Good Morning, Yale! Here Is Your Wake-Up Call

(CNN) -- Universities in the United States rarely expel students for sexual assault, according to an investigation by the federal government. And in the 42 years since it began admitting women, Yale University has not been an exception.

Because of the way universities handle sexual misconduct, it is often the victim who drops out of school. In fact, a survey I conducted of female students transferring into Brown University in the early 1990s revealed that one of the top reasons women may transfer colleges is because they've been sexually assaulted on their campus.

What's new here is that Yale received a 26-page Title IX complaint March 31, filed by 16 students and alumni, charging that its campus is a sexually hostile environment. The federal Department of Education has reportedly launched an investigation. One of the incidents the group described that was particularly offensive involved men who were pledging a fraternity; they gathered in a public spot on campus and started chanting, "No means yes, yes means anal."

The Obama administration, which had been working on sexual assault issues for some time, released a report Monday telling colleges and universities that they need to do a better job preventing and investigating sexual violence.

The article goes on to give some excellent insight into the problems on campuses around the country.  There have been problems everywhere, and the answer has been the same, to pretend nothing has happened and this pretty little campus won't let your darling child be unsafe, not even for a moment.  This system has worked out great for everyone but the victims.

There are a lot of common-sense safety measures that could be put into place, and have not.  Why?  Why actually take steps to avoid the discussion of sexual assault when an acknowledgement and preventative steps would go much further in reassuring parents?  The victims lose twice, once when they are attacked and again when they find no justice.  It is impossible to promise this can't or won't happen to a young student.  What is possible is to promise it will be handled properly when it does.  Education, participation and understanding go a long way.  Letting students know what to look out for and how to protect friends is empowering.  Covering up sexual assaults and helping the offenders relocate without a blip on their records is encouraging the act. 

It should not have taken this long for them to see this, or take action.