Producers Remove Podcast from Multiple Social Media Platforms
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5 E 16 ISSU M E 2 WEDNESDAY MAY 10, 2017 LU 9 @theDePauw O V The DePauw @theDePauw I N TDP D R I E A P Professor Steinbrickner thedepauw.com N A J-Club’s 2nd annual Ra- Track and field host A P hosts forum with former ’S S men Fest is a success NCAC Championships F W mayors IR NE ST COLLEGE “The House of Scaife” producers remove podcast from multiple social media platforms following controversy Podcast creators used university facilities and equipment after being dismissed from WGRE and D3TV BY DAVID KOBE about,” President McCoy said. “My AND LEXY BURTON conversation with him [Cusumano] Editor in Chief & Managing Editor was very much above board and it was fine. I never heard the name Two high profile University and I never heard anything about officials recently appeared on the its history. Once I did hear about it, controversial, student-run podcast I asked to be removed from it and “The House of Scaife” frequently he agreed.” perpetuates predatory sexual be- Lynch expressed similar unfa- havior. The podcasts were hosted miliarity. Lynch appeared on the by members of the Alpha Tau third episode of the podcast. Omega fraternity (ATO), including “It’s really hard for me to answer three members who had been dis- this. I haven’t heard the podcast, so missed by WGRE and D3TV. I can’t speak to the content. I did DePauw President Mark Mc- the interview with John, several Coy and Head Football Coach Bill months ago, early in the semester,” Lynch both said they were unaware Lynch said. of the podcast’s usual content. “The House of Scaife” originally In the past five years, the DeP- aired last fall on WGRE, hosted by auw University administration has Cusumano. made a concerted effort to lead a WGRE’s board of directors positive conversation on sexual were made aware of the explicit assault by supporting anti-assault content of the programming after groups such as Code T.E.A.L, the three weeks of the show airing. Green Dot initiative, and Femini- Host of “The House of Scaife” John Cusumano joined by multiple guests, and posts from teh They gave Cusumano a warning sta. Despite these efforts, the pod- instagram page for the podcast. PHOTOS COURTESY OF “THE HOUSE OF SCAIFE” INSTA- to change his content. Cusumano cast producers were able to speak GRAM failed to comply and Professor Jeff in support of what many student or- McCall, faculty advisor to WGRE, ganizations consider to be deroga- respect for sexual partners, ego- YouTube and SoundCloud pages Using the podcast center in the Megan Wagner, station manager, tory sexual rhetoric using universi- centrism and selfishness, predatory and removed their official Insta- Eugene Pulliam Center for Con- and Julia Dillon, programming di- ty-owned equipment. pack mentality (e.g., referring to gram account. The Soundcloud temporary Media (PCCM) as a rector, notified him that he was offi- “The House of Scaife” podcast group members as “hounds”), and profile account a featured an image means for production of the pod- cially kicked off the station on Sept. received significant backlash after no mention or concern regarding of DePauw senior John Cusumano, cast, Cusumano invited both Presi- 19, according to Dillon. The DePauw published “‘House consent,” Harms wrote. the host of “The House of Scaife.” dent McCoy and Lynch to partici- In the first episode of “The of Scaife’ Podcast Can Change De- In his piece, Harms challenged Using veiled language, “The pate on the podcast without them House of Scaife,” Cusumano de- Pauw’s Date Rape Culture for the members of the fraternity to change House of Scaife”’s Cusumano, knowing the content of the podcast scribes why he was removed from Better,” an opinion piece, by Pro- their content. “I hope they can along with his weekly guests, was prior to their interviews. WGRE. “A lot of people were ask- fessor Douglas Harms, a faculty transform their podcast to become able to openly talk about sexual en- President McCoy recognized his ing me ‘What happened to you? advocate for Code T.E.A.L. This one where healthy and consensual deavors as well as book University ignorance to the content of the pod- Why did you get kicked off?’ Well opinion piece appeared in the May sexual practices are openly and officials on his podcast. cast after he recorded an episode some people find it offensive if 3 issue. actively discussed and promoted,” “Scaife,” a term found in the title that went unaired. President Mc- you’re talking and educating young “This podcast is the standard Harms wrote. of the podcast and used frequently Coy was eventually made aware of hounds on how to scaife,” Cusuma- bearer of rape culture, exhibiting Within hours following the pub- amongst hosts and guests, serves as the show’s content from a note by a no said. major characteristics of this deplor- lication of Harms’s opinion col- a euphemism with multiple mean- concerned DePauw student. After the show was dismissed able approach to sex: objectifica- umn, “The House of Scaife” pod- ings. Most commonly, the term is “I was unaware what this par- tion of women, absence of mutual cast creators deleted their public used as a stand-in for “women.” ticular one [student media] was CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 PG. 2 | May 10, 2017 NEWS PODCAST saki, Baker, among other guests learned several weeks ago that Christina Seung echoed a sen- including Will Longthorne, John the podcast producers had been timent that Code T.E.A.L. em- Cont. from pg. 1 Vitale, and Graham Ganshirt are removed from WGRE he decid- phasizes. “Rapists aren’t scary all members of the fraternity. ed to review the podcasts. from WGRE, students involved strangers hiding in the bushes,” Senior Anthony Sciarrino is “What I did hear was some- Seung said. “People who con- with the show asked Director featured on one podcast that was thing that I personally couldn’t of the PCCM, Jonathan Nich- tribute to rape culture are just formerly available on Sound- condone, but I was uncertain normal people and if we don’t ols-Pethick, to use the podcast Cloud and YouTube. According about what authority I had to www.thedepauw.com equipment and studio located in realize that we aren’t going to to the 2016-2017 Greek Leader- remove them from that studio change how we act on the cam- the lower level of the PCCM the ship Directory, Sciarrino served space since it was not set up with following semester. pus.” WEDNESDAY as the ATO Recruitment Chair in any policy or user agreements,” Nichols-Pethick explained Nichols-Pethick is the head the fall of 2016. Nichols-Pethick said, “and they MAY 10, 2017 of the Pulliam Center, where all the current policies regarding the Sciarrino speaks specifically weren’t crossing any lines that podcast center. student media, including The about recruitment in Episode 5: are protected by general rules Editors-in- Michael Jen- DePauw, is located. While he sits “The podcast studio initially chief nings & David Scaife and Big Events. “I took a about freedom of speech, so I did not have a policy attached to on the University Board of Pub- little hiatus from the show. I took decided that I had to put my per- Kobe lication and has certain financial it in terms of standards for use Managing Lexy Burton on a new role within my life and sonal distaste aside at that mo- and there was just an expectation oversight capacity for The De- the ATO fraternity. I decided to ment.” Editor Pauw, he is not involved in the that you wouldn’t bring food or Copy Editors Emma Mazurek be more of a recruitment, um you Nichols-Pethick confirmed drink in there, but there was no newspaper’s day-to-day opera- know, to recruit fellow scaife in an email that he listened to T. Beckmann tions nor its editorial content. clearly stated mandate for how hounds,” Sciarrino said. two episodes of the podcast after this space could be used and for Cusumano was not the first Later in the podcast Sciarrino learning that the host of the show News Editors Maria Mendez student affiliated with the “The what,” Nichols-Pethick said. & Grace Noden described what types of individ- had been removed from WGRE. Officials at The Pulliam Cent- House of Scaife” podcast to ap- uals he was recruiting to ATO. “I found that content to be Multimedia proach Nichols-Pethick. “He er for Contemporary Media are Manager Jessica Miller “We’re looking for people that offensive, frankly juvenile, and reevaluating the terms and con- [Cusumano] came to me at the want to go out every night and I listened very closely for legal beginning of this semester, but ditions necessary for students to Opinions Foster Whitlock get scaife,” Sciarrino said. issues and didn’t find those. I use the space. I will say another student ap- When Cusumano asked, “Is had to make a judgement call on Editor proached me first and said he “In light of everything that Sports Editor Brooks Hepp there like a moral code or a the role of the center in dictating has happened we are stepping was working with a senior to moral guideline you look for content and if I erred, I erred on Design Editor Haley Allaben produce the podcast,” Nichols- back and this summer we will be Features Madeline Smith when you’re looking for a scaife the side of legal caution with re- crafting one that clearly lays out Pethick said.