Dartmouth Women on Attack

by Karen Parkman

Last Wednesday, Panhell held an emergency meeting at Delta Delta Delta sorority before meetings in reaction to Zeta Psi fraternity's "sex papers," which had been publicly released earlier that day. The majority of attendees were Trideltas, other sorority members, and several of the unaffiliated women who had urged the campus to "boycott" fraternities for the night and later organized the rally outside of the President’s house. Staff members from the Women’s Resource Center, including the Director, Giavanna Munafo also attended. Only three men were present. The meeting was presided over by Panhell President Tasha Francis ‘02, who moderated discussions along with Acting Assistant Dean of Residential Life Cassie Barnhardt. The discussion began with a few comments on the positive value that the Greek system provides. It then quickly shifted to the importance of single-sex organizations in uniting women on campus. One member of an African American sorority pointed out that it was amazing that the women of Dartmouth finally seemed to be uniting, although it was "bittersweet" because very few people had protested when Gamma Delta Chi fraternity’s point-system for member’s sexual involvement with minority women was made public.

The debate grew more heated as the discussion shifted to the prevalence of sexism and sexual assault at Dartmouth, and the fraternity members alleged apathy and lack of concern on the issue. One woman notes that at the Take Back the Night rally held Monday, as a part of Sexual Assault Awareness Week, many fraternity members attended, all wearing the Greek letters of their various houses. However, this woman argued that they only went to be seen in their letters. She alleged that they did not really care about the issue of sexual assault at Dartmouth.

At this point discussions further intensified as several attendees began calling for all reports or even rumors in regards to sexual misconduct by fraternity members to be brought forward. One woman even stated that the men involved should not be allowed to remain anonymous. During this episode a student came forward with a rumor of one fraternity's alleged sexual misconduct and that the frat possesses a video recording of a sexual assault, which had been passed down by its members as an annual "bequest".

The moderators urged those in attendance to address the subject of how women at Dartmouth should respond to Zeta Psi's publication. Here attendees gave several emotional speeches urging Dartmouth women to take responsibility for their own safety and happiness, to hold their male friends "accountable" for their actions, and to initiate further discussions on the problem of sexual assault and sexism at Dartmouth. During the meeting very little was actually addressed on Zeta Psi's publication in specific.

Tasha Francis then brought the meeting to a close and announced that there would be another discussion lead by Panhell, the Coed houses and the traditionally Black fraternities the next day in Collis.