COLUMBIA, Mo. – U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) is focusing her sights on changing how college campuses handle sexual assaults following her successful efforts to reform how the military manages the issue.
McCaskill discussed her plans at a town hall meeting at Drury University, on March 18, noting that sexual assaults might be more under-reported on college campuses than in the military, News-Leader.com reports.
During the discussion, McCaskill stated that like in the military, victims have a fear of retribution on college campuses, noting that many victims immediately begin blaming themselves.
McCaskill believes that students are not getting enough information of the resources available to them and is seeking ways to consolidate information about what resources are available to victims and where victims should go to receive immediate assistance, PoliticMo.com reports.
She has already started working with the University of Missouri system, which has already taken steps to make resources available to victims by establishing the Relationship & Sexual Violence Prevention (RSVP) Center.
As part of the program, graduate and professional trauma-informed staff helps with crisis intervention. Additionally, the center offers a sexual assault nurse examiner at the university hospital, legal advocacy, and even coordinates with the Department of Residential Life to help ensure safety for students.
