Today, I decided to visit Feministing, a prominent Feminist blog which strives to inform young women in the 21st century on current issues that affect the future of women. April, the current month, is geared on informing the public on ways to combat and to recognize sexual violence. Ariela Migdal, Staff Attorney of the ACLU'S Women's Right strives to inform her readers about what many colleges around the United States are doing in order to recognize Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
On many college campuses, many students are striving to advocate Title IX, a civil rights law which forbids sexual inequity in "federally funded education programs." Recently, The Supreme Court decreed that sexual assault victims have the right to issue "Title IX claims" against institutions if the school had knowledge about the assault, but failed to react to the act of violence. The use of Title IX was recently seen in a sexual assault case which took place at Arizona State University.
In 2009, a young women had been raped on campus, and brought the issue forth to the University's attention. The man, whom was well-known for his athletic performance on campus, had been "expelled" from the university, but only for some time. In a matter months, the young man had been allowed to return to ASU, without any punishment. In response, the young woman had issued a Title IX complaint against the university. The university was then forced to pay the individual and re-establish it's "sexual assault programs and policies" as a whole.
Midgal encourages female students whom have been sexually assaulted to use a Title IX complaint as a way to insist more active sexual assault awareness programs from colleges and to put an end to sexual assault crimes which take place on many college campuses. In response to Midgal's article, I feel that as a woman, it crucial for women to actively take a stand against sexual assault crimes. It is appalling to me how universities such as Arizona State University, respond to assault crimes and their obvious indifference to the safety and well-being of their students. Like Midgal, I feel that women should use a Title IX complaint, as a way to have universities re-evaluate their sexual program and policies as a whole!
You too can take an active stand against sexual violence! Programs such as Students Active for Ending Rape(SAFER) strive to inform individuals on ways to put an end to assault crimes on campus and ways to get actively involved in programs that SAFER has to offer!! Trust me, it's worth the read!
May the Force Be With You!
Lauren
