Despite extensive media coverage and efforts from campus activists to draw attention to the issue, the student body does not appear to be more concerned about sexual harassment after a complaint filed by SLAM activist Iris Halpern was decided in favor of The Primary Source.
The Committee on Student Life (CSL) determined that the Source's commentary on SLAM activists - which included comments about leaders in tight tank tops and a cartoon of a well-endowed female - were printed according to the publication's first-amendment rights and did not qualify as sexual harassment. But Halpern's supporters dispute the decision and say that it has left students without recourse for sexual harassment on campus
Campus activists have gone to great lengths to try to get the administration and student leaders to address their concerns over the last few weeks. Junior Lou Esparza has appeared before the TCU Senate to appeal for standards for Senate-funded publications when it comes to potentially offensive material.
Esparza feels that such efforts have caused students to become aware of the case, but he says the campus has only just begun to address the sexual harassment issue.
"The campus has a fragmented feel to it right now," Esparza said. "In order for there to be some reconciliation, students need to feel like their concerns are being valued."
Despite efforts by Halpern's supporters to heighten awareness through a postering campaign and other similar tactics, many students do not appear to be well-informed about the case or feel that sexual harassment is a pressing campus issue.
Sophomore Andrew Rivnak is not deeply familiar with the Halpern case, but upon learning of the CSL's decision, he did not feel increased concern over sexual harassment on campus.
"As a student I am always concerned for the well-being of students involved in [sexual harassment] cases," Rivnak said. "It is a delicate subject, but I feel that increased press on campus will only help the situation."
Some students have reacted negatively to the activist campaign to raise awareness of the issue. Junior Jerome Shapiro says that while a strong sexual harassment policy on campus is important to him, the tactics of Halpern's supporters have not helped the cause.
"I agree that the issues at hand are important and pressing to many, and I would never discredit anyone's feelings," Shapiro said. "However, I can't help but feel like our friendly liberal activists have cried wolf a few too many times... I'm not sure that what happened with The Primary Source can be referred to as sexual harassment."
Freshman Elizabeth Fagenholz isn't personally invested in the case, either. While she has noticed the promotional activities of Halpern's supporters, she doesn't see sexual harassment as a problem of great magnitude.
"Since I've been here, I haven't experienced it as a problem," she said.
As a freshman, Fagenholz found that staying on top of the developments and the ultimate decision of the case was a bit of a challenge.
"I know the case exists... but I didn't see how it was resolved," she said. "I don't know how it all works or who all those people are. I didn't think there was anything I was really going to do either way."
Fagenholz and Rivnak are not the only students who have paid little attention to the Halpern case. Senior exchange student Yen Chow is not as concerned with the decision as many campus activists would like her to be.
"I know The Primary Source had an article about a woman, but I didn't really go into the details of it," Chow said.
But there are some students who have been paying close attention. Fifth-year student Caitlin Howell feels personally involved in the case and disagrees with the final decision of the CSL.
"I've been following it," Howell said. "I'm really surprised that it has gone the way it has. I really think she [Halpern] is in the right."
Howell thinks sexual harassment needs to be further addressed on campus as a result of the CSL's decision, as she feels that many students do not equate gender discrimination with sexual harassment. Howell also believes that the word "sexual" may need to be deconstructed and have a wider definition when it comes to forms of discrimination or harassment.
Like Howell, Esparza is personally concerned that the University's commitment to equal opportunity has been brought into question by the nature of the CSL decision, saying the Committee did not address any violation of the sexual harassment policy but rather focused on the issue of free speech.
Liz Monnin, co-chair of the Tufts Feminist Alliance and supporter of Iris Halpern, recently told the Daily of her sense of the campus reaction to the case.
"There are a lot of people on this campus pissed off about sexual harassment," she said.
Not surprisingly, Source editor-in-chief Sam Dangremond does not see the outcome of his case with Halpern as an appropriate jumpstart for a campus-wide discussion of sexual harassment.
"Sexual harassment does not need to be further addressed by anyone," Dangremond said. "Why? Because sexual harassment never occurred."
Dangremond has not been pleased with those responsible for claiming the case is relevant to sexual harassment.
"I've been somewhat disappointed by the over-emotional responses of some students," he said. "I was called a 'perverted power-hungry rape supporter' in print, but you don't see me crying to the administration. Some people simply need to lighten up and remember that, after all, this is still just college."
