Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Contact 90.5 WESA with a story idea or news tip: news@wesa.fm

PA Gives More Money To Combat Campus Assault, Wolf Takes Stand Against Title IX Changes

About a $1 million is going out to 38 colleges around the commonwealth to fund efforts against campus sexual assault.

Gov. Tom Wolf announced the allocation Wednesday, and also took a moment to weigh in on federal campus assault policy.

This is the fourth year Pennsylvania has given colleges grants as part of the national It’s On Us campaign.

The schools use the grants for things like training on consent, and programs to teach students about bystander reporting processes.

During his announcement, Wolf echoed many campus assault activists in saying he’s concerned about proposed changes to Title IX rules from U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.

“I think that the concern really ought to be with the victim here,” he said. “The things that I think they’re proposing in Washington, that she’s proposing, really don’t pass the smell test.”

Among other things, DeVos’s proposal wouldn’t require colleges and universities to investigate off-campus incidents. It would give officials more options to seek a higher standard of evidence for assault charges and narrow the definition of sexual harassment.  

The proposal isn’t final. It’s still open for public comment until the end of the month.