Right after it happened, I made an appointment at the student health center. And then I canceled it. I was too afraid. By the time I came to terms with what happened to me, six months had passed.

I was raped on my college campus during my first semester. Unfortunately, I’m not alone. One out of every six American women has been the victim of sexual violence. Many student survivors are left to deal with unclear reporting processes, delayed communication, and a lack of support services to manage the effects of sexual assault.

I filed a formal complaint with the university Title IX Office against the perpetrator, and he was found in violation of sexual misconduct—but not sexual violence. The entire investigation, from complaint to final resolution, stretched 99 days.

My university—and all campuses across the U.S.—need clearly established responsibilities and comprehensive policies for preventing and responding to sexual violence. This will help to ensure that others survivors who come forward and report incidents, like I did, receive the support they need and deserve.

The Campus Accountability and Safety Act of 2015 (CASA) has the potential to improve how colleges respond to sexual violence on campus. This legislation holds schools accountable to provide support services for students, increase transparency, and establish procedures to better respond to sexual violence. Among other things, this legislation will:

• Expand transparency requirements, including standardized and anonymous annual campus-wide surveys, with results published online
• Create a system of confidential advisors on campus who can provide help and support to students following an assault
• Establish minimum training standards for on-campus personnel
• Require colleges to treat all student investigations equally, banning the practice of letting athletic departments investigate allegations against their own players
• Require new campus resources and support services for student survivors

I have felt helpless—and I don’t want anyone else to feel this way. Join me in signing this petition and call on your lawmakers to pass the Campus Accountability and Safety Act of 2015 today.

If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual violence, it’s not your fault. You are not alone. Help is available 24/7 through the National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800.656.HOPE and online.rainn.org, y en español: rainn.org/es.