To the Editor,
We, the undersigned faculty, staff, and other allies stand against the serious problem of sexual assault at Bucknell and at other university and college campuses. Sexual assault causes pain and suffering for survivors, and is in direct opposition to our work of teaching students the knowledge and skills for personal and civic well-being.
We call upon the Bucknell administration and all other university and college administrations to continuously monitor and update current policies to model best practices in preventing sexual assault on campus. The best policies and practices are those that are based on the interests and concerns of survivors. These include, but are not limited to, those practices that encourage but do not require survivors to report sexual assault to campus employees, a fair and equitable adjudication process, use of strong sanctions to deter offenders, and demonstrably effective prevention practices.
The epidemic of campus sexual assault can only be effectively addressed if it is fully acknowledged as both a local problem here at Bucknell, and as part of the national and worldwide pandemic of sexual violence. In order to effect change at both local and cultural levels regarding norms of health sexuality, we also call upon Bucknell and all colleges and universities to fully embrace and enforce an affirmative consent standard based explicitly on the verbal, signed, or otherwise clear and unambiguous communication of a non-coerced and enthusiastic “YES.”
We stand with the survivors of sexual assault at Bucknell and elsewhere. Responsibility for sexual assault lies with perpetrators, with those who actively or tacitly endorse their actions, and with those who maintain and promote the cultural values that foster the perpetration of sexual assault. Intoxication and/or the failure to understand what constitutes sexual assault and rape are no more excuses for committing assault than they are for committing any other crime.
We are committed to changing the culture of sexual assault that is endemic at Bucknell and elsewhere, with the goal of eliminating sexual violence once and for all. Nothing less is acceptable, and our commitment will continue until this goal is achieved.
In Solidarity with Survivors,
Katelyn Allers, Physics & Astronomy
Karen Altendorf, Anthropology & Sociology
Christiane Andersson, Art & Art History
James Baish, Biomedical Engineering
Susan Baish, Engineering
Ashli Baker, Classics
Erdogan Bakir, Economics
Nina Banks, Economics
Adrienne Beaver, Publications, Print & Mail
Sarah Bell, Career Development Center
Laura Beninati, Mechanical Engineering
Morgan Benowitz-Fredericks, Biology
Mark Bettner, Management
Neil Boyd, Management
Margaret Brody, Chemistry
Elizabeth Capaldi, Biology & Animal Behavior
Dan Cavanagh, Biomedical Engineering
Paula Closson Buck, English
Stephen Buonopane, Civil & Environmental Engineering
Janice Butler, Office of Civic Engagement
Molly Butzer ’80, Development & Alumni Relations
Glynis Carr, English
George M. Casper ’02, Library & Information Technology
Karen Castle, Chemistry
David Cipoletti, Mechanical Engineering
Greg Clingham, English & University Press
Logan J. Connors, Languages, Cultures & Linguistics
Kim Councill, Music
Margaret E. Cronin, Writing Center
Gretchen Croteau, Development & Alumni Relations
Isabel Cuñado, Spanish
Kim Daubman, Psychology
Coralynn Davis, Women’s & Gender Studies
Paula D. Davis, Theatre & Dance
Emily Dietrich, Career Development Center
Erica G. Delsandro, Women’s & Gender Studies
Michael Dock, Spanish
Aleece Drumm, Parents Fund & Family Programs
Emily Dryden, Mathematics
Philippe Dubois, Languages, Cultures & Linguistics
Beth M. Duckles, Sociology
Katie Faull, Comparative Humanities
Abe Feuerstein, Education
