This post was updated Oct. 13 at 7:14 p.m.
When Jane Doe filed a lawsuit against Cornell University and other defendants – alleging university negligence after she reported being gang raped by multiple Chi Phi fraternity members – news of the suit flooded headlines and sparked conversations nationwide.
But, for countless college students, the scourge of sexual violence is nothing new.
The editorial board calls for a comprehensive review of campus protocols regarding sexual misconduct at UCLA. This includes assessing student opinion of how effectively policies are enforced and expanding campus resources for survivors.
Thirty-two percent of women and 8% of men who had completed four or more years of college reported experiencing sexual assault while enrolled, according to RAINN, an organization that combats sexual violence.
University neglect of student sexual assault survivors spans far beyond the gates of Cornell University: In 2025, UCLA received 200 reports of on-campus sexual assault.
If UCLA has any interest in addressing this troubling number of cases, the last thing it should be doing is allowing offenders to remain in the community. According to UCLA’s Student Conduct Procedures on sexual violence and harassment, possible disciplinary actions for offending students range from a warning to dismissal from the UC.
When universities inadequately address sexual assault, they don’t just endanger student survivors – they protect perpetrators.
Expulsion should be the standard, not just a possibility. Colleges must not allow students found guilty of sexual offenses on their grounds.
[Related: The Cornell case is a wake-up call for UCLA to reform sexual violence prevention]
UCLA’s Title IX office has not reported its statistics on prohibited conduct since the 2020-21 fiscal year, with the newest report leading to a broken link as of Tuesday.
Beyond holding itself accountable by publishing the last five years of data on reports of prohibited conduct, UCLA must seek feedback on the effectiveness of its required UC Sexual Violence and Harassment, Anti-Discrimination, Prevention and Education – which takes a virtual format where students can click through modules without hesitation.
Fewer than half of student survivors are confident their campus would take a report of sexual assault seriously, according to an Association of American Universities study.
For students to feel confident in reporting sexual violence to UCLA’s Title IX office, they must feel confident in the enforcement of Title IX policies and the campuswide trainings the university sees as sufficient.
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