My criticism of this article is blaming Christendom for not doing the same thing this article can not; openly accuse the man in question of rape. An authentically Catholic college that prepares you for the future. This is a favored tactic of shoddy journalists who want to do a hit piece, and the Fishers followed the recipe quite well. Its getting harder and harder for them in todays society. The College is actually small enough, and physically remote from the built-up town center, that it is more ignored than anything. Accustomed to a large, sociable, extended family, she knew Christendom would be conservative, but was bemused by the strict segregation of males and females. The other allegations against him were also by hearsay, and they put those allegations in writing and asked him to defend himself. The reports indicate that Adele Smith indicated, after a prior incident with you, that she no longer wanted a relationship with you. The school has a very thorough policy in place, and anyway, this was not in Christendoms jurisdiction, so their hands were legally tied in their dealings regarding the actual rape. They didnt make any changes until after pressure had been applied over the course of several years. [15], The total financial assets have increased by 440%, and total plant costs have increased by 397%. These are Catholic seminarians. [12] Construction began in 1992, and was completed in 1995. Christendom College University of Toronto-Regis College Experience Priest in Residence Christendom College Oct 2021 - Present1 year 2 months Assistant Professor Santa Clara University Sep. I remember this clearly from my own dating daysin your head your thinking I dont want to have sex, but gosh, Im attracted to him right now and I dont want to stop! I was absolutely torn in two. Protected: Ill See Myself Out, Episode 62: Episodic! And its really sad when a woman is then abused in this way. Your objectives have nothing to do with the truth, the several patently false claims youve made about Christendom are evidence of as much. The college has strict rules about students of opposite sexes being alone together. . But hes also smart enough to skate around any blame when there isnt any proof. Wonder how thats working on all those great secular and Catholic-in-name only colleges that dont have those stupid single-sex dorm rules and have open alcohol and drug use in the dorms and on campus. I do think it unfair and infuriating that in the modern world where young people are wandering in a culture without any norms or mores, women are less protected and offer suffer much more than the men do. This article smacks of a smear job, and there are so many lies and misrepresentations in this article, I dont even know where to begin. I didnt know about consent because, in my world, good Christian girls and boys were supposed to never have anything bad happen to them that was what happened to so-called sinful, unChristian people. Imply that all it involved was inserting a phrase, Do not rape. The only time that happens is when the entire story is based on a provable lie that they should have known about. That is a fundamental principle of justice. Perhaps they did mention it. Like that has never happened before on a less stringent campus. Yes they would hang out in more open areas because they could be openly affectionate. I had seen already something was wrong, something had happened, Foeckler said. When the things that are prohibited include normal and moral activities, then there is something wrong with them. His behavior is horrible and I hope that he experiences the full extent of the justice system. Higher rates of rape, according to USNews&World Report. The other allegations against him were also by hearsay, and they put those allegations in writing and asked him to defend himself. Thats America. And this is ore than just a liberal arts school, it is a Catholic institution. So, you are saying that because other colleges deal with it badly, that therefore it isnt a scandal that Christendom handled it badly? Can confirm. Protected: Podcast 3dunno: Even Wilder Turkey! we have reports that indicate that you have violated the Code of Student Conduct by harassing another student Another student instructed you to leave her alone but you continued. Christendom teaches its students to group date first. I still have a lot of tenderness for those guys, deep down, even if my larger experience with the church has made me hostile toward Catholicism generally, and deeply cynical about the priesthood. It does truly permeate the campus. They should be paying me for the therapy I need, not the other way around. I remember clearly two instances where a professor I respected and a male friend who I valued told me to my face that women were inferior in ability and authority to men and ought to accept that. . Civil authorities operate under much greater constraints. All I do have is the perspective of a dumb young adult who thought he'd found Heaven's outpost on earth. Friday Night Mandatory Lent Film Party, 2023 edition! The article makes the following claim without proof or attribution, and it has been contended with by several students, But current students and alumni say the school has a boys will be boys attitude which allows the male students to harass and grab at the women. No more specifics are given, but the implication is that men are allowed to grab womens arses, etc., without repercussion even to their reputations. I understand it is difficult for her to go forward, but if justice is to be publicly served, accusations must be publicly leveled. The school, itself, is actually quite safe, so safe that even when rape happens among its own students, it has to happen off the school grounds. New student orientation includes a session that covers sexual harassment and assault, reporting, and on-campus resources for support. This response sounds like a trolling hay day, so if thats