UVA Frats Are Back, But Sororities Want Sisters To Avoid Their Parties To Avoid Being Raped

[LanternWaste]

Greeks at the University of Virginia are now free to party again, with the conclusion of a temporary suspension following widespread controversy over an alleged sexual assault at a fraternity house. But not everyone will be participating. Sorority sisters at UVA have been ordered to avoid frat parties this weekend.

This semester marks Spring Rush, when students may join fraternities. A “Boy’s Bid Night” is planned for this Saturday — an event involving parties at each fraternity house that sorority sisters typically attend. But now, representatives from national chapters are telling UVA sorority sisters to stay away from bid night parties, even though the fraternities themselves are not being restricted. Women may face penalties like suspensions and fines if they attend Saturday night’s gatherings.

Tammie Pinkston, the international president of Alpha Delta Pi, told UVA’s student newspaper that “the activities on Men’s Bid Night present significant safety concerns” and encouraged sororities to “plan alternative sisterhood events” for that night.

Efforts to prevent sexual violence often rely on cursory solutions like encouraging students to drink less alcohol, or telling women to avoid attending parties or walking alone. As UVA students point out, many of these recommendations disproportionately target women’s behavior and limit the way they move through public spaces, rather than attempting to change the behavior of rapists. Sexual violence prevention advocates say this approach ultimately fuels victim-blaming.


http://thinkprogress.org/health/2015/01/28/3616373/uva-sororities-frat-parties/

[ismnotwasm]

1. Of course tellng young men to not rape

Or to call each other out on sexist, rapist talk just won't do. Women have to stay home to stay safe, because, what rape culture?

[LanternWaste]

3. Metaphorical chastity belts are all the rage these days.

By placing the onus of responsibility on women to change their own benign behavior, it does absolutely nothing to address the actual cause itself.

And the new regulations the fraternities have to abide by...? Serving beer in cans rather than from a keg-- which the tortured mind will creatively rationalize that the container itself is the main culprit rather than the rapist himself ("Seriously dude, I wouldn't have raped her at all if I'd been drinking beer from a can instead of getting it from a keg! Damn those inanimate beer kegs and their influence over my actions!!!!&quot .

[ismnotwasm]

4. Clearly it's the drinking from cans fault.

Because rape never happens using expensive wine and crystal glasses-- oh wait yes it does.

This move is as asinine as the people who whine that calling attention to campus rape 'has gone too far'

You can't stop rape by controlling the (potential)victims. You can stop rape by stopping the rapists.

[KitSileya]

2. Absolutely emblematic behavior!

Instead of telling the fraternities that they would be suspended or fined if they have the parties, or at the very least, if there is alcohol at the parties, they would rather restrict the behavior of the potential victims. I bet they haven't even thought of preventing this kind of behavior by cracking down on what the fraternities are doing, but automatically think to create a less 'target-rich' environment! They cannot fathom that the best way to prevent a guy from shooting someone is not to tell possible victims not to walk past him, but to take away his gun. If they are afraid that fraternities make rape possible, they should disband the fraternities, not give the sororities house arrest!

[Manifestor_of_Light]

5. Yep, make the victims change their behavior instead of addressing the real problem.