Resolution Designates September 2025 as National Campus Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Citing Institutional Failures

This resolution is a formal statement from the House of Representatives supporting the designation of September 2025 as National Campus Sexual Assault Awareness Month. It’s not a law that changes regulations or allocates money, but it’s a powerful public recognition that sexual assault on college campuses is a crisis demanding immediate, focused attention. The resolution is essentially a detailed, data-backed callout to higher education institutions, using alarming statistics to lay bare the scope of the problem and the ways colleges are currently falling short.

The Data Drop: Why September Matters

If you’re a parent sending a kid off to college, or maybe a student yourself, this resolution highlights why the first month of school is terrifyingly high-risk. The text points out that freshmen and sophomores are most vulnerable, and over half of assaults happen between August and November. By designating September—when campuses are buzzing with new students and orientation—the resolution aims to maximize awareness efforts at the most critical time. It emphasizes that most survivors are assaulted when incapacitated (drunk or drugged) and often know their attacker, shattering the myth that these are typically stranger attacks.

Institutional Report Card: Where Colleges Are Failing

The resolution doesn’t mince words about the systemic failures it identifies. For the busy professional who expects institutions to handle serious issues professionally, these numbers are stark: less than 12% of assaults are reported to police, and many survivors fear retaliation or poor treatment from campus authorities. Crucially, the resolution notes that 22% of colleges don’t train their faculty and staff on how to respond to sexual assault disclosures, and a shocking 41% haven't investigated a single sexual assault case in the last five years. This highlights a massive gap between institutional responsibility and actual practice, suggesting that many colleges are either unaware or actively avoiding addressing these crimes.

The Disciplinary Double Standard

When cases do make it to the disciplinary process, the resolution points out further concerns. Imagine being a survivor facing a panel where the judges haven't been trained to recognize and dispel common "rape myths"—that’s the reality at a third of colleges. Even more concerning, 22% of colleges let the athletic department oversee cases involving student-athletes, raising serious questions about impartiality. The resolution makes it clear that consequences are often light: only about 10% to 25% of perpetrators are permanently expelled, while survivors often face major life disruptions, such as having to change classes or move dorms.

The Real-World Takeaway

While this resolution doesn't mandate new laws, its power lies in its detailed transparency. It provides a formal, documented list of expectations and failures, giving students, parents, and advocacy groups a powerful tool for demanding change. By publicly backing this awareness month, the House is validating the experiences of survivors and putting institutions on notice. For those of us juggling tuition payments and career demands, this resolution is a clear sign that campus safety isn't just a student issue; it’s a serious institutional accountability issue that needs to be fixed from the top down.