Op-ed | Sexist speech reaches a public forum
Published: Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Updated: Tuesday, September 25, 2012 01:09
Finally, I urge the Tufts administration to consider following the example of the University of Montana by requiring incoming students to demonstrate specific knowledge of what constitutes sexual harassment and assault. It will take action on all levels to make sure a situation like this does not repeat itself.
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Rose Barrett is a junior majoring in religion. She can be reached at Rose.Barrett@tufts.edu.
14 comments Log in to Comment
ellacha
At what point does the volleyball team move past compression short shorts as a uniform? It has nothing to do with performance guys volleyball teams wear regular shorts and do fine.
TU2013
@CCC So if this pales in comparison to the real world, we should just accept things for what they are then, right? It starts here. Misogynistic and racist behavior, any negative behavior, really, gets worse when it isn't corrected. If everyone just "calmed down," as you suggested, then yes, the real world will stay the way it is. These students will graduate and continue this behavior in the "real world." I was taught to never sit back and accept the poor behavior of others. You can continue your life with a sense of passiveness if you so desire, but don't ever reprimand someone for having the courage to speak out. As an athlete at this school, as a woman at this school, as a person at this school: thank you.
CCC
veryone needs to calm down. This was not a major incident (that's why it's only being reported in an op-ed column, if at all). Words like "despicable", "shameful", etc have no place here. I mean I understand that there are a lot of P&J majors on this site, and you are all desperate for a cause worthy of your collective outrage, but trust me - this is not it. Sometimes, at college, kids get rowdy and make jokes. But you know what it pales in comparison to? THE REAL WORLD. Go to any professional sports game. Seriously. So if the point of college is to prepare us in some minimal way for the real world, then maybe this isn't the worst thing. Lord knows that Tufts students are mollycoddled in a litany of ways, which I have personally seen as an emotionally and professionally stunting practice for those who graduate and venture out into the aforementioned "real life". I suspect that a little thicker skin would do Ms. Barrett a word of good.
TuftsAlum12
Whoa! Look a these responses. But actually, "That was all your fault, Sonia! You're gonna get deported!"--that is a. foul and b. HILarious.
anonymous
@wbristol: The NFL lockout was about social justice? Who let Mitt Romney comment on the Daily? Last time I checked, millionaires whining that they aren't paid enough has nothing to do with social justice. Unless of course you're talking about the referee lockout, which is still not really about social justice. The starting salary for an NFL ref is $78000 a year, which is pretty damn good for a part time job
dmaclaury
@DA, while I understand where you are coming from in not wanting to have social justice conversations"force[d]" upon you when you just want to learn math, I have to disagree with you. While I am one of those squishy liberal arts types who likes learning about oppression, I also believe (strongly) that the learning about, and actual understanding of, systems of shaming (which ast924 artfully addressed) as well as other forms of systemic and institutionalized oppressions is important for a school which prides itself on creating "active citizens" (no matter their major).
In not caring about "stuff like this" you are, unfortunately (and probably non-maliciously) perpetrating the kind of behavior which is (generally) the actions of a few at something like a sports game. In requiring education and understanding about why systems of oppression are a bad thing it enables more people to stand up and react to and correctly identify instances like the one described in the article, as well as any number of campus (or general life) issues that arise.
In not caring about "stuff like this" you are, unfortunately (and probably non-maliciously) perpetrating the kind of behavior which is (generally) the actions of a few at something like a sports game. In requiring education and understanding about why systems of oppression are a bad thing it enables more people to stand up and react to and correctly identify instances like the one described in the article, as well as any number of campus (or general life) issues that arise.
DA
I'm right with this op-ed until the very end, when the author tries to use the behavior of a few people as an excuse to force more (!) social justice requirements on the entire student body. Some of us are just here to do math, and couldn't care less about stuff like this. If the rest of you want to have these conversations, that's fine, but please leave the rest of us alone.
ag55
@TuftsAlum12, I believe the others that commented below me have already done a good job explaining why your comment is shameful and disrespectful, but as a fellow Jumbo, female, and human being, I cannot let your comment go past without my two-cents. I cannot believe that after reading an article dedicated to raising awareness about sexist and racist speech at a sports game, that you would have the audacity to degrade Rose in your comment. You yourself have displayed another instance of this vile behavior that I am ashamed to have had to read. It is easy for a person to sit behind their computer and make rude remarks, but I sincerely hope that this is not how you carry yourself in real life.
Also, if you're going to belittle and patronize a person, at least have the decency to spell her name correctly.
Also, if you're going to belittle and patronize a person, at least have the decency to spell her name correctly.
wbristol
@TuftsAlum12 Because if the NFL lockout has taught us anything, it's that social justice and sports narratives have absolutely nothing to do with each other and never affect each other in any way
ast924
@TuftsAlum12, I would have to say that it is you who "reflects a failure to appreciate or understand sports." True sportsmanship has never been about using harassment and rude comments to try to distract the other team and come out on top; it is about playing your best. Inappropriate fan aggression and harassment are not an inherent part of sports; they are a part of a culture that normalizes shaming (and especially the shaming of women). It is not OK to shame someone for the way they look (ie, the Latina player on the Smith team) and justify it as "appreciation and understanding of sports" and "lifting our school's dismal athletic mantle." Additionally, Ms. Barrett is not arguing in any way that college athletics should reward all players, regardless of skill or winning record; she is merely asserting that no athletes should be subjected to sexist and demeaning aggression from fans while they are trying to play their best. TUVB has worked really hard this season and deserves every win they get, and the perpetuation of harassment by fans has no place in an athletic establishment of such caliber.
dmaclaury
@TuftsAlum12, as a student at Tufts, I have to vehemently disagree with you, and want nothing to do with you as an alumus/a. Your attempt to shame both the author of this op-ed and the Smith women who were horribly harassed is in itself shameful and disgusting. Appealing to Tufts' "dismal athletic mantle" as a veil for your sexism and acceptance of harassment is a horrible attempt at deflection.
The Tufts I know is better than you, and it is better than the group of young men who harassed the participants in the volleyball game last night.
The Tufts I know is better than you, and it is better than the group of young men who harassed the participants in the volleyball game last night.
vc8
@TuftsAlum12, I'm a member of the Tufts women's volleyball team and I absolutely disagree with you. Winning is important to our team but so is upholding Tufts' good name. Anywhere we go, we always strive to garner the respect of our opponents through our skills as well as through our comport both on AND off the court. I would hope that the same goes for our fellow athletic teams or any student group at Tufts. It is completely unacceptable for anyone--student, team, or otherwise--to behave in such a way, regardless of where they are or who they're with.
alumni2010
just a note on your final urge - doesn't tufts already have a fairly extensive sexual harassment awareness program for incoming freshman? correct me if i'm wrong, but i seem to recall participating in some type of seminar/presentation about that..
TuftsAlum12
This op-ed reflects a failure to appreciate or understand sports. In the words of Al Davis, "Just win, baby"--and Tufts did just that crushing Smith 3-0 in that match. Now, Ms. Barret please return to your suburban soccer league where everyone get a trophy and let the big girls and boys take care of business as a new generation of Jumbos try to lift our school's dismal athletic mantle.
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