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PROTESTINGRAPECULTURE

by
SUPPandFEDUP

Southwestern,ItsOnUs:PetitionforChange
Tothecampuscommunity,

Manyofyouhavequestionspertainingtothestudentprotestsandthemotivationsbehindthosewhoorganizedit.There
hasbeenageneralconcernthattheprotestersareantifraternity.ButandIamspeakingentirelyformyselfhere
whileIcantfathomtherelevanceofonesstancepertainingtofraternityhouseswhenoneisattemptingtoopen
dialogueabouttheessentiallyuncheckedviolenceandmisconductthatanunacceptablenumberofstudentsonthis
campushaveexperienced,letmeassureyou:itisnotthefraternitiesthatweintendtodestroy,buttherapeculturethat
runsrampantthroughthiscampus.Thefollowingdocumentoutlinesspecificpolicieswewouldliketoaddressandit
canserveasclarificationtowhatwearetrulyfightingforhere.

SouthwesternUniversitysSexualMisconductPolicystatesthefollowing:

SouthwesternUniversityaffirmstherightsofitsstudentstolive,work,andlearninanatmosphereofmutualrespect,
freefromthethreatofsexualassaultoranyotherformofsexualcontactwithoutmutualconsent.Accordingly,any
formofsexualmisconductwillnotbetolerated.TheUniversityiscommittedbothtoacampuswideprogramof
educationandprevention,andtoatimelyandappropriateresponsetoanyreportsofsuchactivity.

Weareprotestingtheadministration'sfailuretoabidebytherightsguaranteedtous,thestudentbody,causing
anumberofstudentstonolongerfeelliketheyhaveasafeplacetolive,workandlearn.Asthenumberofunnamed
andunpunishedperpetratorsofsexualassaultgrowsinquantityandconfidenceweareleftwithanunsafeenvironment
forsurvivorsinparticular,aswellasthecampuscommunityingeneral.Briefperiodsofsuspensionandbansfromthe
fraternityhousesandalcoholdoesnexttonothingtoactuallyprotectstudents.TheliteraturestatesthattheUniversity
doesnottolerateanyformofsexualmisconduct,yettheadministrationtoleratestherapistsreturn.

Weimploretheadministrationtoaddresstheseriouslyfallingstandardsthatit'scontinuingtotestitsweight
onandtoimplementbothcurrentandsupplementalpoliciesthatwilladdressthemaintenanceofrecords,survivor
resources,andsexualassaultprevention.Afterathoroughreadingofboth
SouthwesternUniversitysAnnualSecurity
andFireSafetyReport2014
and
SouthwesternUniversitysHelpforSexualAssault/SexualMisconduct
booklet,itcan
beconfidentlysaidthatthedesiresoftheuniversityandthedesiresofthestudentsarethesametherefore,taking
proactiveandprogressivestepstobetterimplementthepolicieswealreadyhaveinplacewillbecentraltomoving
forward.Wehavefoundimmediateattentionandactiononbehalfoftheadministrationtobecrucialfortwoessential
reasons:first,tofulfilltherequirementswithinTitleIXandtheClergyActand,second,tomaintainthehighstandards
expectedofthestudentsenrolledatthisuniversity,asstatedinSouthwesternUniversitysStudentCodeofConduct:

"AstudentwhoenrollsatSouthwesternUniversityvoluntarilybecomespartofacommunitywhererespectforothersis
thenorm.Rational,mature,honestbehaviorisexpected.Thisvoluntaryentranceintothecommunityimplies
acceptancebythestudentofUniversityregulations.

Southwesternsintegrityanddedicationtoitsstudentsareunderactivescrutinybynotonlythecurrent
studentsonitscampus,butbythosewhohavegraduatedaswell.Collectively,wearedisappointed.Student'srightsas
affirmedbytheuniversitytolive,work,andlearnfreefromthethreatofsexualassaultarealsoguaranteedthrough
anotherplatform:TitleIX.The2011TitleIXGuidanceDearColleagueLetter(DCL)concentratesonthemannerin
whichinstancesofsexualharassmentandviolencecancreateahostileeducationalenvironmentsevereenoughto

inhibitastudentspotentialtosucceedfortheentirecampusasawhole.Thepotentialenvironmentdiscussedthere
thriveshere.Toomanystudentslivehereinfeartoomanystudentslivehereinsilencetoomanystudentsherelivein
solitude.Thatisnotacceptable.

