For example, the articke states that Prof. Marshner no longer works at the school, as if he left due to this scenario. Probably liability reasons. Im giving Simcha the benefit of the doubt and assuming she had good will in this reporting. I wonder what people do with degrees from schools like Christendom. Eh, Simcha? In essence, the earliest vision of Christendom was a vision of a Christian theocracy, a government founded upon and upholding Christian values, whose institutions are spread through and over with Christian doctrine. They re-wrote the handbook over the summer? I went to the March for Life in DC (I was very anti-abortion ber-Catholic). All we know is that they did some kind of inquiry and issued that statement. Mary Statue By AgnosticPreachersKid (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (. For what its worth, I believe Adeles story, and as someone who has been sexually assaulted (but not raped) and not gone to the authorities, I understand why she didnt at first. in Theological Studies degrees online. Im in no way excusing behavior, but I think women need to understand a little bit about the way which men are wired and step up their game. It was not reported to the police for YEARS. This article does not do justice to the universitys apparent efforts to remain impartial, while also considering how to better serve women who have been raped. I had been a virgin. Never tell a rape or assault victim that consent is nebulous. He said / she said is a real thing and a difficult thing to manage. She didnt want to accept that something so ugly had happened to her. . Youve been completely infected by the porn saturated culture we live in. Case in point, when I started going off the rails I would have expected my fellow Catholics to guide me back, especially the older more experienced upper classman I tried to lean on. Elaine Gunthorpe - Christendom College February 28, 2023 Dissident LGBT Catholic group praises university as 'model' for promoting agenda. In the letter, ODonnell tells Smiths father that the school understands the anguish the Smith family is feeling as they wait for a judgment against the young man, and that the college will make a complete and careful investigation of [Smiths] allegations before rendering a decision that will impact both the life of the accused and the accuser.. But he did take it away from her, she says. But is it really fair to expect men to navigate all the mixed signals? In your own words, this article is about how this student should have received better care, and more protection from this guy later. THANK YOU! No does not mean yes. No doesnt mean I still want to. I went there for one semester (spring 2014). It seems to me that men who lure women into back seats of cars in secluded places would have an even easier time saying Hey, come up to my room to watch a movie. With the roommate being already asked to give them privacy. FORTIFYING A COLLEGE THAT PROUDLY REJECTS FEDERAL AID. False accusations may be relatively rare, but they are still real. He didnt have a license, so, at his suggestion, they borrowed a friends car and she drove them up to a scenic point overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains. Today a new wave of aggressive secularism is attempting to sweep away the roots and reasons for your faith. Curious. Please be assured that Christendom College is committed to maintaining an academic environment free of discrimination and all forms of coercion that impede the academic freedom, security, or well-being of any member of the community. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. It would be difficult for Christendom to have a fuller Catholic identity. Even if an investigation were not able to definitely prove the guilt of the accused, if the college authorities were to make a prudential judgement that the accuser was guilty or, at the very least, was a potential safety threat, they could have expelled him (with a full refund) without giving any reason or giving a generic reason . The College offers two/three daily Masses; daily Confession, Rosary, and Eucharistic adoration; and celebrates together many liturgical and cultural feasts. It was usually fairly evident who those people were and if you didnt want trouble, you stayed out of their circle. @CMFE But Hollywood isnt doing a better job. Most didnt know what was going on or how to handle me but at least they tried to hold out their hand. Christendom is very diligent in making sure that it provides a safe campus for the education of our students.. In 2018, while delivering the Commencement Address for Christendom, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas said, This is a wonderful, wonderful, college a decidedly Catholic college, and I am decidedly and unapologetically Catholic. I feel challenged, respected, and loved by my teachers and am so grateful to be their student. Vol. Once the implication is in place and the false picture is painted, insert a link to to one of several things theyve done in order to cya. Through it, you will gain the communication and critical thinking skills necessary to refine and elevate your intellect and enable you to pursue your profession and personal vocation. A female Residence Life staff member now lives in the womens residence halls. 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. For a piece of journalism like this to make such accusations without even one example just shows what a hack job they did on this hit piece. Funding for the creation of this archive was generously provided by Christendom College. Im only speaking from experience to illustrate what I see as a very nebulous scenario for both parties. Oh, this was before cellphones. I know I do. [20][circular reference] When meeting with College President Dr. Timothy O'Donnell and founder Dr. Warren Carroll in 1991, John Paul II told Carroll that Christendom College is doing a great work for the Church.