TESTIMONY OF NICOLE SAMMARTINO

BEFORE THE ILLINOIS BOARD OF HIGHER EDUCATION

HOUSE BILL 0821
AMENDMENT TO 110 ILCS 12/10 SEC. 10
MAY 6TH 2016

CHAIR CROSS, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF HIGHER EDUCATION, THANK YOU

FOR YOUR TIME THIS AFTERNOON. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK
BEFORE YOU TODAY ABOUT HOUSE BILL 0821 TO AMMEND SECTION 10 OF THE
CAMPUS SECURITY ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2008. IT IS CRITICAL TO ADDRESS A
SIGNIFICANT HEALTH THREAT TO OUR STATE, SEXUAL VIOLENCE ON COLLEGE
CAMPUSES.

VICTIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE ACROSS THE NATION HAVE CRIED OUT IN

RECENT YEARS, EXPRESSING FEELINGS OF HELPLESSNESS AGAINST THEIR
HIGHER ED. INSTITUTIONS WILLINGNESS AND ABILITY TO ADDRESS SEXUAL
VIOLENCE ON THEIR COLLEGE CAMPUSES. SEXUAL VIOLENCE THREATENS A
STUDENTS ABILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS. SEXUAL
VIOLENCE RESULTS IN EMOTIONAL DISTRESS, PHYSICAL HARM, AND MAY HAVE
LIFE-LONG CONSEQUENCES. AND AT HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS,
SEXUAL VIOLENCE IS AN EPIDEMIC. HB 0821 WILL ENSURE A COMPREHENSIVE
RESPONSE TO VICTIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE EMOTIONAL, PHYSICAL, AND
LEGAL NEEDS BY MANDATING THE PARTICIPATION OF THE ILLINOIS

DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES IN ADDRESSING THIS THREAT ON COLLEGE

CAMPUSES.

THANKS TO THE DILIGENT WORK OF THE POLICY CHAMPIONS IN THIS ARENA

LIKE REPRESENTATIVE MICHELLE MUSSMAN, WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS HERE
IN ILLINOIS. REPRESENTATIVE, THANK YOU FOR SPONSORING THE PREVENTING
SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN HIGHER EDUCATION ACT AND FOR YOUR UNYIELDING
ADVOCACY FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND OTHER WOMENS ISSUES. THE
NEWLY ENACTED PREVENTING SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN HIGHER EDUCATION ACT,
ADDRESSES MANY KEY CONCERNS FOR STUDENTS INCLUDING VICTIM
BLAMING, EXPANDING REPORTING METHODS, AND MANDATING SEX
EDUCATION AND AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS AT ALL CAMPUSES IN ILLINOIS.
HOWEVER, GIVEN THE CLIMATE REGARDING STUDENTS TRUST IN THE
INSTITUTION TO ADDRESS THEIR HEALTH AND SAFETY NEEDS, HB 0821 IS
NECESSARY TO REMEDY THE DISCONNECT BETWEEN INSTITUTIONS AND VICTIM
SERVICES.

HB 0821 REQUIRES THE ACTIVE PARTICIPATION OF DHS REGIONAL

ADMINISTRATORS (RAS) ON ANY TASK FORCE ORGANIZED BY AN INSTITUTION
WITHIN THE REGIONAL ADMINISTRATORS REGION OR JURISDICTION. REGIONAL
ADMINISTRATORS, MANY OF WHOM ARE SOCIAL WORKERS, WILL PROVIDE
VICTIMS WITH ASSISTANCE IN NAVIGATING ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN
SERVICES IN ORDER TO ACCESS LOCAL SOCIAL AND MEDICAL SERVICES. RAS

WILL GUIDE THE VICTIM IN MAKING FORMAL COMPLAINTS TO THE UNIVERSITY,

AND IN ACCESSING ACADEMIC AND LIVING ACCOMODATIONS THROUGH THE
INSTITUTION. BY PROVIDING A MORE PERSONAL, AND COORDINATED
RESPONSE TO SEXUAL VIOLENCE, WE CAN BETTER SERVE A VICTIMS NEEDS.

WHEN STUDENTS FEEL THAT THEIR HEALTH, SAFETY, AND EDUCATION ARE
THREATENED, THEY ARE NOT GIVEN AN EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITY FOR HIGHER
EDUCATION. ENSURING THAT ALL STUDENTS OF HIGHER EDUCATION ARE
SUPPORTED EMOTIONALLY, MEDICALLY, AND LEGALLY SHOULD BE A
STANDARD TO EDUCATION. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE FOR VULNERABLE
VICTIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE. I AM ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT TODAY TO
REMEDY THE GAPS BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND
THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES. SUPPORT HB 0821 TO SHOW THAT THE
COMMITTEE OF HIGHER EDUCATION IS COMMITTED TO ENSURING A
HEALTHIFUL AND EQUITABLE EXPERIENCE AT HIGHER EDUCATION
INSTITUTIONS.