Sexual Assault response. Profoundly disturbing.

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
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<p><a href="http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2014/3/31/Harvard-sexual-assault/"&gt;http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2014/3/31/Harvard-sexual-assault/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>As an alum, I find this really disheartening...</p>

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<p>My daughter posted the article to her facebook wall last night, so I’m disheartened, disturbed and concerned as well!</p>

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<p>I feel like I need a lot more context to understand this. Do other universities use a broader definition of sexual misconduct/assault, and does that make a real difference in the internal discipline process? I have no idea.</p>

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<p>I feel very bad for this young woman. Sounds like she’s battling depression and possible substance abuse problems. </p>

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<p>Yale has had similar issues, but several years back the U.S. Department of Education’s Office mandated that Yale provide sexual counseling on “Day 1” to freshman about what constitutes appropriate behavior. See: <a href=“Are Colleges Doing Enough to Combat Sexual Violence? - TIME”>http://content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2065849,00.html&lt;/a&gt;. Given that my daughter has described the buses coming in from Wellesley – all the girls having their overnight bags at the ready – to the Final Clubs, and this article, the administration should probably mandate the same educational program.</p>

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<p>I’m still quite uninformed about Harvard culture. The misconduct policy that covers that this student’s situation encourages students to contact HUPD. This student contacted residential staff instead. Would this be the norm?</p>

<p>ETA: from another Crimson article:</p>

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<p>So is this case the unfortunate aftermath of a student initially contacting, or being advised to contact, the wrong people?</p>

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<p>All of this more than likely would not have taken place with the absence of ingested alcohol/substance. As a matter of fact, if alcohol was nonexistent in the colleges, I imagine sexual transmitted diseases would also be nonexistent.
I feel bad for the students that may have felt so much pressure to perform academically that they turned to alcohol and such. Sitting here thinking that I would much rather have my child rejected from his dream school(s) than accepted with a history of alcohol/substance abuse and mental health issues…
No college label can buy health and happiness!</p>

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<p>This bothers me. Wellesley students have nothing whatsoever to do with whatever problems Harvard is or is not having with sexual assault. Many Wellesley students take the bus for reasons that have nothing to do with Harvard. I search these fora for posts about Wellesley as it’s my special interest as an alumna and a mother of a current Wellesley student. Sorry to barge in on the Harvard board but this reference is not relevant to the problem.</p>

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<p>I’m sure that many Wellesley students take the bus for reasons that have nothing to do with the big H, but the buses are indeed part of what is still an “all boy” network at Harvard – at least when it comes to the Final Clubs. My niece went to Wellesley and she was well aware of the buses – and pretty disgusted by them I might add. I’m sure your daughter is well aware of them, and holds them in the same regard. If all the Final Clubs were co-ed, this kind of situation might not persist at Harvard. Here are a few articles for those not in the know:
<a href=“The Harvard Crimson”>http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2006/2/22/the-girls-next-door-what-are/&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“The Social Network: Actually Sexist, or an Unwelcome Reflection of Our Times? | Vanity Fair”>http://www.vanityfair.com/online/oscars/2010/10/is-the-social-network-really-misogynist&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“The Harvard Crimson”>http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2013/10/10/female-final-clubs-a-retrospection/&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“The Harvard Crimson”>http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2010/4/15/clubs-social-final-club/&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“Should Final Clubs Go Co-Ed? | News | The Harvard Crimson”>http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2010/5/25/less-club-singlesex-class/&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://www.thecrimson.com/series/flybys-final-club-survey/article/2013/10/3/final-club-prestige-exclusivity/”>http://www.thecrimson.com/series/flybys-final-club-survey/article/2013/10/3/final-club-prestige-exclusivity/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Well, yes, my D and I are aware of the Peter Pan bus. It brings one into Harvard Square. Also, Kendall Square. Also, Commonwealth Ave. The old name is still around. But I don’t think it has any bearing on crime rates and sexual politics at Harvard. I’m sorry about the young woman’s experience. I believe the best thing to do is to call the police. Don’t go to RAs or college administrators when a crime is committed. This advice applies to every campus, everywhere.</p>

<p>My D has friends at Harvard from high school. They are solid kids.</p>

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<p>“I’m sorry about the young woman’s experience. I believe the best thing to do is to call the police. Don’t go to RAs or college administrators when a crime is committed.”</p>

<p>Exactly. </p>