Press Call: Survivors of Campus Violence Demand a Campus-Inclusive VAWA

Media 07.19,12

Here’s a wrap up and select materials this call, Survivors of Campus Violence Demand a Campus-Inclusive VAWA, including:

Below is a selection of quotes:

  • Nancy Zirkin, executive vice president of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights: I’m absolutely livid that we have to be here today.  Even in today’s polarized political climate, we should at least be able to agree that when we send our daughters and sons to college, they should be protected from stalking, violence, date rape, and sexual assault.”
  • Kristina Anderson, survivor of the Virginia Tech shooting: “The reason we need to pay attention to the Campus Safety Act as well as the Violence Against Women Act is exactly because of Virginia Tech. I never thought I’d have a gun pointed at me in the classroom…But every day there’s still dating violence, someone being stalked…”
  • Victor Sanchez, president of the United States Students Association (USSA), the country’s largest student organization: “The House must act appropriately and not rollback important programs and services that are meant to protect the very lives of our fellow students. There is an inherent need to pass a VAWA that protects all of us, we cannot continue to politicize our safety, the House must act to prioritize our students’ lives.” 
  • Eleanor Smeal, president and founder of the Feminist Majority Foundation, the largest network of feminist students in the country: “This is a serious issue on campuses throughout the nation…We need a bipartisan bill to protect our youth. Schools should be a safe place without this level of violence…We must get the job done.”

Below is the advisory for this call:

WASHINGTON, DC – On Friday, July 20 at 10:30 AM EST, survivors of campus violence are demanding that Congress pass a campus-inclusive Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).

The Senate passed a version of VAWA that includes several provisions designed to prevent campus violence and assault that are not included in the House version of the bill. The House bill  was roundly rejected by student and women advocates. 

The press call will highlight stories of students who were victims of campus violence and explain how the Senate-passed VAWA would prevent further incidents. It will feature a survivor of campus violence, the president of the nation’s largest student organization, a civil rights leader, and one of the foremost leaders of the women’s movement.

The group will also release an open letter sent to Congress from over 200 survivors of campus violence from 176 colleges and universities reflecting these demands.

WHO:

·    Nancy Zirkin, executive vice president of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

·    Kristina Anderson, survivor of the Virginia Tech Shooting

·    Victor Sanchez, president of the United States Students Association (USSA), the country’s largest student organization

·    Eleanor Smeal, president and founder of the Feminist Majority Foundation, the largest network of feminist students in the country

WHAT: Press call for survivors of campus violence to demand that Congress pass a campus-inclusive VAWA.  It will include a survivor of the Virginia Tech shooting, president of the United States Students Association, a civil rights leader, and the founder of the Feminist Majority Foundation.

WHEN: Friday, July 20 at 10:30 AM EST

CALL-IN INFO: 800.895.0231, Verbal Passcode: “CAMPUS”