What have the men done wrong?

By Liberty McAteer

“It also troubles me that in general, there are far fewer men than women on this campus involved in activism to stop sexual violence. I think this dynamic reproduces the oppressive dichotomy of men as aggressive and women as passive.”
—Laurie Paul, Men Should Take Back The Night Too, May 2, 2006

“While the physical threat in male bathrooms may be greater, a trans female entering a women's bathroom may also be scrutinized.”
—Laura Goldblatt, from SWAB Examines Campus Bathrooms, April 25, 2006

I have spent four years here now, and if I ever wanted to feel like crap about myself, all I have to do is turn to the Argus Wespeaks Page.

This campus is full of passionate activism, and I am all for it. What I am sick of, however, is the implicitly expressed opinion on the pages of the Argus that male-perpetrated violence, male intellectual hegemony, male-imposed moral-social stratifications, and an unwillingness on the behalf of the male population to cooperate with activist movements or share power is the status quo. I cannot tell you how demoralizing it is to open up the Argus and read about what I am guilty of every Tuesday and Friday.

The statistics, in my opinion, speak for themselves. As published on the Public Safety website, from 2002-2004 there was one reported hate crime on campus. Here are the statistics on sexual assault:

(see below)

Clearly, much of the problem with such statistics is that people often do not report assault of such a personal nature. Statistically speaking, however, these numbers are low. Extremely low. It is true that there have been hate crimes and assaults in the years since, but, in my understanding, the vast majority of these were not committed by Wesleyan Students. Public Safety does not have these numbers posted, however, in any capacity I was able to determine.

The activism on this campus so often assumes that what is the status quo in other parts of the world also has some bearing here. Wesleyan is one of the most supportive, open, and diverse communities on the face of the planet. Yet you'd never know it from reading our Wespeaks page.

Laura Goldblatt: Your implication that the physical threat in male bathrooms on this campus is greater than in female bathrooms is strict editorializing and is poor journalism. Unless the statistics are wrong, there have been zero incidents of any bathroom assault on campus. Male or female. The implication that men's bathrooms are more dangerous than women's rooms is an opinion you hold, and it is unsupported by the statistics this campus reports.

Laurie Paul: Your accusation that I am somehow guilty of perpetuating gender division by not attending Take Back the Night is condescending and naive. You do not know me. You do not know what I do in my time or in my private life, my own personal experiences, or my own endeavors. Some of us choose not to participate in rallies of this nature; this does not mean we do not support your cause. More importantly, this does not mean we are not active in supporting your cause, just that we are not active in a public way. The 'status quo' you refer to is, based on the statistics reported, a very safe one here at Wesleyan. The status quo you seek to change, I imagine, is one that is much more present in other communities. How can I help to change a community that is already on your side?

Should more men have shown up to Take Back the Night? Probably. It would have, indeed, demonstrated support for this cause. But what about men like myself, who take it upon themselves to be informed private citizens, to try and lead upstanding private lives and offer support to our friends whenever possible? What about the men on this campus who truly believe in diversity, in championing the rights of the disenfranchised and working for the common good, but don't attend protests? Surely, accusing us of actively contributing to the problem is a step too far, especially when so many of us make such great effort in our private lives to be good people. What about the fact there seem to be so many feelings of anger directed at the men of this campus, who, as the record shows, are for the vast majority completely innocent of such crimes? What about the fact there is all this anger directed at the men of this campus, who, in my opinion, are here to celebrate in the diversity and openness of the Wesleyan community? Where did I sign up to be berated on a public stage constantly, despite the fact I want to work for the rights of the disenfranchised and disempowered? Never in my life, in any community, have I felt that so many accusations were being leveled at me, for crimes and activities so disgusting to me that being accused of them fills me with righteous fury. Fury at being accused, and frustration because I am accused by the very people I wish to represent one day.

The causes championed on this campus are worthy causes. Please, let us not forget the community we are in, however. We are at Wesleyan. Save your anger for those who actively oppose you. The students here go on to be public servants. Just because we do not always show up at protests doesn't mean we don't care. Should we show up at more protests? Maybe. That isn't for me to decide. In the meantime, remember it is precisely the silent majority at Wesleyan that will form the future power base of activists and stewards of social justice. Silence perpetuates problems, but there are many forums in which to speak, some public, some private. Again, it would be great if more men showed up to Take Back the Night, but that doesn't mean the ones who don't show don't care.

Maybe I am missing the point completely. I can tell you that I am sick and tired of being told I am guilty for not participating in protests and rallies in college, especially when I personally hold many opinions about the usefulness of protests, and when I want my personal role in supporting these causes to be running for public office. To me there seems something strange about protesting in a community that already shares your opinions, especially when the protesters then accuse the complaint community as guilty because of their 'silence'! Further, if you say that power is having your voice heard, it is the protest groups, the activist groups, the rights groups, etc. that have power, and not the supporters of white male hegemony. Ever notice the complete lack of counter protests? Where are the people promoting Victorian morals, or a reduction in liberal curriculum, or admitting fewer minorities, or promoting the idea of male superiority?

Before telling the men here they are guilty, ask yourself, what is it exactly that the men on this campus have done?

McAteer is a member of the class of 2006 and is Technology Manager at the Argus.

Year	2002	2003	2004	Total
Sex Offenses (forcible):	5	3	1	9
Sex Offenses (non-forcible):	0	0	0	0