It is an understatement to say that the Penn student body has been through a lot this semester. And this past week, with one student’s death and a sexual assault, has been particularly trying.
These events are largely personal, and the process of dealing with them should remain so. For those directly affected by either incident, we urge you to continue to reach out to personal and Penn support networks, and to talk to people whom you trust over the coming days and weeks. These are not things one should cope with alone.
Because these incidents are so personal, we’ve refrained from commenting in the past. But the overwhelmingly supportive response to the sexual assaults on campus has been gratifying to see, and we felt it was time that we spoke up.
From “speak ups” organized by One-in-Four and the Penn Consortium of Undergraduate Women so that people can talk about the incidents, to a waterfall of support for projects like P-CUW’s petition for a specialized rape center, Penn students have mobilized to show their support for victims of sexual assault. This reaction went above and beyond what was required and is commendable.
These cases still require self-reflection and examination, and raise important questions on the true nature of sexual assault and violence on Penn’s campus. These questions demand answers. But this is a start.
