The Legislature hereby finds and declares all of the following:

(a) College students are more vulnerable to rape than any other age group.

(b) The majority of reported victims and offenders of rape are of college age.

(c) At most colleges and universities today, few students, faculty, or staff are alerted to crucial information about sexual assaults, especially acquaintance rape. Many people have misconceptions about these crimes that enhance their vulnerability to victimization.

(d) Colleges should implement a variety of effective educational programs to inform all students and other college personnel about sexual assaults on campus. These programs should be implemented to disseminate factual information about sexual assault, promote open discussion, encourage reporting, and provide information about prevention to faculty, staff, and both male and female students.

(e) Colleges need to emphasize to students the seriousness of the offenses of rape and sexual assault.

(f) Students need critical factual information about the prevalence of stranger and acquaintance rape, how and where it happens, its impact, and the relationship between alcohol and drug use and sexual assaults.

(g) It is not sufficient to develop policies, brochures, and other informational materials; once these materials are developed they must be distributed in a way that emphasizes their importance and stimulates the interest of students.

(h) Fraternities, sororities, and other student organizations operating on campus should undergo rape-awareness training each year before they are permitted to hold any events.

(i) Residence life student staff and all students living in campus recognized housing should receive acquaintance rape training every semester.

(j) Comprehensive information about acquaintance rape and other kinds of sexual assaults should be provided at all new student orientation programs and at any campus program that students are required to attend.

(k) Colleges should provide special sexual assault seminars for all athletic coaches and administrators and members of athletic teams. These seminars should take place during a student athlete orientation program or prior to the first team meeting. Seminars should use the campus media, newspapers, radio, and television to heighten awareness of campus violence and its prevention.

(l) To provide appropriate information and counseling to sexual assault victims, all college student services professional staff members or student affairs professional staff members and campus police should participate in annual sexual assault education seminars.

(Added by Stats. 1991, Ch. 1068, Sec. 1.)