Every Voice Illinois Passes Anti-Campus Sexual Violence Bill Unanimously Through Both Chambers
IL students and survivors pass SB1610 after two years with overwhelming support
CHICAGO, IL: On Monday, June 1, 2021 after two years of student-led advocacy, community collaborations, and students’ and cosponsors’ persistence, Illinois’ bipartisan bill SB1610 An Act Concerning Education passed through both chambers, effectively pushing it forward to Governor J.B. Pritzker’s desk.
This bill was written by students from universities across Illinois – including the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign, University of Chicago, Depaul University, Northwestern University, Augustana College, National Louis University, and more – and developed in close collaboration with the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Illinois Now, The Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation, and Equality Illinois; Senate Sponsors Bill Cunningham, Elgie R. Sims, Jr., Laura M. Murphy, John F. Curran, Donald P. DeWitte, Celina Vilanueva, Thomas Cullerton, Rachelle Crowe, Cristina H. Pacione-Zayas, Meg Loughran Cappel and Steve Stadelman; and House Sponsors Carol Ammons, Katie Stuart, Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, Eva Dina Delgado, Kelly M. Cassidy, Margaret Croke, and Elizabeth Hernandez.
Once signed into law, this bill will amend the Preventing Sexual Violence in Higher Education Act (2015) to include a campus climate survey on sexual violence. This Act requires higher education institutions to annually conduct a sexual misconduct climate survey that will be developed by a task force of academic, legal, and public health experts; community organization leaders; government officials and/or proxies; and students from public, private and community colleges. In developing the base survey, the task force will consult institutions, students, survivors, and community organizations to optimize the effectiveness, accuracy and trauma-informed nature of the survey. A summary of the survey’s results must be submitted to the Board of Higher Education and published on individual institutions’ websites to increase transparency and awareness.
Words of Support
“No one understands campus climate like students and they deserve to have their voices at the table when discussing school policy that affects them. Every student deserves to be heard and the anonymous climate survey is one way that we can ensure that they are given the platform to speak. Helping get this bill across the finish line has been one of the most amazing experiences that I have ever had. Knowing that our hard work is leading to hundreds of thousands of students and survivors receiving the help and care that they deserve is incredible.” State Director Lizzy Cook, Every Voice Illinois.
“I am super excited that this bill passed unanimously and legislators were on our side to create transparency and change at higher education institutions. This isn’t just a regular survey but a survey that will help students come forward without having to report their trauma directly. This law will definitely change the campus environment.” State Director CT Villalvazo, Every Voice Illinois
“I was proud to join with the Every Voice Coalition’s team in Illinois this Spring to help ensure our state leads the way in eradicating sexual assault on campus,” Senator Bill Cunningham said. “The success of this legislation is a tribute to the advocacy of many volunteers who have worked hard to make college life safer for our students.”
“Too many students have had to grapple with the immediate and long-term consequences of sexual violence on our college campuses,” Representative Carol Ammons said, “By engaging students directly and getting a better view of what they’re experiencing, my hope is that our universities can be better positioned to prevent these crimes from happening in the first place. Students, faculty and parents deserve universities that are safe places of learning, this measure helps us move toward that expectation.”
“ICASA appreciates the student advocates from Every Voice for leading this legislation. Ensuring colleges and universities across the state seek to understand the prevalence of sexual misconduct on their campuses is an important first step in an effort to make those campuses safe for all students. Illinois rape crisis centers stand ready to provide services to survivors of sexual violence and to partner with higher education institutions to create the safest possible campus environments.” General Counsel Sarah Beuning, Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault (ICASA).
The Every Voice Coalition (www.everyvoicecoalition.org) is an entirely student and survivor-led organization working to pass student and survivor-written, survivor-centered legislation on the state level to prevent campus sexual violence and support survivors Today, Every Voice bills have been passed in five states: New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Illinois, Nevada, and Connecticut. The Coalition is currently working in 12 states.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Bella T Fong | bfong@everyvoicecoalition.org
