Content Warning: Discussion of sexual violence. 

Every few weeks, an event occurs that seems to permeate every conversation on campus. When this happens, it makes my job as Co-Editor easier. I know what I have to write about. That changed last week. An event in the news certainly made its way into conversation. It demanded to be known, but it made nothing easy.

Of course, I am talking about the Cornell seven. For anyone who might be unaware, a former Cornell student has filed a lawsuit claiming that she was raped by seven members of a Cornell fraternity in 2024. The contents of this editorial are not directly about this case. As such, I will not delve into details, but I want to make my feelings about it clear. The actions of the seven men are horrific and inexcusable. Any attempt to describe their despicable nature with words alone would be insufficient. The 50 other men who knew what was happening and did nothing to stop it are also disgusting, pathetic humans. 

I could easily use the roughly 500 remaining words of this article to rip into these men. However, it would do nothing to ease Jane Doe’s pain or help any other victims. So instead, I want to shift attention to the existing structures at EMU responsible for keeping us safe and responding to situations like this.

Ultimately, the University wants to prevent instances of sexual misconduct from occurring in the first place. I talked with Wayne Martin, Campus Safety & Security Manager, about the preventative measures EMU takes. 

Martin made it clear that EMU campus security is not law enforcement. He said, “Our primary purpose is to observe and report. So that’s why you see us out walking around, trying to interact with people.” Martin said his goal is to create a “culture of safety.” He wants students to feel comfortable talking to campus security. 

The most dangerous areas on campus in the context of sexual violence or harassment are the dorm buildings. These are also spaces that campus security is notably absent from. I asked Martin what EMU does to make these spaces safer. Martin said the main precaution taken by EMU is in the training of Community Advisors (CAs) to respond to situations and work to de-escalate conflict. 

If there is an instance of sexual harassment or misconduct between two students, the victim has the option of reporting the incident and filing a Title IX report. To better understand Title IX, I sat down for a conversation with Venissa White, Project Director of Safer Together and Coordinator for Campus Response. 

She described the process of filing a Title IX report, the possible outcomes, and the limitations. Early in the process of pursuing a Title IX report, the University sends a letter to the person being investigated; this, White says, is the stage where most people choose to end the process. The possibility of a victim’s assaulter trying to confront them after finding out they are being investigated is a real fear. A desirable outcome is not guaranteed either. A victim could have all the necessary evidence, go through the full investigative process, have their assaulter found responsible, and have nothing to show for it. This is because, while it is against EMU’s code of conduct to assault another student, there is no set punishment for such action. 

Title IX is not a rule book with prescribed punishments for different situations; it merely gives a guideline for how to conduct investigations. This is how you can have cases of rape ending in essay writing as a punishment. 

Now is the time for EMU to take a hardline stance. We should have a zero-tolerance policy with expulsion as a certainty for students found responsible for committing acts of sexual assault and harassment. Students who go through the very difficult process of a Title IX investigation should be assured that there will be something to show for their courage. Additionally, in circles where behaviors of harassment and assault are encouraged, action needs to be taken. 

I encourage every man reading this to have difficult conversations about rape culture and your place in it. We can never again be bystanders. We must use our voices to speak for those who have grown hoarse from screaming their entire lives.