VTV Family Outreach Foundation Families and Friends,
As many of you know, campus sexual violence continues to be a major issue with Congress and currently many states are considering legislation on the subject. While well intentioned, significant concerns have been raised that some of these measures could have unintended negative consequences.
I want to let you know that VTV worked with a diverse coalition of organizations to help better educate policy makers across the United States on these issues with an open letter sent out last week. Our coalition included NASPA-Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, higher education professional associations, and grassroots activists. I thought it would be of interest to you, and the letter is available at https://www.naspa.org/rpi/posts/open-letter-on-campus-sexual-assault.
Some of the proposed state legislation could chill reporting by sexual violence survivors, hamper efforts by higher education professionals to assist them, and may even conflict with federal law. VTV was proud to work with this diverse coalition to make sure the perspectives of crime victims, those who advocate on their behalf, and higher education professionals who work on these issues daily will be heard as a joint voice. We are especially appreciative of NASPA’s work on this matter, and for their recognition of the important work we are doing by asking us to join this effort.
If you have any questions please contact us today.
Alan B. Davis
Executive Director
VTV Family Outreach Foundation
This Open Letter to Legislators (PDF) is endorsed by:
Kevin Kruger
President, NASPA
Lisa Maatz
Vice President of Government Relations, American Association of University Women
Laura Bennett
President, Association of Student Conduct Administrators
Andrea Carcamo
Assistant Director for Public Policy, Casa de Esperanza: National Latin@ Network
Alison Kiss
Executive Director, Clery Center for Security on Campus
Dawn Dalton
Executive Director, Domestic Violence Legal Empowerment and Appeals Project
Cate K. Smith
Executive Director, Education Law Association
Kiersten Stewart
Director of Public Policy and Advocacy, Futures Without Violence
David Perry
President, International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators
Robin Rubin
Manager of Advocacy & Leadership Programs, Jewish Women International
Dana Bolger
Co-Founder, Know Your IX
Monika Johnson Hostler
President, National Alliance to End Sexual Violence
Ruth Glenn
Executive Director, National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Terra Slavin
Governance Committee Representative, National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs
Jody Rabhan
Director of Washington Operations, National Council of Jewish Women
Katie Ray Jones
CEO, National Domestic Violence Hotline
Condencia Brade
Executive Director, National Organization of Sisters of Color Ending Sexual Assault
Stacy Malone
Executive Director, Victim Rights Law Center
S. Daniel Carter
Director of 32 National Campus Safety Initiative, VTV Family Outreach Foundation