Dr. Noël Busch-Armendariz provided her expertise to the White House Task Force to Protect Students From Sexual Assault, which has just released its first-ever report. The report lists the School of Social Work at The University of Texas at Austin as one of the three schools in the nation that are conducting research to better inform universities’ response to the problem of campus sexual assault and that are contributing to the national body of knowledge on the subject.
Busch-Armendariz is associate dean for research and director of the Institute on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (IDVSA) at the School of Social Work. This past Tuesday, Busch-Armendariz and IDVSA research team members attended the White House event where the task force presented the report and announced a series of a actions to help address the problem and make sure victims know they are not alone.
“When a student enters a college campus, they have a right to live and learn in a safe and nurturing environment, regardless of their gender,” Busch-Armendariz said. “We are very glad that the Obama administration is committed to defending this right. We know that sexual assault and the resulting trauma can get in the way of students being able to achieve their educational goals most optimally.”
Watch an interview with Busch-Armendariz on Fox 7 where she discusses the report.
One in five college-aged women is sexually assaulted in college, typically during their freshman and sophomore years, and most often by someone she knows. To make enforcement data and sexual assault resources accessible to students and schools, the White House task force has also launched a new website, www.NotAlone.gov. On the site, students can learn about their rights, search enforcement data, and read about how to file a complaint. Schools and advocates can find federal guidance on legal obligations, the best research, and relevant legislation.