Former Vice President Joe Biden says supporters of recently changed guidelines on investigating sex assaults on college campuses are trying to confuse the issue.

Biden spoke to about 2,000 Rutgers University students Thursday in New Brunswick about how to combat campus sexual assault and change the culture around sexual assault.

Last month, the Trump administration replaced Obama-era guidance on investigating campus sexual assault that allows universities to require higher standards of evidence.

Biden told the students that supporters of the change mistakenly make it sound as though the old rules were about "putting violators in jail," when they actually followed established civil procedure.

The former vice president also told the students that it is up to everyone to change the culture around sexual assault.

“It’s up to you to have the gumption to stand up. Speak out when it’s happening. Both men and women need to know how to help,” he said.

Earlier Thursday, Biden joined Democratic gubernatorial candidate Phil Murphy for a get-out-the-vote rally in Edison.

The Associated Press wire services contributed to this report.