#saam2015

By: Amanda Miller

I live in State College, Pennsylvania, right where Pennsylvania State University is. As a “townie” I know all that goes on at the campus without actually being a college student. About a month ago, it was leaked that a fraternity on campus, Kappa Delta Rho, had two private Facebook pages containing drug transactions, photographs of hazing, and photographs of naked and unconscious women. While there were many supporters for punishment of participants and justice for the women, some people did not feel the same way. A former member of the fraternity was interviewed by Philly Magazine and defended those involved saying: “…it is laughably pathetic to see the media spring on an occasional incident such as this, especially a media complicit in overturning the same sexual mores and moral standards that for millennia had at least to some extent curbed outright licentiousness. The fire of indignant, misplaced self-righteousness that looks to ruin people’s lives and unjustly ruin reputations is the abuse and violation that should be at the center of discussion, not the humorous, albeit possibly misguided, antics of a bunch of college kids…”

It is something like this that is the reason I’m committed to ending sexual violence. So that I can live in a town where men and women don’t have to worry about being exposed while trying to have fun. So when a situation like this does occur that everyone realizes it is wrong and does not defend the perpetrators. So that I can spread awareness to prevent things like this from happening. I’m taking the pledge to end sexual assault. Will you? Take the pledge at: iwillesv.tumblr.com.