“We ought to be leading by example, not by mistake.”
President of the University of California system, Janet Napolitano, is setting new standards for sexual assault cases.
Napolitano has spoken out amid news of an ongoing ambivalence towards sexual assault on Berkley’s Campus. In an interview, Napolitano said, “I think our society at large has undervalued sexual harassment in the workplace. It’s gone on in many professions for decades. We are a public university, and we ought to be leading by example, not by mistake.”
Napolotino is responding now after years of allegations and numerous faculty indiscretions, some of which were kept secret until recently.
Among those accused of sexual assault and violence on campus are; the dean of the law school, an assistant basketball coach, and an esteemed university astronomer. Both the astronomer and the assistant basketball coach were fired or asked to step down.
However, the dean of the law school, Sujit Choudhry, only recently stepped down because his executive assistant, Tyann Sorrell, filed a civil suit against him and the university. Sorrell was originally told to ‘seek employment elsewhere’ for filing a complaint against Choudhry. The irony is that while Sorrell was asked to leave, Choudhry kept his position at the school. In essence, punishing the whistleblower and not the guilty.
While Berkley is only one amongst many other schools accused of disreguarding sexual assault, the revelation of their carelessness serves as a wake up call for universities. In the movie The Hunting Ground, this same point is addressed as numerous sexual assault victims are ostracized for bringing suits against their attackers.
The release of The Hunting Ground purposley coincides with the elections, which highlights each candidate’s platforms on women’s rights and their stance on controversial issues such as these. As young women, it is our job to follow these publications and ask questions. Why are these bureaucracies protecting the guilty instead of the victims? Moreover, why does society follow suit and snub the victim as well?
This issue is gaining momentum as more people are coming forward, either by sharing their story or standing with those who have been ignored or dismissed. As women’s rights issues take thier place on society’s political forefront, young women should be asking themselves how they want to be represented in such circumstances, or how future women will want to be treated.
Change can only happen if people are willing to recognize the problem and take a stance. If you are a South Carolinian who would like to get involved and have questions for lawmakers, we urge you to reach out to Tell Them, an organization that helps get women in touch with local lawmakers to ensure their issues will be heard.