But more importantly, I think that you might be using the term more broadly than is appropriate in this matter. L.A. council President Nury Martinez faces pressure to resign after racist remarks in leaked audio. I went to a small all-womens college, and we had an excellent campus security force; if you were feeling unsure about walking to your car at night you could call them for an escort. Hardly anyone went down there for any good reason; it was the closest thing to a crypt. Gross inaccuracies in the story include quoting someone as saying men and women arent allowed to even sit next to each other. I currently attend Christendom. ), Master of Arts (M.A. This was really well-written. You may not have read porn, but what you wrote is beyond appropriate. And some of the friends that I made. I went there to study with him, not go to Franciscan so much. I am so sad you had to live through that. Protected: Podcast 51: the Grift of the Magi, Protected: Podcast #50: The Five Stages of Revenge, Podcast 49: Not trying to hurry you (FREE PODCAST! If they arent keeping track, then the are no statistics to tell you what happens on campus and of campus. I considered Christendom, but that seemed a bit too much for me at the time. Guess the best cure for christianity is learning what christianity is actually about. Our countrys policies right now generally say yes for potential terrorists, but no for potential rapists. In your own words, this article is about how this student should have received better care, and more protection from this guy later. it was that, or sit in a brightly-lit classroom, with room for the Holy Spirit between you, and since its a public area, anybody might happen by and join you. If not, then how is the school supposed to levy public punishments that would permittly alter this guys life if the woman would not go forward to authorities? So despite all their classes and aves and skirts they are going to burn with Luther. This story was researched and reported by Damien and Simcha Fisher. Please think twice next time before you do that. 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. All I can say is, be happy the shackles are gone. She said she realized she could not stop the man. This way of thinking is part of the problem and how dare you try and equate her rape with a cheap romance novel script. But hes also smart enough to skate around any blame when there isnt any proof. Is there a clause in the student handbook prohibiting murder? Thats not how it works in any of the college towns Ive lived in, and I live in one now, where we also have a military base, and the base police dont have jurisdiction outside the base, for the most part. Are you seriously suggesting universities ban men from campus who are accused of rape with no proof and without an accuser who is even willing to go to the police or a local hospital for a rape kit exam, etc. If that happens, hopefully the young lady will have a CRKT S.P.E.W. And then we blame schools that are actually making efforts to establish some social mores to help guide young people? I left the church partially because of this problem (and several other more severe issues). Smiths criticisms of the university are reported on at length, while nowhere is the universitys current policy on sexual assault quoted or described. Should rapists be burned at the stake without incontrovertible evidence? The lack of process in place is about the same for most schools that size and design. They didnt make any changes until after pressure had been applied over the course of several years. The fact that the school is Catholic really seems quite irrelevant. The teachers provide a well rounded education of philosophy, history, theology, literature and political science. We cant! Another no escapes your lips and you make another feeble effort to turn away or push his hands away. I went to the March for Life in DC (I was very anti-abortion ber-Catholic). Yet, it is offered without proof of any sort, or even a source willing to go on record. . we have reports that indicate that you have violated the Code of Student Conduct by harassing another student and causing emotional harm. What policy would you advocate? i Love this reply. And I think hearing the other side is always critical. And St. Peters church (or rather the organ there). Accustomed to a large, sociable, extended family, she knew Christendom would be conservative, but was bemused by the strict segregation of males and females. She fled to her dorm and went to bed. The schools rigid rules governing male and female interaction werent just awkward, though. But is it really fair to expect men to navigate all the mixed signals? The inaccuracies you mention are minor. Most didnt know what was going on or how to handle me but at least they tried to hold out their hand. The article linked directly to the current handbook.. Holy crap, anonymous. If you presume that because Catholic teaching is against rape, that must mean that theyre able to appropriately address rape allegations, I think the fault is in your expectation and the reality of the situation, but not the school itself. [37], In 2022, Luckey appeared in court and pled guilty in order to receive a reduced sentence of time