Sexual misconduct on college campuses is not a problem that exists from afar. It can affect students in their classrooms, dorms, social circles and communities.
Many institutions have come under scrutiny over their handling of sexual assault reports following allegations involving seven Cornell University students. NBC Los Angeles reported that Tompkins County Dist. Atty. Matthew Van Houten reopened an investigation into allegations that seven students sexually assaulted a woman at the Chi Phi Fraternity house in Oct. 2024. The investigation remains ongoing
“Seeking justice sometimes requires us to reconsider or reopen cases when we are provided with additional evidence,” Van Houten said.
The effects of sexual assault can extend beyond the incident itself. According to WorldMetrics, “73% of survivors experience at least one form of psychological distress, such as anxiety or depression.” WorldMetrics also reports that 1 in 5 female students and 1 in 16 male students experience sexual assault during college.
A student contemplating whether to report an assault is not solely deciding whether to tell someone what happened. They may also be wondering what happens next, who will believe them and whether reporting will make their situation difficult.
I know what it feels like to lose faith in the people who are supposed to protect, help and serve students. Although my experience with sexual misconduct happened in middle school, I remember feeling deeply disappointed by the adults who were supposed to advocate for me. I felt that the deans did not protect me and I remember feeling intimidated by school police when I considered pressing charges.
That experience has stuck with me as I entered college. It has made me think about how another student might feel reporting sexual misconduct and how they might leave the process feeling unheard or unsupported.
The systems students rely on can also change as federal requirements change. According to the U.S. Department of Education, the department formally canceled the Biden administration’s 2024 Title IX regulation on Sept. 28, 2026 and reinstated the 2020 regulation from the first Trump administration. This change affects how schools handle sex-based harassment and sexual misconduct complaints.
For students, changes to Title IX can make an already complicated reporting process harder to understand, which may make some students hesitant to come forward. It can make students feel unsure about their rights or what will happen after they report.
At CSUN, students are required to complete training regarding sexual misconduct as well as violence awareness and prevention. According to CSUN’s Title IX training page, new students complete the longer “Not Anymore” course once, while continuing students complete a shorter refresher course each year. The university says the training is designed to promote “a culture of respect on campus.
Those systems need to be more than policies on paper. Students who report sexual assault deserve support and clear information about the process, while students accused of misconduct deserve due process.
Improving these systems means making sure students understand what happens after they report. They should be able to come forward, know what to expect and feel that their concerns will be taken seriously while the rights of those involved are protected.
Students can contact CSUN’s Title IX Office at 818-677-2077 for information about reporting options and support. The RAINN Sexual Assault Hotline is available 24/7 at 800-656-HOPE (4673).
