A survey conducted by Gallup became the foundation of a report released by Inside Higher Ed. It polled university leaders nationwide on issues such as sexual assault, finance and race, among others.
More than 30 percent of college presidents agree or strongly agree that sexual assault is prevalent at U.S. colleges. But less than 6 percent believe sexual assault is a problem on their campus.
“Sexual assault is an issue that exists both inside and outside the walls of our universities,” said Hilary Delbridge, spokeswoman for UNC’s Equal Opportunity and Compliance Office, in an email.
“The awareness of this issue on college campuses is borne out of the courage and activism of students across the nation.”
Student activists include UNC alumnae Annie Clark and Andrea Pino, who spearheaded an effort to reform the University’s sexual assault policies. Clark and Pino also helped write the Bipartisan Campus Safety and Accountability Act, which is making its way through the U.S. Senate.
The proposal by a group of 12 senators would be dedicated to protecting students and increasing accountability and transparency on campuses.
“The federal government has created guidance and laws that impact campus policies and procedures,” said Delbridge in an email. “Many of the laws continue to evolve and we’re prepared to adjust our policies and practices as needed.”
A lack of transparency and conflicts of interest are among the flaws in campuses’ approaches to sexual assault, said Gailya Paliga, president of the N.C. chapter of National Organization for Women.
