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Ann Arbor is a Whore

November 1, 2012

by Cat Cleary

One of my favorite parts about fall is that along with pumpkin spice lattes and ‘jeans and sweatshirt’ weather comes college football tailgating season. Forget the actual football games—I’m here for the food, friends, and school spirit. I was lucky enough to recently travel to South Bend, Indiana, to watch the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish play the University of Michigan Wolverines (go Irish!).

While I loved the food, friends, and school spirit that filled the weekend at my home away from home, I couldn’t help but be completely appalled by what many Notre Dame fans (and fans from other opposing teams) seem to think is an appropriate way to root against the Wolverines. T-shirts, signs, and cheers endorsed the phrases “Ann Arbor is a Whore” and the ever so clever “Muck Fichigan.” While some may find these phrases benign, I believe these sentiments are telling of a greater football culture that sometimes condones harassment, assault, and shame.  As my colleagues on the One Student Editorial Board have pointed out before, jokes and myths surrounding sexual assault and harassment do contribute to a culture of violence.

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It Only Takes One

October 4, 2012

By Carly Lanning

There is nothing easy about taking a stand in an uncomfortable situation.

We are one of the few creatures that does not instantly respond to our gut feelings. Giving them the benefit of the doubt, they are normally spot on.

When you see a couple’s fight starting to escalate or a guy trying to usher a drunk girl into a bedroom, that is when the moment to be an active bystander or just a bystander begins.

We can do something, or do nothing.

One of the biggest tools in our fight to end sexual violence is the education and actions of others. Though police, counselors and medical professionals are there for all the needs of a survivor, they will normally not be called in until after an assault has already taken place.

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Talk the Talk

October 2, 2012

by Jessica Spohn

Have you ever wondered about something and then gone straight to the internet to search for the answer? Did you do this because it was more convenient, or because the topic was embarrassing, or you felt like no one else would know the answer? Today, the internet is a common first resort for many; when the topic is sex, it surprises me how many of those I have spoken with turn to the internet for answers rather than turn to the people they know.

In my life, it has always been the norm for my friends to pose questions or comments to me about sex—I am very open with what I Read More »

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Speaking Out

September 28, 2012

One of the greatest honors we receive is a student sharing their story with us. We were recently contacted by a survivor who beautifully expressed why it was important to tell her story with candor and in our opinion courage. We are happy to introduce you to one student who is making a difference…

 By Cassy Byrne

 Since publishing my story about surviving years of sexual abuse in college to my blog last month, I have been asked again and again why I decided to do it.

 I realize that it may seem counterintuitive to publish a compilation of the most humiliating moments of one’s life to the Internet for everyone to read — especially when doing so runs the risk of making the majority of people who read it feel unbearably uncomfortable (at best). But the level of detail that I brought to light in my account is so rarely exposed in cases of sexual assault, that I knew that if there was any way I could I feel capable of telling my story — in public, and in depth — then I would have to make it my responsibility to do so.

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