Bill Flack, Psychology, Social Justice Residential College, & Bucknell Feminist Front
Patti Struble Flannery ’86, Alumni Relations
Abby Flynt, Mathematics
Nancy Frazier, Library & Information Technology
Rabbi Serena Fujita, Campus Jewish Life
Sharon Garthwaite, Mathematics
Julie Gates, Biology Department
Kevin Gilmore, Civil & Environmental Engineering
Gary Grant, Theatre
Duane Griffin, Geography
Judy Grisel, Psychology & Neuroscience
Rob Guissanie, Library & Information Technology
Andrea Halpern, Psychology
Mark Haussmann, Biology
Phil Haynes, Music
K.A. Hays, English
Doug Hecock, Political Science
Jamie Hendry, Managing for Sustainability
Carmen Henne-Ochoa, Sociology
Richard Henne-Ochoa, Education
Sue Ellen Henry, Education
Alexis Henshaw, Political Science
Ellen K. Herman, Geology
Tammy Bunn Hiller, Managing for Sustainability
Elaine Hopkins, Languages, Cultures, & Linguistics
John Hunter, Comparative Humanities
Erin Jablonski, Chemical Engineering
Ann James, Geography
Michael James, Political Science
Michelle Johnson, Sociology & Anthropology
Dave Kelley, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Carl Kirby, Geology & Environmental Geosciences
Sabrina Kirby, Writing Center
David Kristjanson-Gural, Economics & Social Justice Residential College
Bernhard Kuhn, Languages, Cultures & Linguistics
Laura Lanwermeyer, Teaching & Learning Center
James Lavine, Linguistics
Jason Leddington, Philosophy
Denise Lewis, English
Sheila Lintott, Philosophy & Women’s & Gender Studies
Barry Long, Music
Chris Magee, Economics
Rita Malick, Library & Information Technology
Michael A. Malusis, Civil & Environmental Engineering
Janice Mann, Art & Art History
Vanessa Massaro, Geography
Molly McGuire, Chemistry
Collin McKinney, Spanish
Karline McLain, Religious Studies
Peter McNamara, Mathematics
Kathleen McQuiston, Research Services & Information Literacy
Matt McTammany, Biology & Environmental Studies
Xiannong Meng, Computer Science
Karen Morin, Geography
Helen Morris-Keitel, Languages, Cultures & Linguistics
Arris F.E.N. Moser, Information Services
Adrian N. Mulligan, Geography
Kevin Myers, Psychology
Rebecca Meyers, Film/Media Studies
Deirdre O’Connor, Writing Center
Seth Orsborn, Markets, Innovation, & Design
Leslie Patrick, History
Carrie Pirmann, Library & Information Technology
Harriet Pollack, English
Susan A. Reed, Women’s & Gender Studies
Roger Rothman, Art & Art History
Nathan Ryan, Mathematics
Andrea Stevenson Sanjian, Political Science
Robin Schaech, Bucknell Student Health
Abbey Scheckter, Development & Alumni Relations
David Schoepf, Physics & Astronomy
Edmund (Ned) Searles, Sociology & Anthropology
Martha Shaunessy, Women’s & Gender Studies
James Shields, Comparative Humanities
Deborah Sills, Civil & Environmental Engineering
Jennifer Silva, Anthropology & Sociology
Matthew H. Slater, Philosophy
Ron J. Smith, International Relations
Staff name withheld at behest of signator
Staff name withheld at behest of signator
Andrea Leithner Stauffer, Office of Financial Aid
Gary Steiner, Philosophy
Atiya Stokes-Brown, Political Science
Andrew Stuhl, Environmental Studies
Steve Styers, Writing Center
Joseph G. Susan Jr., Head Football Coach
Jennifer Thomson, History
Ruth Tincoff, Psychology, Neuroscience & Linguistics
Kris Trego, Classics & Ancient Mediterranean Studies
Martha H. Verbrugge, History
Richard Waller, History/International Relations
Claire Vaye Watkins, Creative Writing
Joel Wade, Psychology
John Westbrook, French
Elaine Williams, Theatre & Dance
Rebecca Willoughby, English
Lea Wittie, Computer Science
Megan Wolleben, Career Development Center
Amanda Wooden, Environmental Studies, Bucknell Feminist Front
Thelathia “Nikki” Young, Women’s & Gender Studies
Virginia Zimmerman, English