[robin]

Stanford issued a "Brock Turner case" press release yesterday through Lisa Lapin of University Communications.  The release states in pertinent part: "…Stanford University, its students, its police and its staff members did everything they could."  While doing everything apparently includes purging Turner's name from the 2014-2015 Stanford University swim roster, it does not include eliminating what all-too-often provides young male students with the means and opportunity to commit the crime of sexual assault -- fraternities that throw parties at which consumption of alcohol is a major emphasis. 

When I transferred to Stanford in 1974 I was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma ("KKG"), a national sorority.  Fraternity members who feared the Stanford Housing Office would use Title IX to eliminate campus fraternities asked me (and two transferees who also were KKG members) to start a KKG chapter at Stanford.  (These enterprising boys said they already had requested and obtained a pledge of support from KKG "National" for a Stanford chapter.)  Having attended three different Pac-12 schools where the Greek system was strong, we three women were familiar with the system's culture and none of us thought the culture was one that would benefit Stanford.  Although we refused the opportunity the fraternity boys offered, somehow sororities returned to Stanford after we left and the university's (existing) fraternities were "saved" the impact of Title IX.

While one can debate whether bureaucratic snafu or sexism explains Stanford's failure to investigate and take action in connection with the assault my husband witnessed in a Stanford dorm in 1976 (by a future U. S. Congressman who apparently continued to prey on women after he graduated from Stanford -- see my post in reply to ColoradoTree's original post on "Brock Turner sentenced"), I think we all can agree using America's criminal justice system to prosecute campus-based sexual assaults is not the best way to permanently reduce violence against women.  While I am sympathetic to Michele Dauber's frustration as a woman and lawyer (like Brooksley Born I have been the target of bullies who retaliated when I stated my opinion on an economic matter and like David Wu I went on to earn a law degree after I earned my Stanford biological sciences degree), I do not think using the recall process against judges such as Persky provides the answer.  (Nor do I think criticizing Turner's father for the words he wrote in an effort to support his son is appropriate.)  Only when Stanford bans sororities and fraternities can the university legitimately make the claim it has done everything it can do.

[robin]

Stanford issued a "Brock Turner case" press release yesterday through Lisa Lapin of University Communications.  The release states in pertinent part: "…Stanford University, its students, its police and its staff members did everything they could."  While doing everything apparently includes purging Turner's name from the 2014-2015 Stanford University swim roster, it does not include eliminating what all-too-often provides young male students with the means and opportunity to commit the crime of sexual assault -- fraternities that throw parties at which consumption of alcohol is a major emphasis. 

When I transferred to Stanford in 1974 I was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma ("KKG"), a national sorority.  Fraternity members who feared the Stanford Housing Office would use Title IX to eliminate campus fraternities asked me (and two transferees who also were KKG members) to start a KKG chapter at Stanford.  (These enterprising boys said they already had requested and obtained a pledge of support from KKG "National" for a Stanford chapter.)  Having attended three different Pac-12 schools where the Greek system was strong, we three women were familiar with the system's culture and none of us thought the culture was one that would benefit Stanford.  Although we refused the opportunity the fraternity boys offered, somehow sororities returned to Stanford after we left and the university's (existing) fraternities were "saved" the impact of Title IX.

While one can debate whether bureaucratic snafu or sexism explains Stanford's failure to investigate and take action in connection with the assault my husband witnessed in a Stanford dorm in 1976 (by a future U. S. Congressman who apparently continued to prey on women after he graduated from Stanford -- see my post in reply to ColoradoTree's original post on "Brock Turner sentenced"), I think we all can agree using America's criminal justice system to prosecute campus-based sexual assaults is not the best way to permanently reduce violence against women.  While I am sympathetic to Michele Dauber's frustration as a woman and lawyer (like Brooksley Born I have been the target of bullies who retaliated when I stated my opinion on an economic matter and like David Wu I went on to earn a law degree after I earned my Stanford biological sciences degree), I do not think using the recall process against judges such as Persky provides the answer.  (Nor do I think criticizing Turner's father for the words he wrote in an effort to support his son is appropriate.)  Only when Stanford bans sororities and fraternities can the university legitimately make the claim it has done everything it can do.