To the Editor:
To kick off this year's Sexual Assault Awareness Week (SAAW), Larry Nadeau, National Director of the Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) self defense program for women, called for the "good men" of Dartmouth to challenge violence against women on our campus. Among the list of sponsors supporting this week's events were four fraternities -- Alpha Chi Alpha, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Theta Delta Chi and Chi Gamma Epsilon. Clearly, their monetary support helps make this week successful. However, among the 30 or so people who actually listened to Nadeau's speech directed towards men were a pathetic three male students, their presence demonstrating their sensitivity to this issue, which is not, as it's often characterized, strictly a "woman's issue." And of those three "good men," not one was a member of the above-mentioned "supporting" fraternities.
Indeed, we appreciate your monetary support for these events, yet the disappointing disparity between the men listed on the sponsor list and those in flesh and blood at the event suggests to us that the men of the fraternities Alpha Chi Alpha, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Theta Delta Chi and Chi Gamma Epsilon are not willing to display their legitimate concern for sexual violence against women. Oftentimes we are asked by our male friends how they can help in this issue, and yet, when a public event such as Nadeau's speech provides them with a perfect opportunity to prove their support, few men are actually willing to step up. Your mother, sister and girlfriend are all women you care about who are at risk daily simply because of their sex. You "good men" say you want to do something. Then do something. There are more events this week as part of SAAW. Show your support. Gather your fraternity brothers, your best friends, your UGA groups and your sports teams together and show us you are indeed "good men" and not just here to monetarily insure your "sensitive man" campus reputation. We believe you can do it.
