DePaul University is back in the public eye, but for the wrong reasons. Yesterday’s “banner dropping” by students is another in a list of black eyes for the Chicago institution.
Students unfurled two banners in the Arts and Sciences Building, one saying “DPU Athletics: We Know What You Did #RapeCulture #YouCantHide!” while the second read “Things That Cause Rape” with four boxes and a check mark in the ‘Rapist’ box. This happened around 12:50 p.m. Tuesday afternoon according to multiple reports.
Photo courtesy of Matthew Paras
Call me crazy, but if students are willing to create and display banners to remove rape culture from DePaul University, then the school has been doing something very wrong. The students involved with making and displaying the banners should be applauded. All too often, money and school boosters sway administrations to do “what’s best for the school.”
These students claim the Athletic Department at DePaul University allowed athletes to use non-existent clout to do as they wished, including allegedly forcing themselves onto female students. The protest is only a broad sweeping generalization about allegedly accepting supposed rape culture.
There is no definitive case being made against any current or former athlete at DPU. Speculation has already run rampant involving at least one “recognizable” former athlete, which is pointless to even hint at (right, Dan Bernstein?) until any allegations are made official or detailed.
I don’t say that because it protects an alleged rapist, but because it helps protect the female or females allegedly abused. No need to have them see constant speculation if they would prefer not to. Their health and safety is much more important than a sports scholarship or money for a new stadium that will do nothing to generate attendance at sporting events. If supposed rape culture exists in Lincoln Park, as these protestors claim, it’s certainly not helped the teams win anything.
Rape culture is a sad reality in college athletics and society as a whole. Any chance a group of students or organization has to expose those involved in rape culture should be treated with the utmost seriousness. It’s one of the first steps required to cope, grow, and change rape from being accepted to being punished.
The university responded with a comment about the incident around 4 p.m.
“DePaul strictly prohibits sexual and relationship violence; it takes seriously allegations of all such violence,” DePaul spokesperson Carol Hughes said. “All students who violate the university’s Code of Student Responsibility are subject to DePaul’s Student Judicial Process and the sanctions of that process. Moreover, DePaul provides a variety of support and resources for survivors.”
Jeff is a Production Assistant @120Sports. Follow Jeff @skcih_ffej on Twitter.
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