WASHINGTON — End Rape On Campus delivered the following statement in response to the revoking of the 2011 Dear Colleague Letter and 2014 Q&A by the Department of Education:
“Today, Betsy DeVos and the Trump Administration chose to tip the scales in favor of rapists and perpetrators. Rolling back this guidance is an affront to the students, survivors, and allies who have fought to bring the sexual assault epidemic out of the shadows.
Sofie Karasek, Director of Education and co-founder of End Rape on Campus, said, “Betsy DeVos and Candice Jackson’s intentions are clear: to protect those who “grab” by the genitals and brag about it — and make college campuses a safer place for them.”
DeVos has tried to silence survivors by keeping us out of this process. With this recision, she is giving schools the go-ahead to deny survivors the right to appeal cases, drag cases on until assailants graduate, let rapists have a “mediation” with the person they violated, and use a different evidentiary standard that gives a default advantage to perpetrators.
The magnitude of campus sexual assault is undeniable: 1 in 5 women, 1 in 16 men, and nearly half of all LGBTQ students will experience sexual violence in college. This announcement comes during a period known as the “red zone” — the time when students are most likely to experience sexual assault. At the very time we should be doubling down to educate students about consent and adhering to standards — they are doing away with the standards.
Now more than ever, End Rape on Campus is ready to fight back against DeVos’ dangerous anti-survivor agenda. If survivors need help navigating what this new guidance means, or are in need of support, End Rape On Campus stands at the ready to provide direct assistance.”
