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It Happens Here

georgetown-university-004Within the past month, The Hoya has published the stories of Willa Murphy — in collaboration with Zoe Dobkin (SFS ’16) — and Olivia Hinerfeld (SFS ’17), two sexual assault survivors who have used their experiences to fight the systemic injustices of rape and gendered violence on Georgetown’s campus.

In solidarity with the efforts of Murphy, Dobkin, Hinerfeld and numerous other members of the Hoya community — and in hopes of furthering a more meaningful and change-inducing discourse about sexual assault on the Hilltop — 4E has elected to share the following photo series, which details the experiences of several sexual assault survivors at Georgetown.

The following photographs contain images of Georgetown students and alumni who are survivors of sexual assault and dating violence. Each poster depicts reactions that survivors encountered following their assaults. The names and schools of the survivors have been withheld to protect identities.

This photo series is in no way a full representation of the various intersectionalities of gendered violence on Georgetown’s campus, nor does it explore all of the complex matrices formed by sexual assault and biological sex, gender, age, race, education, ability, ethnicity and class.

Nonetheless, the photos and experiences presented by the following Hoyas demonstrate the damaging pervasiveness of rape culture at Georgetown. They are a terrible but necessary reminder that sexual assault happens here on the Hilltop, and much work must still be done to achieve personal and institutional justice for survivors.

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“This phrase was the first reaction of many of the people to whom I told my story. I refuse to accept ‘a cultural thing’ as an excuse for his, or anyone’s, inappropriate behavior. Not only is it insulting to people of that culture, but it abdicates him of responsibility. I understand my friends’ desires to explain such actions in simple terms, but it won’t stop the behaviors, nor their effects.” — Preferred not to disclose class year
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Class of 2015
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Class of 2017
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Class of 2014
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Class of 2018
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“After I was assaulted, someone from Res Living instructed me to always keep my door open when talking with a resident. Not only is that ridiculous and impractical, but to my knowledge no other RA has ever been told to do that.” — Class of 2015
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Class of 2017
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Class of 2017
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Class of 2016
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Class of 2015
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Class of 2017
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Class of 2017
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Preferred not to disclose class year

Featured image: vvmf.wordpress.com

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Change Takes Change: Living on One

“What can I do?”

“If each individual can help a single other individual…we can change the world.”

Imagine living on nothing but one dollar a day. Just one dollar. The same dollar you may use for the Circulator, to tip at Uncommon Grounds, or collect in an old Tombs mug you have for spare change. The idea is pretty daunting, but for some it’s more than just a thought, it’s a lifestyle  of extreme poverty.

Poverty is a painful reality for people all over the world. There have always been organizations to help give back, but there are none I have ever come across like the one I have the privilege to introduce to you now.

Four college students spent their entire summer living in Guatemala, each on only one dollar a day. They came to better understand the constraints of this level of poverty, and with this understanding they felt a call to action. The campaign for Living On One is now spreading across America with the purpose of informing our society about the lack of opportunity and the hardships that these poverty-stricken people groups are forced to endure.  Innovative ideas like microfinance are just the beginning. There is no end to what can be achieved here, but the awareness of the masses is key.

At the heart of the Jesuit value system Georgetown subscribes to, there is the saying “Men and women for others.” There is no better way to help advocate for others than to fight against global poverty. Check out Living On One’s trailer, help if you can, but if nothing else remember those people groups around the world and hope for a better future for us all.

Interested in seeing the film? The D.C. premiere is taking place right here on campus. Next Wednesday, October 3rd, come to Gaston Hall for a screening and Q&A with the filmmakers, hosted in partnership with The Hoya.

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Friday Fixat10ns: Stand Up

by Michelle Cassidy

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Between the first anniversary of the uprisings in Egypt and a lunchtime demonstration in Leo’s, it’s been a tumultuous few days both on campus and throughout the world. In the spirit of this omnipresent change, this week’s Friday Fixat10ns is filled with songs about protest, revolution, freedom and change. After the jump, a list of the songs and why they made the cut on this week’s playlist.

Continue reading “Friday Fixat10ns: Stand Up”