In recent discussions surrounding campus sexual assault, a troubling question arises: Are women falsely accusing men of rape after regretting consensual encounters? Are reports of domestic violence exaggerated? These are the sentiments echoed by certain men’s rights groups that Betsy DeVos, the Secretary of Education, plans to consult before finalizing her stance on sexual assault policies.
DeVos is faced with the decision to uphold the guidance established during the Obama administration in 2011, which urged colleges to take a more active role in preventing sexual assault and supporting victims. This guidance, strongly championed by then-Vice President Joe Biden, aimed to ensure that survivors could come forward without fear and that sexual violence would be treated as a violation of Title IX.
The choice for DeVos is stark: maintain these protections or revert to a time when universities could ignore allegations for years and pressure victims into silence with nondisclosure agreements. Advocates against sexual violence are understandably concerned about DeVos’s willingness to hear from men who claim they’ve been falsely accused before supporting the protections that exist for survivors.
Her family foundation has contributed to organizations seeking to dismantle these crucial protections. Additionally, her acting head of the Office of Civil Rights, Laura Sanchez, has made disparaging remarks about women who come forward with allegations, calling them “fake victims.”
Among the groups DeVos is set to meet are Stop Abusive Environments (SAVE) and the National Coalition for Men. SAVE has been labeled a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center for its promotion of anti-women rhetoric and its efforts to minimize accountability for domestic violence offenders. The National Coalition for Men has similarly gained notoriety for its intimidation tactics against survivors, even going as far as to publicly label them as false accusers.
Another organization on her agenda, Families Advocating for Campus Equality, shares a skeptical view of sexual assault allegations and the legislation designed to combat them. While it is disheartening to see DeVos engage with these groups, it is somewhat reassuring to note that she has also met with survivors and advocacy organizations. These interactions hopefully reinforced the critical facts about sexual violence: false accusations are exceedingly rare, occurring in only about 2% of cases, and the vast majority of sexual crimes go unreported.
As a parent of both a son and a daughter, I sincerely hope DeVos considers these statistics and the importance of supporting survivors when weighing the insights from both sides. It’s vital that she understands the implications of her decisions, not just for the current generation but for future students as well.
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In summary, Betsy DeVos faces a critical decision regarding the future of sexual assault protections in educational institutions. Her upcoming consultations with men’s rights groups, known for their controversial views, raise concerns about the potential rollback of vital support for victims. It’s crucial that she balances these discussions with the voices of survivors and advocates for justice.