it was that, or sit in a brightly-lit classroom, with room for the Holy Spirit between you, and since its a public area, anybody might happen by and join you. Home - Christendom College She implored [her brother] Peter to continue to live in Front Royal and to visit the campus often because she felt so unsafe., Scott Smith states in his letter that he left messages for nearly a week before he was able to arrange to speak to the dean, and that the telephone conference was disquieting.. I am astounded that the article says rapist rather than alleged rapist. While the classes and Catholic culture are unique, the college administration struggles with some modernization of the buildings . And no-one can really know the statistics. Im glad you ran this story, and I hope it will help schools be more accountable. Hes the one who lives in fear of me and my devious feminine allurements, right? He took his knee and pushed my legs open, pulled my shirt off, and pulled my jeans down. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. My objective is to make Christendom more accountable for the safety of its students. This is America. no government financial help??? Christendom College offers an amazing Liberal Arts education that is immersed in the Catholic Faith. Christendom is an excellent college with a delightfully wholesome atmosphere. Academics - Christendom College She fled to her dorm and went to bed. Now though, I can confidently say I turned it around. I would turn around and drive right back. In my head I thought he was able to walk away does he really love me? We women all love being loved, and physical intimacy is such a natural sign of love and acceptance. All I do have is the perspective of a dumb young adult who thought he'd found Heaven's outpost on earth. Thank you for writing that. Every Novus Ordo girl I know knows better than to get in the backseat of a parked car with a guy unless they are willing to risk rape. Real piece of work. You could have discussed it without illustrating it so clearly. We cant even prove whether or not a marriage is consensual or valid in the Catholic marriage tribunals, and a marriage involves months of prep and numerous witnesses! Are women safe in Christendoms bubble? For me, I recoil when I think of the frankly horrible things I used to say and believe, especially to LGBTQ+ people. Money should not stand in the way of your dreams, Those looking at Catholic colleges frequentlyask: How can I afford this education? Whenit comes to Christendom College, the realquestion families should be asking is: Howcan I afford not to attend Christendom?. Seriously. Omigosh. Protected: Podcast #20: GET THAT ALLIGATOR AWAY FROM ME! And also, there were a number of bad experiences in grad school that shouldn't be neglected. All his body language was hostile and arrogant.. I still have fond memories of a bunch of them. Undergraduate students combine a liberal arts core-curriculum with eventual upper-level courses in their major field (or fields) of study. I was raised in a conservative evangelical household and converted to Catholicism my junior year. I went to a small all-womens college, and we had an excellent campus security force; if you were feeling unsure about walking to your car at night you could call them for an escort. A US NEWS & WORLD REPORT article says it isnt working too well. What did this mean about me in my conservative Christian culture? The fact that their anger is not directed towards say the park police, the legal system, but at a school that issued the ONLY punishment(however minor), is basically proof of this. Calling down secular Title IX laws onto a place like this is stupid and illogical. Like Christendom, Thomas Aquinas College (TAC) in Santa Paula, Calif., is one of many small Catholic liberal arts colleges well known for faithfulness to the magisterium. unless you are a member of the clergy etc YOU ARE IN THE SECULAR WORLD. Sure, maybe. If it was patently false, the college would have grounds for a law suit. In your own words, this article is about how this student should have received better care, and more protection from this guy later. Required fields are marked *. . The other allegations against him were also by hearsay, and they put those allegations in writing and asked him to defend himself. Oops. Back at the time, when I was an 18-year-old fresh convert, it was EXACTLY the kind of place I wanted to be. The college has since updated the apology with a Sexual Misconduct FAQs page that outlines the steps the college takes when cases of sexual misconduct are brought to its attention.