So, many of you may have seen this heinous picture on social media and wondered if it was real?
No way would this be allowed at a college that says it prides itself on educating it’s student body and faculty about ending sexual aggression and inappropriate sexual behavior, as well as sexual harassment. A University that has “Safe Space” training on a regular basis to end harassment of LGBTQ people, and a large and quite diverse student population? Old Dominion Univerity has online training for faculty and administrators about sexual harassment and how to deal with it if a student confides in them, or they witness it, etc.
I am an Old Dominion University student! I am a woman! I am a mom of a son who is starting college this year! I was absolutely amazed and disgusted that these young men thought those banners were an appropriate thing to hang from the railing of the upper deck of the house they live in. I have walked past that house many, many times. I never knew that a few cretins lived inside there. They displayed the banners on freshmen move in day. I wonder how many parents saw that and were concerned? I wonder if any of them dis-enrolled their children from ODU because of the message those banners sent?
If I was a parent with my child and saw those banners I would have asked why that was allowed. Now to be completely transparent, the banners wee NOT on school property. They were hung from a house directly across the street from the campus library. Apparently it is a house where a chapter of Sigma Nu members reside. To their credit, the President of the National Sigma Nu organization issued this statement.
As soon as I saw it on social media I sent an email to the ODU President. My email stated:
If I was a parent with a child attending preview week at ODU I would have unregistered my child (male or female) immediately! I would not want to take a chance of my daughter being preyed upon, and I would not want to take a chance of my son becoming friends or sharing a classroom with other young men who feel that this behavior is somehow okay.
We have had bad publicity in recent years at ODU with fraternities and sororities engaging in sexually inappropriate behavior, was well as sexually motivated attacks on young women. Is this the type of atmosphere the Administration at ODU wants?
I am truly ashamed to say I am an ODU student, and hope these young men will be brought to heel and punished! Maybe this fraternity should no longer be accepted at ODU. Just my .02.
I look forward to seeing swift action being taken to punish these young men and correct the pervasive inappropriate attitudes shown here.
Ms. Wood,
President Broderick shared your e-mail with me that you are interested in reviewing some of the training we send to students. I am copying Traci Daniels, Deputy Title IX coordinator, so she can get you information this week.
We just finished an live education program delivered to all our first time freshman on Saturday and have on line education for other students as well as layered education programs throughout the year. We can get you the list of communication and education sessions. If you would like to discuss the education and formats, I would be happy to arrange a conversation with the lead organizers.
I appreciate you commitment, care, and concern.
She got my name wrong, and I am not sure if she is being patronizing or not…..I don’t know her…..Maybe I have stumbled upon a way to use my double major degree in Psychology and Women’s Studies for some employment??
But the bottom line is that it might be more important to have an open discussion about This incident. Just a frat boy prank? Or more about rape culture? The fact that these young men thought this was okay, just floors me. I don’t get it, and the comments on the Wavy 10 Facebook page are extremely disheartening as some people are basically just saying this is “normal” “pervy” college student dude stuff. Really???
Can’t we teach our boys better than this? Can’t we expect more from young male college students? Do we want our daughters, nieces, friends, sisters, etc exposed to this type of thinking and subsequent behaviors??
I say no, and I will do whatever I can to change this type of negative behavior at the school I love! Until those changes happen, women will not be able to feel completely safe here.
#womenslives
It’s good to hear from a mother of a college boy about this matter, and you made some very good points. “I would not want to take a chance of my son becoming friends or sharing a classroom with other young men who feel that this behavior is somehow okay.” Good for you! It definitely goes beyond a stupid prank…rather disgusting!
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It sounds like ODU was responsive to the event and to you. I don’t think any amount of “training” would help those boys (?). — maybe a heart to heart with their mothers, sisters, or girlfriends could help them see how offensive their “prank” was.
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