Require Campus Sexual Assault Bystanders to Act
When college students witness a sexual assault in real time, or receive credible, real-time information through group chats, texts, photos or videos that one is actively occurring, they should be required to call for help. Yet federal campus safety law does not generally impose a duty on ordinary students to summon emergency assistance in that moment.
We are calling for federal legislation to fill that gap.
The legislation would establish a narrowly tailored duty to summon help: a college student with actual knowledge or credible real-time information that a sexual assault is actively occurring would be required to promptly contact 911, campus police, campus security or another designated emergency responder when it is safe to do so.
Building on the federal campus-safety framework strengthened by the Stop Campus Hazing Act, the legislation should include:
Survivor autonomy protections, ensuring survivors themselves are not compelled to report and disclosures of past assaults are not covered.
Good-faith protections for bystanders who reasonably act on the information available.
Alcohol and drug amnesty so fear of personal consequences does not deter someone from calling for help.
An exception when help has already been summoned.
The duty would be limited to summoning emergency assistance. It would never require physical intervention or action that could place the bystander or others in danger.
Congress could consider establishing this standard through the Higher Education Act and the Clery Act framework (20 U.S.C. § 1092), which already establishes campus safety requirements for colleges participating in federal student-aid programs.
We are asking U.S. Senators and Representatives to support the development and introduction of federal legislation establishing this narrowly tailored duty to act.
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Live Call Script
Hello, I am an assistant calling on behalf of a constituent, {{first_name}} {{last_name}} from {{city}}, {{state}} zip code {{zip_code}}. The constituent is calling to urge {{representative_name}} to support the development and introduction of federal legislation establishing a narrowly tailored duty to summon help on college campuses. Specifically, the constituent asks {{representative_name}} to support legislation requiring college students who have actual knowledge, or credible, real-time information through texts, group chats, photos, videos or other digital communications, that a sexual assault is actively occurring to promptly summon emergency assistance when it is safe to do so. Building on the federal campus-safety framework strengthened by the Stop Campus Hazing Act, the legislation should include survivor autonomy protections, good-faith protections for those who reasonably call for help, appropriate alcohol and drug amnesty, and an exception when emergency assistance has already been summoned. The duty would apply only to summoning emergency assistance, such as contacting 911, campus police, campus security or another designated emergency responder. It would not require physical intervention or any action that could place the bystander or others in danger. The constituent believes Congress should examine establishing this narrowly tailored, survivor-centered standard through the Higher Education Act and Clery Act framework. Will {{representative_name}} support the development and introduction of federal legislation establishing this duty to summon help?
Voicemail Version
I am calling on behalf of {{first_name}} {{last_name}}, a constituent from {{city}}, {{state}} {{zip_code}}. The constituent is calling to urge {{representative_name}} to support the development and introduction of federal legislation establishing a narrowly tailored duty to summon help for college students who have actual knowledge, or credible real-time information, that a sexual assault is actively occurring. Building on the federal campus-safety framework strengthened by the Stop Campus Hazing Act, the legislation should require students to summon emergency assistance when it is safe to do so, while protecting survivor autonomy and providing good-faith reporter protections, appropriate alcohol and drug amnesty, and an exception when help has already been summoned. The constituent asks that {{representative_name}}’s office follow up to share the representative’s position on this proposed legislation. You may contact me at {{phone_number}} to discuss further.