I Stand By Jane Doe and I Am Virginia Wesleyan

   Let me start by explaining the situation. A couple days ago it came to light that my college, Virginia Wesleyan College, in Norfolk, VA was being sued by a former student for negligence of a sexual assault case on campus. The young woman, referred to as Jane Doe to protect her identity, was a new student in Fall 2012 and was lured by her Peer Adivsor (a lacrosse player) to a lacrosse party. She was then drugged and raped. On her way back to her dorm, she was seen by a security guard, who did nothing though her shorts were bloody and she was distressed. She reported the incident to the administration at VWC and they found the Lacrosse player guilty of sexual assault and originally Expelled him. Later, they decided to un-expel him and allow him to voluntarily withdraw so he could transfer to another institution. AND THERE, MY FRIENDS, IS THE GROSS MISHANDLING OF THE SITUATION. 

   Let me tell you something about my school. At my Freshman Orientation, I was lucky to become friends with upperclassmen who had my back. I was told to NEVER go to a Lacrosse party because they were known to drug and sexually assault women. SEVEN YEARS AGO, we knew this and upperclassmen actively informed as many freshmen girls as possible. They weren't the only team I was warned against. I continued the practice when I was a peer advisor every year after, even after I graduated I would tell freshmen girls what groups to avoid on campus. 

   Here's the thing, this is not something that has only happened at Virginia Wesleyan College. This is a trend across our nation in universities and colleges, big and small, public and private. Lately, it has come to glaring light that women are not safe on their campuses because we teach girls to be safer rather than boys to not rape. Columbia, Hobart, William, and Smith, Virginia Tech, JMU, GMU, NYU, UCSB, UGA, Auburn, VCU, UVA. This happens everywhere. There needs to be a change. 

   So let me tell you what Virginia Wesleyan is to me because I feel that it is being lost in this debate.

Our Gorgeous Campus

   VWC is not its administration. 

A Picture of me from Senior Year, Fall 2011

   I am Virginia Wesleyan. I am a member of Phi Sigma Sigma Fraternity, Inc. I was President of Pi Sigma Alpha Political Honor Society and Equality Alliance. I was a Senior Senator on SGA. I was a tutor and peer advisor. A friend. A sister. I found myself at Virginia Wesleyan and I know many of you have too. 

Bid Day 2009

   Virginia Wesleyan is home. It is the students, the professors, the Greeks, the athletes, the clubs, the Batten Center, the Caf, the Grille, Clarke, Blocker, Mud Games, Airband, Homecoming, Greek Games, Basketball season, ODAC Champions. It is the community, the family, the culture we have made. We are the Marlins. We Bleed Blue and White. 

One of the many Basketball Games we all adore.

   What we need to take from this is that WE must be better. WE, as Marlins, can make VWC better. WE must hold people accountable and make the changes we know need to be made. WE can be the example for all the other colleges and universities that are dealing with the same problems. 

   STAND UP and Be Better. STAND TOGETHER and Make Our Community and College Better.

   Because Virginia Wesleyan is so precious to each one of us and it deserves that WE do what needs to be done to help it reach its full and real potential as a college and as Our Home.