A recent high-profile case involving a former Cornell University student who alleged she was drugged and sexually assaulted by seven fraternity members has renewed calls for stronger accountability measures within college campuses nationwide. The student claims that some of the accused were allowed to write essays to reduce their disciplinary consequences, sparking public outrage and prompting New York’s governor to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the matter nearly two years after the incident.
This controversy echoes incidents closer to home in Illinois. Earlier this month, a 21-year-old woman reported a sexual assault at a University of Chicago fraternity house. The Chicago Police Department is currently investigating, but no charges have been filed at this time. According to University of Chicago professor Jens Ludwig, nearly 30 percent of female students at the university experience sexual assault before graduation.
In response to such cases and the ongoing challenges survivors face within the higher education system, Illinois lawmakers have introduced House Bill 4990 (HB4990). The legislation, which cleared the state Senate with bipartisan support and now awaits consideration in the Illinois House, aims to strengthen protections for sexual violence survivors on college campuses and hold institutions accountable when they fail to protect students.
Illinois enacted the Preventing Sexual Violence in Higher Education Act more than a decade ago, but advocates argue that the current law does not adequately address evolving issues related to sexual violence nor provide sufficient enforcement mechanisms. HB4990 seeks to update and expand the law by including protections against digital sexual harassment, such as the nonconsensual sharing of intimate images, and by extending confidentiality safeguards to survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking, in addition to sexual assault.
The bill also grants survivors the right to be accompanied by both a support person and a complaint adviser during campus disciplinary proceedings, aiming to reduce the isolation and pressure survivors often face. It mandates that supportive measures remain in place for as long as necessary and prohibits schools from denying accommodations based on a student’s field of study.
Supporters emphasize that comprehensive supportive measures can be critical to survivors’ ability to continue their education. Data indicates that nearly 40 percent of students who report sexual violence to their schools experience significant disruptions to their academic progress. The Cornell case, in which the survivor left school without any financial reimbursement, highlights the stakes for students who come forward.
HB4990 also enhances enforcement by granting the Illinois attorney general authority to oversee compliance. While current law requires colleges and universities to report policies and investigation numbers annually, many institutions fail to submit complete reports. The bill creates a civil cause of action for survivors when schools exhibit deliberate indifference to their safety, aiming to establish accountability that does not depend on media coverage or public attention.
State Representative Mary Beth Canty (D-Arlington Heights) and State Senator Graciela Guzmán (D-Chicago), sponsors of the bill, argue that all Illinois colleges must be held to their stated commitments to address sexual violence seriously and support survivors effectively. They urge the General Assembly to pass HB4990 to ensure that students who report sexual violence receive both protection and support throughout their educational experience.