[21], Pope Benedict XVI also gave his endorsement to Christendom College, saying, I am well aware of the distinguished record of Christendom College and of the outstanding contribution which it has made to Catholic life in the United States. Today a new wave of aggressive secularism is attempting to sweep away the roots and reasons for your faith. . Now, perhaps well-meaning couples end up going farther in private than they would if they could kiss in public, but were not talking about well-meaning couples, were talking about rapists and victims. Marshner has since left Christendom. But I want to illustrate the difficulty in really navigating the issue of consent and assault. This is such a difficult and upsetting situation it is helpful to read your perspective. Under her tenure, the graduate school began offering M.A. . These are Catholic seminarians. It wouldnt quite be in keeping with her recent essay about letting go of anger. Christendom offered a bulleted list of things they have done which were not reported on by the Fishers, implying that this is basically a smear campaign which is only willing to report on one side of the story. Adele Smith, class of 2012, experienced some culture shock when she arrived at Christendom. I propose for your consideration numerous scenarios of young women and men wherein even if the woman is saying no with her voice, her body language is communicating something entirely different. Imply that there is a pattern and that the pattern is indicative of the current campus environment. Contact the Site Admin. It is not uncommon, either. I think rape should be a clearly defined and promulgated capital crime so there would be fewer instances and false allegations. Never, under any circumstances, admit that it was a complicated process that involved implementing a parallel judicial system. Overview Christendom College is a Comprehensive institution located in Front Royal, VA, in a rural setting. Please refrain from proselytizing to members of this community. Id hate to echo that ridiculous article from the Remnant, that accuses Fisher of being in league with Satan, but he was spot on with that point. I cant get into grad school with my GPA. Ill be brief, and in no particular order, but: This is not degrading but a call to heroism on both sides. von | Jun 17, 2022 | tornadoes of 1965 | | Jun 17, 2022 | tornadoes of 1965 | A handbook that has to be revised and reviewed by the colleges legal team I assume? Her focus and concentration were gone. In retrospect, I can say, Youre a dummy! But back then, I was nineteen. Now the students may be less prepared for rape, rape that happens off campus(like a clean house doesnt prepare a person for germs), due to their sheltered background, but thats not exactly the schools fault. Not everyone who is 18 or older fits the definition of an adult. If it was truly necessary that students seek sexual/affection outlets, then I dont blame Cdom for wanting to have no part in policing or monitoring, how far is too far. Chastity is their moral prerogative and they would rather err on the side of caution than participate. Everyone knew., Smith complained to the school, and she says they gave Marshner a slap on the wrist.. I clearly understood in that moment that Christendom College did not care about the safety of its students. College students are able to refrain the same as monks, office workers, single adults and most adults in public life. She fled to her dorm and went to bed. 154 Following. In this period, members of the Christian clergy wield political authority. 2) If the college does anything to improve, dont actually describe their efforts in the article. Banning them from living on campus and allowing a professor to shelter them does not protect other students. Christendom teaches its students to group date first. 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. But their response was not a legal cease and desist, or demand of retraction. Moreover, both Adele and Mr. [redacted] are adults meaning that Christendom faculty and staff have inherently limited options for enforcing standards of appropriate (or even prudent) conduct, especially when students leave the confines of campus.. When the schools response is to prevent the rapist from living on campus for a semester, and a professor welcomes him into his home while smearing the student who was raped in class, without serious consequences, its fair to criticize the school. Which means, of course, he may very well have done it again. Again, every college in America that has less strict PDA rules (nearly every college in America) has rape. Frankly I think you have misused a term that is quite affectionate.school is a place to learn and at this particular school it is a place to strengthen ones faith. Its getting harder and harder for them in todays society. Christendom College is a small Catholic liberal arts schoolit now enrolls about 500 studentsand has long needed a new chapel. I am astounded that the article says rapist rather than alleged rapist. If these things are happening, then it is accurate. We will continue to do so in fidelity to our mission: to restore all things in Christ. You should realize how awful it is to give the impression that the woman who was raped merely only implied 50% no. Lol there was the one time I said I was suicidal youll go to hell he replied I dont care I responded your psychotic he said. We cant! Another no escapes your lips and you make another feeble effort to turn away or push his hands away. Drove, Juana. The young man was charismatic, well-known, and well-liked on campus. And victims have the right to be taken seriously, to not be dismissed. DOH! Explore Christendom College's 105,099 photos on Flickr! The young man left Christendom in Smiths senior year. Purity more and more asks for a heroic virtue. 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.. I felt him, she said. And I did end up seeing that friar once for counselling but he activated several gut feelings to stay away, and so I did. Whatever happened to justice? Doesnt a higher responsibility denote a special power to influence culture? Very interesting. After Adele did slap you, you allegedly said, If you slapped me really hard and it really hurt, I wouldnt want to kiss you. It is further alleged that on other occasions you went out of your way to volunteer with groups of friends that Adele had seduced you. Its not 50% excitement its 100% terror. Same sex dorms is considered strict segregation? Come on. BUT you say it with a sigh and throw your head back the man interprets it all as an indication that you actually want him to keep going. I will say that no professor I had ever backed up this position, but neither did I see them fight to overturn it. 