H. R. 3403, a.k.a. the “Safe Campus Act of 2015," is a piece of legislation aiming to reconfigure how sexual assaults are reported and how investigations are conducted on college campuses. The legislature was proposed to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, a committee made up of members of Congress.
Alpha Phi, the third largest sorority in the National Panhellenic Council (NPH), has announced it is not in support of the bill. Although they are not opposed to the bill, they made the distinction that they are now a part of other NPH sororities who have lobbied for it. Today, seven sororities have also declared their stance. Phi Mu, Alpha Gamma Delta, Alpha Chi Omega, Delta Phi Epsilon, Gamma Phi Beta, Sigma Delta Tau, and Delta Gamma.
According to an article released today from the Huffington Post, several NPH sororities and other fraternities have been lobbying for it, a.k.a. trying to get it passed. This has brought the issue into the spotlight. Several other NPH sororities, including my own, have called meetings and are preparing statements on their support or opposition of the bill. But what exactly does the bill do? And what are the changes it will make if passed? What does it affect here at SHU?
The bill would restrict colleges from investigating sexual assault allegations unless the police are involved. It would be harder to convict or punish the assaulter by raising the standards of what sexual violence is. It requires all reports of sexual violence to be reported. The school can no longer impose criminal punishments, it’s all up to the police. The police also have higher standards to prove that the assault happened, follow stricter guidelines on what sexual violence is defined as, take longer to conduct an investigation that has immediate results, are limited in their involvement on campus, and need concrete evidence to start a full investigation.
Supporters of the bill argue that these offenders should be punished to the full extent of the law and should not be shielded by colleges and universities. Opposers of the bill have argued that requiring police involvement would deter victims from reporting.
Currently, 220 organizations aiding victims of sexual assault oppose the bill. A petition to oppose the act stated by Know Your IX, a college advocacy group, has collected more than 20,000 signatures.
With other Greek organizations deciding what to do, it’s an issue to keep our eyes on. These changes go beyond Capitol Hill and into our campuses and dorms.
