Hello, this is my first post. However, we have GREATLY appreciated the advice, support, and information available on CC.
We were initially thrilled at DD’s acceptance to ASU’s Barrett Honors College, but stumbled across the following news about the alleged ‘culture of rape’ at Barrett.
https://sundevilsagainstsexualassault.wordpress.com/
http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/barrett-the-honors-college-at-asu-is-a-close-knit-community-some-say-too-close-6633269
On one hand, I feel that all young people are going to need to practice caution and wisdom navigating social and academic environments away from home, and that possibly the attention drawn to this issue at Barrett may even result in professors taking a more conservative approach to boundaries with undergrads. On the other hand, each social group does really have it’s inherent history and ‘norms’ and I don’t want to send my relatively starry-eyed, naive DD into a snake pit. Sorry for the dramatic language but I am tossing and turning over this.
I would appreciate any input from current Barrett parents, Barrett students, or Barrett alums, or links to other threads that may have already addressed this topic.
If I could edit, I would re-write that above to say, into a “situation where the community may still be in a process of re-evaluating their approach to resolving conflicts and issues related to policies regarding student/teacher relationships, resulting in social undercurrents that may prove complex to navigate.”
Is it specific to ASU or Barrett that some faculty may have inappropriate relationships with students? (Although it does appear that ASU dismisses such faculty when found out.)
Regardless of where your “starry-eyed naive” daughter attends college, reducing the naivete would be a good thing.
What I find most worrisome is that the reports suggests that inappropriate relationships are pervasive and condoned. It is encouraging that the offenders are dismissed from their positions. But I wonder if this is “too little, too late.” A change in policy about such relationships would be a step in the right direction.
Such relationships happen everywhere, but this appears to be more than random.
Thank you, that is good advice. We are working on it. Optimism (sometimes unrealistic) is an aspect of her personality. She also occasionally misses social nuances as a part of her ADHD.
My understanding, based on the articles, was there were concerns regarding a pattern of issues at Barrett specifically, including the issues addressed in the Title IX complaint filed by the former Barrett student.
I am also reassured by the documentation that ASU dismisses faculty if warranted. I am thinking that this is an issue that must occur in other places as well, and hoping that the fact it has been publicized means steps are being taken to address it at ASU, rather than sweeping it under the rug. Also, trying to read internet articles with a grain of salt.