Dear 20-year-old men,

Is it okay that I addressed you as a man? Are you ready for that title? Sometimes, I meet you and you are respectful and responsible; other times, I meet you and you have reverted back to toilet humor that wasn’t even funny in eighth grade. Of course, I use “you” generously and plurally; I go to college, I am 19. I know a lot of 20-year-old men. As I said, some of these men are men and some never matured beyond boyhood. Maybe this should not be addressed to 20-year-old men because there are boys much younger than you who should hear this message and there are men much older who apparently have never heard it.

My message to deliver on behalf of women everywhere is in regards to the “catcall,” or any other type of unwanted, verbal male attention. As a runner, or simply a girl who exists in the world, I have experienced the “catcall” on numerous occasions. In fact, on a 6-mile run through Worcester, Massachusetts, a friend and I counted 25 whistles, catcalls, honks and hollers (that is once every quarter mile). We were not "asking for it." It was unsolicited. We were just out for a run, participating in Division I sports just like football players or lacrosse players practicing on the field do (and which Title 9 has enabled us to do). This is not an issue of government or institutional interference; this problem is a microscopic (it happens because of individuals) epidemic (many individuals eventually create a cultural problem).

The message I deliver is not unique nor is it groundbreaking. You, men, know or should know, that when a woman is simply walking down the street, on an elliptical, grocery shopping or just existing in the world as she normally does, she wishes to do so without your objectification. I write this message knowing that it will not reach those who need to hear it most. But maybe, at the very least, the headline will catch one person’s attention and it might spare a handful of women the simple humiliation of being whistled at. This phenomena, after all, does not just affect the “scumbag” men of the world, it hits close to home right here at Holy Cross. I don’t even need to leave campus to hear this kind of debauchery. The men here know better, so be better.

I know that a whistle is a long way away from rape. But just because it isn’t as bad or as harassing, doesn’t mean you should feel entitled to do it. It’s humiliating, degrading and disrespectful. When you and your buddies are outnumbering a girl 10 to one and one of you thinks it would be funny -- as casual as it may seem -- to even whistle at a girl, pause. Think of your sisters. Think of your girlfriends. Think of your friends. Something as simple as a degrading comment or whistle can affect the way that girl feels about herself. It isn’t just a whistle or a comment, it’s a subtle reminder that when push comes to shove, she will always fall down.

Sincerely,