Campus Survivors' Letter to Congress Urging Immediate Reauthorization of VAWA with Key Campus Provisions
As a national organization focused on engaging, educating and empowering young people between the ages of 12 and 24 to build lives and communities free from domestic and dating violence, Break the Cycle (
www.breakthecycle.org
) is coordinating this opportunity to give voice to those who have suffered violence on campus and demand that Congress do more to help. Questions about the letter should be directed to Juley Fulcher at
jfulcher@breakthecycle.org
. For more information on the Violence Against Women Act, go to
www.4vawa.org
.
We are asking people who were the victims of dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking on a college campus, as well as those who were victims of campus violence related to or connected to these crimes, to join us in advocating for the passage of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). By the numbers alone, we know that our college campuses are not safe. And, as a great many of us are all too aware, campus systems are often not equipped to provide victims with appropriate support, referrals, accommodations, or even safety. What’s more, few survivors of these crimes walk away with a sense that justice was done and perpetrators were held accountable through school responses.
Congress has the opportunity help us build safer campus environments through proposed provisions in the Violence against Women Act Reauthorization currently before them. The Senate passed a VAWA bill (S.1925) back in April. The bill had been developed through an extensive process of information gathering and analysis all over the country over a period of several years followed by thorough negotiations among Senators. It passed with a bipartisan supermajority (68-31) in support. The House passed a VAWA bill (H.R.4970) in May. The bill was not developed with the same level of considered effort and contains significant flaws and omissions. The unfortunate result was narrow passage on a near party-line. The differing bills also means that the Senate and House must work together to develop a final bill that can go to the floor for a vote in both Chambers.
So what is the problem? -- Stalemate. That's right, with precious few legislative days remaining, they are not even talking to each other!
Join us in demanding that Congress end the stalemate and get VAWA done now! Your voice can make a difference!
Below is a letter that we are inviting survivors of dating violence, sexual assault and stalking on campus to sign. The letter will be delivered to EVERY Senator and Congressperson in Washington and made publicly available on Wednesday, July 18th. Here's your chance to change the world!
Who should sign the letter?
---individuals who were the victims of dating violence, sexual assault or stalking on campus (including violence taking place near campus, in off-campus student housing, in largely student-populated neighborhoods or at student hangouts off campus, etc.)
---individuals who were the victims of other violence on campus in connection to incidents of dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking (such as bystanders caught in the middle of the violence, retaliation for reporting violence or supporting victim, etc.)
---individuals who were the victims of other violence that might have been prevented if that campus were effectively addressing dating violence, sexual assault and stalking (such as a victim of violence whose perpetrator had previously been reported for these crimes but not held accountable)
---individuals who are the family members of campus homicide victims where the crime fits one of the three categories listed above
Do I have to be a current college student?
---No. We invite current college students and former college students (or the families of those students in homicide cases) to sign the letter.
What will be included in the signature?
--Each person will be listed with their name (but see below), the college or university where the incident(s) occurred, the person's year of graduation or expected graduation or year they would have graduated, and current city and state of residence
For example:
Jane Doe
University of Pittsburgh
Class of 2008
Patterson, NJ
or
John Doe - Family Member
Tim Doe - Homicide Victim
University of Pittsburgh
Class of 2008
Leonardtown, MD
We understand people wishing to sign this document still may be dealing with concerns for their safety and confidentiality. Under those circumstances, we do not want to put you at risk. But we still want to give you a voice. You can choose to sign the letter anonymously (or with your first name only). You will be listed only by the college or university where the violence occurred and the year that you graduated or expect to graduate.
For example:
Anonymous
Tulane University
Class of 2013
or
Jane
Tulane University
Class of 2013
All identifying information and contact information collected in the process of organizing these anonymous “signatures” will be held in the strictest of confidence and will never be shared with anyone outside of Break the Cycle.
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July 18, 2012
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Senator/Representative:
We, the undersigned survivors of violence committed on college and university campuses nationwide and the families of those who did not survive this violence, call upon every Member of Congress to pass the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Reauthorization before the end of September. Furthermore, the final VAWA must contain comprehensive campus provisions including the Campus SaVE Act and the Campus Safety Act.
Each of us has been dramatically affected by at least one of the four crimes that have become a silent epidemic on college campuses: stalking, sexual assault, dating violence and/or domestic violence. We have been the victims of this violence. We have family members who have been killed on campus as part of the commission of these crimes. We have family members who might not have been killed if their colleges and universities had been fully and responsibly addressing stalking, sexual assault, and dating violence through well structured campus systems for prevention, intervention, victim support and perpetrator accountability.
And we are not alone:
>>>>>13.1% of college women report having been stalked during the school year.
>>>>>One in five college women report having been sexually assaulted.
>>>>>70% of all victims of intimate partner violence in the US experience the first incidents of abuse before they reach the age of 25.
There are more than 4,700 colleges and universities in the United States with a total enrollment of over 20 million students. This is a population in crisis that cannot and will not be ignored.
The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), enacted in 1994, recognized the insidious and pervasive nature of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. In every reauthorization of the Act, Congress has worked carefully to craft improved, enhanced, and accountable programs and services, as well as coordinated community responses, with the goal of providing comprehensive, effective and cost saving responses to these crimes. VAWA’s reauthorization must build upon its successes and continue progress towards ending the violence. VAWA must reach all victims and perpetrators of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking in every community and on every college campus.
