Sep 29, 2026 · 9 min
Campus accountability stalls as survivors face failed systems
Sexual assault on campus is a problem. Can laws help address it?
The episode connects a reopened Cornell investigation to the broader gap between campus safety promises and the protections survivors actually receive.
- 1A reopened Cornell investigation highlights the need for trauma-informed responses to sexual assault allegations.
- 2Senator Kirsten Gillibrand says Congress has failed to advance legislation holding universities accountable for student safety.
- 3Survivors often encounter disbelief, victim-blaming, and poorly trained responders when they seek institutional help.
Don't miss
Kirsten Gillibrand explains why survivors need trauma-informed interviewing and better-trained responders across the justice and campus systems.
The brief
Allegations of a gang rape at Cornell open a wider examination of sexual assault on college campuses, where safety policies and accountability remain unresolved.
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand discusses the reopened investigation and argues that trained counselors, law enforcement, prosecutors, and attorneys need trauma-informed approaches.
Gillibrand says some campuses have improved their policies, but Congress has not advanced the bipartisan Campus Accountability and Safety Act or held the hearings it needs.
The conversation turns to prevention, including how parents and college-age students can recognize dangerous situations and look out for one another.
The episode’s sharpest tension is institutional: survivors often seek help from systems meant to protect them, then encounter disbelief, victim-blaming, or inadequate training.
Featuring
Juana Summers
Chuck GrassleyListen to the full episode and explore every guest, topic, and moment on PodLume.