Letter to the Editor
Editor's note: The following letter is in response to "An open invitation for the Higgins Hall intruder" by Michael Bertacchi, which appeared in the September 1 issue of the WC.
Diane Mayfield Victim Services Director, Western Illinois Regional Council- Community Action Agency
Issue date: 9/3/04 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
I am writing to respond to Michael Bertacchi's opinion titled "An open invitation for the Higgins Hall intruder" dated September 1, 2004. What an example of victim blaming! To say "they were kind of asking for it" is just the type of statement that continues the myth the victim is at fault. Statements that we hear way too often in gender violence such as "if she hadn't worn such tight clothes" or "if she hadn't been drinking" place the blame on the wrong individual. Mr. Bertacchi states "it would have been horrible if someone was raped or hurt," but I question if that had been the case, would he have also blamed that victim? Would he have made the same statements if the victims had been male?
Let's get to the real matter here. Let's question whose behavior was inappropriate, even to the point of breaking the law. It wasn't the young women who entered someone else's room without permission. It wasn't the young women who fondled someone else's leg, again without permission. Why isn't Mr. Bertacchi questioning the actions of the intruder? Why isn't he asking why the intruder chose to behave in such an unacceptable manner, even to the extent he could be charged with a crime?
I realize we all need to be aware of our surroundings and safety issues. A college campus just like any other place, large or small, can be a dangerous place. However, to not lock a door was simply an error in judgment, not a crime. Let's hold the appropriate person responsible for these incidents.
No one asks to be harmed. No one asks to be violated.
Let's get to the real matter here. Let's question whose behavior was inappropriate, even to the point of breaking the law. It wasn't the young women who entered someone else's room without permission. It wasn't the young women who fondled someone else's leg, again without permission. Why isn't Mr. Bertacchi questioning the actions of the intruder? Why isn't he asking why the intruder chose to behave in such an unacceptable manner, even to the extent he could be charged with a crime?
I realize we all need to be aware of our surroundings and safety issues. A college campus just like any other place, large or small, can be a dangerous place. However, to not lock a door was simply an error in judgment, not a crime. Let's hold the appropriate person responsible for these incidents.
No one asks to be harmed. No one asks to be violated.
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