Brandeis alum Michael Frederikse (Class of 2015) released a sexual assault prevention public service announcement this past Friday, July 24, 2015. The PSA (a video) consisted of Brandeis students from across the community showing their solidarity to this very important cause. This PSA is a great start to all of the work that Brandeis students are doing and continuing to do with respect to sexual assault prevention. That being said, the fight against sexual assault is absolutely not finished. I think that it is time for the Brandeis administration to not only accept that sexual assault happens on our campus and that it will not go away if ignored--but that it is a top-priority issue.
<span id="selection-marker-1" class="redactor-selection-marker" data-verified="redactor"></span>However, Brandeis' administration is not the only problem. Brandeis students have a tendency to latch onto a topic and, as soon as it stops being exciting or "cool,” they let it fizzle out. This leaves the passionate students who know the importance of these issues feel like lone soldiers. The creation of this PSA along with the amazing work that said passionate students have been doing (beside Sheila McMahon, Sexual Assault Prevention Specialist) proves that this issue is crucial. Certain Brandeis students have been very clear that they will not stop until they have abolished sexual assault from the Brandeis campus. From the bystander trainings being done all across campus to the opening of the Rape Crisis Center this past semester, and now to Frederikse's PSA, Brandeis students are really doing the work necessary to end sexual assault.
The release of this PSA should motivate students to continue fighting for the end of sexual assault not only on the Brandeis campus but for campuses across the nation. I have great confidence that Brandeis will not let this issue fall through the cracks. As the fresh, young, eager minds of Brandeis’s Class of 2019 join campus, it is an opportune time to continue changing the campus culture. If first-years see that the entire Brandeis community wants to eradicate sexual assault, they will want to join, and if the entire Brandeis community comes together for this issue, there is an opportunity to create so much change. At Brandeis there is always talk about our dedication to social justice; this is a time when the Brandeis community can show the administration that passion for sexual assault prevention is not a phase and that, as a community, we will not let it go ignored. Continue fighting, Brandeis, because we have a long way to go.
