Sexual Assaults on Campus Need to Be Addressed
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City University of New York (CUNY) CUNY Academic Works Publications and Research Baruch College 2015 Sexual assaults on campus need to be addressed Aldemaro Romero Jr. CUNY Bernard M Baruch College How does access to this work benefit ou?y Let us know! More information about this work at: https://academicworks.cuny.edu/bb_pubs/917 Discover additional works at: https://academicworks.cuny.edu This work is made publicly available by the City University of New York (CUNY). Contact: [email protected] Monday, December 21, 2015 — www.theintelligencer.com Page 3 Regional Sexual assaults on campus need to be addressed In the last few weeks two films have been campuses. (if not totally covering up) the problem. And some released that on the surface seem to be unrelated But, obviously, that has not been enough. Now of them have already taken a lot of heat for their in content, but are closely linked in their message. Dr. Aldemaro Romero Jr. states from Connecticut to California have come stances, such as the president of the University The first of those films is “Spotlight.” It tells the Letters from Academia up with tougher legislation aimed at colleges of Iowa, Sally Mason, who said in an interview true story of how a team of reporters for The Boston and universities to take more firm stances in pre- that sexual crimes were part of “human nature.” Globe worked to uncover a pattern of sexual abuse during the last few years at both prestigious Ivy venting, reporting and handling sexual assaults. Bryan Golden, the campus police chief at Abraham of children and its cover-up in Massachusetts by League institutions and smaller lesser-known ones. Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO), along with nine Baldwin Agricultural College in Georgia, was fired the Catholic Church. This investigative reporting According to the American Association of other sponsors, has introduced the Campus after he was quoted as saying that most sexual earned the newspaper the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for University Women, one out of 10 colleges reported Accountability and Safety Act (CASA) bill aimed assaults are not rape, but “women waking up the public service. The movie is considered to be a very rapes on their campuses in 2014. Given that in the at reducing sexual violence in institutions of next morning with a guilt complex.” accurate representation and shows how these crim- U.S. there are about 5,000 institutions of higher higher education. This bill, introduced in 2014, We should not forget that early colleges were inal acts represented a systemic problem within the education, that means that at least one rape has is still pending in the U.S. Senate and House founded by churches and once public institutions church. The movie received wide acclaim not only occurred in at least 500 of them in a single year. of Representatives. In the meantime, the U.S. began to proliferate, they adopted the same cul- because of its artistic merits but also for the exposé Yet, most likely this is a conservative figure. As Department of Education has issued new guide- tural habits of the private ones: insularity, secrecy of the facts. anyone who is aware of the nature of crime statis- lines on how to handle sexual assaults on campus- in their handling of internal affairs, and the ten- The other film is “The Hunting Ground.” This tics, sexual assaults are among the least reported. es while the U.S. Department of Justice, acting on dency to overprotect their own. And that is where is a documentary that had a limited theatrical Many women feel uncomfortable reporting these recommendations from a White House task force, the connection between the sexual crimes at the release on February, but was broadcast by CNN kinds of crimes for a variety of reasons. In most is funding more research on this issue. Catholic Church in Massachusetts and the ones on on November 22. It deals with the issue of sexual of the cases the perpetrators are people they know Given the seriousness of the situation one won- campuses resides. assault on U.S. college and university campuses. because they are other students or coworkers. ders why so many colleges and universities have One of the most chilling moments of “Spotlight” This documentary included not only numerous Further, the U.S. Department of Education has lev- not taken a more proactive stance on this issue? is when at the end of the movie they show the on-camera interviews with victims of these crimes, ied fines to colleges and universities on numerous The answer is two-fold. First, very few academic long list of cities where sexual abuse by Catholic but also with scholars who have studied the issue occasions for underreporting these crimes, which leaders have had any training on how to handle priests has been reported. Unfortunately the list as well as former university administrators. supports the contention that these statistics must crises that affect the public image of their institu- of colleges and universities where sexual crimes “The Hunting Ground” also received wide artis- be very conservative inNot that we lack legisla- tions. As any expert in communications would tell occurred last year alone is even longer. Unless tic acclaim, but also its share of negative criticism tion addressing this issue. The Clery Act of 1990, them the position they need to take has to be very the culture of insularity and mismanagement is – particularly from the higher education institu- named after Jeanne Clery, a 19-year-old student proactive and open to show that they are really changed, higher education will be facing the same tions mentioned in the film, such as Harvard and at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania, who was doing something that is really meaningful, not just bad image as the Catholic Church. Florida State University. Administrators of those raped and murdered in the campus residence hall to issue perfunctory statements aimed at protecting institutions claimed the movie to be inaccurate and in 1986, was specifically designed to make all the brand name of their institutions. Dr. Aldemaro Romero Jr. is a writer and college pro- taking sides with the victims. The release of this institutions of higher education that receive some The other is that these leaders think – errone- fessor with leadership experience in higher education. documentary has coincided with a rise of reports form of federal financial support (virtually all of ously – that the only means to protect their repu- He can be contacted through his website at: http://www. in the media of sexual assaults across campuses them) report crime statistics on their respective tation and that of their campuses is by softening aromerojr.net Branch Manager Karen Lintz said. Allison's HOPE Foundation is an YMCA organization created to honor Allison Cassens, who lost her battle with Continued from Page 1 colon cancer in 2004 at the age of 33. She had written in her will that she Celuch explained that last year hoped people would use their talents Allison's HOPE not only provided to help those doing cancer research Build-A-Bear stuffed animals for to find a cure. After their daugh- the Allison Cassens Center but was ter's death, Linda and Allen Cassens also able to visit Shriner's Children's formed the organization. Best seat in Hospital and Cardinal Glennon in In 2014 the foundation celebrat- St. Louis to do the same thing for its ed reaching a monumental goal of the house children. having raised $1 million for can- Celuch noted that doing the Build- cer research over the past 10 years. Youngsters sit on the laps A-Bear event this year at the Allison The organization continues to host of Santa and Mrs. Claus Cassens Center had dual meaning. several fundraisers throughout the during the Dec. 12 open “Not only was the center recently year, including an annual gala and house at the Glen Carbon named after Allison Cassens, the cen- golf outing, to raise funds for cancer Heritage Museum. Photo for ter's arts program is provided through research. the Intelligencer. a donation in the name of Debbie, Yet this holiday season, Allison’s Allison’s sister,” Celuch. “Debbie and HOPE will be sponsoring a 7 p.m. Allison were both amazing people presentation on Dec. 22 of the movie who had a passion for the arts and "Elf" at the Wildey Theatre. The show- education for children.” ing will cost just $2 per person and “We are just so appreciative that we tickets can be purchased one hour are able to receive this for our kids at before the show at the Wildey box our center,” Edwardsville Esic YMCA office. estimate was $98,596.80. “They will be cleaning and lin- CITY ing various manholes in the city,” Alderman Jeanette Mallon said. Continued from Page 1 “This was also done for North Main Man's heroin battle ends with sorrow Street.” Residents will get a notice from The manholes are on Ridgeview QUINCY (AP) — Anita Martinez knew her between the ages of 18 and 25 had doubled 2012 theft case. Good Energy within 30 days of ter- Road, Timberlake Drive, Blackburn son's battle with drug addiction wasn't over, but during that time span. In and out of jails and prisons during that time, mination noting what the rate will Road, Circle Drive, Franklin Avenue, for the first time in a long time there were signs Local officials believe the spike in overdoses Martinez found himself homeless by the time the be. They will have the option to opt- Grand Avenue, Fairway Drive and that her little boy might be winning the battle.