Rep. Eric Swalwell has ended his California gubernatorial primary campaign and resigned from Congress amidst a flurry of allegations about sexual assault and misconduct that involved female members of his staff, interns and others. When the story first broke, many of his fellow Democrats were quick to denounce the now-former legislator’s alleged behavior.
This is an altogether familiar—and tired—exercise. What rarely happens is what sexual assault prevention educators have said for decades needs to happen: systemic implementation and institutionalization of prevention education. Not check the box, online training that focuses on acquainting people with school or workplace policies and procedures, as mandated by law. That sort of informational training is a necessary, but not sufficient, component of robust prevention education.
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