Contact: Rebecca Stewart
Email: info@saveservices.org
Most Americans Want Due Process on Campus, Despite Protests
WASHINGTON / September 4, 2018 – Last week the New York Times leaked information about a sex discrimination regulation that the federal Department of Education is expected to issue this Fall. In response, campus activists assailed the policy as “downright cruel” and “willfully ignorant.” (1)
These statements contrast with the views of most Americans. According to a 2017 survey of 1,200 persons conducted by YouGov, persons overwhelmingly agree that students accused of a felony level crime should be afforded due process (2):
— A full 81% of respondents said the accused should have the right to know the charges against him.
— 71% of persons polled said accused students should be sanctioned under the “clear and convincing” standard of evidence.
— 61% said accused students should have the right to cross-examine their accusers.
— 67% agreed that students accused of crimes on campus should enjoy the same legal protections that would receive in a court of law.
These findings held across the entire political spectrum. For example, 58% of Democrats, 70% of Republicans, and 60% of Independents agreed that accused students should have the right to cross-examine their accusers.
Due process procedures serve to ascertain the truthfulness of an alleged sexual offense. The importance of these procedures was evident in the recent case of Nikki Yovino, former student at Sacred Heart University, who was convicted of falsely accusing two men of rape. On August 23, Yovino was sentenced to serve one year in jail (3).
SAVE’s Campus Equality, Fairness, and Transparency Act outlines a series of procedures designed to maximize fairness for both accusers and the accused (4). To date, the editorial boards of the New York Daily News and the Detroit News, as well as numerous commentators, have written editorials in support of bolstering campus due process protections (5).
Citations:
- http://bipp.blogs.bucknell.edu/files/2017/09/BIPP-Higher-Ed-Toplines.pdf
- https://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Yovino-sentenced-to-1-year-in-false-rape-case-13177363.php
- http://www.saveservices.org/sexual-assault/cefta/
- http://www.saveservices.org/2018/09/media-reports-call-to-restore-due-process-on-campus/
SAVE — Stop Abusive and Violent Environments — is working for effective and fair solutions to campus sexual assault: www.saveservices.org