Letter to the Editor: There should be more transparency in sexual assaults that occur at fraternity houses

Letter+to+the+Editor%3A+There+should+be+more+transparency+in+sexual+assaults+that+occur+at+fraternity+houses

By Jacquelyn Banks

In response to “Frats live on despite UI punishments.” The article leaves much room for inference and support of Alpha Chi Rho’s reapplication and reinstatement. However, I think the narrative should shift itself to the problem the University is having with sexual assault in relation to Fraternity Affairs.

The article states that 2/3  of fraternities/sororities on campus are private certified housing. Currently five houses on campus have been revoked of recognition because of a formal sanction resulted from a violation of the student code, yet still live on. Their letters still hang. Members are still being initiated. The parties go on. Funding continues. The sexual assault still happens. The immediate question occurs: What are they doing to promote the extinction of sexual assault as a body of unrecognized fraternity members?

The next question becomes, when the University sends out unnamed frat houses where (a female victim has been sexually assaulted by someone she knew) are these inclusive of houses in which are suspended? What are the unseen consequences for these frat houses where this continued assault is happening? Formal University sanctions including reprimand and censure seem inappropriate in such cases.

What does that even include? How are unrecognized institutions such as the five named in this article held accountable when they are not even recognized? If they cannot contribute to the solution to this problem, nor receive proper punishment, why are they living on? Perhaps it is a circumstance of profit. Are houses protected by University profits/ fraternal alumni? I do not believe this issue receives its proper attention. There is no (seen) accountability among these protected and privileged houses of power on campus. How can we trust our institution in regulation of a safe spaces if major square footage remain as places where unpunished sexual assault happens from First Street to Wright Street.  That is a huge chunk of route on campus.

I would suggest more transparency in issues of sexual assault and proper accountability being produced by the hand of the University in fraternity regulation.

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Jacquelyn is a senior in Social Work. 

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