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. Not super romantic. Vol. Yeah, the campus is pretty, but the culture is weird. I dont mean to down play the role that a school has in protecting its students and holding perpetrators accountable. All PDA-rule-free. 239: Spot the fiendish thingy, Whats for supper, vol. Anyway, campus police are a whole different bear. I was that fallen woman, and I didnt want my parents to see me that way. Not everyone can be brought to justice so easily, but if you make no effort to even recognize an issue as an institution then that can become something serious. . This was really well-written. Smith and her family were floored. Judge William W. Sharp accepted the agreement and Luckeys guilty pleas. Bishop Finn of Kansas City was convicted for failing to report suspected child abuse because he HESITATED to report it. Its not a matter of my comfort. Its a matter of seeking the common good. He sat beside her and began to make small talk, putting his hand on her leg. Smiths grades continued to slide, and her mental and physical health suffered as students and even outsiders, people she didnt know, would approach her in the dining hall to talk about the ordeal. Have you seen the alleged rape rate at those colleges that DO accept federal funds?? 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. 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. Feminist =Baal worshipper. The reality is men can say no, men can control their actions and they are humans with free will. How about holding the US Government responsible since theyre the ones that oversee Skyline? Oops. I felt safe there. Hes the one who lives in fear of me and my devious feminine allurements, right? An article about how a college should have handled a horrible rape situation better should not be couched in the fact that the college has separate dorms. In speaking with our counsel, it is my understanding that under Virginia law, the doctrine of in loco parentis as applied to colleges and universities simply means that Christendom has a responsibility to provide a safe campus for its students. The schools rigid rules governing male and female interaction werent just awkward, though. Such a different vibe from my Canadian background. Im glad you ran this story, and I hope it will help schools be more accountable. That is no small feat. Smith texted her boyfriend the next day, saying she didnt want to see him again. Help me fund this site and get access to my and my husbands occasional podcast and other perks. The colleges response is a legal response to an alleged crime. I vehemently disagreed with their misogyny, but never was sexually harassed, assaulted, etc. #4. do we know/ do you know who is funding CC??? I am a 92 graduate, and my oldest is a graduate, and I have three other kids currently there. I dont think beyond reasonable doubt is a necessary criterion in such a situation. In what world is this okay? Smith said. Simcha does that, see? [8], During Fedoryka's seven-year tenure as president, Blessed Margaret and St. Joseph's Halls were constructed, and the college became fully accredited in 1987. Does no one else see the greater responsibility as a compliment from our Creator? We should not be complacent about it failing students in such gross ways. There are a few spots they frequent, but as an undergrad I didnt realize there was much more than the Martins parking lot, where the campus van drops you off. Your objectives have nothing to do with the truth, the several patently false claims youve made about Christendom are evidence of as much. Episode #60: Who or what is a Malcolm Gladwell? There are so many other choices that dont have these rules. If it was me vs. a kitten, the kitten would win, Smith says. But you arent asking that question seriously. We trusted each other and believed ourselves to be a self-selecting group of the Good Guys. I could leave my laptop lying out anywhere on campus, with no password, and be confident I could come back and find it un-stolen. Andrew, But this is all a rather side-issue of the #metoo movement more than a discussion of how Christendom is to blame. Sounds great. But hes also smart enough to skate around any blame when there isnt any proof. It wasnt until the beginning of her junior year that she heard the word rape applied to her ordeal. Easier said than done, of course. I hate to think theyre covering up what needs to be exposed. I would turn around and drive right back. Enjoy a visit to the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia! Oh ladies, Im so sorry you had to deal with that attitude for any length of time. This article sounds like Stephanie Meyer had a hay day, so if thats what you were going for, good job! Consent is not nebulous. Is Christendom even trying to address this problem with town government? The last thing Christendom needs is a kangaroo court that believes everything that comes out of accusers mouths. The teachers provide a well rounded education of philosophy, history, theology, literature and political science. If you think this article was largely about how the dorm set up is responsible for this rape, you didnt read the whole article. Hurt by Catholics? Additionally, throwing out names of administrators and teachers as part of this story (good or bad) without their permission taints their reputation. It still deserves to be addressed adequately by the Admins, but we were much safer than most campuses. So I pinned all my hopes for justice on my Catholic, conservative college, to uphold moral principles., So she went to the then-dean, Jesse Dorman, and reported the rape and subsequent harassment. I love how liberal dissidents throw trad around like its some kind of slur. The fact that you view consent as nebulous is a personal problem. teacher what had happened. Respect and honor for women was at the heart Christs mission and therefore it is at the heart of the mission of Christendom College. Smith had hurt her back in a car accident when she was a freshman. It felt like a never ending guilt trip. 