Christendom College was founded by Warren H. Carroll in 1977 with $50,000. A week later, in a letter dated May 23, 2011, President ODonnell responded. The students views, whether they arrived with them or picked them up at Christendom, were wildly sexist both men and women. [40], Christendom has several varsity sports, and has a variety of intramural sports throughout the year. No wonder Christendom is so embarrassed that they havent put their apology on their website yet. But there were many inaccuracies about the school: we never had to get outfits approved for dates, you are allowed to sit next to each other, and we didnt have to wear skirts all the time. Accustomed to a large, sociable, extended family, she knew Christendom would be conservative, but was bemused by the strict segregation of males and females. I was that fallen woman, and I didnt want my parents to see me that way. But at the same time, Christendom was a dream in a bubble. We ignore it at our peril. PDA rules that no longer exist, criticizing faculty that no longer are there? The comparison between rape and public drunkenness is egregiously unfair. The young man left Christendom in Smiths senior year. Just to hold hands, theyd go off campus for a date; and by off campus, it could in be in the woods, or in a field down the road. In 2018, while delivering the Commencement Address for Christendom, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas said, This is a wonderful, wonderful, college a decidedly Catholic college, and I am decidedly and unapologetically Catholic. Because these issues are so very serious, and it would be negligent to look the other way. [33] The college hired Husch-Blackwell to audit campus compliance with best practices in sexual assault and harassment cases, although it is not bound to do so by Title IX as the College does not accept federal funding of Title IV. Or going to the county if the town is not addressing it? Think of roofies, frat parties, binge drinking..Im not going to go on, except to say that these dont exist here and if thats the bubble then Hallelujah. When she was there, it wasnt possible. The entire town is PDA-rule-free. They have a right to speak about the crimes committed against them. If they arent keeping track, then the are no statistics to tell you what happens on campus and of campus. At first she didnt want to allow that word, and grew defensive, blaming herself for the assault. Protected: Episode 64: Sing with me, pooperellas! Protected: Ill See Myself Out, Episode 62: Episodic! [15], The total financial assets have increased by 440%, and total plant costs have increased by 397%. Why not with the rape? This is not degrading but a call to heroism on both sides. ' into the handbook. ), Protected: Podcast #48: Accidentally unnamed, Protected: Podcast #46: Mamas little snakey loves bananofee pie, Protected: Podcast #45: Sharples and cocaine, Protected: Podcast 44: Some degree of martyrdom, One long dad joke: My interview with EOTTs S.C. Naoum. It sounds like from what the article describes, that they had to dig deeper to find a situation in which they could implement a punishment on the guy, and they told them that they understood their anguish. The college had no policy on sexual assault? O'Donnell's biggest building contribution was the new Chapel of Christ the King, which he promised in his inaugural address as president. Is hearing both sides unreasonable? He told her her back might be more comfortable in the back seat, and they could put the laptop in the center console to listen to music. Can we PLEASE stop framing this as something between women and men and acknowledge that assault and coercion also happen between men and between women, as well as from women to men? Mr. Dorman showed no apparent interest in pursuing any sort of investigation, Scott Smith wrote. I was at Saint Marys in South Bend and we had a student body of about 1,500, tops. I dont understand the logic of protecting the identity of the alleged rapist and meanwhile running the names of college faculty through the mud for not somehow preventing a rape that occurred on a mountain and for not expelling a student for a rape that went unreported for a year and a half with no evidence. . An authentically Catholic college that prepares you for the future. According to records of the minutes taken at two local school board meetings, one of which was held on July 15, 2021 and another on August 5, 2021, multiple public employees at Riverside Unified . No, it takes opening a word document and writing it up: Dont rape people. If theres a single member on your board who has an issue with that, they shouldnt be on that board, Smith said. Christendom College: A Love and Hate Letter : r/excatholic - reddit Before I left the church one of the last times I went to confession was before serving a mass in the dominican rite for a priest I'd shared most of my courses with in grad school. Thank you for writing this. But that had absolutely nothing to do with rape or assault. No matter what your belief now, or if you have no belief at all. It only works with Weinstein and Cosby because there were like 30+ allegations. They therefore leave campus to do that thing. Carroll was the founder of Seton School, which gave birth in the 1980s to Seton Home Study School, a home-school program that now has more than 12,000 students enrolled. This is garbage, not because there isnt a problem at Christendom, but because your article contains obvious errors in judgment, is clearly slanted with the intent to make Christendom look bad, and doesnt address the actual problems that make these things happen. I believe Adeles story 100%. Hes obviously prideful and arrogant. Openly. As far as I can see, either your outrage should be with park police and the legal system that did nothing, as opposed to the school which actually did something(albeit minor), or you should be mad at yourselves for not hiring a bounty hunter to mutilate the guy. Way to play Blame the Victim! Christendom is