FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 7, 2017
Contact: Raana Simmons, Director of Policy
Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CCASA)
Direct Line: 303-625-9564
Email: raana@ccasa.org
Website: www.ccasa.org
Department of Education Moves Backward on Victim Protections
This morning, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos announced the Department’s intent to create a new Title IX rule process and criticized the Dear Colleague letter, which is a clear move backward by the Department on policy and demonstrates a failure to stand up for victims. While this is disappointing news, it is important to remember that schools remain responsible for responding to and preventing sexual violence. Title IX is still in full force as well as the Campus Save Act requirements.
The Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CCASA) is working with national partners to continue to advocate for full enforcement of the Dear Colleague letter, as well as exploring options for putting protections for victims into place at the state level. Responses to campus sexual assault must support survivors, uphold current available protections, and improve prevention.
“Protecting victims of sexual assault on campuses is a non-partisan issue,” says Raana Simmons, Director of Policy for CCASA, “One in 5 women and one in 16 men are sexually assaulted while in college. Yet, fewer than 10% of sexual assault victims on college campuses report the assault. CCASA will continue to work to ensure basic protections for victims on campuses.”
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The Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CCASA) is a statewide membership organization with the mission of promoting safety, justice, and healing for survivors, while working toward the elimination of sexual violence.