Today marks the 45th anniversary of Title IX, but schools still aren’t following it. Here’s why

Title IX was signed on June 23rd, 1972. The bill itself was a major achievement for equality in America’s institutions. It calls for protection against assault and harassment on the basis of gender or sexuality, along with equal funding for women’s programs.

But 45 years later, women across the country still believe their high schools and universities are breaking the anti-discrimination law.

In recent years, women have been pressing charges against Title IX offices at their schools for failing to protect them against sexual violence that overwhelming affects women.

Plantiffs in these cases claim they should be protected from the damages caused by gender-based sexual violence. Instead of being protected, they say schools push aside sexual assault investigations to preserve a positive public image.

Just this year, one Columbia alum sued the University, “alleging school officials were largely apathetic and unresponsive after she reported being raped and harassed multiple times on campus.”

And statistics back up this claim.

According to the Bureau of Justice, 20 percent of women are sexually assaulted during college. And many of these women report to their local Title IX offices. According to The Chronical of Higher Education, 399 Title IX sexual assault cases have been brought against Universities since 2011. However, only 62 Title IX cases have been resolved and 91 percent of universities reported 0 sexual assaults on campus last year.

What does this mean?

Universities are refusing to acknowledge women’s cases to ensure they can report 0 sexual assaults at their school and keep a positive public image.

Universities in the United States run like businesses, and as a result, PR is important. Tackling sexual assault on campus requires universities to make numerous concessions to their possible profits.

First, acknowledging and reporting assaults requires the university to openly discuss the lack of safety on campus with concerned parents sending their children. Additionally, disciplining assaulters and their accomplices often requires universities to take on profitable institutions – such as fraternities and sports teams.

Until universities deem the safety of their students as important as their profit, things won’t change.

That’s a fact. However, advocacy and protest can let universities know our priorities – safety and dignity for everyone. After all, that’s the law — or the title, I guess.