FILE - In this Jan. 23, 2019, file photo, a screen with information from the Women's Law Project shows information on some of the proposed changes to the implementation of Title IX as it pertains to the sexual abuse regulations in education at the NOW monthly meeting in Monaca, Pa. Several of the nation’s largest universities receive more sexual assault complaints from off-campus than from school property, but their obligation to address off-campus cases could be dramatically reduced under a federal proposal.
Katie Meyer was WITF’s Capitol Bureau Chief from 2016-2020. While at WITF, she covered all things state politics for public radio stations throughout Pennsylvania. Katie came to Harrisburg by way of New York City, where she worked at Fordham University’s public radio station, WFUV, as an anchor, general assignment reporter, and co-host of an original podcast. A 2016 graduate of Fordham, she earned several awards for her work at WFUV, including four 2016 Gracies.
Katie is a native New Yorker, though she originally hails from Troy, a little farther up the Hudson River. She can attest that the bagels are still pretty good there.
WITF's Capitol Bureau Chief Desk is partially funded through generous gifts made in the memory of Tony May through the Anthony J. May Memorial Fund.
FILE - In this Jan. 23, 2019, file photo, a screen with information from the Women's Law Project shows information on some of the proposed changes to the implementation of Title IX as it pertains to the sexual abuse regulations in education at the NOW monthly meeting in Monaca, Pa. Several of the nation’s largest universities receive more sexual assault complaints from off-campus than from school property, but their obligation to address off-campus cases could be dramatically reduced under a federal proposal.
(Harrisburg) — Pennsylvania is in the early stages of enacting new requirements designed to reduce sexual assault on college campuses.
The two measures were passed as part of the state budget.
One requires colleges and universities to give students an online platform for reporting assault anonymously.
Tracey E. Vitchers, who directs the anti-campus assault group It’s On Us, said anonymous platforms can help survivors feel ready to file official reports, and can give schools data on the scale of the problem.
“The data shows that if a student reports at all, it typically takes them about 11 months to actually go into that process officially,” she said.
She added, “You can’t solve a problem if you don’t know the scope of it. And so this at least allows schools to have a sense of, how prevalent is this issue on their college campuses? Are there certain hot spots on campus that are being identified as problem areas?”
Keith Srakocic / The Associated Press
Doris Steppe, left, the vice president of the southwest Pennsylvania chapter of the National Organization for Women, starts their monthly meeting at a restaurant in Monaca, Pa. on Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2019. Brittany Green of the Women’s Law Project speaks to the meeting from a small monitor about how people can register their thoughts on the proposed changes to the implementation of Title IX as it pertains to the sexual abuse regulations in education.
The other measure immunizes students who report assault from being disciplined for violating school rules.
Democratic Senator Judy Schwank of Berks County, who sponsored it, said it is “primarily about underage drinking, or possibly drug use.”
Schwank and fellow bill sponsor, Luzerne County GOP Senator Lisa Baker, noted that several colleges already enact measures like these.
Pennsylvania is the first state to make anonymous online reporting tools mandatory.
A collection of interviews, photos, and music videos, featuring local musicians who have stopped by the WITF performance studio to share a little discussion and sound. Produced by WITF’s Joe Ulrich.
