to gain a more accurate picture of college cases of sexual assault. The information would then be published biannually.