served, 24 months supervised probation, and must register as a sex offender. I am very sorry to hear of any sexual assault and it can happen in Front Royal. The reporting alleges/implies that young women arent safe at Christendom, that the university has an ongoing culture of assault and harassment toward women which is accepted by the community, and that the University doesnt help women who have been raped. I dont wish to discredit those who are appalled by the rape epidemic and Adele Smiths case, as it is horrific matter; but there are campuses where this stuff is much more frequent, and its not because they arent Catholic in a nominal sense, nor is it because they endorse rape, but its because theres not always a clear procedure as to how to address it. There was no mention of her accusation of rape, either in the charge letter or in the sanction letter. False accusations may be relatively rare, but they are still real. Especially, never talk about the training RAs have undergone and all the other things the university has done to improve their support of women in rape cases. Actually, if you read what the new sexual assault policy is, it is much more than Smith claims. Now that everyone has cellphones, it would be cool if the school set up a service where you could text for a pickup if youre in trouble for instance if youre at a party where youre being pressured to drink, or alone in a car with a pushy guy. For me, I recoil when I think of the frankly horrible things I used to say and believe, especially to LGBTQ+ people. The teacher gave the class a hypothetical example of a young man and woman who were dating and decided to go off campus to Skyline Drive. The fact that a rapist actually had to go off school grounds to do such a thing says a lot about how the school conducts itself. Simultaneously persecuted superior and Self hating in that bizarre catholic mix Brilliant line. Karl Petrick Assistant Director of Advancement Services The other items linked ARE quoted and described in the article. Funding for the creation of this archive was generously provided by Christendom College. teacher what had happened. Deciding to proceed with creating a parallel court system over allegations as serious and difficult to determine as rape is a momentous decision fraught with difficulties both legal and practical. This really sucks because it probably means hes going to get away with it. She returned the car to her friend, went back to her dorm, sat down in the shower fully clothed, and cried. These are very serious accusations, and the reporting does not match the seriousness of those charges. If it was me vs. a kitten, the kitten would win, Smith says. Instaurare Omnia in Christo! It seems they pushed for this charge as there was an actual witness, perhaps more, to that specific behavior. 3) Reinforce this impression with nebulous allegations of serious problems in the current environment. 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. To find out more about Student Achievement at Christendom, click here. The college was criticized for in the past not including rules against sexual assault in their handbook, while not offering any idea on what is now included in the Christendoms policy on sexual assault. It isnt nebulous. Again, every college in America that has less strict PDA rules (nearly every college in America) has rape. Or even if he left Front Royal, this would not guarantee the safety of other women. The clear goal of the piece is to call the school on to a more truly Catholic approach to handling this topic, and it does so effectively. 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 . Same thing with the dress code. Shes a hater. Justice, and not just criminal secular justice, but justice from our institutions, is a part of Catholic moral theology. New student orientation includes a session that covers sexual harassment and assault, reporting, and on-campus resources for support. If it isnt its that much harder for anyone to investigate or deal with. 240: Challah round the world. Today, we remain among the fewer than 1% of Catholic universities in the United States that reject all federal government aid. Sin and error should be brought into the light so that Christ can heal them. He may or may not be a rapist, but do you really want institutions denouncing a man as a rapist without a trial. http://mydailydiatribes.blogspot.com/2017/12/metoo.html?m=1. However, if you combine Christendom, Seton Home Study, and the many Christendom grads who have settled around town, its a sizable bloc if they actually all agreed that something should be done. I dont think beyond reasonable doubt is a necessary criterion in such a situation. It can, however, cost people their livelihoods and smear the reputation of people and universities. Im also trying to highlight what I see as a global problem concerning the question of consent which I think is very nebulous. This is not degrading but a call to heroism on both sides. 