The Eagle’s editorial board is composed of its staff but does not represent every individual staffer’s views. Rather, it provides an insight into how The Eagle, as an editorially independent institution, responds to issues on campus.
Editor’s Note: This article contains references to sexual violence and sexual assault.
For years, students have fought for reforms to American University’s support of survivors of sexual violence. On Feb. 3, these efforts led to a University-wide amnesty policy. By implementing the long-fought-for amnesty policy, the University has shown that it has indeed been listening to students and campus advocacy groups. However, the way the administration chose to implement it raises concerns about how far AU’s commitment to protecting survivors and students and ensuring survivor rights will go in the future.
The Student Amnesty Policy says that students who seek medical assistance for drug or alcohol-related emergencies or report instances of sexual violence or hazing will not face disciplinary actions for substance use. This policy is an incredibly necessary and long overdue implementation to encourage students to seek help in times of crisis without fear of punishment. However, the current amnesty policy includes stipulations limiting who is impacted by it, such as barring amnesty for students with a “significant conduct disciplinary history” or those who have required medical transportation multiple times. These caveats to amnesty create unnecessary uncertainty during moments when having the confidence to report or call for emergency services is most important.
Additionally, the administration’s quiet approach to releasing the amnesty policy is stark. No formal announcement was made, leaving student organizations that long advocated for this policy, like It’s On Us and No More, to inform students of the changes. A policy that is specifically designed to protect students in times of crisis should be clearly and actively communicated to the broader community, not buried on the AU website for people to find only if they’re looking for it.
The most disappointing element of the amnesty policy is the administration’s exclusion of advocacy groups as stakeholders in the policy’s drafting. The University’s Formulation and Issuance of University Policies allow for stakeholder engagement in creating policies, yet AU chose to shut out the students who have been fighting for these reforms. This exclusion seems like more than an oversight — it seems like an intentional act. Survivors and survivor advocates should not have to learn about policy changes they’ve been fighting for from an Instagram post or an Eagle article. They should be included in the process from the very beginning.
The policy seems like a symbolic gesture to appease student advocates rather than an actual beginning of a commitment to implementing the Survivor Bill of Rights. To combat this, the University needs to outline how they will enact the bill so students know administrators are committed to what students want. The Survivor Bill of Rights, which was initially proposed in 2022 after an incident of sexual assault in Leonard Hall, remains only partially implemented at the University. Many of its key provisions that advocates have fought for, such as mandatory trauma-informed training for staff, increased funding for survivor resources and greater transparency in Title IX proceedings, have not been publicized, even if the current Working Group on Preventing and Responding to Sexual Harassment and Violence has been privately discussing them.
By implementing the amnesty policy without engaging with student advocates, the administration seems to be treating this as a one-and-done achievement rather than part of an ongoing effort. This cannot be the final step.
AU needs to actively engage advocacy groups like No More and It’s On Us in all future discussions of policies related to sexual violence, survivors' rights and student safety. Although they should have been consulted in the first place, AU needs to commit that they will be consulted and considered stakeholders in future discussions.
The administration must commit to fully implementing the Survivor Bill of Rights. They can’t just pick and choose which pieces seem easy or inexpensive to implement. This includes hiring more Title IX investigators, increasing funding for survivor resources and mandating in-person sexual violence prevention training. The University also needs to publicly outline a timeline for implementing additional reforms and provide regular updates on their progress so the community knows this isn’t a one-and-done effort.
Clear communication is also needed when policy changes happen. The administration needs to make official announcements on all changes via email or social media, specifically with AU President Jon Alger speaking directly to the community and showing his support for survivors’ rights. During Alger’s first year as president, the administration has sent emails about policies, including updated facilities use and social media policies, the reversal of Burwell’s ban on indoor protests and a statement on a burnt Palestinian flag found on East Campus. The administration is very familiar with sending emails and making statements on what they deem important, even if students don’t view it that way. AU needs to ensure it is also making statements about policies that directly impact students, as it is crucial that all students are aware of their rights under the amnesty policy and any future policies as both survivors and bystanders.
Implementing the amnesty policy cannot mark the end of AU’s efforts to support survivors — it needs to be the beginning of a more transparent, inclusive and survivor-centered approach to policymaking on campus. Anything less would be a failure of leadership and an undermining of the campus groups and students who have continuously fought for change.
Students who have experienced sexual assault or harassment can seek support through confidential resources such as the University’s Center for Well-Being Programs and Psychological Services, the Student Health Center, the Kay Spiritual Life Center or the following hotlines:
- Collegiate Assistance Program: 1-855-678-8679
- Rape, Abuse, Incest, National Network (RAINN) anonymous chat
- RAINN hotline: 1-800-656-4673
- DC Rape Crisis Center: 202-333-7273
Non-confidential resources include the University’s Title IX Office and AUPD.
This piece was written by Alana Parker and edited by Abigail Turner. Copy editing done by Luna Jinks, Olivia Citarella, Hannah Langenfeld and Nicole Kariuki.