Thefirstsetofmeasuresupforsuggestionwouldhelptodirectlyalleviatethoseissuesthroughmeansofprevention.
1. SouthwesternUniversitymustadoptamoreproactiveapproachtoliberatethecampusfromsex
discrimination.Ifyoudidntknowbefore,letthepastfewdaysserveasyourofficialnotice:studentsonyour
campusarescaredandtheyareangry.Theeliminationofanyknowndiscrimination,harassmentorsexual
violenceshouldbeamongthetopprioritiesoftheadministration.
2. SouthwesternUniversity,inconjunctionwithStudentCongress,shouldcreateanofficeentirelydedicatedto
genderbasedviolence.Positionswithintheofficeshouldincludeasystemsadvocatewhossolejobisto
walkstudentsthroughthereportingprocessandassisttheminobtaininganyaccommodationsormeasuresfor
reliefthattheyneed,aswellasapreventionspecialist.Positionswithintheofficeshouldnotincludeconflicts
ofinterest.
3. Tosupplementtheofficeforgenderbasedviolence,SouthwesternUniversityshouldcreateataskgroup.At
minimum,thegroupshouldincludehighleveladministrators,staffworkingonviolenceissues,healthcenter
professionals,campussecurity,locallawenforcement,localrapecrisisadvocates,residentassistants(RAs),
andsurvivors,withanemphasisonmarginalizedgroups.Thegroupshouldmeetfrequentlytodiscusscurrent
policiesandprocedures,theireffectiveness,andanyrevisionsthatshouldbeconsideredandimplemented.

Thestudentsrecognizethatevenwithcomprehensiveandeffectiveguidelinesinplaceviolationswillstill
occur.Therefore,thebodiesresponsibleforenforcingpunishmentmustbeheldaccountabletodoingso.
Confidentialitylawscanincreasethecomplexityinverifyingthatthepunishmentsareproportionaltotheviolations.To
resolvethis,andtoofferstudentsahigherdegreeoftransparency,theUniversityshouldpubliclyreleaseaggregate
statisticsofthesanctionsassignedtoperpetrators.Inadditiontorepresentingashifttowardbetter
studentadministrationcommunication,itwouldhelpstifletheplightofserialrapists.

AfewadjustmentstoSouthwestern'scampusdisciplinaryprocesspoliciesarealsoneededtoaddressthe
disturbingstatisticsforrepeatoffenders.
1. SouthwesternUniversitymustincludeintheirpolicythatifastudentaccusedofsexualmisconduct
voluntarilywithdrawswhileadisciplinarycomplaintagainstthemispending,theirtranscriptmustbemarked
toindicatethat.
2. SouthwesternUniversitymustallowothervictim(s)ofthesameperpetratortotestifyatanothersurvivors
hearing.Whilespeakingaboutsexualhistoryisprohibited,astudentshistoryofsexualassaultshouldbe
consideredcriminalhistory,notsexualhistory.
3. Theaccusedmustattendamandatedcounselingassessmentbyaspecificdateandmustfollowall
recommendationmade,notexcludingfurthertreatment.

Lastly,SouthwesternUniversitymustexplicitlystateinitspolicythatsurvivorsarenotlimitedinanyway
fromdiscussingorpublicizingtheoutcomeoftheircomplaint.Victimsofsexualharassmentandviolencearesilenced
fartoooftentheUniversityneedstotakeparticularcautiontorefrainfrommakinganyfurthercontributionstothat.
WhilesurvivorsmustadheretoFERPArequirementswhendiscussingthehappeningsoftheirhearing,DCLstatesthat
theycannotberestrictedfromsharingtheoutcome.IftheUniversityfeelstheoutcomeofthecasemaygarner
unwantedpublicattentionorwarrantstudentoutrage,perhapstheoutcomeshouldbereconsidered.

AsstatedinSouthwesternUniversityssexualmisconductbooklet,reportinganattackcanbeanempowering
andhealingsteptotake,andcanevenprotectothersfromfallingvictimtothesameperpetrator.However,thiscanonly
remaintrueiftheUniversityisswiftandfairinhandlingthereportithasbeengiven.Itisourhopethatdialoguewith

thegoalofreachinganagreementastowhichofthesemodificationsandadditionsshouldimplementedandwhencan
beginverysoonsothatourUniversitycantrulybeasafehaventothosewhosolovinglycallithome.