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. [42], In 2017, Christendom's rugby team won the NSCRO 7's Collegiate Rugby National Championship in its first year of contention. In 2015, Christendom was left off of President Barack Obama's College Scorecard, which was created to help high school graduates pick schools. Throughout the letter, ODonnell refers to the young man by his last name, but refers to Adele Smith by her first name. This article is a libel suit waiting to happen. #3. What did happen on campus was punished. Banning them from living on campus and allowing a professor to shelter them does not protect other students. But at the same time, Christendom was a dream in a bubble. 2023 Christendom College. Part I", "FAQs | Sexual Misconduct | Christendom College", "As alumni claim sexual assault is mishandled, Christendom College vows to improve", "Christendom College alumni call for Title IX response to sexual assaults", "Christendom College 'Professor Emeritus' arrested on child sex abuse charges", "Former Christendom College professor arrested on charges of soliciting a child", "Statement Regarding Former Professor Dr. William Luckey", "Former Christendom professor charged with taking indecent liberties with child", "Former Christendom College professor avoids trial, pleads to lesser charges", "Christendom College Claims NSCRO 7s Title", "Christendom rugby wins school's first national championship | News, Sports, Jobs - The Northern Virginia Daily", "Christendom College Wins College Rugby National Championship", "Christendom Earns #1 Ranking from National Collegiate Rugby", "Christendom Rugby Earns #1 National Ranking for Second Straight Year", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Christendom_College&oldid=1125876208, This page was last edited on 6 December 2022, at 09:55. Finally comfortable in my own skin, as long as I avoid the dreaded Catholic bubble. Christendom takes matters smaller than this issue into its own hands often. They have further to go to create safe environments for women. A journalist should protect his good name until he is proven guilty, but the school should not? Carroll decided not to accept federal funding at the college, choosing instead to rely on generous benefactors. The rape in question occurred because two students of opposite sexes were alone together. [27], On January 16, 2018, Catholic blogger Simcha Fisher broke the story of three rape and sexual harassment allegations by students of the college. I think so. Theres still a problem of not having places to have on campus dates. no government financial help??? You use false logic and your pen is sadly misdirected this time. I marched in the March for Life and protested a DC abortion clinic; for anyone whose lives I made worse by pushing anti-abortion propaganda, I am truly sorry. Obviously they wouldnt escort us if we wanted to, say, walk across the road to Notre Dame, because that was going outside the campus bounds, but there was a nice shuttle bus system running between SMC and Notre Dame. In many cases, I doubt it. The school decided to implement internal juridical means for determining the truthfulness of rape allegations outside of the civil process. Her point is that they did not do their best. You have just illustrated the way of thinking that is a big problem: women being taught that they are responsible for mens actions. yes! It is genuinely baffling to methough perhaps it should not bethat so many people read an article about a Catholic university so badly bungling its response to the sexual assault of its students and when they get to the end can ask with a straight face what was your goal in writing this? Or worse, claim that the writing of it was badly motivated or will have deleterious effects that outweigh the good done by shedding light on wrongdoing. My sympathies. Please read above reply concerning accountability. And no-one can really know the statistics. O'Donnell's biggest building contribution was the new Chapel of Christ the King, which he promised in his inaugural address as president. A change.org petition in support of O'Donnell was signed by over 1,000 people. I agree with Ren. A recent blog, which contains misleading information and serious inaccuracies, was posted about Christendom College. Christendom College offers an amazing Liberal Arts education that is immersed in the Catholic Faith. Is hearing both sides unreasonable? 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. Rapists should be burnt at the stake, but only if the survivor immediately provides incontrovertible evidence of the rape happening and of the rapists identity, and if theres any doubt, we will give the alleged rapist a slap on the wrist and tell the survivor she should get over it. Aaaand we wonder why women dont immediately report their rapes. Seite auswhlen. the Administration could and should have done better here. 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. Furthermore, it is alleged that you continued to harass her by trying to provoke her to slap you, hit you or kiss you. . Thats just scratching the surface. No matter how it is said, when it is said. And, as I said, they were more balanced than the others. The man was not charged, let alone convicted of rape. 