Sexual assault is a serious and important concern in higher education, as it is in all other communities. Incidents of sexual assault need to be investigated by the proper authorities and adjudicated in criminal courts. However, the recent survey commissioned by the Association of American Universities on sexual assault is more likely to add to the near hysteria on this topic—spurring schools to adopt misguided policies that curtail accused students’ due process rights—than address the real problems at hand. Sexual assault does not occur in a vacuum.
It is time educators focused on restoring a culture of academic seriousness, reducing grade inflation, scheduling classes five days a week, and demanding rigorous academic standards.
-Anne Neal
President, American Council of Trustees and Alumni