Michigan universities may be facing new pressure from the state that will regulate how the schools structure their campus sexual-assault policies.
The Sexual Assault Information Act, a legislative package of 12 individual bills, was passed in the Michigan House of Representatives yesterday. The act, if approved in the Michigan State Senate, will disqualify universities that do not comply with the requirements from applying for some forms of state financial aid.
The act states that all Michigan universities must have a written campus sexual-assault policy, which is already mandated by federal law. Furthermore, the act requires the complete and thorough reporting and investigating of any campus sexual-assault crimes.
"This legislation encourages colleges to do everything they can to protect students on campus and provide victims of sexual assault with the information they need to seek counseling and protect themselves," said Rep. Laura Baird (D-Okemos) in a statement released yesterday.
Although Baird is the act's lead sponsor, 10 other representatives voiced their support by individually sponsoring parts of the legislation.
Brian O' Connell, legislative aide to Rep. Jim McBryde (R-Mount Pleasant), said the House-passed act will go to a Senate committee for consideration.
However, the Senate has seen the act at least once before, when it sat in committee without being debated on the Senate floor, he said.
John Truscott, Gov. John Engler's media spokesperson, said the governor's office is taking a neutral position towards the Sexual Assault Information Act until they have more information.
"This is such a serious issue," Truscott said. "We want to make sure it's addressed appropriately."
He said they do not know what kind of programs are implemented at each Michigan university, so they cannot judge whether enforcing further campus sexual-assault policy legislation is necessary.
"To mandate may not be the right course at this point," Truscott said. "We just don't know."
Vice President of University Relations Lisa Baker said the legislation should not affect the University's sexual-assault policies.
"The University is obviously in compliance with all laws and beyond that, we have a comprehensive set of policies and programs," Baker said. "The legislation is unnecessary (for the University)."
O'Connell said the act's passage would give universities another outlet to aid students.
"It allows the universities another remedy outside the court system," O'Connell said.
Joyce Wright, interim director of the Student Assault Prevention and Awareness Center said SAPAC offers many services to students.
"We do a lot of advocacy on the behalf of survivors - medically, academically, as well as legally," Wright said.
Wright said that, aside from Michigan State University, she does not know of any other schools in Michigan that have centers like SAPAC, which are run entirely separate of other University departments or organizations.