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. [19], Christendom College has received notable attention from members of the Catholic Church since its founding in 1977, including from Pope John Paul II. Any student can stroll on the public road or in the neighborhood across the street nonPDA world, let alone the town, or the rest of the known world. Another day, while other students played some sort of game on campus, the young man approached her and began to insist that she slap him across the face. I dont doubt that injustices have been done in the past and will be done in the future: this is a fallen world. He told me he was often bothered by the question about the purpose of satan's existence as a specifically troubling version of the problem of evil. Recently, one of the priests who was a major force on campus has charged with rape of a mentally-ill woman. Her article makes plenty of sense. That is a philosophical question where I think people can legitimately disagree. A policy for handling this should of course be on the books. I dont know what transpired during their internal investigation, but the college could have called both accused and accuser (separately) to give testimony in the presence of an attorney. This is bad reasoning and I dont see it as incumbent on the school to drop its strict standards on sexual morality, in order appease people who think it might help with the problem. Christendom College is a Catholic liberal arts college in Front Royal, Virginia, United States, located in the Shenandoah Valley. I didnt exactly lose my instinct of self-preservation, but I definitely let my guard down at the school and treated it like my home. Think of roofies, frat parties, binge drinking..Im not going to go on, except to say that these dont exist here and if thats the bubble then Hallelujah. I dont understand the logic of protecting the identity of the alleged rapist and meanwhile running the names of college faculty through the mud for not somehow preventing a rape that occurred on a mountain and for not expelling a student for a rape that went unreported for a year and a half with no evidence. The culture on campus protects you from being raped on campus, which is why this incident took place off site. Are you saying that these rapists would have been content to make out on a public bench or in a public common room? There is a problem when Hollywood is doing a better job, and that problem deserves a discussion. However, a private institution has some flexibility in such matters, and it is not entirely dependent upon the acts of civil authorities. Why would the accusers parents ever, ever, ever send their daughter back to the place where she was abused and seemingly unhappy, uncomfortable and failing classes? Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Fixing a problem and addressing a problem are two different things. I hope the girls involved will know that sharing what happened will help others. The irony is not lost on me that the one institution that offered any solution, band aid solutions they may be, is also the one institution least responsible for the event, and the one thats being blamed the most. Part II, View Damien and Simcha Fishers profile on Google+, Timothy ODonnell, the president of Christendom, Amanda Graf, the current Director of Student Affairs, https://www.rainn.org/pdf-files-and-other-documents/Public-Policy/Legal-resources/2009-Statutes/09VirginiaStatutes.pdf, http://mydailydiatribes.blogspot.com/2017/12/metoo.html?m=1, Whats for supper? And on the outside, this torture of wanting to stay chaste yet wanting to see that a man loves you and wanting to fully embrace him comes across in very vague and misleading body language. Each day that goes by, she is reminded that nothing will happen to him. Goodbye, Christendom College. Inaccuracies did not have to do with Miss Smiths heartbreaking account. The young man was charismatic, well-known, and well-liked on campus. 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.. The semester also includes a week's pilgrimage to Assisi and Siena as well as a trip to Florence. It does truly permeate the campus. The idea of reporting her rape scared Smith. Protected: Podcast 36: She googled THIS on a Friday night and what she saw made her lose her mind! Experience the most popular, well-attended, and highly-ranked pre-college summer program of its kind. But he did take it away from her, she says. A male Residence Life staff member also lives on campus to assist the men. It makes it hard for a young woman to keep herself safe if *all* the places where a date might happen are private. It would be difficult for Christendom to have a fuller Catholic identity. Contact Leslie Mathews by email at lmathews@christendom.edu or by phone by calling 540.551.9300. All PDA-rule-free. You can see it, you can feel it on the campusWhile some colleges in this Guide may match its Catholic commitment, it is unlikely that any exceeds it. The Newman Guide to Choosing a Catholic College. It felt like a human zoo.. It wasnt until August of that year that the language was added to the handbook. You described an inability or unwillingness to use your words to say, this is hard, but Im saying no! While not commenting on this particular scenario, it got me musing (once again) on the whole problem of sexual assault and the current #metoo movement. Her grades continued to be low for the rest of her junior year. In addition, the article didnt clarify