The Grants to Reduce Violent Crimes Against Women on Campus program helps institutions of higher education adopt a comprehensive response to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. First authorized in 1999, this very small program has had a dramatic impact on the institutions of higher education lucky enough to get one of these grants (approximately 20-22 colleges per year). It is essential to reauthorize the Campus Grants Program in VAWA, yet it is unacceptable for this to continue to be the only piece of VAWA addressing the overwhelming need.
The Campus Sexual Violence Elimination (SaVE) Act, introduced independently in both chambers and passed as part of S.1925 in the Senate-passed VAWA, is a crucial step forward. It will address sexual violence, dating violence, and stalking at institutions of higher education and increase awareness and prevention of these acts of violence by requiring transparency of information, systemic, campus-wide policies and procedures to address these crimes, prevention programs, and assistance for victims.
The Campus Safety Act, introduced independently in both chambers and passed as part of H.R. 4970 in the House-passed VAWA, is also essential. It will establish a National Center for Campus Public Safety that will provide a centralized, government operated entity to promote proactive approaches to campus safety through the development of best practices, research, and training opportunities.
Both the House and the Senate passed bills earlier this year to reauthorize VAWA. It is clear that the vast majority of Congress supports a reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act with key improvements. But as we watch the clock ticking on the 112th Congress, we are painfully aware of the devastating blow to the young people in our colleges and universities that will occur if Congress fails to pass a final VAWA.
We are the voices of the unimaginable pain and suffering occurring every day on our college campuses. We are the voices of those young people whose safety continues to be at such great risk. We are the voices of those who are still too unsafe to speak out about the violence they experienced. We are the voices of those who have tragically died senseless deaths when their lives were just beginning.
We will not wait! Get VAWA done now!
We call upon each and every Senator and Congressperson to prioritize the Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act and the safety and well-being of the young people we are all relying on to carry our nation forward. We implore you not to let us or them down.
Sincerely,
*Required
First Name
*
your name will be held completely confidential if you click the "anonymous" option below. Family members of homicide victims should enter your own name.
Your answer
Last Name
*
your name will be held completely confidential if you click the "anonymous" option below. Family members of homicide victims should enter your own name.
Your answer
College or University
*
if signing on behalf of a homicide victim, please list the college where the violence occurred.
Your answer
Year of victim/survivor graduation, expected graduation, or would have graduated
*
Choose
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
1991
1990
1989
1988
1987
1986
1985
1984
1983
1982
1981
1980
1979
1978
1977
1976
1975
1974
1973
1972
1971
1970
prior to 1970
City where you currently reside
*
Your answer
State where you reside
*
Choose
AL
AK
AZ
AR
CA
CO
CT
DE
DC
FL
GA
HI
ID
IL
IN
IA
KS
KY
LA
ME
MD
MA
MI
MN
MS
MO
MT
NE
NV
NH
NJ
NM
NY
NC
ND
OH
OK
OR
PA
RI
SC
SD
TN
TX
UT
VT
VA
WA
WV
WI
WY
Puerto Rico
US Virgin Islands
Guam
Philippines
Northern Mariana Islands
American Somoa
US Military - in theater
other
E-mail address
*
Please note that your e-mail address will not be shared with anyone outside of Break the Cycle, nor will it add you to any distribution list of any kind (unless you provide your express permission to do so). Inclusion of your e-mail address is solely for the purpose of clarifying anything that may be unclear in your submission.
Your answer
Telephone Number including your area code
*
Please note that your phone number will not be shared with anyone outside of Break the Cycle, nor will it add you to any distribution list of any kind (unless you provide your express permission to do so). Inclusion of your telephone number is solely for the purpose of clarifying anything that may be unclear in your submission.
Your answer
Please tell us what crime(s) you or your family member experienced at college
Check all that apply
Sexual Assault
Dating/Domestic violence
Stalking
Other violence related to or resulting from sexual assault, dating violence or stalking
Homicide of family member on campus
Are you a survivor or the family member of a homicide victim?
*
Survivor
Family Member of Homicide Victim
Please tell us about your status at the college or university
*
I have graduated
I am currently enrolled where the crime occurred
I transferred as a result of or in relation to the crime(s) against me
I transferred, but not for reasons related to the crime(s) against me
I dropped out as a result of or in relation to the crime(s) against me
I dropped out, but not for reasons related to the crime(s) against me
My family member was killed on campus
OPTIONAL: Would you like to share anything with us about your victimization or how the campus responded to your victimization?
Note: if you are a family member of a campus homicide victim, please use this space to provide the name of your lost loved one. You are also invited to share anything you would like here about the crime(s) or campus response.
Your answer
If you shared anything in the prior question, can we share your words with others?
For Example: quotes inserted into other VAWA advocacy materials, social media activism, or media outreach. NOTE: all quotes will be anonymous in these materials unless you are willing to talk to the media. Even if you indicate that you are willing to talk to the media, no quote of yours will ever be attributed to you unless we contact you and get your direct permission to include your name.
Yes, you may share anything I wrote and identify me with my first and last name (we will contact you before doing so)
Yes, you may share anything I wrote, but only identify me by my first name
Yes, you may share anything I wrote, but only identify me by college and year of (expected) graduation - No name
No, you may not share anything I wrote
Clear selection
How should we list you on the Survivor Letter to Congress?
*
Note that ALL signatures will include the college or university and the year of (expected) graduation
Please include my name on the Survivor Letter to Congress
Please list me as "Anonymous" on the Survivor Letter to Congress (city and state will not be listed)
Please list only my first name on the Survivor Letter to Congress (city and state will not be listed)
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