Many ‘firsts’ last year for Gonzaga

In my last year at Gonzaga, I received an email so unexpected that I saved it (something I rarely do). In that e-mail, interim President Thayne McCulloh was addressing students regarding the violence against women on Gonzaga's campus. I was floored. The majority of students saw sexual assault as something that only occasionally happened, and as something far removed from them. Surely, the women who are attacked were people they didn't know or didn't have relationships with. However, there were always those of us who were all too familiar with this reality. Those of us who either knew the victim, or were the victim. We were aware of the attacks and knew something had to change.

Change it we did. The 2009-2010 school year was a busy one. Students and administrators alike were busy advocating for much needed changes in how our campus treats sexual assault. The changes we were demanding stemmed from long-standing issues and misunderstandings. In the end, what we, and past generations, had been fighting for was awareness, understanding and prevention of sexual assault at Gonzaga. Sexual assault, I may add, that affects all genders. We wanted our campus to be open about the problem and to be open to actions that would help stop the violence.

          How then, can this type of work be achieved at Gonzaga? In order to prevent sexual assault on campus, we must admit to the problem and educate ourselves as much as we can. We must create a safe environment for dialogue. That's why student leaders across campus worked hard this past year to promote safety and dialogue. We had rallies, meetings, lectures, support groups, T-shirt days and other demonstrations. Perhaps the most controversial demonstration was surrounding "The Vagina Monologues." Yes, "The Vagina Monologues" were surrounded by controversy, misapprehension and hype, but they did the job. They got people talking. Whether students supported the play or wanted it as far away from campus as possible — they talked about the issues.

 I'm a strong believer that with education, anything is possible. That is what "The Vagina Monologues" were all about, educating our campus about the larger world of power, control, love, friendship and trust. Sexual violence is something that robs people of their dignity as human beings. It's intrusive, embarrassing, and happens far too often. In banning dialogue that seeks to change this, our administrators were hindering our learning process. We learn the most when we are challenged. If we do not give our students the room to debate delicate topics, how else can we expect them to grow into the "people the world needs most"?

This last year had many "firsts." It was the first time many of our students had the opportunity to protest and be heard. It was the first time many of our students felt they had the cause and venue to call out our board of trustees. It was the first time a president acknowledged the sexual assault on campus. It was also the first time a Gonzaga president gave the campus the opportunity to ask about a major University decision. At the end of the year, students were left feeling either torn or triumphant. I, for one, am proud of the growth we were witness to. Gonzaga is entering a new era, one that promises change and dialogue. I can only hope that our administrators  continue to not shy away from topics that challenge the collective community.  I wish all of you the best of luck in what promises to be an excellent year for our school. Just remember to "talk about the issues."