Students Gather to Protest Sexual Assault at Santa Clara

Through a series of speeches, demonstration leaders call attention to issues surrounding sexual violence.

A crowd of students, many of them adorned in blue to represent Sexual Assault Awareness, congregated beneath the Bronco Statue outside of Graham Hall this afternoon in response to the recent increase in sexual assault allegations at Santa Clara.

The protest was organized by a small group of students, led by junior Clare MacMillin and was publicized via social media in the days leading up to the demonstration.

The five leaders of the event, sitting atop the Bronco Statue’s platform, spoke about a series of subjects relating to sexual assault at Santa Clara, including consent, resources and accountability from the university.

MacMillin began with a short speech in which she emphasized the importance of fostering a “community of care.”

“Today is really about us all coming together as a collective and committing to supporting survivors and doing the work that it takes to actually change the culture on our campus,” she said.

This opening was followed by the recitation of a written experience of sexual assault and its aftermath by junior Callie O’Neill, who is currently studying abroad. The letter was read aloud by junior Charlotte O’Dell. O’Neill’s message emphasized—among other things—the mischaracterization of perpetrators as violent strangers, as well as the harmful culture of victim-blaming.

“No jacket, no buddy rule, no long skirt, no leaving early, staying sober or even saying ‘no’ will save you from sexual assault or rape,” O’Neill wrote. “It isn’t an issue of what we victims need to do to protect ourselves. It is an issue of what men need to do to end rape culture.”

The protest leaders also condemned specific language used by Acting President Lisa Kloppenberg in her email to the Santa Clara community, in which she wrote, “Although the email from Associated Student Government President Abigail Alvarez noted estimates by Greek life leaders of as many as 30 drugging or assault incidents, thus far Santa Clara University has received only two third-party (i.e., not firsthand) reports about incidents of possible drugging since Sept. 19; and one report of possible drugging and sexual assault, which the person declined to report formally.”

“Even if it wasn’t Kloppenberg’s intention, this phrasing comes off as minimizing the issue and downplays its severity—” MacMillin was cut off by applause and shouts of approval from the audience of protesters.

MacMillin then pointed out that the discrepancy in the number of reported incidents could have been phrased better with the acknowledgment that sexual assault is statistically underreported compared to other violent crimes.

Vice Provost for Student Affairs Jeanne Rosenberger agreed with the speakers’ emphasis on the language used in Kloppenberg’s statement.

“I definitely understand how powerful the words are and how [powerful] the word selection is, and that is something I would take to heart on my own emails as well,” Rosenberger told The Santa Clara following the demonstration. “I am happy to pass that along to the president’s office. That’s a really important point, and that’s something we can definitely do better.”

When asked about the accountability mechanisms of the Title IX Office, Rosenberger hesitated and offered a follow-up interview with The Santa Clara, citing her uncertainty about the policies, given the recent changes with both the president and Title IX office.

Following the event’s conclusion, the five speakers were approached by numerous students and faculty to speak about the topics of the demonstration. One student approached MacMillin to elaborate on their own experience attending the protest and the exclusion of BIPOC representation, as well as the “heteronormative” tone in which they felt that multiple issues had been spoken about.

The demonstration leaders were also approached by several fraternity executives to speak about further steps towards addressing rape culture within the Santa Clara community. O’Dell and senior Sophie Corbett expressed optimism about Santa Clara’s future as it pertains to sexual assault prevention.

“There is no doubt in my mind that some of it’s performative, obviously, but we had several [fraternity members] come up afterwards and ask us to present in their chapters and further, kind of, the work that they’ve been doing,” she said.

Corbett added that she is optimistic but acknowledges that fraternities are part of a larger system that cannot be dismantled with one demonstration.

“I’m curious to see if [the attendance of fraternity members] will translate into their policies and will translate into them getting more involved,” O’Dell said.

Photo Credit: Mako Watanabe

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This article has been updated as of Oct. 7 to include Callie O’Neill’s name.