[31]. Started in 1969, the Notre Dame Institute was created to train religious sisters to teach Catholic doctrine to other teachers, but later welcomed lay students in the late 1970s. The accused have rights the right to an assumption of innocence, for one. However, I was a student at Christendom and nothing could be further from a boys will be boys culture on campus regarding sexual assault. It is beyond belief that the man has not ever been punished. For example, the articke states that Prof. Marshner no longer works at the school, as if he left due to this scenario. Right to present a defense OR NOT. I have to wonder why people entrust a liberal arts school board to be able to fairly assess rape allegations, when law enforcement werent able to.. I appreciate your thoughtful comments. Curious. Her point is that they did not do their best. There is no thrill in rape. Second, I havent seen any evidence in this article or in Christendoms response that the accused was placed before college authorities and questioned regarding the incident. The article makes the following claim without proof or attribution, and it has been contended with by several students, But current students and alumni say the school has a boys will be boys attitude which allows the male students to harass and grab at the women. No more specifics are given, but the implication is that men are allowed to grab womens arses, etc., without repercussion even to their reputations. Christendom College is a four-year coeducational Roman Catholic Liberal Arts College with undergraduate and graduate programs offered in locations in Front Royal and Alexandria, Virginia, Donegal, Ireland, and Rome, Italy. There is much that reeks of shoddy reporting in these two pieces: basically only one side was presented when the facts were right in front of the Fishers (e.g., through the current student handbook and interviewees). Opposite sex couples PDA was forbidden, while some young women regularly shared dorm beds with their friends. Christendom College - Wikipedia Congrats for finding a better life path. P.S. Again, every college in America that has less strict PDA rules (nearly every college in America) has rape. Help me fund this site and get access to my and my husbands occasional podcast and other perks. They explained to her that a prosecutor would take her case, but that the chances of going to trial, much less of the young man being prosecuted, were very low. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. However, Im not sure the reporting here accurately reflects of the issues at Christendom, and it certainly doesnt lay out anything that can be done to improve conditions for future students, as the few things suggested have already been implemented. It wouldnt quite be in keeping with her recent essay about letting go of anger. Thats certainly not Christendoms fault. What was he going to say? Saunders left his position as dean, and founding faculty member Dr. Kristin Burns took over the position. If that happens, hopefully the young lady will have a CRKT S.P.E.W. But when he started putting his hand inside her shirt, she told him No, and pushed his hand away. The whole narrative actually seems quite dependent on that, as they pretty much did everything shy of that. Are you saying that these rapists would have been content to make out on a public bench or in a public common room? It has sent the implicit message to women at Christendom that the such attacks within the Christendom family will be tolerated, that the attacker will receive no punishment, that women who are attacked will have to endure the fear of retaliation, both on a physical level, and on the level of damage to their reputations.. I felt him, she said. Thats just scratching the surface. I remember loving the lushness of the area. When was the last time you heard of a lie or series of lies a journalist told being prosecuted? I was working maintenance as a student between the times of these incidents. And no. His punishment: He could not live on campus for one semester, and he could not contact Adele Smith. Gary Althen, the editor of the campus paper, refused to apologize for running the article, writing an editorial in which he explained that he himself "hated his country, and had learned to hate it at the University of Colorado.". If it isnt its that much harder for anyone to investigate or deal with. i ended up choosing Franciscan University instead because it was my parents choice. It can, however, cost people their livelihoods and smear the reputation of people and universities. The woman interviewed described what she remembered from the time she was there. On what planet? As of the fall of 2022, the college has over 4,000 alumni, with 2,194 of them having earned degrees (A.A., B.A., or M.A.).[3]. Just to hold hands, theyd go off campus for a date; and by off campus, it could in be in the woods, or in a field down the road. Christendom teaches its students to group date first. It is this faith that has been the guiding beacon during some difficult and seemingly hopeless times, even when I had turned my heart against Him and turned my back on [faith]. Im glad to see Christendom has made some changes and I certainly hope it will continue to educate its students and do all they can do to minister to needs and address wrongs. The students arent punished for drinking off campus, they are punished for being drunk ON campus. And did in fact say no with her body language with arms crossed and legs locked tight? Christendom College is a four-year coeducational Roman Catholic Liberal Arts College with undergraduate and graduate programs offered in locations in Front