On sexual assault....

In reference to the D's three part series on sexual assault at Dartmouth, I would like to point out that the articles failed to mention former SAPA coordinator Abby Tassel's resignation last spring.

In an open letter to the campus, Abby cited lack of support within the administration as the primary reason for her departure. Although she was overworked and being constantly utilized by students as a major resource, administrators not only didn't try to seek additional support for her, but criticized her for being too "student-focused." She felt that the deans of the college were not taking her recommendations seriously and altogether disinterested and disconnected from her work. So as much as I agree with Dean Larrimore and Mark Reed in that students need to be more responsible for changing the culture of sexual assault on campus, I would also emphasize that it is the administration's role to set the example.

What I would like to know is how the college has addressed the issues that have been brought up in Abby's resignation letter. How can we ensure that our new SAPA coordinator will not face the same obstacles? When do we get to hold the administration accountable so that they're not paying mere lip service to the students and really commiting to putting an end to sexual assault at Dartmouth?

And in response to Joe Malchow's questioning of justice in the system of reporting, I would have to agree with Andrew Seal in that Malchow clearly trivializes the seriousness of sexual assault. I don't think he understands the incredible challenges that victims face when making the decision to report the assault and their need for some level of comfort in doing so. It is not about seeking vengeance but about confronting the situation and breaking the silence and the shame that paralyzes victims into staying victims. Increased numbers in reporting (including by third-parties) does not imply that those who are being accused are already presumed guilty or become more susceptible to being falsely accused. As Seal points out, this defensiveness is clearly a form of victim blaming.

Granted, incidences of sexual assault will never be black and white but does this automatically mean that any reporting of such incidences are inherently unjust? Why is justice defined only in terms of protecting the individual who is accused? What about the victims? Do they not deserve to seek their own justice and confront the experience they must live with or should they remain silent, especially if they themselves were not sure if they had been raped? God forbid, what if all victims spoke out? Imagine what that would lead to! Men will without a doubt be punished! How unfair! Clearly they will be disadvantaged in such a system and men can not be disadvantaged! That's reverse sexism! That's injustice!