THIS MONDAY marked the beginning of the University's annual Take Back the Night week, a series of events climaxing tonight with a vigil at 8 p.m. in the Amphitheatre. The gravity of this event renders it more deserving of attendance than any other University program. If for nothing else, students should participate tonight to support those who have been sexually assaulted and betrayed by the community of trust they so optimistically joined. By contrast, members of the University's administration have a wonderful opportunity to rectify an allegedly poor record on sexual assault.
Historically, "Take Back the Night" began in England in 1877, primarily as a women-only protest against the everyday violence and fear that women encountered. According to "The Readers' Companion to U.S. Women's History," this slogan was first used in the United States in a 1978 San Francisco march against pornography, a protest that attracted over 10,000 participants.
Ever since, the slogan has been used to symbolize women's struggle against a patriarchal oppression. This tradition of equality and respect between the genders has been proudly continued at the University, organized and produced by several on-Grounds clubs, particularly feminist groups.
The purpose of the rally is for the community to band together and speak against sexual assault and to promote awareness of societal beliefs and norms which perpetuate that evil. One would think that the importance of such goals is unambiguous, but unfortunately, the conduct of the University's administration has strongly implied otherwise.
The administration has coldly mishandled cases of violence against women. Several parents of victims, as recorded on a concerned parent Susan Russell's Web site uvavictimsofrape.com, have complained about the administration's attitude towards rape, one even claiming that Dean of Students Penny Rue has and continues to "trivialize the matter of sexual assault."
Dean Rue has been criticized on many occasions with similar claims, especially after a Nov. 16 panel appearance, where several students complained that they felt the Office of the Dean of Students pegged sexual assault on alcohol consumption. One victim even asserted that she has "never even considered going to the administration" because of its "hands-off," distant policy.
While it is doubtful that Rue or any other member of the administration is intentionally trivializing sexual assault or alienating victims, the mere fact that some victims and their parents feel this way is an unavoidable and incontrovertible indicator that the administration is mishandling the situation.
While it is necessary that the administration handle cases with a sense of neutrality (they cannot automatically presume the alleged offender is guilty), this does not necessarily preclude conveying a sense of compassion when victims do come forward.
At the very least, it is common sense that victims should feel encouraged and comfortable to speak out, and that their courage to do so should be met with trained understanding and warmth; instead, our administration, if nothing worse, conveys a bureaucratic sense of aloofness.
Because of the multitude of complaints and articles published on the matter, the administration has been in the spotlight, forced to deliver more than occasional e-mails and lip service on the subject. In the spotlight, the administration has ratified new sexual assault policies -- policies that have helped rectify its reputation.
This, however, is not enough; they must seize opportunities to show that they really do care about the subject, opportunities they've missed in the past. For example, last year's Take Back the Night had an impressive turnout of over 400 people, but many parents, including Russell, noted the conspicuous absence of the administration, particularly Dean Rue, Pat Lampkin, vice president for student-affairs, and associate dean of students Viva Sisson.
This year, with the spotlight shining brighter than ever, there is no excuse for members of the administration to be absent from such an event.
Tonight, courageous victims will stand up along with those who value our sense of community and together they will protest sexual assault and the culture that produces assaulters. After the new changes in sexual assault policy, the administration, in all fairness, took a step forward.
But tonight, the administration has an important choice: to go or not to go. Many of us just have to wonder: How is it even a question?
Sina Kian's column appears Thursdays in The Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at skian@cavalierdaily.com.
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