It's Time to Take Back the Night

To the Editors of The Crimson:

In response to the release of the Harvard Law Revue, which included an indefensible "parody" of the late Professor Mary Joe Frug's work ("Law Review Apologizes for Frug Piece," April 13), many of my fellow students have voiced feelings of disbelief that such blatant misogyny could be endorsed within the Harvard community.

Some have reacted with very vocal denouncements of the "hateful" intent of the so-called "spoof" issue, while others have found themselves virtually speechless at the raw message conveyed.

Sometimes silence speaks louder than words. And sometimes we need to speak up when silence will no longer do. I arrived at this juncture on April 13 after reading the front page of The Crimson, where I found not one but four stories regarding violence toward women on this campus. Enough is enough. I can no longer be silent.

Professor Laurence H. Tribe is quoted in "Tribe Denounces Spoof as Hateful" as saying that while "the Frug parody had 'a less clearly defined mission,' the article's message is that 'the hatred of women is a hoax perpetuated by feminists."

As a female student, I know, as most off us do, that verbal and physical violence against women, even at Harvard-Radcliffe, is no hoax. If it were, there would be no need for the critical discussions taking place all around us ("U.C. defines Rape Narrowly" and "Take Back the Night' Begins'). How are we to respond to these issues?

One response took form at a November 1990 meeting among administrators, faculty and students, where the Date Rape Task Force was established to "review policy, disciplinary procedures, counseling and educational programs in the area of date and acquaintance rape."

Last February, the Task Force submitted its report to the Administrative Board, which in turn asked the Undergraduate Council, the officially recognized student council representing both Harvard and Radcliffe students, to review and respond to this report. The U.C. spent numerous hours discussing these issues in subcommittee, committee and Executive Board meetings which were publicized in The Crimson and The Harvard Independent, as well as announced on Yard and house kiosks. anyone and everyone was invited to attend. Very few actually did.

Yet when I announced in one of my classes that there were still opportunities to contribute to the U.C. discussion of the report, I was confronted with student skepticism regarding the seriousness with which the Ad Board would receive the U.C.'s response.

While I originally responded in defense of the U.C.'s work (being a U.C. representative myself and having spent significant time talking to my constituents about their views on the subject), I later realized that the focus of concern was not only the U.C. and the belief (mistaken or otherwise) that administrators don't really care what students have to say, but also--and more critically--the feelings of powerlessness and voicelessness which many students have regarding this issue.

Date and acquaintance rapes are historically crimes of silence, so it's no wonder that students so adamently criticized the one-voice (majority rules) response from the U.C. (which, by the way, is still in progress). How can we each be sure our voice is heard? This is the question I posed earlier this week to Janet A. Viggiani, assistant dean for coeducation and co-chair of the Date Rape Task Force.

After some discussion, Viggiani and I came up with several options:

1. Write a personal or, preferably, a group letter to the Ad Board expressing opinions and concerns on this issue.

2. Attend the U.C. meetings still remaining, especially this Sunday, and talk to your U.C. representatives.

3. Contact your house adjunct adviser on sexual harassment and/or your senior tutor (a member of the Ad Board) to express your individual views.

4. Contact the Radcliffe Union of Students, which will be issuing a response to the report. All input is welcome.

5. SPEAK UP! BREAK THE SILENCE! Date and acquaintance rape affects each one of us as students, especially in policy areas. We are being given a chance to be a part of the process, not mere witnesses to it.

Take advantage of this opportunity to help educate and empower all Harvard-Radcliffe students. Participate in "Take Back the Night 1992" and learn what you can do to help stop violence against women and all people.

Don't let another incident such as the Review "spoof" go by before you speak up against misogynist terrorism. Don't leave these issues for others to decide. Let your voices be heard! D. Osborg '92