Last week Jeffrey Botelho '96 wrote a very enlightening column ["Addressing Sexual Assault," The Dartmouth, April 25]. Botelho wrote, "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 ... 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."
Sexual Awareness through Greek Education (SAGE) believes that his column has captured the essence of how sexual assault and the Greek system should be addressed at Dartmouth.
SAGE is an organization made up of active members of Dartmouth's Greek system. Its missions are to educate the entire Dartmouth community about sexual assault and harassment, act as a resource for both the Greek system and the community, and overall to promote a more comfortable social environment on campus. SAGE feels it is important to remind students of our presence as well as our goals and future potential on the Dartmouth campus, especially within the Greek system.
SAGE's goal is to work within the existing framework; we are not here to suggest completely revamping the system. Many believe (i.e., complain) the Greek system is the predominant social space on campus. If this is the truth, then we should work within the existing system now to make improvements. We also feel that although the Greek system is very expansive at Dartmouth, it is a great deal more low key than other Greek systems nationwide, especially those at state universities.
This gives us an advantage for educational purposes -- smaller scale, a more personable atmosphere, and an easier venue for communication.
Another important aspect of SAGE is its mission to promote more positive and healthy gender relations. It is often heard around campus that "the Greek system fosters unhealthy gender relations between men and women." Abolishing the Greek system will not solve these problems; it will just deprive the campus of a scapegoat. Despite what many detractors of the Greek system feel, fraternities are not the only sources of sexual assault on campus. That is why SAGE wishes to act as a resource to both the Greek system and the community.
Name-calling and blame-placing do not solve the problem. Do men and women only exist within the context of the Greek system? If we want to combat sexual assault from its ground roots, isn't it best to start with the problems that exist between men and women on a day-to-day basis? We want to make our programs and resources available to the campus so sexual awareness can be addressed.
The next question to ask us is, "What are SAGE's specific plans as of now?" Since SAGE is a relatively young organization, we are not expecting to accomplish miracles in the short time we have been active. What we do hope to accomplish in the short term is to encourage a dialogue between men and women at Dartmouth, beginning with the members of its fraternities and sororities.
SAGE is here for the Greek community to do exactly what Botelho talks about in his column. We provide money for programming events at fraternities, sororities or other campus group who want to sponsor events relating to gender issues.
Such programs could include bringing in outside speakers, having discussions between fraternities and sororities, holding panel discussions consisting of Dartmouth students talking about their personal experiences and holding concerts of various relevant campus performing groups, such as "The Untamed Shrews."
In addition, SAGE presents its own programming. One programming event we are currently working on for this term is sponsoring a "First-year Student Panel," hopefully in conjunction with the Freshman Council. At this panel, first-year students will have a chance to ask leaders of the Greek system questions about the Greek system.
SAGE is completely open to any additional ideas that anyone has. We want to talk to you about these ideas and answer any questions you may have about our mission and activities. Finally, we urge all members of the Greek system to support your SAGE representatives, for SAGE wishes to make the current Greek system a stronger, healthier and safer one.
