The Headlee Amendment to the Michigan constitution prohibits the state legislature from interfering with the governance of universities. Baird's bill does not make it illegal for colleges to disregard the act. If they do, they lose funding for programs. It affects the funding sources. The bill's main purpose, Baird said, is to allow sexual assault victims to press charges within both the university and the court system.
Victims feel the perpetrator of the assault simply got a slap on the wrists.
Although state universities already have sexual assault policies outlined in federal laws, Heuser said the new state law would send a message. One section of the bill requires universities to notify the victim of the results of a university hearing on the alleged perpetrator. Mary Lou Antieau, who oversees cases under the Code of Student Conduct, said that when students are tried under the Code, both the alleged victim and perpetrator are informed. In wake of the recent murder of LSA senior Tamara Williams, which was preceded by domestic abuse by her boyfriend, Heuser said the legislature also should focus on other forms of abuse. The bill passed the house in May and is currently awaiting a hearing in the Senate's Judiciary committee.