Thursday it was reported on the front page of The Observer that one former and three current Notre Dame football players were accused of gang raping a 20-year-old student. In the days following, I noticed that there was not one letter regarding the alleged horrible and unconscionable incident. I find it very sad that Notre Dame students are more concerned about their drinking "rights" and SYRs than they are about the alleged violation of one of their sisters.

After the proposed policy changes were announced, there were three pages in Viewpoint devoted to the issue, but when the crime of rape may have been committed upon a young woman, there are no letters, let alone an extra Viewpoint page. What kind of message does this send to the silent women who have suffered rape or sexual assault?

Students are suddenly concerned about having a voice in the decisions and policies that affect them and have come out in droves to protest the rewriting of the alcohol code. Students claim that they have been ignored and silenced. But what about the voices of those who suffered rape or sexual assault and feel that they cannot come forward without being blamed for it in some way?

This doesn't say much about about the students who attend the University. Perhaps a re-evaluation of priorities should be in order.

Sarah Edwards

freshman

Regina Hall

April 15, 2002

• Petition failed to unify student body
  
• Shakespeare in Africa
  
• Where is the outrage?
  
• Support equal pay for both women and minorities
  
• Terrorists give free countries no options