Before Cornell turmoil, successive US administrations seesawed in attitudes towards campus assaults

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Published: 2026-10-04T14:13:56.151Z • Permanent link

Megan Whitlock, a senior policy analyst at the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, described the US Department of Education's approach to addressing campus sexual assault as "inadequate" in a 2020 report. The report highlighted the lack of standardized data collection and inconsistent enforcement of Title IX policies across institutions. In response, the Biden administration announced new guidance in 2022, emphasizing the importance of "no-fault" reporting and increased transparency in data collection.

Katherine Hill, a professor of sociology at the University of California, Berkeley, has been a vocal critic of the Trump administration's approach to campus sexual assault. She pointed to the 2019 reauthorization of the Clery Act, which allowed colleges to hide certain data points, as a major setback for efforts to combat campus violence. In contrast, the Biden administration has taken steps to strengthen the Clery Act, including requiring institutions to collect and publish more detailed data on campus crime.

Samantha Harris, a student advocate at Rutgers University, has been instrumental in pushing for greater accountability from colleges and universities in addressing campus sexual assault. She highlighted the need for more robust support services for survivors and increased penalties for perpetrators in her 2020 testimony before the US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Increased scrutiny of campus sexual assault has significant implications for companies like Raisin, a popular dating app, which has faced criticism for its handling of reports of sexual misconduct on its platform. Raisin has since announced plans to implement more robust reporting mechanisms and increased support for survivors. Research communities, such as the National Institute of Justice, are also taking notice, with studies highlighting the need for more effective interventions and prevention strategies.

The impact of the renewed focus on campus sexual assault is not limited to the education sector. Markets, such as those in the technology and finance industries, are also taking notice, with increased investment in companies and initiatives focused on preventing and responding to campus violence. Policy environments, such as those in the UK and Australia, are also being influenced, with similar reforms and initiatives underway.

The debate over campus sexual assault is part of a larger pattern of competing approaches to addressing issues of violence and harassment on campus. In the 1990s and early 2000s, colleges and universities were criticized for their handling of cases of campus violence, with many institutions failing to provide adequate support services for survivors. In response, the US Department of Education introduced the Clery Act, which required institutions to collect and report data on campus crime.