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Colleges Re-Thinking Sexual Assault Education

BALTIMORE (AP) -- Freshmen are descending on college campuses and perhaps unknowingly entering the "red zone" -- a period until Thanksgiving during which they are most vulnerable to sexual assault.

Many schools are making sexual assault awareness programs mandatory for incoming students this year for the first time. It's also the first year since the U.S. Department of Education released a list of colleges and universities under federal investigation for their handling of rape and sexual assault complaints.

Some schools now require freshmen to complete a 40-minute online sexual assault course before they can register for classes.

The changes come amid increasing pressure on officials at campuses around the country to curb sexual assaults after years of increases in reported attacks.

(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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