Assemblyman Al Stirpe (D-Cicero) announced the passage of legislation he sponsored to strengthen the 1999 Campus Safety Act, by requiring colleges and universities to report violent felonies and missing students to law enforcement within 24 hours of an incident (A.2089-B).

“As a parent of a daughter in college, I know firsthand how important it is for schools to have clear safety plans in place, especially when it comes to reporting incidents of assault and missing students,” said Assemblyman Stirpe. “In situations such as violent crimes and missing persons, time is of the essence.”

Additionally, sexual assault on college campuses is chronically underreported. One in five women are sexually assaulted while they are in college, however, just 12 percent of such attacks are reported. In most cases, the victim’s attacker is an acquaintance, classmate or former boyfriend.

To help combat the problem, the White House has made efforts to reduce sexual assault on college campuses, including a PSA where male celebrities encourage men to be a part of the solution to the problem. By enlisting celebrities whom so many men and women admire, victims will feel less isolated, and men will take the message to heart and do the right thing, noted Assemblyman Stirpe.