By Henry Jarvinen
As many of you probably know, there was a petition to revoke Sen. Susan Collins’ honorary degree from St. Lawrence following her recent vote to confirm Justice Brett Kavanaugh. While I stand with Dr. Ford, this petition is misguided and undermines the principals of higher education.
I’m disturbed by ALL the votes in favor of Kavanaugh (not just hers), and how the process of his appointment was rushed before full disclosure of his papers, and how he displayed grossly inappropriate and extremely partisan behavior in front of the committee. The investigation was a farce as well. Nevertheless, I’m glad the university declined to take away her honorary degrees under the circumstances. However, the university’s position that our petition was an attack on Sen. Collins’ right to her own opinion is erroneous.
As colleges across the U.S., including St. Lawrence, attempt to combat sexual assault on campus, it is all the more important to take a stand with survivors of sexual assault. The petition was not partisan, but a defense of the values we are taught at St. Lawrence: don’t rape people.
We as a community place a lot of emphasis on Title IX and sexual assault awareness from the moment students step on campus to begin their college career. Yet, not once was this issue mentioned in President Fox’s letter. Instead, he chose to quote an obscure federal judge from 1944 to defend freedom of thought and speech, while neither was attacked in the petition.
The response we received from our university administration was not well done and very weak. It was possible to defend freedom of speech and thought AND to recognize the need to change our sexual assault and victim-shaming culture, provide a safe campus, and show respect for survivors. President Fox missed a powerful opportunity to uphold multiple values. He either does not have quality advisors and communication staff, or he does not care enough about these issues. I hope more students will give voice to dissatisfaction on this big miss.
Sen. Collins’ vote to confirm Justice Kavanaugh undermined the values we hold dear as Laurentians. I guarantee that there would not have been a petition if Justice Kavanaugh had not been accused of sexual assault by three women. I, too, hold deep respect for our First Amendment right to free speech. However, I do not believe that St. Lawrence stands for using that right to defend, let alone reward sexual predators with a lifetime appointment to our nation’s highest court.
I will leave you with this question: what is the message that Susan Collins’ vote and the university’s subsequent response ignoring the accusations against Justice Kavanaugh send to survivors currently attending St. Lawrence?