AntiRapeCulture,NotAntiFrat

Muchofthecurrentdiscourseisfocusedonhowweasprotestersarehandlingthe
situation.EspeciallyattheforumonFridaybutalsoonYikYak,Facebook,andthrough
conversationalotofpeoplehaveexpressedconcernthatgroupsaffiliatedwiththeSUonUS
movementareattackingthefratsandessentiallycallingallofthemrapists.
Thefocusonthe
supposedantifratmotivesofthismovementtwiststheconversationfromtheissueat
handoneofdismantlingrapeculturetoonecenteredontheconflictbetweenprotesters
andfraternities.
Thisisharmfulforanumberofreasons:themostdangerousisthatitimplies
thesestudentsthinkofrapistsasthenameless,facelessindividualswhostandindarkcorners
wearingtrenchcoatslayinginwaittoattackyou.Intruthpeoplewhomayatsomepointcommit
rapeorsexualassaultarewalking,talking,potentiallycharismaticpeoplewhocanhavestrong
socialbondsformedwithanyone,includingthesurvivor.Thatwebelieveotherwiseisharmful
anddangeroustoeveryone,especiallythesurvivorsofsexualassault.
Thatmostoftheresistancetousasprotestershasbeencritiqueonhowweremakingthis
conversationtoomuchaboutthefraternitiesisfrustrating.AtthispointIveheardandseenmore
antifratrhetoricusedfromfratsupportersthanfromprotesters.Letsbeclearhere:were
workingtobringattentiontorapeculturehereatSU(andinabroadersense)forthepurposeof
dismantlingit.Wevespecificallylabeledourselvesasantirape,NOTantifrat.Whenpeople
respondtoourattemptstodiscusstheseissuesbytellinguswerecenteringtheproblemsdirectly
onthefraternities,theyaretakingourlanguageaboutrapecultureandreappropriatingittoclaim
itisantifratinspirit.
Allthesecommentsaredoingismakingfraternitiesthefocusof
conversations,insteadoffocusingonrapecultureitself.
Thepeoplewhomakethese
commentsaredoingmoretodivertandredirecttheattentionfromtheactualproblemshereto
theirfeelingsasvictimsoftheprotestersrhetoric.Byfocusinglessonrapecultureandmoreon
howothersarehandlingittheyrecausingalotofharm.
WhenIreadresponsesfromfraternityaffiliatedindividualswhatItendtofindisthat
theyspendeasily95%oftheircommentsdenyingthatfraternitiesareinanywaypotentiallyat
faultforthis.Theyignorethatindividualsintheirfraternitymayhavecommittedtheseactions
andallowonesinglepersontostandinfortheentireorganization.
Fraternitymembersshould
bediscussingthewaysinwhichTHEYdealwithsexualassault,nothowprotestersare
talkingaboutit.
Itsdoingmoredamagetoemphasizehowtheprotestersarecreatingaschism
inthestudentbodybyattackingthefraternitiesthaniffraternitymembersweretoactuallytake
visibleaction.
ItiscompletelyfineifstudentshaveproblemswithhowtheSUonUSparticipantsare
dealingwiththesituation.OurgoalistoopenupadialogueontheproblemshereatSUinorder
todothisweneedtoconstantlychangethewaywetalkabouttheseissuesourselves.Ratherthan
respondingtoourstatementswithyouguysaremakingthisaboutthefratsanditsaboutmore
thanthat,
suggestwhatweshouldbesayinginsteadgiveusconcreteexamplesofthingswe
shoulddo.

Allthisdiscussionisdoingisensuringthateveryoneistalkingabouttheminorityof
peoplejustattackingthefraternities,ratherthanhowtheadministrationandstudentbodyhave
beencomplicitinperpetuatingrapeculture.

AnIntersectionalApproach:CombattingBystanderMentality

Alongsidethereexaminationofrapepolicy,itiscrucialthatadministrationexamines
theumbrellaproblemofbystandermentalityunderwhichrapeliesalongsideracism,ableism
(includinganyformofbelittlingorhandicappingpeoplewithdisabilities),queerphobia,and
sexism.Whenadministration,studentlife,andthepolicedepartmentfailtoadmitoccurrences
ofrapeincidentsoncampus,thisinactionperpetuatesacampuswidepassivitytowardall
formsofunnecessaryharm.WhilenotallofthecurrentSouthwesterncommunityis
responsibleforindividualspastinjustices,allofthecurrentcommunityiscapableofmollifying
theeffectsofthesepastinjustices.WeseektoencouragetheentireSouthwesterncommunity
totakeresponsibilityforthemollificationofracialanddisabilityrelatedoffenseseffects,as
wellasthoseofrecentsexualassaults.
Merelyhaltingexistingactsofrape,racism,orableismonlyhaltsthefearsurrounding
justharmfulacts,butdoesnotextinguishthisfear.Weproposeovertactionandcommitment
toassurethephysical,personal,andeducationalsafetyofallSouthwesternindividuals.

