A growing wave of grassroots activists is forcing universities to take a stronger stand against sexual abuse - and now the Obama administration is joining the fight.

In the past few years, the issue of campus rape has exploded, with dozens of schools, including Harvard Law, under investigation. Activists are protesting on campus and in Washington. The president of the United States is talking about it, and his vice president and White House staff formed a task force to combat sexual violence on campus.

"Sexual violence is more than just a crime against individuals," Obama said, announcing the task force at the White House in January. "It threatens our families; it threatens our communities. Ultimately, it threatens the entire country. It tears apart the fabric of our communities. And that's why we're here today – because we have the power to do something about it as a government, as a nation."

Activists and victims proclaimed he was the first American president to utter the phrase "sexual violence." Four months later – lightning-fast by government task-force standards – the group made a series of recommendations to colleges about dealing with sexual-assault charges.

"It is incredible that the president of the United States of America told survivors he has their back," says Caroline Heldman, chair of the department of political science at Occidental, who has counseled victims on her campus and is writing a book on the issue. "We have never seen anything like this in the 100-plus years women have been fighting sexual violence."