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. So places without rda rules have less rape? I am not making this up. Are you joking? How insulting is this point of view: all men will rape given the right kind of no.. Christendom College. 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. Would you like to explain, please, what you mean by inaccuracies? Christendom has taken several steps forward. Where would be a better Catholic college to send your daughter, Simcha? 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. Its not good enough, for some because the school didnt have the authority or the power to adequately punish someone for rape, and I personally have no problem with the rapist receiving a degree, and being forced to stay off campus with a restraining order. By whose definition are they adults? [T]he alleged assault of Adele did not take place on campus. And, as I said, they were more balanced than the others. Several have contended that having a policy would have prevented the problem. Dr. Timothy T. ODonnell His punishment: He could not live on campus for one semester, and he could not contact Adele Smith. The other students were friendly and contributed to a comfy atmosphere (though I say this as someone who earnestly tried to be a good rule-following Catholic; if you were closeted LGBTQ+, for instance, I'd imagine it was a lot less comfy). That's no coincidence. Why not the new policy? She implored [her brother] Peter to continue to live in Front Royal and to visit the campus often because she felt so unsafe., Scott Smith states in his letter that he left messages for nearly a week before he was able to arrange to speak to the dean, and that the telephone conference was disquieting.. The truth matters little. Here it seems that the expectation was not only that she be believed(fathoming), but that immediate action be taken(aka solving). Seite auswhlen. Im sorry, but your logic is misconstrued here. Christendom College is fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. i Love this reply. No means no. 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? 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. There are not a lot of options if you dont have a car. Her phrasing seems to imply that there was no second year at this secular college. 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. i am beginning to wonder if it really exists or is just a figment of a perverted imagination. I sympathize with the people who want a man to be expelled based on one womans testimony (such as in the above article), but we have to admit that is at the expense of innocent men getting expelled as well. I've got one that's somewhat similar. It seems hypocritical to demand that the school find him guilty of rape and expel him if you are going to hide his name until he tells his side of the story. I dont know what the contents of the interview between the college and the perp are. They can work *with* local law enforcement, but thats as far as it goes, because theyre federal. The guilt I still carry from a year there was crushing - it was constant write ups for dress code, curfew violations because of my off campus job etc. It says she felt like the provost didnt care which is entirely subjective, and wasnt able to respond promptly, especially since extra duties were imposed on him and probably didnt have an exact answer ready for them anyway. Most of secular culture righteously denounces rape, and praises consent. The whole In loco parentis thing was alive and well and enforced. I would posit that when a woman is ovulating her sex drive out strips a mans, I think womens sex drives tend to be ignored because men are more sexual which isnt the case. She said, Im not comfortable with that, and he said, Okay.. She says that the rules against romantic public displays of affection were so restrictive, it drove couples off campus. The other allegations against him were also by hearsay, and they put those allegations in writing and asked him to defend himself. When someone returns to campus drunk there is solid proof, and it is easy to immediately punish the person for the offense. Same; I also feel like I wasted my college years on Catholic garbage, but I also broke free and am living much more healthily than I was back there. Heroic. I have no doubt that this faith will do the same for each of you if you let it, and perhaps even if you dont. Men and women BOTH have free will. 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 accused have rights the right to an assumption of innocence, for one. How unromantic! They have pointed to several problem areas that are not yet fixed. Anyway, while on a work call I found a mattress and sheets in the back room surrounded by rose petals and candles. She told her friends, He had sex with me, and I didnt want to.. If you read the original article, it was clear that the school failed on many counts to do what an institution that claims to be Catholic should have done. 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. Oh, and I also had the 'privilege' of meeting Dr. William Luckey, a blathering self-important moron who was somehow capable of being an ancap and an anti-French-Revolution conservative Catholic at the same time, despite both stances contradicting each other and observable reality. Could it be because the policy might show the school in a favorable light? The two students in the article drove past a large number of public places where they could have held hands or kissed. "[29][30] This statement has since been removed from the college website. Changed to a practical degree, learned about the real world. Right to present a defense OR NOT. She took refuge in one of the buildings until he left as he obviously meant her harm. That is a philosophical question where I think people can legitimately disagree. It isnt Christendoms fault this happened they can only learn as fast as the culture encroaches..that young man should have kept his hands to himself period. So despite all their classes and aves and skirts they are going to burn with Luther. Ugh, how vile. Which most of us dont want to read. And if the woman involved was going to say yes anyway to whatever he suggested in terms of where they were going, as she said in the article, how would this have been any different even if there were different or no PDA rules?
