Were the “In Solidarity” Emails Responding to the Trips Op-Ed and the “Take Back the Night” Initiative Meaningful Actions?

Were the “In Solidarity” Emails Responding to the Trips Op-Ed and the “Take Back the Night” Initiative Meaningful Actions?

Jun 29, 2018 | 1 comment

From the editors:

This winter, the Dartmouth published an op-ed entitled “You’re Not Tripping.” The author condemned the Trips Directors’ selection process for too heavily weighing factors, such as gender, in the selection process and openly questioned the merit of the new selections. In response, many student organizations sent emails with the subject “In Solidarity” expressing support for the Trips Directors and criticizing the article.

21.3% of Dartmouth students agreed with the author’s position, while 78.6% disagreed.

On April 6, a cohort of students asked all social spaces to close in honor of a “Night of Solidarity,” a night dedicated to seriously reflecting on the sexual violence committed on this campus and ways in which Dartmouth and its students can improve the safety of social spaces on campus. In response, many student organizations sent emails with the subject “In Solidarity” expressing their involvement with this initiative (which colloquially came to be known as “Take Back the Night,” after the non-profit organization which spearheads such rallies and protests against sexual violence, among other actions).

69.7% of Dartmouth students supported this initiative, while 24.8% opposed it.

All data sourced from College Pulse.

Were the “In Solidarity” Emails Responding to the Trips Op-Ed and the “Take Back the Night” Initiative Meaningful Actions?

Jun 29, 2018 | 1 comment

From the editors:

This winter, the Dartmouth published an op-ed entitled “You’re Not Tripping.” The author condemned the Trips Directors’ selection process for too heavily weighing factors, such as gender, in the selection process and openly questioned the merit of the new selections. In response, many student organizations sent emails with the subject “In Solidarity” expressing support for the Trips Directors and criticizing the article.

21.3% of Dartmouth students agreed with the author’s position, while 78.6% disagreed.

On April 6, a cohort of students asked all social spaces to close in honor of a “Night of Solidarity,” a night dedicated to seriously reflecting on the sexual violence committed on this campus and ways in which Dartmouth and its students can improve the safety of social spaces on campus. In response, many student organizations sent emails with the subject “In Solidarity” expressing their involvement with this initiative (which colloquially came to be known as “Take Back the Night,” after the non-profit organization which spearheads such rallies and protests against sexual violence, among other actions).

69.7% of Dartmouth students supported this initiative, while 24.8% opposed it.

All data sourced from College Pulse.

Pro

The “In-Solidarity” emails offered insight into which Greek Houses and on-campus organizations genuinely cared about the issue of sexual assault.

Without names, it’s quite clear that certain groups on campus were proactive about the topic while others were far more reactive. It probably makes little sense to credit organizations and groups who felt they were pressured into acting – but it doesn’t hurt to note them. You might consideralso reconsider Fraternity XYZ’s “In-Solidarity” email (or lack thereof) before deciding to spend a Saturday night there.

Additionally, it seems entirely possible that this “Take Back the Night” phenomenon will continue next year. The email chain – which signifies the support of the majority of on-campus organizations, whether pressured into it or not – likely played an integral part in this shift.

For those who are passionate about sexual assault on our campus (perceived to be the vast majority), the “In-Solidarity” emails have given a snapshot of the present and possibility for future change.

Additionally, on a very basic level, I believe we all want this campus to be somewhere that people feel safe. If you can’t find meaning from an email chain that shows the safest places on campus, consider this: the “In-Solidarity” emails will likely be much more intentional next year. The executives elected for on-campus organizations and Greek Houses who write them will certainly be far more committed to their creation. This type of commitment is cyclical, going hand in hand with solidarity’s true definition of acting in response to a perceived need in one’s larger community. So to conclude: an expression of solidarity is better than nothing; it might also engender meaningful action from others. These “In-Solidarity” emails certainly qualify as an act of solidarity.

How was this an act of solidarity? The term solidarity derives from the French ‘solidarité’. This initial meaning was perceived as the “communion of interests and responsibilities, mutual responsibility” (c. 1829). Mutual responsibility and a consideration for a community’s larger “perceived need” are substantively indistinguishable. A more modern definition still maintains this connection – acting in solidarity is now seen as “unity (as of a group or class) that produces or is based on community of interests, objectives, and standards”.

