Letters

Time for a paradigm shift in attitudes about rape

Thanks to the IDS for the insightful report about rape victims on college campuses (“The silent victims of rape on college campuses,” March 24).

I would like to mention an aspect that in my opinion is too often ignored and that the story does not address fully, aside from the quote that, “‘As a society, Americans aren’t very open to victims.’”

The latter is certainly true.

Yet, I think this statement addresses only one aspect of a societal and cultural problem, one which is by no means limited to the United States or to college campuses but certainly seems entrenched in various aspects of American college life.

This problem, as I see it, originates in the prevalence of traditional ideas of masculinity and the perpetuation of traditional gender roles, both of which are reinforced by the so-called “greek” systems on American campuses.

Whenever reports of rape in a fraternity house emerge, some spokesperson claims this is not what fraternities are about and that this was an isolated incident.

I certainly do not want to hold all students in the greek system responsible for these acts, and I know there are very many decent and honorable men who are members of these organizations.

Nevertheless, why is it that rapes keep occurring at fraternity houses (if you don’t believe me, check the IDS archives for stories of past incidents)?

I believe too many men in this country, members of fraternities and others, still subscribe to a definition of masculinity that is rooted in aggression, domination and, ultimately, violence.

In this context, a man who willingly and openly exhibits weakness, tenderness, fear, emotion, non-aggressive behavior, etc, is considered a “sissy” or “gay.”

However, dominating a woman — in this case raping her — or beating up a homosexual man is considered a “manly” act.

I’m afraid unless a complete paradigm shift occurs in how we as a society define what it means “to be a man,” the number of rapes on college campuses is unlikely to decline any time soon.

Michael Anklin
IU graduate student



Health care bill lays groundwork for student loan crisis

In just three pages of this fabulous bill (the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act), students will be directly impacted for the “greater good.”

These three pages will “save” billions of dollars in subsidies to banks that give student loans, while also distributing billions more dollars to “qualified” students.

However, a major reason these nasty middlemen (bankers) exist is to collect information regarding the repayment of the loan.

Thanks to these three pages, though, it will be the universities’ responsibility not only to distinguish qualified students but also must collect the loan from the student, however many years it may take.

But wait, will that not require more staff on the part of the university?

Where is the funding for that?

And let’s just say that these universities accept more students and that more students then qualify for federal financial aid.

However, a majority of these “subprime” students do not repay the loan, and the government foots the bill. Sound familiar? (See the recent housing crisis.)

The scariest part of the whole thing is this is just three pages of the bill.

Matt Abel
IU senior