Recent discussion on the high incidence of sexual assault at Dartmouth has brought many important issues to light, issues that are often submerged in this community.
The discussion titled "Dartmouth: A Culture of Violence," a part of Sexual Assault Awareness Week, was very important in bringing the opinions of rape victims and social advocates to light. The views represented in that discussion address many important issues that have continually faced the Dartmouth community.
I feel that it is my responsibility as an active member of a Greek house to give some kind of input into this discussion. First of all, I would like to say that I agree with Kristen Doolittle '96 that rapists should be expelled from Dartmouth. There is no excuse for their actions and no place for people like that here. It is the responsibility of the College to provide an atmosphere and a system in which women who are abused or sexually assaulted feel comfortable to bring their cases forward, under anonymity if possible. I reiterate: rapists must be punished at all costs, and the threat of punishment should be very obvious to everyone.
This is not currently the case. I know, for a fact, that several people have gotten away with rape on this campus without being punished. That is not to suggest that there are not countless others who have escaped punishment.
What the college community needs is a way for rape survivors to come forth with their cases without the threat of public ridicule or embarrassment, and with the full support of the administration to get the help they need. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of this support, for without help and support, women who are assaulted have a tendency toward self-destructive behavior.
Please, if there are any women out there who have been assaulted or abused, get help NOW, even if you don't decide to press charges. Rape affects everyone, from the women who confront its psychological effects everyday to the people they cross in their everyday lives. No victim of this heinous crime should ever think that they are at fault.
Well, then, who is at fault? Members of the discussion group addressed the question of responsibility. Who should be blamed for the high incidence of sexual assault on this small campus?
I tend to think that the rapists themselves should bear the brunt of the blame. What part does the "attitude" of the fraternity system play in all this? I have heard that the system is partially to blame, because drinking a lot of beer in frat basements is conducive to these animalistic acts of violence against women. This is a difficult perspective for a fraternity member to face, but it must be addressed.
The macho attitude, accompanied by large amounts of alcohol, can be a potentially destructive force in some individuals. Fraternities, as naturally inefficient and, at times, static organizations, have a difficult time combating this sort of behavior. I know of at least one case where brothers have turned the other cheek in a very dangerous situation; the situation led to rape. Things like this should not happen, but they do.
Despite this knowledge, the abolition of the fraternity system is not the answer. I have benefited too much from the system to be able to come to that conclusion. I have made too many good friends and had too many memorable times. I also feel that the fraternity system is too integral and important to the Dartmouth experience to be abolished. I also have more faith in the flexibility and strength of the system. We fraternity members are generally intelligent people, and not altogether closed-minded to new ideas. We can learn how to prevent this behavior, and I am of the opinion that we must stop it.
I think group education to combat against this type of behavior is in order, requiring the full attendance of fraternity members, not just the new members. Such a program would help further a vigilant attitude of fraternity members to step in and stop potentially dangerous situations, as well as make potential rapists think twice. The attitude of laxity, for which the fraternity system is notorious, can be changed. If there are rape survivors who are courageous enough to come to a fraternity and speak of their experiences, or a program which educates members on the effects of rape, I am fairly confident that the incidence of sexual assault in fraternities will go down.
The key to the effectiveness of such programs is attendance. Attendance must be mandatory. No short cuts can be taken. It is too serious an issue. With the cooperation of rape educators and survivors, the administration, and fraternity members, I think we can start fighting a winning battle against sexual assault.
