The national spotlight on the Larry Nassar scandal has cast Michigan in an unflattering light when it comes to how the state handles sexual assault on college campuses. A group of female lawmakers is setting out some guiding principles they hope will change that. State Representative Erika Geiss is the vice chair of the Progressive Women’s Caucus. She tells us the trauma from a sex assault can undo a student’s future.
“I understand all too well how derailing it can be for a student who is sexually assaulted to then continue with her or his studies uninterrupted. I’ve had students who were otherwise dedicated to their studies suddenly stop attending class or have their grades affected negatively.”
Geiss wants the state to create a Title Nine ombudsman who would protect the victims of sexual assault from retaliation. Last week, a group of Republican lawmakers introduced a package to expand mandatory reporters of sexual assault to include coaches and athletic trainers, and to also let students confidentially report tips about sexual assaults to law enforcement. Many of the legislative items laid out have been slowly making their way through the Capitol since the Nassar scandal began to emerge