very diligent in making sure that it provides a safe campus for the education of our students.. I dont think beyond reasonable doubt is a necessary criterion in such a situation. I can understand completely the reasons behind not having visitors of the opposite sex in the dorms, however the upstairs magazine reading room in the library was also dubbed the Romeo and Juliet room since couples would go there to make out. We were certainly not taught that a parked car on a lonely spot was a good idea for a date by any of the professors, Administrators, all who took pains to teach us a dating culture that could help us mature and protect us. Inaccuracies did not have to do with Miss Smiths heartbreaking account. It is genuinely baffling to methough perhaps it should not bethat so many people read an article about a Catholic university so badly bungling its response to the sexual assault of its students and when they get to the end can ask with a straight face what was your goal in writing this? Or worse, claim that the writing of it was badly motivated or will have deleterious effects that outweigh the good done by shedding light on wrongdoing. But current students and alumni say the school has a boys will be boys attitude which allows the male students to harass and grab at the women. They can work *with* local law enforcement, but thats as far as it goes, because theyre federal. Rapists should be burnt at the stake, but going on a witch-hunt for rape culture does not help. The Dean or an RA could drive out and get you. Marshner has since left Christendom. We clearly received the impression that Mr. Dorman wasnt going to do anything . Seriously how is this possible? California School District Lies About Teaching Critical Race Theory The fact that a rapist actually had to go off school grounds to do such a thing says a lot about how the school conducts itself. Experience the most popular, well-attended, and highly-ranked pre-college summer program of its kind. Its way too small. New student orientation includes a session that covers sexual harassment and assault, reporting, and on-campus resources for support. Her GPA slipped to 1.2. After I finally rejected the Faith, I was intellectually under-equipped to handle the outside world; I've honestly learned more about the actual world (as opposed to the imaginary Catholic one) by browsing Reddit and the rest of the internet than I ever learned in my four years at Christendom. From what I understand, the school has only gotten worse. Christendom College admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. In 2013, after Smith had graduated from the school, she again downloaded the student handbook and was aghast to see there was still no language forbidding sexual assault by students. I think theres definitely room for improvement in the colleges dealings, but as DCLM already made clear, the school was being asked to provide a parallel court, which is not easy. In a letter dated May 16, 2011, Scott Smith, her father, wrote to Timothy ODonnell, the president of Christendom, Adeles grades plummeted that first semester of her sophomore year. In this period, members of the Christian clergy wield political authority. In the charge letter delivered to the young man on July 19, 2011, then-dean Jesse Dorman wrote: The intent of the Student Life Office is to support each student as he or she works to grow in virtue . Christendom College | Flickr Rapists should be burnt at the stake, but only if the survivor immediately provides incontrovertible evidence of the rape happening and of the rapists identity, and if theres any doubt, we will give the alleged rapist a slap on the wrist and tell the survivor she should get over it. Aaaand we wonder why women dont immediately report their rapes. There was nothing to stop this from happening again, Smith said. BUT. There was that one charismatic guy who transformed everything into spiritual warfare. Ive always thought that would be delightful and I graduated in 2000 from Christendom. Why not the new policy? Kind of makes you wonder why there are any rapes in the many (50?) To those students who have been harmed, I am deeply sorry. Mark Fusco - Priest in Residence - Christendom College | Business Tag: racism National Congress on the Word of God: A Two-Edged Sword. Misogyny is woven deep into the schools culture. Such a different vibe from my Canadian background. I understand the argument that Christendom had their hands tied due to the lack of criminal prosecution. Did you read where she said no to his hand in her shirt? But thats not entirely relevent here. A school can also have clearly defined sexual assault policies on the books, and discuss these policies with their students. Accused have rights. We are committed in our policies, our procedures, and in our on-campus culture to uphold and promote the dignity of women and men. His absence helped her reclaim some of her focus. Rights to presumption of innocence meaning the burden of proof is on the prosecutor. One day, she was sitting and waiting for a friend to come out of his dorm, and the young man who had assaulted her came out. Heres my letter that i wrote to Christendom last month. I considered Christendom, but that seemed a bit too much for me at the time. Starting in September 2016, Christendom College launched an ambitious project called the "A Call To Greatness Campaign" to raise $40 million for the college's endowment, the annual fund, and a construction project to build a new 750-seat medieval gothic chapel featuring a 130-foot tower and eight prayer altars. That is no small feat. We will continue to do so in fidelity to our mission: to restore all things in Christ. The article makes the following claim without proof or attribution, and it has been contended with by several students, But current students and alumni say the school has a boys will be boys attitude which allows the male students to harass and grab at the women. No more specifics are given, but the implication is that men are