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White House College Sexual Assault Task Force Releases Report on Reforming Schools' Policies

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The White House has released its report on campus sexual assault urging colleges across the nation to reform its policies immediately.

President Barack Obama formed the Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault in Jan. with Justice Secretary Eric Holder and Education Secretary Arne Duncan. The result of their work was released Monday, a report called "Not Alone: The First Report of the White House Task Force to Protect Students From Sexual Assault."

In a previous report released with the formation of the task force, Obama cited data stating one in every five women on a college campus face sexual violence. Of those victims, about 12 percent file a report with authorities.

According to CNN, The White House will encourage schools to adopt its recommendations starting in 2015 so the task force can begin reporting on the changes in 2016. The task force will eventually search for ways to require schools to conduct their own surveys and policy reviews.

With the Education Department's announcement Monday to investigate a Title IX complaint against Harvard College, 52 schools nationwide face active or pending federal probes. The task force has been directed at getting colleges to do more when a student reports a sexually violent crime to administrators.

The task force also launched a new website, NotAlone.Gov, aimed at providing support, data and information on laws and how to actually file a rape complaint. Title IX is a federal gender equity law that protects against sexual discrimination. Since sexual assault is a sexually discriminatory crimes, authorities are required to conduct adequate criminal investigations when a complaint arises. The Clery Act is a law requiring schools to release annual campus crime transparency reports. Violations of either law could result in fines, mandatory policy changes and even loss of federal funding.

Here are the four main points from the report's executive summary, CLICK HERE to read the report in full.

1. Identifying the Problem: Campus Climate Surveys

"The first step in solving a problem is to name it and know the extent of it - and a campus climate survey is the best way to do that."

2. Preventing Sexual Assault - and Engaging Men

"Prevention programs can change attitudes, behavior - and the culture. In addition to identifying a number of promising prevention strategies that schools can undertake now, we are also researching new ideas and solutions."

3. Effectively Responding When a Student Is Sexually Assaulted

"When one of its students is sexually assaulted, a school needs to have all the pieces of a plan in place. And that should include:

"Someone a survivor can talk to in confidence, a comprehensive sexual misconduct policy, trauma-informed training for school officials, better school disciplinary systems, partnerships with the community."

4. Increasing Transparency and Improving Enforcement

"This report is the first step in the Task Force's work. We will continue to work toward solutions, clarity, and better coordination. We will also review the various laws and regulations that address sexual violence for possible regulatory or statutory improvements, and seek new resources to enhance enforcement."

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