In order for change to occur, there must be a unified front to drive it. Strong bonds, an understanding of the issue and those it affects, and an ability to work cohesively are all primary components necessary to properly enforce change. What circumstances exist to inspire these aforementioned elements? Oftentimes it takes only a common issue that needs to be resolved in order to bring people together in this way, but where the issue is too contentious to truly create an undivided front, there is a supplement that is too often overlooked: friendship.
At Wesleyan, the friendships and bonds that fraternities inspire both amongst their members and with other societies on campus can be crucial in the ongoing fight against sexual assault.
For the last few months, Wesleyan has been focused on the issue of sexual assault. The discussion and issue is pervasive, finding its way from freshman dorms to fraternities to senior houses, among other places. It is everywhere. As Wesleyan students, we have succeeded in admitting that sexual assault is undoubtedly a problem on our campus. And unfortunately, it is not going to simply go away with a quick fix.
Sexual violence is prevalent in the movies we watch, songs we hear and books we read. Through this, crimes of sexual assault have become too accepted; ignorance of these acts have become embedded in much of the culture and mindset of our generation. It is up to us to act out against it and extract its presence from our peers and children to come. However, this battle is not going away over night, but rather it will be a struggle day after day.
Contrary to popular belief on campus, fraternities are not just an over glorified social space; they are much more than that. It is easy to find oneself conforming to this opinion as the three residences on High Street are most frequently visited by students on a weekend night. However, there are countless charitable events that go on within the brotherhoods that provide help to those in need. In fact, a large part of fraternities is doing our best to make the world a better place, and specifically in our case, the Wesleyan campus in general. The missions of the fraternities, which are exemplified through the charitable programs, commitment to intellectual growth, and friendships that are formed revolve around building men who are equipped with the generosity, passion, and drive to act as leaders on their campus. The fraternities on campus have illustrated these values, and they are willing to fight sexual assault and the culture around it on our campus. The most important a spect of fraternities, the one that has the most potential to be a massive asset in fighting sexual assault, is the deep emotional connection between the men in their respective brotherhoods.
The bonds made at fraternities are strong, consistent, and undeniable. They institute life long friendship and a sense of family. The day before finals started my sophomore year, I broke my leg. Of course everyone in the fraternity had finals to study for, but three of my brothers stopped what they were doing and spent the night with me in the hospital. I know two of them had a final the following morning. The rest of the week was excruciating, but every morning I would wake up and a different person would be in my room helping me put socks on my feet and pants on my legs. My friends were willing to dress me, help me shower, and drive me to class regardless of the hectic week they were having. These guys in my house are my family, willing to do whatever possible to make that week easier for me, and that connection is true at all of the male fraternities on campus. We share friendship and love that is truly special.
People who share this kind of bond are able to work together in a cohesive unit and mobilize true action to make change. With our current culture regarding sexual assault, this ability is vital. The first major step to battling sexual assault is education, especially in males, and fraternities can help lead this charge. Having such a bonded group of men working together could radically change the way men think about sexual assault on this campus. This could be a powerful tool in changing the way men talk, think, and act regarding women, which would in turn change the culture around campus.
It would be different if the fraternities weren’t willing to help fight this epidemic, but after attending last Sunday’s WSA meeting on April 13 about sexual assault, it was evident that they are committed to fighting this issue. Leaders and members of all three of the all-male fraternities on campus were present, and their message was clear. They are willing to play a part in this fight, work with campus to eradicate sexual assault, and help change the culture surrounding it.
When we have this tool in front of us, we should make the most of it. Stripping campus of fraternities isn’t going to solve the issue of sexual assault, but in fact reduce our ability to fight it at its core. We will be taking away a powerful group of advocates that are willing to work together toward the cause of preventing sexual assault. By removing fraternities, males lose a common space to come together, talk openly about the issue, and figure out ways to fight it. Instead, they would be left to their own devices around campus, disintegrating in to a much less unified front against sexual assault. It is imperative that we stop the current culture regarding sexual assault. After all, whether you are a member of a fraternity or not, we are first and foremost Wesleyan students, and we are all on the same side. It is time to drop the division between fraternities and the rest of campus, and instead work together to fight the real issue: sexual assault and the culture aro und it.