what you were going for, good job! No, it takes opening a word document and writing it up: Dont rape people. If theres a single member on your board who has an issue with that, they shouldnt be on that board, Smith said. It is a Catholic college. Question: are the writers christendom 2020 and sophomore girl at Christendom the same girl/ writer? the letters read to indicate the same writer. Meanwhile, these suggestions that its the no PDA policy thats to blame, really is bizarrely pseudo Freudian. Every street, business, coffeehouse, fast food place, restaurant, movie theater, shopping center, library, store, park. And no, I'm not giving you any donations. They have pointed to several problem areas that are not yet fixed. A school can also take rape allegations seriously, and remove the accused person from campus. Im sorry, but your logic is misconstrued here. Protected: Podcast #20: GET THAT ALLIGATOR AWAY FROM ME! LOL, the chastity policy was a joke when I went there. Simcha does that, see? Men should feel degraded by this way of thought. Oct. 12, 202201:21. faculty, staff, etc.). I can tell you as someone whos had to deal with rape incidents associated with schools hes worked for, that Christendom is not a school that gives off a dangerous vibe. The old one, which stands at the heart of the campus, is too . Saunders left his position as dean, and founding faculty member Dr. Kristin Burns took over the position. I am not making this up. so: it is either a case of the same writer pretending to be two writer. or CC issues pre-fabed letters that require only a signature- if that. I mainly left because they wouldnt give tenure to the head of the sacred music department because he refused to teach the history of contemporary Christian music. Im so sorry you were raped, Jenislawski said. Is it worse to let a rapist remain on campus or expel an innocent student? Woody Allen has an even more credible allegation against him, but still gets to make movies. She didnt want to accept that something so ugly had happened to her. Which they could now do on campus anyway. And people worrying too much about specks in other peoples eyes and not the planks in their own or if they did worry about their own planks, it was to an extraordinarily high level of scrupulosity. It was up to me to avoid him, she said. Only as an adult did I see the dynamics of power, coercion, grooming and (lack of) consent at play, and even when I began to tell my story, many people brushed it off as in onsequential. A school can also have clearly defined sexual assault policies on the books, and discuss these policies with their students. Our culture promotes chivalry and kindness towards everyone at Christendom. The fact that little can be done in this tragedy is very much a fallen world problem, a human nature problem, and a justice system problem. Today a new wave of aggressive secularism is attempting to sweep away the roots and reasons for your faith. While I was a student at Christendom, an off-campus, non-student male pursued a female student across the campus. Is it possible that they could get it wrong? It may be that the whole thing wasnt handled as it should have been, but then, how should it have been handled? The only other thing I remember is going shooting with a bunch of students, including women in skirts. The reality is men can say no, men can control their actions and they are humans with free will. Exactly. Rapists should be burnt at the stake, but going on a witch-hunt for rape culture does not help. Bear in mind I never heard of anybody calling security if they were at a party in South Bend that got out of handbut I didnt run in very party-like circles. 2023 Christendom College. I hope you will also do an expose on colleges such as Notre Damethe wackadoodle attitudes I encountered there regarding women and sex would make your head spin. In The Sin of White Supremacy: Christianity, Racism and Religious Diversity in America (Orbis, 2017), Jeannine Hill Fletcher, Ph.D., professor of theology, examines theology's culpability in perpetuating ideas that elevate both Christianity and whiteness over all else. Imply that what they did was nothing. [3] The college also retired nearly $600,000 in debt without disrupting the growth of the college.[8]. While I am not a Christendom graduate, I know many graduates. And victims have the right to be taken seriously, to not be dismissed. I cant stop him, apparently, she recalled thinking. Goodbye, Christendom College. I understand that everyone has a different experience at college. Started in 1969, the Notre Dame Institute was created to train religious sisters to teach Catholic doctrine to other teachers, but later welcomed lay students in the late 1970s. [in loco parentis] is not a phrase that I use with any frequency, ODonnell wrote toward the end of his letter to Scott Smith. we could! Her commentary is supported by analysis from the Pew Research Institute in 2021, which found 53% of Latinos ages 18 to 29 say they hear racist or racially insensitive comments or jokes about other . The inaccuracies you mention are minor. Your email address will not be published. Congrats for finding a better life path. Christendom is praised as a safe haven where young students can focus on their studies, grow in their faith, and "breathe the Catholic air." That is exactly what you are saying, men cant control themselves so woman have to. No, it takes opening a word document and writing it up: Dont rape people. If theres a single member on your board who has an issue with that, they shouldnt be on that board, Smith said.. As far as I can see, either your outrage should be with park police and the legal system that did nothing, as opposed to the school which actually did something(albeit minor), or you should be mad at yourselves for not hiring a bounty hunter to mutilate the guy. And the sexist views of some professors didnt help us stay safe. Merely printing something against rape seems redundant, though. 