that the college has gotten rid of many of the policies and rules that are being blamed in this article for the assaults (e.g., the no-holding hands rule was jettisoned a while ago). Since the story initially broke, additional allegations of at least 18 previous cases of sexual harassment and assault over the past 45 years have been made. Which they could now do on campus anyway. And your describing it as such in the comments on a piece about rape is insulting and denigrating. A school can also have clearly defined sexual assault policies on the books, and discuss these policies with their students. #4. do we know/ do you know who is funding CC??? Today a new wave of aggressive secularism is attempting to sweep away the roots and reasons for your faith. Andrew, Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Christendom College admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. Up until that point, I considered myself fairly knowledgeable, she said. So you end up having couples potentially isolate themselves. I understand it is difficult to do so, but if justice is to be served publicly, accusations must be made in public. O.o. How unCatholic and how tragically demeaning! I really, really hope that she isnt approaching her stories with a big chip on her shoulder towards anything conservative Catholic. The criticism is directed towards how the school handled the matter after the legal authorities failed. Exactly as DCNM said: NOT QUOTED OR DESCRIBED. As a current parent at Christendom I was floored by this article. But I am saying, and I think Simcha is saying too, that the accuser was not treated properly. Christendom teaches its students to group date first. It was a good conversation, to this day he is one of the only people I've spoken with in real life who I think truly understood the problem and its implications. People will actually believe this ludicrous drivel. His career and family may well be affected by that casual reference. What is to blame there?? Note: This subreddit is a support forum and not a debate group and will be moderated accordingly. Latinos with darker skin face entrenched racism in colloquial Spanish, in which the word used to describe . The young woman went to the police, and due to the lack of evidence, they could not press charges. Thank you! She sought psychological help from Dr. Patrick Divietri. The only time that happens is when the entire story is based on a provable lie that they should have known about. What drives couples off campus is the desire to do things that are prohibited on campus; things which the college prohibits precisely because they can lead people to tempt themselves and each other. They brought the skills of their craft to shining a light on the dark underbelly of this college. Class of '13 here, BA in History, Magna cum Laude. Open your eyes; the inward and the outward ones, Simcha, and realize that the secular law will never be more then a band-aid for these types of crimes with a festering wound underneath. Discouraged, Smith hesitated, then eventually called law enforcement rangers and met with them at Shenandoah National Park. Not everything that the school chooses to ban has to be a sin. I am not making this up. I mean, if men are more rational and authoritative and have more of the image of God in them, why would I be afraid to be alone with this superior being? complicated memories of the place. The result might have been the same, but at least it would have shown that the college took the accusation seriously and were willing to go the distance to see justice be done. Not a Christendom problem. Not everyone who is 18 or older fits the definition of an adult. 2) If the college does anything to improve, dont actually describe their efforts in the article. I emerged with my virginity intact. Students from over 45 states and 7 foreign countries are attracted to the Colleges Catholic family atmosphere and its dedication to the restoration of a truly Catholic culture. The administration handled a tough situation, that had no evidence supporting the claims of the girl, as best as can be expected. 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).. 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. you are correct about the implications. Her husband, Warren H.. And yet, with your ability to judge her soul, you dont know why That is mysterious indeed. Christendom College was founded in response to this cultural revolution, providing a fully integrated liberal arts education in fidelity to the Magisterium of the Church. 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. Thanks; I've largely shed myself of the Catholic mental baggage by this point, so don't worry. College disciplinary boards, however, can set whatever standards they want, especially a completely independent institution like Christendom. But consent is not usually nebulous. I learned to feel simultaneously persecuted, superior, and self-hating in that bizarre Catholic mix; I learned little about the actual human experience or the world around us. When I went back to visit a few years later it was hard for me because I felt bereaved in a waylike this safe space full of spiritual fantasies and security had been permanently denied to me.
