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Virginia Capitol C onnections, Summer 2015
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In August 2014, I stood on the steps
of the State Capitol with Governor Terry
McAuliffe to declare that Virginia will not
tolerate sexual violence on our college
and university campuses, nor be a part
of a culture that condones it. We were
in the midst of a long-overdue national
conversation about campus sexual
violence, and we were confident that
Virginia could be a national leader.
That day, Governor McAuliffe
established the Governor’s Task Force on
Combating Campus Sexual Violence to improve the way Virginia
prevents sexual violence and responds to reports of sexual violence
at our colleges and universities. As Attorney General of Virginia,
chair of Governor McAuliffe’s Task Force, and the father of two
college students, I took this mission to heart.
The events of fall 2014 put an even sharper focus on the
importance of our work as Virginia found itself thrust into the
national spotlight. The tragic death of Hannah Graham, a beloved
member of her campus community, and the publication of Rolling
Stone’s now infamous retracted article about campus sexual
violence put our Commonwealth front and center in this important
conversation.
We knew this issue was finally coming out of the shadows, as
it should, and we knew Virginia and the rest of the country was
looking to our Task Force for our best ideas on how to prevent and
respond to campus sexual violence.
During hundreds of hours of meetings, calls, and conversations,
our Task Force heard from young people whose lives were changed
forever by an incident of sexual violence. We heard from advocates
who helped us understand the trauma, fear, and confusion some
survivors experience. We heard from campus and local law
enforcement and higher education administrators about the complex
set of state and federal laws, policies, and regulations that, while all
well-intentioned, can be difficult to navigate. Most importantly, we
heard from students who told us that this time was different. They
want to be the generation of students that turns the tide.
After eight months of work, the Task Force has delivered to
Governor McAuliffe the most comprehensive statewide plan to
address campus sexual violence in the country.
The report includes 21 recommendations to help Virginia
colleges and universities prevent campus sexual assault, help
survivors feel safe, respected, and able to report the crime, ensure
a survivor-centered response to reports of sexual violence, and
promote a prompt, fair, and just outcome for the accuser and the
accused.
One recommendation directs each college and university
to develop a prevention plan that is both comprehensive and
evidenced-based. These plans should include tailored messaging
to reflect the culture and experiences of different groups, such as
freshmen, student-athletes, international students, and fraternities
and sororities. Prevention efforts also need to continue throughout
college, and should include programs on risk reduction and the
responsible use of alcohol, as well as innovative programs, like
bystander intervention training, which engages the entire campus
community, as well as bartenders, waiters, taxi drivers, and others
to help change the culture surrounding sexual assault on our
campuses.
Another recommendation will expand innovative reporting
options that connect with young people, such as online portals, apps
and infographics to explain the reporting process. Campus sexual
violence is greatly underreported for a variety of reasons and we
Virginia shows the way forward on campus sexual violence
By Attorney General Mark R. Herring
need to meet students where they are so that more survivors will
feel comfortable coming forward.
Another recommendation encourages “trauma-informed
response” training for those who work with sexual violence
survivors. Knowing how to interact with a survivor is essential to
ensuring they feel safe pursuing justice against a perpetrator.
And, to test evidence-based approaches in Virginia, one
recommendation pilots the “You Have Options” program. The
“You have Options” program provides sexual violence victims
with a variety of different reporting options when they reach out
to law enforcement. Proven statistically effective in Oregon, this
partnership between the survivor and law enforcement provides
three different levels of reporting options and mandates that all
investigators are trained in trauma-informed response to strengthen
victim recall and minimize additional trauma. When you empower
survivors with options, you are helping to set them on a path
towards healing. I’m proud to say my office is already exploring
ways to implement this pilot program here in the Commonwealth.
In previous years, Virginia’s elected officials faced criticism
for what was perceived as indifference to what was happening on
our campuses and the experience of survivors. It’s clear that those
days are over. Governor McAuliffe and I have made it clear that
this is a priority and the 2015 legislative session saw a renewed
focus and bipartisan commitment to addressing the issue, including
bills signed into law by the Governor to improve coordination and
response to reports of sexual violence. I look forward to keeping
that momentum going and working with the legislature in 2016 to
implement the Task Force’s recommendations.
This comprehensive report is a huge step forward in Virginia,
but it is just the first step. True change will require the commitment
of every campus community and the continued investment of
Virginia state government. We recognize that the issue demands
our attention, our creativity, and our continued diligence. That’s
why we presented recommendations to institutionalize the work of
the Task Force so the report can be implemented and its progress
monitored.
Every student must know that their school and their state are
committed to keeping them safe and encouraging their success.
No student should fear for their safety or find a response that is
inadequate, or worse, indifferent. I believe this generation of
students will be the one that says “no more,” and we will help them
make it happen. We will continue to work to ensure that Virginia’s
institutions of higher learning are the safest places for our students
to live, learn, and work.
Mark R. Herring is the 48th Attorney General of Virginia and
chaired Governor Terry McAuliffe’s Task Force on Combating
Campus Sexual Violence.
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA
BERNIE HENDERSON
President
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