Dear DePauw, Your Campus Is Not Safe
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

Dear DePauw, Your Campus Is Not Safe

Not all students are cared for here.

188
Dear DePauw, Your Campus Is Not Safe
kdermerly / Flickr

Dear DePauw University,

I'm one of your students, a senior who has only a few months left of my undergraduate career. Four years is a long time to spend in one place. It's enough time for lots of things to happen.

Four years of walking across campus, to classes during the day and parties at night.

Four years of unwanted advances from people, who don't seem to know what "no" means.

Four years of hearing men, your students, talk about the vile things they want to do to women, who are also your students.

Four years of holding close my panic-stricken friends who you could not keep safe from those who violated their bodies.

Four years of being terrified to be alone at night, even on our own campus.

Four years of fighting for reform and no response from you.

If you claim to value "all your students", why is it that I no longer trust you to take care of us? Where is the justice for women who are violated EVERY SINGLE WEEK? Why are these issues not discussed in detail during freshmen orientation? Why are men here still allowed to go through recruitment when they have allegations against them? Why have there been no convictions against perpetrators in over ten years here, as though people can violate others and know they will get away with it? Are you too scared to bring up such difficult topics? Or is this just not a problem for you as an institution?

This is not an alcohol issue, as you might think. This is not a product of "party culture". This is a result of people's lack of understanding of consent and the absence of proper justice on behalf of survivors. We as students are so tired of fighting these problems on our own; we need help from the administration to raise awareness, fight perpetrators, and provide actual education to students on sexual assault. But despite all the incidents on our campus, despite all of the students who you didn't protect, you still seem to turn a blind eye to our plight. How can you continue to do this?

Dear DePauw, my regret about graduating so soon is I feel I haven't done enough to make our campus safer. But why am I doing your job for you? You need to show you care about your students, especially those who have been raped or assaulted, because those are the ones you have severely failed. And as far as I can say, the number of these students is increasing every week. I want to be hopeful, but that depends on whether or not you will step up this time. If not, then I am happy to walk across that graduation stage and end my four years of living in fear.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
the beatles
Wikipedia Commons

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

Keep Reading...Show less
Being Invisible The Best Super Power

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

19 Lessons I'll Never Forget from Growing Up In a Small Town

There have been many lessons learned.

39292
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

114592
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments