TW: SA
On Oct. 12, 2021, Assistant Vice President of Safety and Security Patrick Gagnon sent out a “Timely Warning” to the St. Lawrence community about the sexual assault (SA) that occurred on Saturday, Oct. 9 in Jencks Hall by an unknown heavy-set male.
The message was sent in accordance with the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act of 1998, as the reported offense was deemed a possibility of continuing threat to the campus. The stated purpose of the email was to “heighten your awareness, to enable you to take actions which can help increase your safety, and to aid in the prevention of similar crimes.”
The email was released at 4:36 pm and immediately following, students were expressing their feelings on the social media app Yik Yak, which allows people to anonymously post and view discussion threads within a five-mile radius. A pattern of outrage surfaced amongst the posts, and people were even calling out names of other sexual assaulters on campus in the same spirit of the #MeToo movement. Soon students were supporting sentiments of a protest on campus. At first, the idea was for a march that started at the MacAllaster House, the house of the University president, and ended at Gaines, the dorm of one of the students receiving a myriad of SA accusations. Eventually, the majority of support developed for a peaceful protest outside Morris’ house.
So, at 9 pm the same evening the email was released, a protest that was organized in mere hours via an anonymous social media app occurred. Several hundreds of students gathered to share their concerns about sexual misconduct at St. Lawrence and how the University handles such issues. Upon arriving at the president’s lawn, students saw several of the Student Life leaders waiting: President Kate Morris, Vice President and Dean of Student Life Hagi Bradley, Assistant Dean of Student Life and Director of Residence Life Chris Marquart, Assistant Dean of Student Life and Director of Student Activities John O’Connor, and Assistant Director of Residence Life Maverick Cummings.
Hannah Spaeth ‘23 revealed she had been the one to formulate the plan for the protest via the anonymous app. Spaeth led the protest with two demands: a call for a formal open forum with all of the administrators to be organized by campus for all students, and a zero-tolerance policy for SA. The group at the protest also pushed for a third demand: a fully staffed resource office for SA.
Before opening the floor for student voices, the protest began with a silent demonstration. With everyone sitting in solidarity on the lawn, everyone who had experienced or knew someone who experienced SA at St. Lawrence was asked to stand. Almost everybody stood. When asked to stay standing only if the case was formally addressed and the assaulter was held accountable by the University, only a couple students remained standing.
A Q&A-type session began between the protestors and the University representatives. Below are just a handful of the statements expressed by students and the responses from the University leaders.
“Assaulters should not be allowed on campus.”
“Rape is rape.”
“Assault is assault.”
“Trauma is trauma.”
“How are we making this a safe place for students?”
“Why were there no trigger warnings or resources on the email about the sexual assault?”
Bradley stated, “We are here to listen. We care. We are taking action.”
A student shouted, “Kate Morris, we want to hear from you. You’re our president. You’re a woman.”
Morris responded with, “I have been listening. Thank you for coming out. Sexual assault is unacceptable.”
Murmurs.. “LET HER SPEAK”
Morris continued, “We are listening to your concerns. We are looking at our procedures. We are putting more resources in place. We will do better.”
Hagi added, “These problems are real. That’s why we’re trying to fix it. We want to fix it. This is unacceptable. We don’t want a band aid. We’re permanently trying to fix these issues. We want our Title IX person to be a permanent fixture. We want education post orientation. We want a trauma-informed Title IX coordinator. That’s why we got a new counselor and the 24 hour hotline. And are trying to fix it now that issues have presented themselves.”
“It’s not enough to move assaulters into another dorm or temporarily take him off campus. I don’t feel safe.”
“Why is moving seen as a solution? It just puts more people at risk.”
“Why are they staying here?”
“Let’s make a change god dammit.”
A student Admissions Ambassadors revealed their struggle to feel like they are lying to families when they say they feel safe on campus.
“Once you’re part of a group, you get off scot free. If you’re on a sport, your teammates defend you. If you’re in a Greek, your brothers defend you.”
“Don’t stay friends with someone if you know they assaulted someone.”