Whether past or present, an act of solidarity is any action taken in response to a meaningful perceived need. We might qualify different actions for their quality – Jesse Owens holding his fist up at the Olympics probably ranks higher than a blitz chain – but any genuine attempt to address a meaningful problem for a broader group should qualify as acting in solidarity.

Furthermore, these acts of solidarity have led to substantive change across history. MADD led to safer roads. The March on Washington spurned Civil Rights legislation. Presently, NFLers kneeling forced NFL owners into revealing the league’s stance on patriotism versus bottom lines. #MeToo and the Women’s March likely contributed to a record number of 2018 female Congressional candidates — these acts each created insight into inequitable situations. Our response to them, hopefully, leads a safer and more equitable world.

– Anonymous

Con

The solidarity emails responding to Ryan Spector’s op-ed in The Dartmouth and the Take Back the Night Initiative were not meaningful actions. These expressions of goodwill for the Dartmouth community did more to artificially boost the virtuousness of those standing in solidarity than to lend any help to those in need. Without a doubt, there are merits to increasing awareness, but if the goal is to make a substantial difference, then there is more that can be done. A meaningful action goes beyond words and takes substantive steps towards correcting what is deemed wrong.

The issue with these two actions had nothing to do with the message they were promoting. After many campus organizations sent out their emails, it became clear that not sending one would be a statement in and of itself. Remaining silent would be a clear indication of an acceptance of bigotry on our campus, which it certainly is not. Putting other members of the College in this position is not only unfair, but it sets a dangerous precedent. Regardless of your position on the article or Take Back the Night, the emails were a coercive tactic to bully everyone into agreement. Imagine if this were to happen in a different context over a more contested issue. The value and legitimacy of the opposing argument would be silenced by the majority.

Sending an email across campus to indicate that you stand in solidarity with the individuals who may have been angered by a brief article is a cry for attention. Other than raising awareness, what good are you imparting on campus by telling everyone that you care deeply about issues we face?

The solidarity emails responding to the “Take Back the Night” initiative were equally unwarranted. It was similarly a way for people to express their caring nature rather than do anything to further their cause. Aside from spreading their message, which I see as something with which it is very difficult to disagree, they forced concurrence. Regardless of the veracity of their statement, its unhealthy to have a small group force the entire campus to shut down.

In the case of Ryan Spector’s op-ed, the concern shouldn’t have been with the hurt feelings of the community. In fact, the only meaningful action that should have been taken was an analysis of his argument. Take Back the Night had a great message, but it still attempted to distribute that message coercively. What Dartmouth students can do instead is focus on sexual assault as criminal behavior and prioritize the organizations that help combat this issue and provide outlets for survivors to tell their stories.

There are many, very real issues that we face today at Dartmouth. But material change requires two things: embodying the behavior we expect from the members of our community, and actively participating in a solution. Declarations of self-righteousness do not help.

– Anonymous

One Reply to “Were the “In Solidarity” Emails Responding to the Trips Op-Ed and the “Take Back the Night” Initiative Meaningful Actions?”

  1. I think some key pros of the Night of Solidarity were omitted. Notably,
    -The emails were validating for some survivors, acknowledging the harm they experienced rather than denying it and committing to doing better out of empathy and compassion for these individuals and their experiences. This was a departure from the status quo, in which many students engage in victim blaming and erase / deny survivors and their experiences.
    -Many organizations spent time, thought, and energy planning and implementing their own events on that night to raise awareness and discuss issues of sexual violence. This was a rare moment in which students were genuinely, organically engaging with these topics without being mandated to by administration, and without social pressure (houses could have counted themselves as participating without hosting these events and going the extra mile).
    -The act of writing the solidarity email is an exercise in reflection and thoughtfulness. Many houses had long, meaningful discussions together in the process of writing their statements, which fostered dialogue and an honest reckoning with their values and commitment to the issue
    -Closing greek houses most likely prevented instances of violence from occurring on that night that would have occurred otherwise. Unfortunately, at this moment, campus is safer when greek spaces are closed.
    Best,
    Paulina

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