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We received several letters regarding Thomas Rozwadowski’s story about how colleges, including Carleton, are dealing with issues pertaining to sexual assault (“A Matter of Consent,” spring).
More Facts
As a staff writer and news editor for The Carletonian, I wrote and edited several articles on Title IX. I was glad to see the Voice cover a topic that is of such importance to Carleton students.
However, in discussing the history of Title IX and other national policies pertaining to sexual misconduct, you neglect to mention the importance of a 1990 lawsuit brought by four alumni against Carleton for its mishandling of sexual misconduct complaints. This lawsuit received national attention, led to revisions in Carleton’s policy, and played a role in the passage of the Clery Act.
You mention that Carleton uses the standards for civil cases when investigating Title IX complaints, while the state of Minnesota conducts criminal investigations for rape and sexual assault. However, explaining how the college works with the police in its investigations and why so few students choose to go to the police could clarify the role that each of these two institutions can play in sexual misconduct cases.
In describing the complaint process, you don’t mention that students are allowed lawyers, but the college does not provide financial help to students who cannot afford one. Thus, economic inequality can create inequity in the Title IX process because one student may have a lawyer, while another may receive counsel only from the college.
Perrin Stein ’17
Thomas Rozwadowski says: In putting together a story of this length, we faced several dilemmas, including how much historical and procedural information about college policies and Title IX should be included. Ultimately, many conversations and details didn’t make it into print because of space constraints or story direction. In the end, we determined that the most compelling story to tell was about the nagging human questions that hover around consent. What do our students know about themselves and about sex before they get to college? What is the college’s role in preparing students who decide to engage in sexual activity when they’re on campus? For readers who want to learn more about college policies, history, and procedure, we included links to related online content.
Misleading Facts
In the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] survey cited in the story’s introduction, the definition of sexual assault was expansive and included such behaviors as unwanted kissing and fondling. There is another recent Department of Justice study that uses a more traditional definition of sexual assault (completed rapes as well as unwanted sexual touching, attempted rape, and threats). According to this study, for the year 2014, 0.61 percent of female college students reported being sexually assaulted, which translates to a rate of about 1 in 40 during the average four-year college experience. (See Special Report: Rape and Sexual Assault Victimization Among College-Age Females, 1995–2013, U.S. Department of Justice, December 2014.) While I don’t think anyone likes this number either, it certainly gives a far different impression than 21 percent—or 1 out of 5.
Kristin Karls Hall ’82
Rozwadowski says: The opening statistic from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study should have included additional context. The study found that among female victims of intimate partner violence—which includes sexual and physical violence and stalking—nearly 50 percent experienced a first incident between the ages of 18 and 24. As the story detailed, the Clery Act also pushed colleges to collect information on several offenses that broadened the definition of sexual assault beyond the traditional definition of rape. That distinction is important in determining how colleges were expected to respond to assault complaints across multiple spectrums in the Obama era. It’s why the more expansive CDC statistic was used in favor of other studies. The same citation for the study also appears prominently on the Department of Justice’s Violence Against Women web page.
Overlooked Facts
The story’s focus on violence of men against women is particularly troubling in light of my own experience. I was sexually harassed by a female student in a dance class during my freshman year at Carleton. Everyone was sober, we were in public, and the fact that I didn’t know what to do only added to my horror.
My experience is not unique. Among my peers, I heard most frequently about assaults from the female against the male in a committed relationship. The aggressors typically described themselves as “open-minded people who were liberated from traditional sex roles.” These females demanded sexual acts and, if disappointed, would take what they wanted by force or manipulation.
Women do not hold a monopoly on the pain and fear suffered by survivors. By perpetuating the notion that only males can be aggressors and dismissing instances of female aggression, we encourage male victims to hide in their shame. Therefore, the kind of sexual violence I have described is underrepresented in surveys.
Edward Malnar ’15
Editor’s Note: While we acknowledge in the story that sexual assault is not committed only by men against women, it does represent the vast majority of reported cases. That said, Carleton deplores all acts of violence.
Letters are edited for style and clarity and to fit the space allotted.
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