“WHY ARE ASSAULTERS MORE PROTECTED THAN SURVIVORS?”
Bradley clarified, “We must follow federal guidelines. Until there is a formal finding, we cannot expel or punish a student.”
“SLU should be protesting the government about these problems in the system like we are to you tonight.”
“It doesn’t need to be a Title IX violation; why can’t we punish people for violating school policies?”
O’Connor responded to a question on going to the police rather than St. Lawrence to avoid the federal Title IX policies: “You can go to the police, but the police’s standards are a lot higher for evidence needed to find someone guilty of SA.”
“I don’t feel comfortable coming forward. How are you going to change the culture going forward?”
Morris answered, “We have an interim Title IX coordinator. Hagi and I are creating a new role that is dedicated solely as Title IX and sexual assault prevention. This should make a more comfortable environment for coming forward. As long as I’m here, I’m going to take it seriously when someone comes forward. We have to have prevention. We have to have training. It has to be ongoing.”
Students came forward about their own experiences and why they feel unsafe at St. Lawrence. Many students revealed their struggle with having to constantly see their assaulter on campus.
“WHY ARE THEY STILL HERE.”
“Assaulters know what consent is. They just know nothing will be done about it.”
“Will you support the survivor? Will you do everything you can? Take the burden off the survivors.”
“Why don’t we have data about SA on campus?”
“Tomorrow, go into your offices. Find the person who did this. Find the new Title IX coordinator. In fact, do it tonight.”
“We need more than a Title IX coordinator. We need a team. We need prevention and punishment and remediation.”
Steph Sauve ‘22 spoke as president on behalf of the Advocates, the student-run support system for survivors and peers of survivors of sexual assault, relationship, and domestic violence and abuse and stalking: “You can call us. We’re not allowed to report. We are here for you.”
Sauve also stated that she would organize a second Advocates training in November upon seeing the need via this protest.
After an hour, the protest concluded with the hopes that the University would implement the three demands.
Yik Yak continued to have post after post of students continuing to respond to the issue. Some continued to call out assaulters who remain on campus, while some brought up concerns about false allegations through the anonymous site. A lot of posts expressed hurt and outrage at their own experience, a pattern of ending posts with “Do better SLU” emerging. The app also allowed the spread of the new organization that was started in response to this event to give SA survivors resources on how to report or just to talk @theninecoalitionslu. A petition called Change the Culture at St. Lawrence University on Change.com started by Spaeth was circulated, currently nearing 1,000 signatures; the petition hopes to address the culture of sexual assault apology and the handling of Title IX violations with the same three demands from the initial protest.
On Oct. 13, a new email emerged in the inboxes of St. Lawrence students, this time a direct message from President Morris. She informed every one of the protests that had occurred: “I heard your anger, your fear, and your sadness about sexual assault on campus. I heard you express concern that our policies and processes inhibit people from reporting what they experience. And I heard your anger about both our processes and about the outcomes of cases.”
Morris assured students that an open forum with Student Life leaders and the Title IX committee the week after mid-semester break to allow students to ask questions and learn more about Title IX, what campus resources St. Lawrence has and are in development, and the next steps for the Task Force on the Causes and Prevention of Sexual Misconduct.
Morris highlighted that the following week would be Purple Week, during which the Advocates raise awareness and support for survivors of domestic violence. She also confirmed that an Advocates Aware Training will occur Nov. 12-14. The email also included a list of resources for support:
- SLU Safety and Security: 315-229-5555
- Advocates 24/7 hotline: 315-244-5466
- 24-Hour Mental Health Crisis Line: 315-229-1914
- Health and Counseling Center: 315-229-5392
- Renewal House (a local non-profit organization for individuals who are victims of stalking, domestic/sexual violence): 315-379-9845
Morris concluded with, “Let me state very clearly: sexual misconduct is unacceptable, both on our campus and everywhere. That sexual misconduct occurs on our campus is abhorrent and violates the norms, expectations, and obligations of our Laurentian community. We must and we will do better.”