Gov. Wolf stands against proposed Title IX changes

About $1 million dollars is going out to 38 colleges around the Commonwealth to fund efforts against campus sexual assault.

This is the fourth year Pennsylvania has given some of its colleges and universities money to help educate about and fight against sexual assault on campus. (Andy Matsko/The Republican-Herald via AP)

This is the fourth year Pennsylvania has given some of its colleges and universities money to help educate about and fight against sexual assault on campus. (Andy Matsko/The Republican-Herald via AP)

About $1 million dollars is going out to 38 colleges around the Commonwealth to fund efforts against campus sexual assault.

Gov. Tom Wolf announced the allocation Wednesday, and also took a moment to weigh in on federal campus assault policy.

This is the fourth year Pennsylvania has given colleges grants as part of the national It’s On Us campaign.

The schools use the grants for resources like training on consent, and programs to teach students about bystander reporting processes.

During his announcement, Wolf echoed many campus assault activists in saying he’s concerned about proposed changes to Title IX rules from Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.

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“I think that the concern really ought to be with the victim here,” he said. “The things that I think they’re proposing in Washington, that she’s proposing, really don’t pass the smell test.”

Among other things, DeVos’s proposal wouldn’t require colleges and universities to investigate off-campus incidents. It would give officials more options to seek a higher standard of evidence for assault charges and narrow the definition of sexual harassment.

The proposal isn’t final. It’s still open for public comment until the end of the month.

The recipients are listed below:

  • Cabrini University
  • Carnegie Mellon University*
  • Chatham University*
  • Chestnut Hill College
  • Cheyney University of PA
  • Delaware County Community College
  • Dickinson College
  • East Stroudsburg University of PA
  • Elizabethtown College*
  • Holy Family University
  • Immaculata University
  • Indiana University of PA*
  • Jefferson University*
  • Juniata College
  • Kutztown University of PA
  • Lackawanna College
  • Lafayette College*
  • LaSalle University
  • Lycoming College*
  • Manor College*
  • Mansfield University of PA*
  • Marywood University*
  • Mercyhurst University
  • Millersville University of PA
  • Peirce College*
  • Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts*
  • Robert Morris University*
  • Saint Vincent College
  • Seton Hill University
  • Shippensburg University
  • Slippery Rock University
  • Susquehanna University*
  • University of Pittsburgh at Bradford*
  • University of Scranton*
  • West Chester University of PA
  • Widener University*
  • Wilkes University*
  • York College

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