Paper 1

Kady Newman

Professor Bill Condon

3 February 2015

Writing Assignment 1

The Sexual Assault Problem on Christian College Campuses

    Private, conservative Christian schools are clearly very different, when compared

to their fellow public universities. For one, their value systems hold completely different

ideals and beliefs. The ways in which private school values are carried out are “inspired”

by the fellowship in which they choose to follow as a school. These colleges are not

places in which you would ever expect to hear of sexual assault, abuse and rape to take

place. However, this sort of thing can happen to anyone, anywhere, and should not be

ignored based on the image private Christian college campuses want to uphold. In fact,

due to the religious beliefs and ideals held by these institutions, there is a large sexual

assault problem on these campuses. The denial that all students hold the same

Christian values as the institution does, is essentially where this problem arises.

Colleges such as Bob Jones University, and Pensacola Christian College hold their

students to walk the enlightened “Pathway” to God. Not following the Christian values of

staying abstinent until marriage is one of the many values these institutions take very

seriously. However, when any act of sexual abuse occurs, it becomes more of the

victims fault than the actual perpetrators. Many of the victims on these campuses

decided to stay quiet about their experiences for years because of the hostile

environment they would be putting themselves into, had they not. The ways in which the

victims are treated after sexual assault occurs on these campuses has practically

invited sexual abuse to take place. At private Christian schools, sexual assault means a

completely different thing than at a public university, and is arguably more troubling in

the ways the schools choose to respond.

    Private universities, do not rely as much on federal funding, and therefore are not

held liable for the same things that large public universities are. Also, police are not

involved to the extent that they should be on college campuses. This leaves problems of

the lack of punishment to the offender, and an increased shift of fault onto the victim.

Sexual assault is something that private schools do not have to legally take as seriously

among other things. The values at conservative Christian schools revolve around faith

and religion with the highest of regards. At places such as Pensacola Christian College,

students upon admission must sign waivers and mission statements saying they will

adhere to these religious guidelines. If they do not abide by these rules, than they can

essentially be expelled from the school at any time. One example of this would be if a

student is caught fornicating, than they can be kicked out of some of these colleges for

not abiding by the Christian values. The problem stems from this issue: students are

believed to hold the ideals of the church, such as abstaining from sex while on campus,

due to the sin of fornicating before marriage.

    At Bob Jones University and Pensacola Christian College, many students have

fallen victim to sexual assault in the past and the present. It appears that even when

these Christian schools hold Christian values, they tend to turn a blind eye, or deny that

these events take place on their campuses. It was not made easy for any victim

to come forth and tell their experience. In fact, counselors at these institutions

encouraged many victims of sexual assault to keep quiet after the fact. It was also

discouraged that any of these victims file formal police reports against their

perpetrators. Due to the strict Christian values of the school, these students are

believed to be abstinent. Therefore, the victims were told that they should be held

accountable for their part in the crime. The schools essentially told victims that they are

somewhat responsible for the crime that took place, because they were technically

active in the event. Victims were told that they also needed to repent for their sins and

ask for forgiveness, which made many feel as if they were really at fault. Of course, any

person would feel discouraged to come out and tell their experience, given these harsh

and unforgiving circumstances.

    When victims did decide to come out, despite these factors, they were treated

differently by the institution altogether. Because it is the belief on these campuses that

all sin is equal, the victim now looks as if they are a perpetrator and sinner alike. If they

do not get expelled for this kind of behavior, than they will nonetheless be seen in a

negative light. This creates a hostile environment for the victim, who rarely will ever see

justice. If you were a sexual assault victim on this sort of campus, would you feel

comfortable to come forward? Many of the victims from Bob Jones University, and

Pensacola Christian College, decided to come forward years after they left the schools.

They claimed that the institutions made it nearly impossible for any sort of change to

emerge. By denying their students were having sex, than holding them responsible for

the sexual assault that happened to them because of it, many former students felt

trapped. In most cases, the victim would either come forward, and possibly be expelled,

or face scrutiny from the institution for the rest of their college career. It was much

easier for most to hold it in and keep it a secret in fear of anything happening. By not

accepting that kids are abiding by their every Christian demand, these schools have

created larger problems. They continue to hold the belief that each of their students

would never sin, or break one of their Christian values. Therefore, they are in denial that

their students are anything less than perfect, and do not believe these kinds of things

could ever possibly take place on their campuses because of that. The institutions are in

denial, and are inviting sexual assault to happen in contrary. This has created little to no

justice, and many of the perpetrators are still at large [probably with college degrees

from these schools].

    It is not fair for any student to pay money to attend these schools, and not be

protected against the harsh realities of rape and sexual abuse. These private Christian

schools are advertised as places of fellowship and good values. Their images as private

campuses, are upheld as being safe and nurturing for their students, and all others who

walk their streets. Yet, their own values have turned onto them, and help to create the

events that take place on these campuses. The institutions are at fault, not any student

who falls victim to sexual assault. Students should not be punished and exiled for

something they had no control over. Also, a student should not be held liable just

because they are not in complete agreement with the school’s Christian values. Instead

of turning a blind eye to these situations, constructive actions should be taking place in

turn.

    This phenomena has been going on for countless years, and not much has been

done about it. Bob Jones University finally reached out in an article, apologizing to each

of the victims who felt insecure about coming forward. However, this sort of thing is still

taking place on some private school campuses and even public schools as well. So,

what can be done? For one, private Christian schools must start being held accountable

for everything that takes place on their campuses, no matter what image it leaves to the

public. They need to know that in our modern day, there are going to be kids who are

indeed having sex before marriage. This should not be looked at through judging eyes,

but as a diversity of differences in opinions of students. An apology should be made to

each victim of sexual assault from the past, who felt no justice for the pain they endured

while on these campuses. These private institutions must make it their number one

priority to counteract this kind of behavior in the future. Values statements must be

reevaluated, and beliefs altogether should be a students own personal choice, rather

than an institutions. Places like Bob Jones University, and Pensacola Christian College

would not feel the need to apologize to the public, if they felt that they had not been in

the wrong. It is up to them alone to make it up to their campus, and ensure the safety of

their students in the future, no matter their beliefs.