Community responds to alleged rape incident
Student Affairs must take action
Letter to the editor
Some people may call me a critic, but I am also a student at this University. As such, I have a responsibility to this school like I have to any other institution for which I am a part — community, church, family. There are many responsiblities one owes to herself/himself and one's respective environment, all of which are disturbed by the rape of a Notre Dame student by an "acquaintance."
I will not treat this situation like anything other than what it is — a tragedy. I cannot begin to express my sympathy for the victim who undoubtedly feels horribly violated, not just for the way she was treated, but also for the betrayal by a supposed friend.
As atrocious as such a crime remains no matter where it occurs, it is only more tragic in an environment that we strive to call "home." No less tragic, however, is the travesty with which such a crime is ignored. I respect the victim's feelings — there is no doubt a reason for her silence which I only hope will heal. But "if the incident involved a violation of school policy ... Student Affairs would be informed."
Explain to me, Student Affairs, what exactly is impeding you from inquiring into the matter further when you have leveled charges against violations that would inarguably be considered less severe than rape, even at the request of the victim? How many more rapes must go unreported until one finds its way into the headlines? What makes Campus Security think our campus is "secure" simply because this rapist was an acquaintance?
I'm not writing to ostracize the rapist, but if he can justify raping a friend, how much safer would a stranger be around such a person? The victim does not want to press charges, but tell me where Notre Dame's responsibilty applies?
Must we first quantify our concern based only on the number of reported crimes that are, themselves, inherently unacceptable? Notre Dame owes more than that to its values, tradition, and especially its students. We need to expect more from a University that has definitely been held to a higher standard for over a century.
Most importantly, we all owe it to humanity to be intolerant to such acts that scandalize our home. Don't let this tragedy become another "statistic" that Campus Security must reluctantly report in accordance with some "act." I urge us all to take action simply because we are acting in accordance with our responsibility as students, residents and human beings. It's that simple.
Do more, Office of Student Affairs; not in spite of what you might call "policy," but because of this tragedy; not just for the sake of moral consistency, but for the holistic integrity of this campus that has been savagely compromised by the atrocious actions of an undoubtedly greater number. If not, then we continue to be victims of inaction.
We begin to be those very pundits who care more about maintaining a clean reputation for Notre Dame than confronting injustice. Demand more, students, not just because you are offended by this tragedy, but because the subsequent inaction hurts our community, too. This is your home.
Miguel Vieyra
Freshman
Knott Hall
April 4, 2000
All Viewpoint Stories for Wednesday, April 5, 2000
