Expressing support for the designation of September 2026 as National Campus Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

This resolution expresses support for designating September 2026 as National Campus Sexual Assault Awareness Month. This timing is deemed appropriate as it coincides with many students beginning or returning to college, a period when freshmen and sophomores face a heightened risk of sexual assault, with over 50 percent of incidents occurring in the first few months of the academic year. Many survivors experience "incapacitated assault" and often know their attackers, highlighting the pervasive nature of this issue on campuses.

The resolution further details significant challenges in addressing campus sexual assault, including low reporting rates to authorities and survivors' fear of reprisal or poor treatment. It notes that many colleges lack confidential reporting options, provide insufficient sexual assault response training for staff and law enforcement, and fail to conduct thorough investigations or provide access to specialized medical examiners. These systemic failures contribute to a low rate of perpetrator expulsion or criminal charges, underscoring the critical need for increased awareness and improved institutional responses.