UC Berkeley Students To Be Blocked From Enrolling Because Of Incomplete Sexual Assault Training
BERKELEY (KPIX 5) -- An Obama administration effort to combat violence against women, especially on college campuses, could keep some students at UC Berkeley from enrolling for the spring semester.
Emails were going out this week to about 500 freshman and new transfer students, letting them know if they do not complete the sexual violence awareness education available online, they will be blocked from enrolling in the spring.
Freshman Allyn Benintendi went to a sexual assault awareness presentation last month. She found it disturbing when the audience started laughing about what is sexual consent. "I've gone to parties where I've seen it be it a problem," said Benintendi. "I've seen terrible things happen."
But the training session, called 'Bear Pact' was an uncomfortable experience for Benintendi. "I actually left Bear Pact early because I was so upset with the sexual assault training."
Sophomore Hannah Frankl said she got something out of it when she took the class. "It was just like talking about things I didn't know I didn't know," she said.
"It was really long, really boring I remember like checking my phone and texting during the presentation," said Frankl. "But that's why we need something that makes you do it."
Junior Gary White believes more education is needed, but he thinks this is just a lot of lip service and isn't sure the mandate is enough. "We hear this all the time. Sexual assault is bad. Sexual assault is bad," said White. "But it's like, are you teaching them or just saying that?"
The university says it has taken a number of steps to raise awareness, many of them new this year.
Students who are blocked from registering for spring will be allowed to enroll when they complete the online class.
At least one other university has also had difficulty getting students on board with compliance.
Clemson University pulled its mandatory online course after complaints about questions asking students about their sexual activity and alcohol consumption.
