A Different Approach to Curbing Sexual Abuse on College Campuses

Below are two revealing data points to consider:
1) According to the Association of American Universities, 25% of young women who are seniors report having experienced nonconsensual sexual touching, assault, or violence during their college education.

2) Yet, only 9% of college presidents report any incidents of rape on their university campuses.

Their are initiatives such as It’s On Us, which aims to have more colleges come clean and take responsibility, and programs which promote bystander intervention. While both of these and other efforts are important, there is another approach.

Taking more of a carrot approach can also reduce sexual abuse on campuses. By recognizing more colleges and bystanders who take action, we help make the transition to responsibility and doing what’s right easier and in the process develop a set of best practices for, hopefully, many others to follow.