University of California students who are raped or sexually assaulted on or near campus could soon turn to a special office for help. It’s one of seven key recommendations presented by a UC task force that was created to combat and prevent sexual violence.
The recommendations, presented to the UC Board of Regents at its meeting on the Mission Bay campus Wednesday, are designed to create a more uniform and systemwide approach to dealing with the issue.
The plan begins with establishing an independent and confidential advocacy office at each UC campus exclusively for these cases. That recommendation won praise from U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Rep. Susan Davis (D-San Diego), who issued a joint statement saying the system is “setting a powerful example for colleges across the country.”
Another recommendation would require ongoing mandatory anti-sexual assault training for all UC students, staff and faculty.
“[[Mandatory training]]will be very costly but, frankly, it is the students who will change our culture,” said Sheryl Vaca, chairwoman of UC’s Task Force on Preventing and Responding to Sexual Violence and Sexual Assault.