Royal and Alexandria, Virginia, Donegal, Ireland, and Rome, Italy. Students are, however, punished for coming back to campus drunk, even if the drinking took place off campus for instance, at The River, a popular drinking spot where even professors are known to visit and socialize. If you think about it for half a second, youd realize youre asking more of Christendom than literally any institution could ever do, at least when it comes to prevention. Ive been guessing and guessing whoever it is seems to still have his good reputation intact. they arent normal. Yes they would hang out in more open areas because they could be openly affectionate. I am incensed by the way Simcha makes it sound like Dr. Marshner condoned and sheltered a known rapist, and then was fired from the school. That was not how my parents were, but sex assault is unique crime. To me that sort of practice betrays more about the motivations of the reporter than the matters on which he/she reports. And then we blame schools that are actually making efforts to establish some social mores to help guide young people? That is exactly what you are saying, men cant control themselves so woman have to. Christendom College, a small, Catholic, liberal arts school in Front Royal Virginia, celebrated its 40th anniversary last year. Yes, the prosecutor has to prove BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT the guilt of the accused. As I informed you at the meeting, I do not find these interactions with Adele to be acceptable, appropriate, or in keeping with our Code of Student Conduct. These are Catholic seminarians. http://mydailydiatribes.blogspot.com/2017/12/metoo.html?m=1. She said all of that, and you are intelligent enough to have reading comprehension. But this is all a rather side-issue of the #metoo movement more than a discussion of how Christendom is to blame. Rapists should be burnt at the stake, but going on a witch-hunt for rape culture does not help. Her parents, brother, and friends encouraged her to transfer. All I can say is, be happy the shackles are gone. There are not a lot of options if you dont have a car. Catholics are sinners just like everyone else. I went to a small Catholic school in the 80s and knew all students there did not live up to the standards of the college or the faith. It does truly permeate the campus. Does the handbook have to repeat the entire criminal code? Unfortunately sometimes the police are notified and when they investigate the alleged crime they find out that everything does not add up as the accuser states it happened. To find out more about Student Achievement at Christendom, click here. we could! The students dont know Fro Ro very well. I also attended Christendom in the early 90s and while I loved it there I finally heard the truth about what the Church teaches student life was neurotic. Supposedly that sentence should stop this from happening again. Thanks for writing this- I hope the college considers educating more students on assault and consent. Not because they are animals, but because our culture is hyper-sexualized in a way that has been hitherto unseen. His career and family may well be affected by that casual reference. And victims have the right to be taken seriously, to not be dismissed. A handbook that has to be revised and reviewed by the colleges legal team I assume? Very interesting. What I found was the opposite, the longer a person had been at Christendom the less likely they were to show Christian charity, or even a spirit of evangelization. The fact that every situation is different, makes it a matter of prudential judgment, and this seems completely lost on the author who partially blames the PDA policy, which I find insulting to college students and drastically counter intuitive to challenging the prospects of rape. Is it worse to let a rapist remain on campus or expel an innocent student? The other allegations against him were also by hearsay, and they put those allegations in writing and asked him to defend himself. Smith does not remember getting dressed after the rape. I also think men need to be educated, be kept accountable, and step up their game. Rapists should be tarred and feathered (or worse). Its not good enough, for some because the school didnt have the authority or the power to adequately punish someone for rape, and I personally have no problem with the rapist receiving a degree, and being forced to stay off campus with a restraining order. Goodbye, Christendom College. The Semester in Rome includes a continuation of the College's core curriculum program for juniors (THEO 301 Moral Theology during the Fall; and THEO 302 Apologetics in the spring), as well as courses in Italian, Roman Art & Architecture, and the Language, Culture, and History of Rome. The fact that students are taught that men can not say no and are nothing less than animals is degrading to the male gender and puts all responsibility on the woman without holding men accountable. Most of secular culture righteously denounces rape, and praises consent. The administration handled a tough situation, that had no evidence supporting the claims of