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Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12) today thanked Sue Synder, the First Lady of Michigan, for including her in today's “Let’s End Campus Sexual Assault” Summit, which was hosted by the First Lady and co-hosted by State Senators Tonya Schuitmaker (Lawton) and Rebekah Warren (Ann Arbor), and Representatives Laura Cox (Livonia) and Marilyn Lane (Fraser). The event brought together university officials, students, stakeholders and state and federal lawmakers for a discussion aimed at making Michigan a model in preventing sexual assaults on college campuses.

“Campus sexual assault is not the status quo, it’s not okay and it’s not a trend we can accept in Michigan or across the country,” said Dingell. “We all have a responsibility to talk about tough issues, and I applaud First Lady Sue Snyder and the bipartisan group of lawmakers for bringing attention to this critical issue, which has been overlooked for too long. Today, one in five women are assaulted during their college years, and Michigan can, and should, lead the country in ending assault on college campuses. Today’s summit was a critical first step. By bringing together stakeholders from both sides of the aisle to listen and learn and discuss best practices, we can find ways to educate students, empower survivors and prevent sexual assault on our campuses and around the country.”

Dr. Rebecca Campbell of Michigan State University concluded her presentation today with the words of a survivor, “Everything you say, everything you do is a chance to help me or hurt me. Make the choice to help me. Please help me.”

Dingell continued, “As we leave today’s conference, I hope we will take those words to heart and focus on ways we can all help survivors who feel they have nowhere to turn. I will work with First Lady Snyder, all members of our communities, our universities and stakeholders on bipartisan policy solutions at the federal level that will provide victims the support they need and help change the picture of sexual assault on college campuses. Doing it right is also very important. Coordinating and collaborating were important takeaways from today as well.”