Updated…WASHINGTON — Vice President Joe Biden travels to the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana campus on Thursday to deliver a speech on sexual assault.
The White House said in a statement Biden’s speech will be “about the importance of preventing sexual assault on college campuses across the country. The event will highlight the “It’s On Us” sexual assault prevention campaign, which seeks to engage college students and all members of campus communities — including those at the University of Illinois — in preventing sexual assault.”
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has been pushing the Illinois General Assembly to pass a measure to require, according to her office, Illinois “universities and colleges to be better responsive to reports of sexual violence.” Madigan’s spokesman said she “has been convening summits on this issue at universities around the state, starting with UIC and Illinois State earlier this week.
The legislation, House Bill 821, sponsored by Rep. Michelle Mussman, D-Schaumburg, passed the House Judiciary – Civil Committee.
Background, from Madigan’s office: “Earlier this week, Madigan hosted the second of three summits being convened around the state to discuss the Preventing Sexual Violence in Higher Education Act, which will set standards to prevent and respond to sexual violence at higher education institutions throughout Illinois.”