the girl, as best as can be expected. I cant get into grad school with my GPA. Or are you saying that governmental control might make this sinful/violent act not happen. DOH! And some of the friends that I made. Protected: Ill See Myself Out, Episode 61: Dont be coming round here with no oranges. But you dont know more than that. Christendom College. "[25], Over the years, the college has also received praise from political leaders in the United States. It still deserves to be addressed adequately by the Admins, but we were much safer than most campuses. You cant tell a Catholic girl to be suspicious of her fellow (male) students because that would make her a man-hating feminazi. I dont know what the contents of the interview between the college and the perp are. We dont stand for PDA, we certainly dont allow for men grabbing arses in public. Good. On the day of the rape, she re-injured her back while cleaning her room for Homecoming Weekend, and so her new boyfriend suggested that they have a low-key, relaxing date. It took about a month to find a solution, which given the resources for the investigation, makes perfect sense considering theyre not a team of forensic scientists with knowledge of legal prosecutions. Its bad because just by the quotes of things hes said, Im pretty sure hes exactly the kind of guy who would force himself on a woman. I used to ask my fiance when we were engaged, do you love me a la folie? Trying to live as a chaste couple before marriage, I was constantly struggling with worries over love and acceptancemany times after making out wildly with him but then walking away and saying goodnight. . Another student instructed you to leave her alone but you continued. Part I", "FAQs | Sexual Misconduct | Christendom College", "As alumni claim sexual assault is mishandled, Christendom College vows to improve", "Christendom College alumni call for Title IX response to sexual assaults", "Christendom College 'Professor Emeritus' arrested on child sex abuse charges", "Former Christendom College professor arrested on charges of soliciting a child", "Statement Regarding Former Professor Dr. William Luckey", "Former Christendom professor charged with taking indecent liberties with child", "Former Christendom College professor avoids trial, pleads to lesser charges", "Christendom College Claims NSCRO 7s Title", "Christendom rugby wins school's first national championship | News, Sports, Jobs - The Northern Virginia Daily", "Christendom College Wins College Rugby National Championship", "Christendom Earns #1 Ranking from National Collegiate Rugby", "Christendom Rugby Earns #1 National Ranking for Second Straight Year", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Christendom_College&oldid=1125876208, This page was last edited on 6 December 2022, at 09:55. LOL do you really think students who put a mattress on the cement floor of a basement were looking for romance?! Like the stuff sang at the FOPs. Protected: Podcast 36: She googled THIS on a Friday night and what she saw made her lose her mind! Im only speaking from experience to illustrate what I see as a very nebulous scenario for both parties. I went there for four and a half years, and my experience was the opposite they were *really* hard on sexual issues, and pretty lenient on the drinking. Imagine for a second if he was expelled, but decided to stay in Front Royal anyway. Having said that, the culture on campus is not what caused the rape. I dont wish to discredit those who are appalled by the rape epidemic and Adele Smiths case, as it is horrific matter; but there are campuses where this stuff is much more frequent, and its not because they arent Catholic in a nominal sense, nor is it because they endorse rape, but its because theres not always a clear procedure as to how to address it. What are men doing to step up their game for women? christendom college racism. The reason I posited a scenario where the college questioned both accused and accuser is so someone in a leadership position could hear the testimonies with objectivity and discernment and make a prudential judgement on behalf of the greater good of the community. A week later, in a letter dated May 23, 2011, President ODonnell responded. From day one, the men of this campus are filled with a joy in being a gentleman to every girl. Your opening arguments point to the dorm situation on campus as a cause for a students rape. Smith thinks he might have been trying to make it appear that she was the one who assaulted him. Im not sure I agree with this. Smiths grades continued to slide, and her mental and physical health suffered as students and even outsiders, people she didnt know, would approach her in the dining hall to talk about the ordeal. I think both sexes can rise to a greater standard. But the job of the press would be to make me out a liar, Smith said, noting that rape victims often find the trial to be more traumatizing than the actual event. Never mind the mental health agony I endured in thinking I had brought on myself same-sex erotic involvement. Episode #60: Who or what is a Malcolm Gladwell? You may think thats not