President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden Friday trumpeted a new White House effort to eliminate sexual assaults on college campus, urging men to do more to prevent the spate of crimes at institutions of higher learning.
“Campus sexual assault is not something we as a nation can turn away from and say that’s not our problem,” Obama said from the White House.
“We’re here to say today, “It’s not on you. It’s not your fight alone. This is on all of us. We have your back,” he added.
The White House is partnering with the NCAA college athletic league and major companies to promote an “It’s On Us” prevention campaign. The White House is also enlisting celebrities to condemn sexual assault and domestic violence.
Obama on Friday alluded to a broader conversation about domestic abuse taking place in the wake of numerous incidents involving National Football League players. However, he never directly mentioned those episodes.
According to the White House, one in five women on college campuses nationwide are victims of sexual assault.
Biden, who drafted the Violence Against Women Act as a senator, joined the president in urging men to do more to limit such crimes.
“Step up. Be responsible. Intervene,” Biden said to men.
“There’s no doubt,” the vice president added, “that colleges and universities have to step up their game.”
More than 200 colleges and universities thus far have agreed to participate in the White House campaign.