DEMANDSSUFedUpandSUPP(updated3/3/15)

1/Administrationmustadmittheproblem.Committoaction.
Stopvictimblamingandusinglanguagethatignores,condones,andperpetuatesrapeculture
Takeseriouslytheissuesofrapeandsexualassaultineducationalandprofessionalpractices(forexample,
don'tbringcomediansintoteachusaboutrape)
Treatsexualmisconductasseriouslyasothercampuscrimes
Admittheexistenceofrapecultureoncampus(andusethatword)
Treatissuesofsexualassaultandrapeoncampuswithasmuchgravityandconsequence(orMORE
gravityandconsequence)asotherviolationsoncampus(suchastheftorhonorcodeviolations)
HaveoutsiderepoftitleIXfedgovornonprofitcomeintoevaluateourcomplianceandprovideinfo
sessions

2/ImplementarealZeroTolerancepolicyandenforceit

Whenastudentisfoundguiltyofsexualmisconductbytheuniversity,theymustbeexpelledandremoved
fromcampusiftheywithdraw,thefactthattheyhaveareportagainstthemmustbecommunicatedontheir
transcripttheappealprocessshouldbethroughacommittee,notjustJerryBrody

3/Allowsurvivorstopublicizetheoutcomesoftheirsexualassault/rapecases

Survivorswithsharedperpetratorshouldbeallowedtospeakateachothershearings.
Rapesshouldbecountedascriminalhistoryratherthansexualhistory.
officialcampusdiscussionsonsexualviolencetobeorganizedbysomeentitythatincludesthevoicesof
survivorsandvulnerablepopulations,notjuststudentcongress.
Believesurvivorsdontdenytheirstories
Directanddecisivepunishmentforthoseaccusedwhoretaliateagainsttheaccuser(bybullying,
intimidating,etc)

4/Providestatsaboutallegationsofsexualmisconductatspecificlocationsoncampusasthey
arise

Inemailsaboutallegations(whichwemustgetastheyarise)givelocationandnumberofreportsfromthat
locationinpast4years

Explicitlylistthelocationswheresexualassaulthastakenplace(justlikeweknowwherecampusbreakins,
theft,vandalism,andotherformsofviolencetakeplace)andtheactualnumberoftimestheseeventshave
occurredinthoseplaces
Enacttransparencyinreportsandintheprocessofinvestigatingsexualassault
Stopcoveringupstatisticsofrapeandsexualassault

5/Crushtheinterwovenissuesofrapeculture,sexism,racism,queerphobia,transphobia,ableism,
Islamophobia,fatphobia,andclassismoncampus:changerhetoricusedoncampusingeneralstop
allowingmisogynisticandracisttraditionstooccuronthiscampusinthefrats(Serenadesongs)

Takeintersectionalapproachindealingwithsexualassaultcrisiswevebeeninforsolong
Genderneutralbathroomsineverycampusbuilding
Provideeasilyaccessibleownershipinformationconcerningthefraternityhouses(whoownswhatland,who
ownswhathousesfraternitiesorSU?Whatregulatoryimplicationsdoesthishave?)

6/createaspecificrequiredclassonrapeculture,racism,andcampusgovernanceandrealstudent
democracy

Issueofsurvivorsinclassesandhowtomakeitaspacethatisnttriggeringorsinglingout
TheRedZonestudentsaremostlikelytobesexuallyassaultedintheirfirstweeksofuniversity
ConsiderrequiringageneraleducationsocialjusticecourseorFYSthatdrawsattentiontoandteachesto
workagainstactualcampusissueslikeracism,sexism,classism,ableism,heternormativity,etc.
Suchacoursewouldletusfollowthecorevalues!!
Somethingforfirstyearsandforupperclassstudentsoronetimeseminarthatyoumusttakebeforeyou
registerorfocusonprogrammingfirst

7/Eliminateconflictofinterestpositions(Greeklife,studentlife,andreslifeshouldntbegrouped
together)

Reconsiderthejobrequirements,conflictsofinterests,responsibilitiesandtrainingthatisrequisitefor
certainadministrativepositions,andhowhavingonepersonoccupymultipleroleswithintheadministration
mightcauseinadequacies.Forexample,DeanWoodyisnotonlythedeanofstudents,butalsoistheofficial
authorityfigureforResLifeandalsoGreekLifeandthePanhellenicCouncil

8/StoptreatingSUlikeitsafamilytreatitasaninstitutionthatstudentspaytogotoweshouldnt
havetodealwithemotionalmanipulationandblackmail

Nobirthdaypartiesforadministratorsheldbystudentorganizations
Stoptheuseofovertlyemotionalrhetoricwhendealingwithstudentemployeesandstudentsingeneral

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