Hundreds of Virginia Tech students gathered on campus last month to protest the university’s Title IX policies and practices. The protest was organized by a student activist group called United Feminist Movement, who argued that the university’s response to complaints of sexual assault and rape on campus “have ranged from being insufficient to dismissive.”
The students are calling for major changes in Virginia Tech’s Title IX protocols for handling claims of sexual violence on campus and stronger protection for survivors. In particular, students point out the prevalence of sexual assault at events such as football games that are sponsored by the school. A Virginia Tech graduate student further notes that the current Title IX policies have perpetuated a “rape culture” on campus, leaving many students feeling uneasy on campus.
