Obie Abroad Ashamed of Admin.

To the Editor:

Abroad for the semester, I am appalled by the recent incidents that I have read about in the Oberlin Review. More so, I am furious that the College administration is seriously lacking in dealing with these issues. As mentioned in a previous Perspectives letter, the College has failed to communicate with the student body about the Barnard attack since its first appearance in the Review. This incident is upsetting, intimidating and makes me uncomfortable about the Oberlin College community. I would hate to think that the College feels comfortable with its own students acting in this violent matter towards ANYONE, never mind a fellow student! This incident is embarrassing, and it taints the comfortable atmosphere of the College community. It is disturbing that the College hasn’t expressed its disapproval of this type of behavior from its students.
Secondly, the way in which the College administration addressed the rape incident during Drag Ball is disgusting. I am horrified that the College made such a point to remind us that “this situation does not involve any students” when one of our OWN security officers was the accused attacker! How could one possibly state that “Our first thought was to be absolutely certain that students were not at risk and we have every confidence that there is no risk to students stemming from this incident” when the accused attacker is supposed to be ensuring our safety on campus? Regardless of whether or not the victim was a student, it happened in the parking lot of Wilder, before 11 p.m., the night of the biggest event of the year. How can it be said that “Safety and Security was in full force. They did an outstanding job in ensuring the safety of the event,” when this incident took place right outside of the building where this event was taking place?
The way in which these incidents are being dealt with just adds to my qualms with Safety and Security and the College administration. Let us remember how often someone needs a ride from the Security Shuttle at night, and Security fails to provide the ride, because there is no driver on duty? Or the student is offered a walking escort instead? Although this service is a positive option in theory, my friends and I usually opt to walk home alone rather than walk with a Security guard. It irks me that after a violent incident takes place on campus, there suddenly are more Security drivers available, and students are able to get rides as needed. After a few weeks, though, when they decide that we’ve forgotten about the incident, Security rides are more difficult to come by, as usual.
As an Oberlin student abroad, I am unhappy to come back to campus in its current state. I am concerned about the town’s feelings about these incidents as well. How can town residents feel content with the presence of the College if the College looks the other way when its own community members act in this manner? Students of the College community, we deserve better than this.

–Jessica Raynor
College junior
Florence, Italy