The Responsibility of Colleges by blogger Katiera Sordjan, UPenn

    Even in 2013, with the constant exposure to the topic, we as a society are still uncomfortable talking about sex. 
    
    When it comes to rape, we are even more at a loss. College is supposed to be the time for students to discover themselves, learn, and prepare for their futures. But if they fall victim to rape, all of that is interrupted.

    Students from schools across the country, such as Amherst and Dartmouth, have come forward with complaints of Title IX violations following incidents of rape and sexual assault on their campuses. This law requires that all students receive equal treatment regardless of sex, and that schools take measures to address and prevent sexual violence on campus. 
    
    Colleges and universities are also mandated under the Clery Act to record and disclose all crimes that happen on campus. Higher education is a business, and like any other, can be impacted by bad publicity. Due to the corporative nature of schools, and the prevalence of rape culture, administrators may face sexual assault victims with a collective shrug. 

    In order to change the rate of assault on campus, universities must take responsibility for both their faculty and their students. Employees and first-year students should be required to complete courses on sexual violence prevention. Schools must also add this education to their alcohol awareness programs, as well as encourage students to report sexual violence. Instead of merely suggesting a victim take time off of school, a student guilty of assault should be expelled immediately. 

    Any university that fails to comply with these measures must face serious legal consequences, regardless of their worth and prestige. With all of the pressures that higher education brings, students should be treated with compassion and get justice. It does not make sense that stealing from the university bookstore can come with more repercussions than violating another student's body.