Wrighton’s comments undermine the seriousness of sexual assault
On Friday, Student Life ran an editorial reprimanding Chancellor Wrighton for his response to student requests that he create a staff position focused on coordinating a campus response to sexual assault and relationship violence. Wrighton responded to the concern by noting that the recommendation was one of several given to him by students and that the cost of implementing all of those recommendations was enormous. He said, “We need to ask ourselves, ‘where do we want to make our investments?’”
The Chancellor has received criticism for ignoring something students think is important, but the problem with his statement is deeper than that. It’s that he doesn’t see the specific importance of this particular resolution. Yes, students ask for things all the time. We’ve wanted all sorts of things from wireless Internet to the ability to use our campus cards for vending and laundry to a better parking situation. But the nature of this request is different, and we can only hope that the Wash. U. administration will begin to treat it as such.
Many student requests are for luxuries, but the request for resources to create a unified response to the serious problem of sexual assault should not be treated as such.
The administration needs to recognize that this position is a necessity; it is so basic, it shouldn’t even be something students have to ask for. The University should be concerned about making sure it is doing everything it can to respond to sexual assault. When faculty make requests for more assistance and think the University isn’t doing enough, that alone should be concerning enough to the administration that it should be working to fix the problem, regardless of whether or not students request this assistance. But when the need is so great that even students jump on board in the quest to gain more resources, the University should definitely prioritize that type of request. To lump this request in with a pile of other requests for upgrades on campus is to severely undermine the seriousness of sexual assault. And that is a large part of what is so repulsive about this comment.
When students have to ask such a well-endowed University to create a position dealing with prevention, education and response to such a widespread and serious problem, the administration’s response should not be that we have to ask questions about where we want to spend our money. Is the administration seriously saying that it would rather put money towards measures that make the University look good rather than putting it toward dealing with sexual assault? When the faculty and student body are uncomfortable with the University’s current ability to deal with the problem? Are you kidding me?
It seems the administration does not understand the severity and prevalence of sexual assault. Maybe the administration’s inability to recognize that responding to sexual assault should be a priority is a symptom of society’s general desire to brush it off as less important than it is. This is part of why we need to make sure that we are able to provide training and education about sexual assault. Wrighton’s comments provide evidence that we need to do more to increase our awareness and sensitivity to sexual assault.
We should step back and really think about what’s going on here and how important and prevalent we think sexual assault is. This incident should provide all of the students and the administration with a chance to reflect on our opinions and beliefs about sexual assault. Let’s really think about the issue and really question whether or not our intuitive reactions reflect the reality of the situation. Then, let’s meet again and decide what our priorities are.
But let’s not just blow off this request without serious reflection as another cry for an unneeded luxury.
Jill is a junior in Arts & Sciences and a Forum Editor. She can be reached via e-mail at [email protected].
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