Lisalyn Jacobs, vice president for government relations at the women’s legal defense fund Legal Momentum, said it’s in universities’ best interest if administrators take appropriate steps to prevent sexual assault and handle complaints properly.

“At the end of the day, universities do themselves a great service by handling themselves in a way that is responsive and transparent and holds people accountable,” she said. “When that is being done, that is much better for a university and its reputation.”