In our last issue last semester, our front-page story recounted the allegations of severe mishandling of a case of sexual violence at Smith College, put forth in a public document by Students Against Sexual Assault (SASA) on behalf of an anonymous victim. The document containing these allegations had been circulating for several weeks before our Dec. 7 coverage, and Campus Police even acknowledged its existence on Oct. 25 in an announcement on Grécourt Gate.
On the day after our last issue, Dean Katherine Rowe and Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration Mike Howard sent a campus-wide email correcting our coverage, pointing only to the campus police log as justification. However, in our story, we had referenced the campus police log, which the victim via SASA in a Letter to the Editor maintains is incorrect.
We have not and will not correct or retract our story. In sending the email, the administration seemed concerned with ensuring victims continue to report despite the allegations, but considering the story, what happens to our fellow students after filing that report that does not seem to be of much concern.
Where Title IX rights are concerned on the national stage, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos has stripped victims of Obama-era protections. For a school that prides itself on a history and curriculum devoted to social justice, we expect Smith administration to at the very least fulfill the role our government has abdicated itself of.
The SASA document details a large violation of Title IX rights. We urge Smith College to take practicable, affirmative steps to do better on sexual violence. The Sophian stands with SASA and all victims and survivors on campus.