238: Deep in the heart of New Hampshire, Whats for supper? As a campus dedicated to following the teachings of the Catholic Church, we strive to foster an environment where every student feels safe and respected and where the dignity of the human person is upheld and honored. They explained to her that a prosecutor would take her case, but that the chances of going to trial, much less of the young man being prosecuted, were very low. Protected: Pocast #18: Lets just do it and be legends! It would be difficult for Christendom to have a fuller Catholic identity. Um, no. There was no mention of her accusation of rape, either in the charge letter or in the sanction letter. What Adele says about not allowing PDAs on campus may seem like an interesting topic for discussion but dragging Christendom down the road of shame because they dont have coed dorms is really not the answer. Its handling of the case may not have been malicious, but it was certainly pusillanimous. Contact Leslie Mathews by email at lmathews@christendom.edu or by phone by calling 540.551.9300. I will say that no professor I had ever backed up this position, but neither did I see them fight to overturn it. Christendom College is one of the best liberal arts colleges in America. It took all of her strength not to drive off the mountain. [28] College President Timothy O'Donnell acknowledged victims in an official statement, saying, "We have failed some of our students. . It should do better. But you dont know more than that. The truth matters little. The message delivered was clear, according to Smith. There is no statute of limitations for rape in Virginia (https://www.rainn.org/pdf-files-and-other-documents/Public-Policy/Legal-resources/2009-Statutes/09VirginiaStatutes.pdf). Is hearing both sides unreasonable? As I said, virtue thrives in the light. The entire passage describing his offense is as follows: Specifically, you admitted: to placing your hand on Adele Smiths knee, attempting to provoke her to slap you and or to kiss you to deal with her frustrations with you, and finally for telling some students around campus that she had seduced you. Two months later, the school explained what the young man would be charged with: harassing Smith after a prior incident. The charges do not mention rape. Such a different vibe from my Canadian background. They would come around to the dorms (I worked at a front desk) to check in and see that everything was okay on a regular basis. BUT. Criticize them for taking a long time. Christendom College will continue to do everything it can to understand how to best respond to these very difficult and tragic situations. Carroll decided not to accept federal funding at the college, choosing instead to rely on generous benefactors. Again, every college in America that has less strict PDA rules (nearly every college in America) has rape. One professor was quite emphatic than women are less rational, and when I got upset about that well, naturally he put that down to my lack of rationality, plus perhaps a dash of pride. I understand the argument that Christendom had their hands tied due to the lack of criminal prosecution. Simchas piece was very specific. These are very serious accusations, and the reporting does not match the seriousness of those charges. And they need to get rid of those moldy carpets! People were mostly really nice, and there was this kind of lovely cocoon of ideological sameness that I'd never experienced before. unless you are a member of the clergy etc YOU ARE IN THE SECULAR WORLD. The town has over 14,000 people, so the college isnt a large part of it. Several have contended that having a policy would have prevented the problem. They have a right to speak about the crimes committed against them. Do this by bringing up older, isolated issues and make it sound like the college has done next to nothing to improve. Karen wrote, reads as if composed by a hypnotized 5 year old.. Simultaneously persecuted superior and Self hating in that bizarre catholic mix Brilliant line. 154 Following. I can understand completely the reasons behind not having visitors of the opposite sex in the dorms, however the upstairs magazine reading room in the library was also dubbed the Romeo and Juliet room since couples would go there to make out. After the sanctions were imposed, Smith and the young man still had classes together, including core classes that were required for all students. There is much that reeks of shoddy reporting in these two pieces: basically only one side was presented when the facts were right in front of the Fishers (e.g., through the current student handbook and interviewees). This article is a libel suit waiting to happen. No wonder Christendom is so embarrassed that they havent put their apology on their website yet. However, a private institution has some flexibility in such matters, and it is not entirely dependent upon the acts of civil authorities. Vol. She fled to her dorm and went to bed. Trad bubble alert! Christendom College is a Catholic liberal arts college in Front Royal, Virginia, United States, located in the Shenandoah Valley. Actually, if you read what the new sexual assault policy is, it is much more than Smith claims. Thank you for writing that. It was the same with the guys open house, except theyd have TVs and video games. You are very brave. Not a Christendom problem. But consent is not usually nebulous. Thats certainly not Christendoms fault. You spoke to the parents of the graduating students gathered there of the profound sense of responsibility you felt of acting in loco parentis for our children and your gratitude that we, as their parents, had entrusted our children to you . Or even if he left Front Royal, this would not guarantee the safety of other women. Read that section of the post again. To those students who have been harmed, I am deeply sorry. The PDA