The recent sexual assault allegations at a Cornell University fraternity house have ignited public fury, but Capitol Hill has remained largely silent on campus safety. Instead, lawmakers have focused on college sports regulations, ignoring a crisis that affects one in four undergraduate women nationwide—and more than one in three at Cornell.
The system has failed Jane Doe, and her case is not an isolated incident. It mirrors a pattern seen across the country: survivors report, and perpetrators face minimal consequences. From Stanford swimmer Brock Turner's three-month sentence to Baylor's and USC's mishandling of abuse complaints, the failures are systemic.
In response, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is renewing her push for the Campus Accountability and Safety Act (CASA), bipartisan legislation designed to overhaul how universities handle sexual assault. The bill would mandate trained, confidential advocates for survivors, ensure uniform training for campus officials, and create a transparent disciplinary process.
Advocates as a lifeline
Under CASA, every campus would have a trained advocate to guide survivors through the disciplinary and legal maze. For Jane Doe, such an advocate could have explained her options, helped her prepare testimony, and ensured her statement reached the district attorney—whose office allegedly never contacted her after her initial report.
The omission of her key statement—"I can say with 100 percent confidence I was raped"—from the six-page report sent to prosecutors highlights the need for better-trained investigators and oversight.
Fixing the system
CASA also requires uniform disciplinary procedures, eliminating separate tracks for athletes or fraternity members. It encourages amnesty policies for students who report assaults while under the influence, and it mandates public disclosure of sexual assault data, with financial penalties for noncompliance.
Transparency would force universities to prioritize safety, as lawsuits have shown when institutions fail to act. The bipartisan push for stricter laws is gaining momentum, but Congress must act.
Passing CASA won't end campus sexual violence, but it would give survivors a fighting chance. As Gillibrand argues, the price of a college education shouldn't include a high risk of assault.
