Lots
of things to write about this month. Midterms will be arriving before you know
it with another round of exams and papers. Spring break means getting away from
Trinity – maybe seeing your parents, maybe heading to a beach for sun and
swimming. Spring break offers a great time to unwind and take a breather from
the everyday grind of classes and homework.
But
what I want to write a bit about today is the recent forum regarding sexual
assault. As the Title IX administrator I have an inside view of how Trinity
University handles sexual misconduct cases. I do not want to discuss policies
or procedures here. Nor do I want to respond to any of the claims made at the
forum. If any of you are interested in these issues I am very happy to meet
with you and any interested groups.
What
saddens me the most regarding the cases of sexual misconduct I have seen is
that in nearly every single one of them, there were multiple opportunities for
friends to step in and get their friend out of the bad situation. A friend
could have said “let’s go home” or “let’s go get a cup of coffee” or “you’ve
had too much to drink” or “this guy is a loser”. But this didn’t occur. We have had cases
where a woman has texted her friend “Get me out of here” and the friend never
came by to help.
I
am at a loss to explain the failure of the Trinity community to help each
other. The Bystander Intervention program you all went through during NSO is
designed to help foster this type of community. We should all be looking out
for each other, lending a hand when needed, and offering an escape route when a
friend has gotten in over his or her head. This
type of friendship is meaningful and for real. Men need to be just as
proactive and responsible here as women.
Remember that if a person is incapacitated, he or she is incapable of rendering an informed judgment. Sexual activity in this situation is always
rape, and Trinity University will pursue these cases fully.
College
is a time for exploration and excitement and trying new things. Drinking is a
part of this experience. Just as we as a society have developed the notion of a
designated driver, I would like to see us develop the notion of someone staying
sober and watching out for the group at parties – a person to help get their
friends home when they have had too much to drink and before a more serious
incident can occur. Let’s work together to make Trinity a fun and safe campus.
Dr. Steven Bachrach
Class Marshal
