Exeter Campus Discusses Reality of Student Hazing

Over the past twenty years, Exeter has cracked down on hazing on campus, with great success. Recently the deans have turned their attention to a subset of this issue--sexual harassment.Arthur Cosgrove, the Dean of Residential Life, has brought up the topic at proctor training meetings."We would like to get conversations going about sexual harassment, which is happening at some level in every dorm, both girls’ and boys’, through social media, through conversations, because of the way people dress and walk around the dorm," Cosgrove said. "We want to get conversations going about what’s appropriate and how kids treat each other. I think that individuals have differing opinions on whether something is or isn’t sexual harassment, and it’s good to have conversations about it and get it out into the open."The deans stand by the E Book definition of sexual harassment, which is outlined on page sixty-two. Part of the definition reads: "Sexual harassment can include any unwelcome verbal, written, or physical conduct that is directed at or related to a person’s gender and which interferes with a person’s educational or working environment.""People behave in ways that sometimes, they don’t realize, steps over the boundary of harassment," Dean of Students Melissa Mischke said. "Not enough students, faculty, and staff are aware that we have a certain way that we have to treat each other on campus, and if we don’t treat each other in a way that’s appropriate, then there are guidelines on how we follow up on that. Educating the student body through the proctors, as well as directly, are ways to work on these things, along with faculty and staff training.""One way to do address the issue is through student leadership," science instructor Alison Hobbie said. "I think it’s possible that young boys or girls can step over the line and not realize it, and it’s nice when leaders in a community can say ’that’s not right.’ I think there are lots of ways to address it and make sure that teenagers learn what sexual harassment is. Student leaders are an excellent way to do that."New proctors recognize the intricate nature of the issue."I think it is a subtle thing to define," Upper Kihong Ahn said. "The big thing is how the person who claims to be harassed defines it. I personally think sexual harassment can come in many different forms, in different places, such as dormitories or clubs. From what I've seen, I've not noticed a widespread problem."Health classes teach students about sexual harassment and how to deal with it, and many students think this is effective."Exeter definitely does a good job in lower and prep health classes when teaching you where the line is between friendliness and sexual harassment," prep Ruby Fludzinski said.Many Exonians believe that sexual harassment is not taken as seriously by the students, unless it is physical, and is brushed off more often."I don’t think we label it as sexual harassment," senior Gissel Espinoza said. "Maybe I’ve said something condescending to a guy, or vice versa, but you don’t really remember, you don’t realize you’re hurting someone’s feelings."Espinoza and other girls in Bancroft Hall have had issues with some of the boys in Wentworth Hall, which Espinoza believes to be based in sexual harassment."Most of them are really nice guys, I don’t think it’s one specific group," she said. "We thought that Wentworth took our bench, and they claimed that they didn’t take it. We were pretty sure they did, so we took one of their benches and we dyed it pink and wrote "Bancroft" on it. When I talked to Mr. Cosgrove about it, and he asked why we did it. The bench is a symbol that we’re not going to deal with them.""I think it’s very subtle," Espinoza continued. "I’ve had experiences, not just with Wentworth, but in general. One time last year I was wearing a loose v-neck and a guy said, "hey, Boobs." Okay--objectify me. I don’t have a name; it’s just me and my boobs. But I think that it has definitely decreased, and the deans did a really good job."There may be a clash between the deans’ and certain students’ definition of sexual harassment and that of other Exonians. Some of the boys in Wentworth do not believe that their actions are malicious or qualify as harassment."I don’t think we view women as objects," lower Warren Charleston, who lives in Wentworth, said. "I think we’re just having fun and joking around. I don’t think our dorm truly has that kind of objective mindset. We may be boys and joke around alot, but we are all still respectful to others."Some students think the harassment that occurs at Exeter is more subtle, which may make it harder to eradicate."Outright sexual harassment isn't necessarily a major problem at Exeter but I think the bigger issue is a culture of sexual inequality and power, one that's more or less under the surface," senior Patrick Ahern said. "I think when you get inside conversations, the way people talk about the opposite sex shows a lot of objectification. It usually doesn't manifest itself in outright harassment."