Cuomo and the pop megastar are attempting to get the bill passed before the New York State legislative year ends next week.
In an attempt to get it done before the end of the year’s legislative session next week, New York governor Andrew Cuomo has teamed up with Lady GaGa to boost the profile of a prospective piece of legislation that would help combat sexual assault on college campuses in the state.
In a co-written opinion piece exclusively for Billboard, Cuomo and the pop star, real name Stefani Germanotta, urge the introduction of new policies extending the responsibility of public campuses in the New York area to protect their students from sexual assault to private establishments too.
Lady Gaga joined forces with NY governor Andrew Cuomo for the Billboard piece
Some excerpts from the piece: “Every fall, young men and women head off to colleges across the country, dreaming of bright futures and the experience of a lifetime. They've worked hard for the chance to become a part of their new campuses, and they set out full of hope and excitement.”
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“Unfortunately, for thousands of these students that dream turns into a nightmare because of the unacceptable epidemic of sexual violence that is currently plaguing colleges and universities. It is a shocking reality that many in academia, government, and society in general still refuse to acknowledge.”
Cuomo introduced the bill back in February, launching a campaign alongside to raise awareness called ‘Enough Is Enough’. It’s also a subject personal to Gaga, who revealed in a radio interview with Howard Stern last December that she had been the victim of a sexual assault when she was 19, just starting out in the business, by a producer 20 years her senior.
She also launched the ‘Emotional Youth’ campaign earlier in 2015, an initiative between her own ‘Born This Way’ foundation and the Center for Emotional Intelligence at Yale University.
The letter finishes: "We have a responsibility to the young men and women of this country to stand up against sexual violence everywhere… …by passing legislation such as the bill currently before the New York State legislature, we can turn the tide on this issue so that students can realize their dreams on campuses that are safe spaces. That's why we are joining together to take a stand against sexual assault on college campuses. Quite simply, enough is enough.”
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You can read the full piece here.
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