Four months after a list of Columbia University students accused of sexual assault began appearing around that campus, a similar phenomenon seems to be occurring at the University of Chicago.
Students from the Hyde Park school say that 'The Hyde Park List' was published online Sunday via an anonymous Tumblr account, and printed-out versions were found around campus, including in campus bathrooms. The college kicked off its new student orientation this week.
The Tumblr account comes amid a federal investigation into the university's sexual assault policies, and a national campaign to reduce sexual assaults on U.S. campuses. Some students have speculated on blogs and social media that the list was created by current students taking matters into their own hands, but attempts to reach the author of the posts were unsuccessful.
The fliers and Tumblr posts list the names of six current and former students, and categorized them as 'Code Red' or 'Code Orange.' They only elaborate on one student: 'Note: Often at fraternity parties.' The Tumblr account's 'About' section said the color red 'is for the most severe offenders.'
Its author or authors described the goal of the blog as, 'Keeping the community safe from people known to commit varying levels of gender-based violence-since the University won't.'
The Tumblr account appeared to be deleted Monday and Tuesday, but was restored Tuesday afternoon, according to Tumblr officials, who told RedEye in an email that the account had been deleted 'in error.'
The University of Chicago has come under scrutiny in recent months from students and federal officials who question whether the school has violated Title IX laws with its sexual assault policies, which were updated this summer. It is one of dozens of schools under federal investigation.University spokesman Jeremy Manier said officials would not comment on the fliers or the Tumblr account, but referred reporters to a statement on the university's ongoing effort to prevent and address sexual misconduct.
'University efforts have included the creation of student support programs such as the Sexual Assault Dean-on-Call, the Bias Response Team, and RSVP (Resources for Sexual Violence Prevention); the growth of confidential resources offered by the Student Counseling Service and the SADoC program; and special training for University police officers in responding to acts of sexual violence. The University also has continued to update its policies and disciplinary processes, as it did in 2006, 2010, 2011, and again this year,' the statement read.
Many students who have seen the list in person or online are divided over its value.
Olivia Ortiz, 21, a student activist and survivor of sexual assault whose Title IX complaint against the university in 2013 launched the federal investigation, said she supports the spirit behind the list.
'Having experienced [sexual assault], I know you don't do this lightly. It's not a joke or a silly choice you make,' she said. 'From what I've observed, the university doesn't care about sexual assault and it has often been up to students to press the issue. I think [the posting] was an extreme action and a last resort.'
Ortiz said the reaction she's seen from other students has been mostly negative-a point of view, she said, that might come from a fear of false accusations or doubts about the motives of the people who authored the list.
'I don't think that these survivors have anything to gain from this,' she said. 'This is anonymous for a reason, because it's so dangerous. My reaction is, it really must be an extreme situation for survivors to do it.'Some students who saw the list questioned the value of anonymously accusing another student of sexual violence.
Thomas McLees, 20, a second-year college student, said he first learned of the list from a Facebook friend who was among the men named by it. The man wrote a five-paragraph post saying he has never committed sexual assault, McLee said, and inviting people to reach out to him if they think he has.
'Him being so very open about it, and kind of saying, 'Let me talk to you' about this, showed his innocence,' he said. 'It's hard to find validation in the way this was done. The veracity of the list is doubtful from the way it was posted on Tumblr and strewn about Hyde Park.'
Even though he disagrees with the methodology of the list's author or authors, McLee said he hopes the conversation about how to address sexual assault on college campuses will continue into the new school year.
'This is a sad indication of the state of affairs,' he said. 'But this kind of beating around the bush and pointing fingers is, in my opinion, hurting the cause.'
Tidak ada komentar :
Posting Komentar