allowed to grab womens arses, etc., without repercussion even to their reputations. Why insinuate the government is going to do it better. I was raised in a conservative evangelical household and converted to Catholicism my junior year. But their response was not a legal cease and desist, or demand of retraction. I, a female, was molested at 10 by a female with power who was near to my age (but who wielded unequal power to me). Our time-tested integrated liberal arts education is the ideal education for the future. I can understand the experience of being surrounded by 'unholy' people and being unable to come to grips with them being Not Catholic Enough, though. Thats not how it works in any of the college towns Ive lived in, and I live in one now, where we also have a military base, and the base police dont have jurisdiction outside the base, for the most part. Badly bungling? I dont know what the college should have done or not done. Christendom College. The basement of the admissions office (a building which, Im pretty sure, is condemned but still functions as an office despite the dangers) had a breaker room in the back behind 2 locked doors. He said she noticed a change in her, and wanted her to know he was there to help her if she wanted to talk. They do not invalidate the substance of the story. christendom college racism - nakedeyeballs.com There was nothing to stop this from happening again, Smith said. Home - Christendom College [8], During Fedoryka's seven-year tenure as president, Blessed Margaret and St. Joseph's Halls were constructed, and the college became fully accredited in 1987. Again, every college in America that has less strict PDA rules (nearly every college in America) has rape. It is a call to be honest about their mistakes, so they can address them in a properly Christian manner. Most of the responses have been supportive. I would posit that when a woman is ovulating her sex drive out strips a mans, I think womens sex drives tend to be ignored because men are more sexual which isnt the case. Its not good enough, for some because the school didnt have the authority or the power to adequately punish someone for rape, and I personally have no problem with the rapist receiving a degree, and being forced to stay off campus with a restraining order. I emerged with my virginity intact. And I think hearing the other side is always critical. She says that the rules against romantic public displays of affection were so restrictive, it drove couples off campus. He is the author of The Persecuted: True Stories of. How come more worldly girls get raped too?Even from your writing it seems that Christendom did stand up from inside when Miss Smith felt comfortable telling her Theology! Christendom College is a Catholic liberal arts college in Front Royal, Virginia, United States, located in the Shenandoah Valley. The school apparently based its response on two facts: First, there was, in 2011, no clause in the student handbook prohibiting sexual assault. We Dare to be Great. For this reason, I am particularly honored to associate myself with such a fine Catholic institution of higher learning and my prayers are that Christendom College will enjoy many more years of service in the education and formation of young people.[22], Christendom College is also listed as a Recommended College by the Newman Guide to Choosing a Catholic College. We will do better. I had been waiting for marriage. Her phrasing seems to imply that there was no second year at this secular college. So this rape would not have occurred if the dorms were mixed gender? Congrats for finding a better life path. The fact that you view consent as nebulous is a personal problem. The fact that the school is Catholic really seems quite irrelevant. But I dont think we can fully judge any of these stories without hearing the other side. @CMFE But Hollywood isnt doing a better job. I could go on, but my point is that we MUST see sexual assault as a bigger issue than something that men perpetrate upon women. Purity more and more asks for a heroic virtue. The New Christ the King Chapel at Christendom College But when he started putting his hand inside her shirt, she told him No, and pushed his hand away. You are right, men do absolutely do have that ability to control themselves. Its getting harder and harder for them in todays society. Christendom College admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. Students who go to remote areas are by-passing safe, public places where they could engage in the PDA behavior you complain is banned on campus. Our Staff - Christendom College Under her tenure, the graduate school began offering M.A. I will say that no professor I had ever backed up this position, but neither did I see them fight to overturn it. Front Royal Police told her it was out of their jurisdiction, since it had happened in a national park. The rape occurred on Friday, October 2, 2009, on Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park, about thirty minutes away from the college campus. They have pointed to several problem areas that are not yet fixed. I was working maintenance as a student between the times of these incidents. You use false logic and your pen is sadly misdirected this time. Im sad to hear about his victim, especially since I had a similar experience with a non-Catholic pastor. When you have an educational institution; especially a residential one that does not have an explicit sexual assault policy on the books in 2010, its absolutely reasonable to criticize the institution and its actions. That is exactly what you are saying, men cant control themselves so woman have to. Her point is absolutely credible and relevant. Again, this is the convenient thing about being a private institution: you can act in seemingly arbitrary ways in order to achieve what you know to be the common good. Christendom is NOT in the Arctic Circle. Six months after graduation, the members of the Class of 2022 had an overall success rate of 98.9%, based