I wonder if perhaps Vanderbilt is a bit ahead of the game on the issues related to this case and brought up by all of the posters? Hopefully the efforts outlined in the link will thrive and expand within Vanderbilt and on campuses across the US.
Does Vanderbilt have a culture of promiscuity and rampant underage drinking--more than other schools
http://news.vanderbilt.edu/2015/01/zeppos-message-jan-27-verdict/
We have such a fine Chancellor.
S liked this on his Facebook, so I clicked and read it. I liked the part where the author emphasizes that Vandy is a school with a football program, not a school built around a football program.
http://www.anchorofgold.com/2015/1/29/7928719/what-price-brigadoon
Yes, Vanderbilt handled this extremely well. They obviously had a system in place, and staff was well-trained regarding how to handle such situations. The Campus SaVE Act, enacted in 2014, requires all campuses to have policies, procedures, and training in place to deal with incidences of sexual violence. Vanderbilt seems to be ahead of the curve, IMO. And I will say that colleges can have all the policies and procedures in the world in place, but if they have a culture of hiding things or sweeping them under the rug, those policies and procedures mean nothing. So glad to know that Vanderbilt does not operate this way.
Agree MOWC and kelsmom that Vanderbilt took immediate action on all counts. Watching 20/20, hard to watch as my freshman s is in Gillette. Thank God for the surveillance cameras. So sad and unbelievable how the victim had to be informed of the rape by law enforcement and Vanderbilt administration.
Dartmouth just banned alcohol on campus due to problems
In this case, Vanderbilt did the opposite of cover-up. Vanderbilt called the Nashville cops ASAP–before there was even a complaining witness. I don’t have the exact timeline, but Vanderbilt trespassed the perps off of the campus about as fast as humanly possible - - again given that the investigation had to start without a complaining witness. Vanderbilt promptly made written public disclosures. Vanderbilt is the anti-cover-up university. I think the four perps were trespassed off the campus in about five days. That’s pretty fast in a world where even the worst people have some due process rights.
excellent points thecoldeye, bothered me that 20/20 referred to the case as a scandal. It was a horrible crime, but imho it was never a scandal for Vanderbilt because there was no cover up and because of the actions they took. Their swift actions, conducting an investigation, expelling the students and reporting to law enforcement hopefully will demonstrate to other universities how to respond. Hopefully this and the surveillance cameras will deter others from such despicable criminal behavior.
Didn’t Dartmouth just ban hard liquor?
That’s what I heard in the news. I guess that means no restrictions on a keg party?
They only banned spirits/hard liquor and are going to make efforts to build more to do for non Greeks on weekends.
Dartmouth is a wonderful undergraduate institution but that host town/village is not exactly conducive to alternatives to Greek social parties. I hope they can build a better optional life for independents than they have now. (Duke son’s dream college was Dartmouth but he was not admitted). Dartmouth does require a summer term so they can get one season of long sunny days as a class together…and they do place their students into internships off campus during one shared winter term to help overcome the geographic isolation issue…clever use of their resources in New England in my view. Alum are huge supporters of their Greek orgs and identities so banning Greek life there has not really been a viable option --as Greek life was banned at schools like Bowdoin and replaced with student-run social houses with parties and events open to the entire student body.
@thecoldeye As a Nepali international student accepted to Vanderbilt Class of 2019, I have to wonder how did the “fly off to a monastery in Kathmandu” come out of nowhere?
As a parent of three recent (one current) college students, and someone who works as a college counselor, the drinking culture is rampant at most universities–public and private–with very few exceptions. That said, a non-drinker can usually find like-minded people, but don’t kid yourself: most freshmen come in and experiment. For what it’s worth, I’ve seen binge drinking and multiple weekly ambulance trips at private liberal arts colleges on par with state Us. It is not a private vs. public issue. The legal trouble usually follows the booze. The culture hasn’t embraced the concept that, if booze is on board, by definition the issue of consent is pretty much gone. It’s a very scary thing, for both genders, and I think the conversation surrounding the culture at every college should be loud and clear.
Sentencing of Batey and Vandenburg delayed to April 24…stay tuned…
D is a Vandy senior, graduating in May. She is in a sorority–one of the more popular ones. Although underage drinking is very prevalent, it’s not required, even to fit in in the Greek system. At least one of her sorority sisters chose not to drink at all until she was of legal age, and everyone was fine with it. Granted, that’s only one, but I think it still shows that each person can make his or her own choice. Moreover, I can assure you that virtually ALL of the kids at Vandy are super smart and hard-working. They wouldn’t survive the academics if they were partying all the time. Like most young audits, many Vandy students revel in their independence early in their college careers, but then learn to buckle down and party only when the schedule allows. It’s a really great school full of very smart students.