does NOT push kids into private remote areas. That takes a lot of strength to write to them like that. Anyway, campus police are a whole different bear. I must charitably assume (another term I learned there) this must have been chaste, but it still looked extremely odd. 239: Spot the fiendish thingy, Whats for supper, vol. The school apparently based its response on two facts: First, there was, in 2011, no clause in the student handbook prohibiting sexual assault. She returned the car to her friend, went back to her dorm, sat down in the shower fully clothed, and cried. On what planet? That is different from critiquing the PDA policy and segregated dorms. The way I see it, and many may disagree with this, but the failure was not a moral failure, but an administerial one(if that). Yup, I sure did do it! Reading the few witnessed sentences we have from the perp, the man sounds like a TRUE sociopath. We cant even prove whether or not a marriage is consensual or valid in the Catholic marriage tribunals, and a marriage involves months of prep and numerous witnesses! I used to ask my fiance when we were engaged, do you love me a la folie? Trying to live as a chaste couple before marriage, I was constantly struggling with worries over love and acceptancemany times after making out wildly with him but then walking away and saying goodnight. If they had to leave public areas to show affection, then they might as well go to the prettiest. When we do so, the conversations about purity culture and what people wear will also become moot points, because it is about power and consent, regardless of gender. best foods to regain strength after covid; retrograde jupiter in 3rd house; jerry brown linda ronstadt; storm huntley partner . Not sure you thought through what you wrote at all and how that would affect rape victims. We will continue to do so in fidelity to our mission: to restore all things in Christ. He RETIRED a year or so ago. In the example, they decide to fornicate, but then the young woman regrets her choice, and decides to claim the young man attacked her. In your own words, this article is about how this student should have received better care, and more protection from this guy later. I could go on, but my point is that we MUST see sexual assault as a bigger issue than something that men perpetrate upon women. It was usually fairly evident who those people were and if you didnt want trouble, you stayed out of their circle. They should be able to express themselves romantically in a public setting, which is a safer setting to learn how to navigate as a couple. During his tenure, the college increased the number of buildings on campus to over 20, including St. Lawrence Commons, St. Francis, St. Benedict, St. Catherine of Siena, and St. Clare Hall, St. Louis the Crusader Gymnasium, and St. John the Evangelist Library. The college now employs more than 40 full-time faculty members,[16] compared to the original five, along with a number of adjunct members. I wonder what people do with degrees from schools like Christendom. It is alleged that a professor offered an example about Adele in class in an effort to smear her, however multiple students have come forward to say that his example was being used many, many years before Adela even attended the university, so it couldnt have been about her. Best of luck! This sounds like a solution I would expect from a small school, where something major is placed on them. 2) If the college does anything to improve, dont actually describe their efforts in the article. . I said the college had an obligation to investigate by questioning him directly (in a private setting) about the rape. They brought the skills of their craft to shining a light on the dark underbelly of this college. Ive told him three times not to. It would do a great deal more to restore faith in their school if they would be open about the affair. What did happen on campus was punished. This encourages privacy and some better behavior. I've got one that's somewhat similar. Carroll remained as president until 1985 when Dr. Damian Fedoryka was named as the second president. Are you joking? They had to drive. The last thing Christendom needs is a kangaroo court that believes everything that comes out of accusers mouths. Vol. Starting in September 2016, Christendom College launched an ambitious project called the "A Call To Greatness Campaign" to raise $40 million for the college's endowment, the annual fund, and a construction project to build a new 750-seat medieval gothic chapel featuring a 130-foot tower and eight prayer altars. Because if there were no chastity policy, people wouldnt be pushed into secret places andcould be openly unchaste. Was there ever a police report filed? Sexual harassment and assault is inimical to such an environment. According to records of the minutes taken at two local school board meetings, one of which was held on July 15, 2021 and another on August 5, 2021, multiple public employees at Riverside Unified . However, Im not sure the reporting here accurately reflects of the issues at Christendom, and it certainly doesnt lay out anything that can be done to improve conditions for future students, as the few things suggested have already been implemented. Are you saying that these rapists would have been content to make out on a public bench or in a public common room? ), Protected: Podcast #48: Accidentally unnamed, Protected: Podcast #46: Mamas little snakey loves bananofee pie, Protected: Podcast #45: Sharples and cocaine, Protected: Podcast 44: Some degree of martyrdom, One long dad joke: My interview with EOTTs S.C. Naoum. So printing, rape is not tolerated or whatever they expected to be printed in the handbook sounds a little naive. Seriously how is this possible? There was always a (subtle enough that it could be gaslighted away if you tried to talk about it) sense that women just dont matter as much at Christendom.