Bill Overview
Title: SOS Campus Act
Description: This bill requires an institution of higher education receiving federal financial-aid funds to designate an independent advocate for campus sexual assault prevention and response.
Sponsors: Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA]
Target Audience
Population: Students and faculty at higher education institutions
Estimated Size: 20000000
- The bill specifies institutions of higher education, which includes colleges and universities.
- Students who are at risk of, or have experienced campus sexual assault are direct beneficiaries.
- Sexual assault prevention and response advocates are involved as part of the newly mandated positions.
- Faculty and administrative staff will also be indirectly impacted as institutions need to comply with new regulations.
Reasoning
- To simulate the impact of the SOS Campus Act, I considered a diverse range of individuals who are likely to be affected, including students, faculty, and staff across various institutions of higher learning.
- The budget constraints imply limited resources per institution, which may affect the scale of impact for each individual involved.
- A variety of perspectives, from those directly impacted to those peripherally involved, provide a comprehensive view of the potential effects.
Simulated Interviews
Undergraduate student (Boston, MA)
Age: 19 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think having an advocate on campus will really help students feel safer.
- It might be easier to report issues, knowing there's an independent person involved.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Graduate student (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's good to see the administration taking issues like this seriously.
- As a teaching assistant, this role might be an added resource for helping students.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Professor (New York, NY)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Integrating an independent advocate could streamline support processes.
- It should make addressing these issues more transparent.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Campus security officer (Austin, TX)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having an advocate will likely change how we respond to incidents.
- It may require additional training for our team.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
University administrator (Chicago, IL)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This act will require a lot of coordination from the administration.
- Hopefully, it will reduce incidents and improve reporting.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Freshman student (Portland, OR)
Age: 18 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 20/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Knowing there's an advocate helps me feel less anxious about campus life.
- It's a relief to see this issue being prioritized.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Campus counselor (Denver, CO)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- An independent advocate could enhance our support network for students.
- It may lead to a higher demand for counseling services.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Dean of Students (Miami, FL)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Instituting this role is a critical step forward for campus safety.
- Ensures we have an independent perspective in the process.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Advocate for survivors (Seattle, WA)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The additional advocate role can provide crucial support for survivors.
- It might improve our response time and effectiveness.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Student journalist (Winston-Salem, NC)
Age: 21 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this policy will lead to better coverage of sexual assault cases.
- It provides a direct link for obtaining information and updates.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $200000000 (Low: $160000000, High: $240000000)
Year 2: $210000000 (Low: $168000000, High: $252000000)
Year 3: $220500000 (Low: $176400000, High: $264600000)
Year 5: $243610050 (Low: $195788040, High: $291432060)
Year 10: $299642472 (Low: $239713978, High: $359570967)
Year 100: $700000000 (Low: $560000000, High: $840000000)
Key Considerations
- Compliance with the new requirements will vary by institution size and existing resources, impacting cost estimates.
- Institutions currently lacking comprehensive sexual assault response resources might face greater implementation costs.
- The potential socio-cultural impact of improved safety and response mechanisms can indirectly influence educational outcomes.