2008 Woodie Awards
Task Force finds sexist social scene on campus
Anthony Adragna
Issue date: 5/1/08 Section: News
While gender relations across campus have generally improved over the last decade, sexism remains a dominant and controlling facet of social life, a report released April 29 from the Task Force on the Status of Women (TSW) at the College found. In the report, the group acknowledges gains made by women, but stresses the amount of work remaining for the community, while also raising broader issues, irrespective of gender, for the College to consider.
"The status of women has clearly changed in many ways in the past decade," the report concluded, "but there is still much to be done."
Compiled by a student and faculty group of 13 that was chartered in 2007 to study the state of gender relations at the College, data for the report were gathered from group interview sessions, focus groups, one-on-one interviews and an electronic survey that garnered over 900 responses.
Included in the 40-page report are 74 recommendations which President of the College Ronald D. Liebowitz and the administration will have the task of considering and implementing. Carrie Rampp, director of Resource Development & Services for Library & Information Services and chair of the Task Force hopes broader discussions about the report's conclusions will come in the fall.
Alcohol, males dominate social scene
For students on campus, these discussions could well focus on the social scene at the College, which, according to the report, revolves around alcohol and fosters sexism and negative gender relations.
Parties at the College, according to the report, tend to be organized by students who are "male, upper-class and athletic," and who sometimes use alcohol and their control of parties to take advantage of women.
"Female students also reported that in their first year at Middlebury, they were invited to parties by older classmen who they felt specifically targeted them for their inexperience with alcohol so they could make inappropriate advances," the report found.
"The status of women has clearly changed in many ways in the past decade," the report concluded, "but there is still much to be done."
Compiled by a student and faculty group of 13 that was chartered in 2007 to study the state of gender relations at the College, data for the report were gathered from group interview sessions, focus groups, one-on-one interviews and an electronic survey that garnered over 900 responses.
Included in the 40-page report are 74 recommendations which President of the College Ronald D. Liebowitz and the administration will have the task of considering and implementing. Carrie Rampp, director of Resource Development & Services for Library & Information Services and chair of the Task Force hopes broader discussions about the report's conclusions will come in the fall.
Alcohol, males dominate social scene
For students on campus, these discussions could well focus on the social scene at the College, which, according to the report, revolves around alcohol and fosters sexism and negative gender relations.
Parties at the College, according to the report, tend to be organized by students who are "male, upper-class and athletic," and who sometimes use alcohol and their control of parties to take advantage of women.
"Female students also reported that in their first year at Middlebury, they were invited to parties by older classmen who they felt specifically targeted them for their inexperience with alcohol so they could make inappropriate advances," the report found.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 19
Midd Alum
posted 5/01/08 @ 12:06 PM EST
What a load of garbage. Sounds like this "study" was done by a bunch of bitter girls. I hate to break it to you, but men and women ARE different and sexism is impossible to get rid of. (Continued…)
Tina Coll
posted 5/01/08 @ 2:00 PM EST
To the first respondent, I would like to point out that if you actually took the time to look at the report you feel so entitled to criticize, you will see that overall it is fairly positive. (Continued…)
1st part of this article is ridiculous
posted 5/01/08 @ 2:19 PM EST
I am deeply concerned about this task force. Not for what they found but for the conclusions they reached. I am only addressing parts of this article as opposed to the entire piece. (Continued…)
Parent of (former) Midd and Saint Lawrence Men
posted 5/01/08 @ 6:50 PM EST
In the Cultural Marxist playbook the only persons on campus who can't possibly be victims are the upper-class, heterosexual males, atheltic or otherwise. (Continued…)
Sarah
posted 5/01/08 @ 7:29 PM EST
It's too bad Middlebury Confessional didn't exist before you finished your report. As I quickly glance at the site, I pull up a few "gems" that illustrate the sexism present on this campus:
wtf are these whores thinking, getting all uppity. (Continued…)
Sarah
posted 5/01/08 @ 7:33 PM EST
I just found another exemplar thread: Best pair of tits in school?
Midd Alum
posted 5/01/08 @ 7:52 PM EST
Tina, don't criticize me for not reading your trite report. How likely would I be to sift through however many pages of garbage you have written to get a "fair" assessment of it? If the rest of the report was so positive, it makes me even more infuriated that the negative things you bring to light are all regarding the evil, good looking, intelligent, athletic, white male. (Continued…)
Midd Alum
posted 5/01/08 @ 9:34 PM EST
Unfortunately, since I am not currently a Midd student or faculty member, I am not able to view the report of your council, so again, jump off your high horse. (Continued…)
Michael Sheridan
posted 5/02/08 @ 9:35 AM EST
I'm also one of the authors of the report. What is important to think about here, I think, is that the report IS NOT -- contrary to how the Campus article interpreted it -- about bashing men as being sexist pigs and sympathising with victimized women. (Continued…)
Peeved alum
posted 5/02/08 @ 11:09 PM EST
Is this publication in any way affiliated with Hearst Media? Old Randolph would be proud of such sensationalist "yellow journalism." Perhaps objectivity is not part of the Campus' lexicon? When the report's authors themselves call into question the way their findings has been portrayed in this article, clearly something is amiss. (Continued…)
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