Earlier this week, Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes (D-San Bernardino), introduced AB 2070 which is aimed at preventing both domestic & dating violence on college campuses. AB 2070 would expand on existing mandates for college campuses to engage in orientation and outreach programming on preventing sexual assault. With AB 2070, colleges will now have to include prevention training and present resources to students in regards to domestic and dating violence as they would when discussing sexual assault.
“For many young people their first experience away from family is when they enter college,” said Assemblymember Reyes. “Colleges and universities are not insulated from the challenges that face broader society. That is why it is so important that we give our young people the tools and resources to identify and prevent the problem of domestic and dating violence.”
According to the California Women’s Health Survey (CWHS), 40% of California women experience physical intimate partner violence in their lifetimes, with traditional college aged women (18-24) being 11% more likely to experience physical intimate partner violence or dating violence. Ensuring that students, upon arrival to college, are given prevention training, warning signs, and resources to help combat domestic and dating violence can not only help survivors, but also ensure that less individuals find themselves in these abusive relationships.