AUSTIN — Harvey Weinstein, Matt Lauer, Bill Cosby -- the list goes on and on.
Weinstein, Lauer, and Cosby are among some of the cases focused at the center of the #MeToo movement and its founder, Tarana Burke, is leading the way toward achieving justice for those affected by sexual abuse and assault.
Burke began using the phrase "Me Too" to raise awareness about on the issue.
The phrase took off following the 2017 use of #MeToo following the Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse allegations. Since then, the movement has spread to college campuses.
“What I have experienced since #MeToo has gone viral has been a wonderful understanding across race and culture around the need to center marginalized people,” Burke said.
Universities have a reputation for a fairly high amount of sexual assaults and misconduct.
In March 2017, University of Texas At Austin Cultivating Learning and Safe Environment project released a survey that found 15 percent of UT undergraduate women reported they had been raped, and 28 percent were victims of unwanted sexual touching, according to a 2015 survey of 7,500 students.
Burke believes college officials have to do more to decrease sexual violence and increase student safety.
“It is your right. This school is accountable to you, they owe you that safety and protection and if you're not getting it here you need to demand it,” Burke said.
Burke said while women are considered the main target of sexual assault and harassment, men, gender-nonconforming people and transgender people can also be victims of sexual violence. She said the #MeToo movement has partnered with Google to track its impact around the world.
For more information on #MeToo, visit https://metoomvmt.org/.