White House launches new campaign against sexual assault

President Obama and Vice President Biden will debut a new campaign urging men to get more involved in preventing sexual assault on college campuses Friday at the White House.

The campaign, dubbed “It’s On Us,” is designed around “the belief that it’s on all of us to be part of the solution in stopping sexual assault,” according to a White House official.

{mosads}“The president and vice president strongly believe that everyone has the right to live free from the threat of sexual assault, and have long been deeply committed to rooting out this violence wherever it exists,” the official said.

The event is the latest in a series organized by the White House oriented around reducing sexual assaults on campus — and focusing attention on the role men can play.

In April, the White House unveiled a public service announcement featuring celebrities including James Bond actor Daniel Craig, “Late Night” host Seth Meyers, and “The Office” star Steve Carell encouraging men to root out sexual violence.

A separate ad features Biden, President Obama, Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins, New York Giants quarter back Eli Manning and soccer star David Beckham.

Earlier this year, the president appointed a task force to study the issue, and the White House subsequently announced a series of administrative actions undertaken at the panel’s recommendation.

That included the launch of a centralized website — NotAlone.gov — that serves as a clearinghouse for students to find information about enforcement data and how to respond to a sexual assault. The site will link students to resources like mental health services and crisis hotlines, and give them information about how to file complaints about assaults.

The website also provides schools and advocates more guidance on their federal legal obligations to respond to sexual assaults, as well as research about preventing and responding to crimes. 

The administration is also conducting so-called climate surveys, which are designed to help schools gauge the true prevalence of sexual assaults on their campuses. The administration will partner with Rutgers University to develop a pilot version of the survey, and seek legislative or regulatory ways to require schools to conduct such a survey of their student bodies by 2016.

And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will also promote intervention programs designed to reduce sexual assault by getting bystanders to step in and help potential victims.