At the urging of University of California student survivors and activists, the UC President’s Task Force on Preventing and Responding to Sexual Violence and Sexual Assault produced a mandated recommendation for all UC campuses to have a confidential and privileged advocate on each campus.

The anticipation of starting a new academic year reminds us of the academic and social stressors that impact our overall well-being during the year. Stressors can be related to academics, financial problems, family and friends or campus climate issues, and they all contribute to anxieties that can affect our mental health.

Sexual violence on college campuses is a silent, stigmatized epidemic, and no campus is exempt. Even universities absent from the Department of Education’s list of colleges currently under investigation for violating federal laws meant to protect survivors of sexual assault – Title IX and the Clery Act – desperately need to improve their policies, prevention and response in order to adequately support their students.

Today, April 1, marks the beginning of Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
This month is important to survivors both on our campus and across the world, who have all struggled with the trauma of sexual violence.