Virginia Panel Issues Proposals to Combat Campus Sexual Assaults

A task force has issued 21 recommendations to combat sexual assaults on Virginia's college and university campuses.

The recommendations from the Task Force on Combating Sexual Violence include:

Require public and private higher education institutions to establish sexual assault response teams representing a cross-section of the campus community.
Require colleges and universities to formalize agreements with local law enforcement officials on preventing and responding to sexual assault.
Create campus comprehensive prevention plans that increase awareness, change attitudes and modify high-risk behaviors such as alcohol abuse.
Make law enforcement prevention efforts part of coordinated campus and community sexual assault prevention.
Use emerging technologies, infographics and online portals to improve and increase options for reporting sexual violence.
Create a public awareness campaign, called “Start by Believing,” to encourage victims to report assaults.

The task force included campus administrators, advocates, law enforcement, higher education attorneys, health professionals and others.