Meehan Launches Campus Violence Advisory Council

Press Release

Congressman Patrick Meehan (PA-07) today announced the formation of a Campus Sexual Violence Advisory Council, made up of experts on campus safety issues from across Southeastern Pennsylvania, that will develop policy proposals to combat sexual assault on college campuses and strengthen protections for victims. Meehan's Advisory Council met for the first time yesterday on the campus of Penn State University-Brandywine in Middletown Township, Delaware County.

Earlier this year, President Barack Obama announced the creation of a White House Campus Safety Task Force that will recommend examples of instructions, policies, and protocols that will aid colleges and local communities reduce sexual assault on campuses across the country.

The proposals endorsed by the advisory council Congressman Meehan formed on Monday will be delivered to the members of the White House task force for their consideration before the task force issues its report.

"College students should be able to study and enjoy their time in school free from the fear of rape or sexual assault," said Congressman Meehan. "In recent years, both universities and law enforcement have improved their ability to prevent sexual assault on campus, protect victims, and bring the offenders to justice. But there's more that can and should be done."

"Our region is home to one of the largest populations of college students in the nation," Meehan said. "As a consequence, our area has a wealth of experience and insight into the challenges faced by colleges and communities as they struggle to cope with rising rates of sexual assault on campus. The voices of the experts in our region should be heard as the White House task force examines this issue."

"I look forward to working with the Advisory Council members to develop recommendations that we can make to the President," Meehan concluded.

A former prosecutor, Meehan has long worked to protect victims of sexual violence on college campuses. In the 113th Congress, Meehan introduced H.R. 561, the Protecting Students on Campus Act.

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