(19 Sep 2014) FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus017586
Amid a new focus on violence against women, President Barack Obama kicked off a star-powered campaign Friday against campus sexual assault particularly targeted at encouraging men to take a stand.
Jon Hamm of "Mad Men," Kerry Washington of "Scandal" and NBA all-star Kevin Love are some of the familiar faces appearing in a public service announcement along with the president.
The "It's On Us" campaign encourages everyone to consider stopping sexual assault their personal responsibility and to intervene when they suspect a woman can't or won't consent.
With an estimated 1 in 5 college women experiencing an attack, Obama decried "the quiet tolerance of sexual assault" and called it "an affront to our basic humanity."
Research has shown most victims know their attackers, alcohol or drugs are often involved and only 12 percent of college women report the attack to police.
The Obama administration has been raising awareness of the problem this year, ahead of a midterm election in which Democrats are counting on a strong turnout by female voters.
In January, Obama launched the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault that recommended action campuses could take to protect victims.
The U.S. Department of Education for the first time publicly exposed the list of colleges under federal investigation for their handling of sexual assault complaints.
"This is on all of us, every one of us, to fight campus sexual assault," Obama said. "This entire country is going to make sure that we understand what this is about, and that we're going to put a stop to it."
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