on a survey with a 100% knowledgerate. If these girls arent worldly and thats why this happened then there really is no safety left anywhere. As a current parent at Christendom I was floored by this article. If you dont have weed places, does that mean youll get crack places? Note: This subreddit is a support forum and not a debate group and will be moderated accordingly. These are Catholic seminarians. Smith says that the administration cracked down on professors hosting off-campus parties, because they involved drinking. During his tenure, the college increased the number of buildings on campus to over 20, including St. Lawrence Commons, St. Francis, St. Benedict, St. Catherine of Siena, and St. Clare Hall, St. Louis the Crusader Gymnasium, and St. John the Evangelist Library. Not because they are animals, but because our culture is hyper-sexualized in a way that has been hitherto unseen. Adele Smith, in the article above, expected to perpetrator to be expelled based on her narrative that she presented. As a graduate of Christendom, I see no reason why he couldnt have been expelled. I sympathize with the people who want a man to be expelled based on one womans testimony (such as in the above article), but we have to admit that is at the expense of innocent men getting expelled as well. #4. do we know/ do you know who is funding CC??? Only when my self destructive nonsense lead to the police being called did the administrators step in and not to fix my problems but to put me back in line. More concern for an institution than for victims. Others have already addressed most of my concerns here though I would point out sexual assault is something that must be reported promptly. Of course they are not but I find the fact that each version of catholic thinks they are right well it is partly why I lost my faith. After graduation, she went to a catholic high school that was run by nuns. Only as an adult did I see the dynamics of power, coercion, grooming and (lack of) consent at play, and even when I began to tell my story, many people brushed it off as in onsequential. the men of tis campus are filled with a joy in being a gentleman to every girl. (frankly, my dear, i would stay clear of all of those guys. First, Christendom College could have made their own report to the police. Christendom doesnt have anything like that. This has been mine. The school has a very thorough policy in place, and anyway, this was not in Christendoms jurisdiction, so their hands were legally tied in their dealings regarding the actual rape. There were witnesses there that confirmed that. [3] Carroll stepped back to focus on teaching history and writing, remaining on the faculty and serving as the chairman of the history department until his retirement in 2002. I remember loving the lushness of the area. The fact that students are taught that men can not say no and are nothing less than animals is degrading to the male gender and puts all responsibility on the woman without holding men accountable. The teachers provide a well rounded education of philosophy, history, theology, literature and political science. The fact that you think men are walking around Christendoms campus grabbing at womens arses and nobody does anything because their is a boys will be boys attitude just shows how naive you are. I remember hanging out with some of them. In my head I thought he was able to walk away does he really love me? We women all love being loved, and physical intimacy is such a natural sign of love and acceptance. While it is true that Cdom, as I understand it, expels people for far less, it is usually for things in which there is more evidence or for matters that are more in their jurisdiction. [42], In 2017, Christendom's rugby team won the NSCRO 7's Collegiate Rugby National Championship in its first year of contention. Christendom College (@ChristendomVA) / Twitter Dont even get me going on how Steubenville is just a fusion of vineyard Pentecostalism with JP2 Catholicism. He further harassed her, had told several of his friends that she had seduced him. Why not with the rape? Which most of us dont want to read. There was no mention of her accusation of rape, either in the charge letter or in the sanction letter. Ugh, how vile. A private institution that is not subject to federal collegiate regulations has such flexibility. I still live in Front Royal, and until very recently our police have been a joke when it comes to stuff like this. Catholic or nonCatholic, If one interprets this as a endorsement of rape, the fault is on them. And, of course, they could have gone for a walk down the road if all they wanted was to hold hands. No one doubts that passion is difficult, that lust is strong and difficult to master. The fact that every situation is different, makes it a matter of prudential judgment, and this seems completely lost on the author who partially blames the PDA policy, which I find insulting to college students and drastically counter intuitive to challenging the prospects of rape. Banning them from living on campus and allowing a professor to shelter them does not protect other students. I must charitably assume (another term I learned there) this must have been chaste, but it still looked extremely odd. [in loco parentis] is not a phrase that I use with any frequency, ODonnell wrote toward the end of his letter to Scott Smith. It seems to me that thats why they hit him with that. The Colleges Front Royal campus overlooks the Shenandoah River with scenic views of the neighboring Blue Ridge Mountains. While it is reasonable for a Catholic school to allow chaste PDAs, its not necessary that do so. Your charity is overwhelming. This article does not do justice to the universitys apparent efforts to remain impartial, while also considering how to better serve women who have been raped. We can use this process to address inappropriate comments or unreasonable behavior that makes students feel uncomfortable.
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