When we hear the term sexual violence, it is easy to think of the extremes: spousal abuse, rape, sodomy. Rarely do we think of the day-to-day activities we participate in that could be labeled as sexual violence, such as the use of derogatory terms or policing gender norms. In the case of sexual violence, often our inactivity speaks far louder than our actions.
As community members of the University, when we sit by and allow actions of violence to occur around us without putting a stop to the activity, we are in essence condoning the action. This is not to say that we all must be activists in the political sense. But we have a moral obligation to be activists in prevention. We must join together to stop sexual violence from occurring within our residence halls, our classrooms, our fraternity and sorority homes, and on the streets. Sexual violence must be addressed through active participation in its prevention.
As a supporter of Sexual Violence Prevention Week, the fraternity and sorority community is proud to join hands with those who are actively fighting against the sexual violence that occurs on our campus, within our communities and in our society.
Fraternities and sororities are organizations based on the tenets of leadership, scholarship, citizenship, and brotherhood and sisterhood. Establishing roots in the 1700s, our organizations challenge members to develop personally, intellectually and socially. At the University, the fraternity and sorority community composes nearly 11 percent of the student body, making it the largest student organization on campus.
Brotherhood and sisterhood is the foundation of all fraternities and sororities. This type of fellowship cannot merely be reduced to the concept of friendship. Fraternity men and sorority women have an obligation to one another. We are our brothers’ and our sisters’ keepers. Our intrinsic responsibility to look out for the welfare of those in our community results in a bond that cannot be rivaled.
To the fraternity men and sorority women on campus, we have an obligation to seek the highest level of accountability at all times. Our homes should be the safest places on campus where students of all kinds can seek shelter and find solitude in our membership. As members of values-based organizations, how will you join in the fight against sexual violence? How will you extend the hand of friendship from your fraternity or sorority to the entire University campus?
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