what Simcha is actually advocating for, but her complaint comes across as about as realistic. Racist remarks by Los Angeles City Councilmembers overshadow years of It should do better. Graduates can choose from three theological concentrations: Systematic Theology, Moral Theology, and Catechetics. I remember him once going on a rant about how tattoos are marks of psychological disorder and moral perversion. Another tangential point: I dont understand the outrage communicated by so many that the standards for women are so much higher than the one for men, and that a great amount of responsibility rests on our shoulders to keep men chaste. Christendom College Reviews - Niche A policy for handling this should of course be on the books. Simcha, Im not quite sure what any of the rape allegations have to do with Christendom College. Consent is not nebulous. The problems with rape at Christendom are the problems with rape anywhere. Christendom College admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. [3] The college also retired nearly $600,000 in debt without disrupting the growth of the college.[8]. She returned the car to her friend, went back to her dorm, sat down in the shower fully clothed, and cried. Christendom is not perfect, as far as I can tell, they are doing the best they can to foster an environment of spiritual and educational growth. Perhaps they did mention it. Christendom doesnt have anything like that. We will do better. Then on November 24, 2009, you sat next to her on a bench and made unwanted contact with her by placing your hand on her knee. You keep going. They have further to go to create safe environments for women. Vol. . Honestly, that is all I hear for the first half of the article. Unfortunately we cant actually know if Christendom is safer when they dont even write down that there was an allegation. . The matters of consent and power (and agency and autonomy) are at play here with parents as well as with dating relationships. There are legal ramifications to asserting guilt and punishment against someone with zero evidence other than heresay. 2) The schools which do not have PDA rules, or whose rules are less strict still have rape. Out of curiosity, why did they choose to single out Christendom of all places? If not, then how is the school supposed to levy public punishments that would permittly alter this guys life if the woman would not go forward to authorities? we have reports that indicate that you have violated the Code of Student Conduct by harassing another student Another student instructed you to leave her alone but you continued. Regarding specific inaccuracies, one source has come forward to say her quote was taken out of context to imply something that she never meant it to. Throughout the letter, ODonnell refers to the young man by his last name, but refers to Adele Smith by her first name. There were witnesses there that confirmed that. Instaurare Omnia in Christo! "[34] He was released on $50,000 bail on July 12, 2021. The way I see it, and many may disagree with this, but the failure was not a moral failure, but an administerial one(if that).. If the intent here is to correct inaccuracies rather than, as it appears to be, an attempt to discredit Simcha as a journalist then it would be appropriate to say what exactly was misleading or inaccurate in the original post(s). Seriously. It was very competitive, I constantly felt like I didn't have my shit together enough to keep up with my peers, felt threatened by the overwhelmingly progressive social atmosphere. best foods to regain strength after covid; retrograde jupiter in 3rd house; jerry brown linda ronstadt; storm huntley partner Today a new wave of aggressive secularism is attempting to sweep away the roots and reasons for your faith. Read More. Hes obviously prideful and arrogant. And, of course, they could have gone for a walk down the road if all they wanted was to hold hands. i would find out who is funding this school of etiquette masking as an institution of higher learning before i would give them a plug nickle.. And on the outside, this torture of wanting to stay chaste yet wanting to see that a man loves you and wanting to fully embrace him comes across in very vague and misleading body language. Why not with the rape? Warren Carroll's response to such radicalism was to found a college. It also unfortunately means this creep will probably try it again with another girl. I dont know what transpired during their internal investigation, but the college could have called both accused and accuser (separately) to give testimony in the presence of an attorney. Exactly. This puts students at greater risk. Never did they go so far as to say the Imago Dei was less in us, either. Rights to a speedy trial. The school promised to conduct a complete and careful investigation.. For Damien Fisher to accuse his source Mrs. Foeckler of meaning what he wrote and not what she claims she meant is an act of astounding arrogance. I can understand the experience of being surrounded by 'unholy' people and being unable to come to grips with them being Not Catholic Enough, though.