Dear Editor,

Sitting in front of my laptop writing this letter to you, I feel an immense amount of mixed emotions regarding the recent release of information from the past three days. At first, the release of reports on the professors, Josh Perlstein and Thomas Delventhal, were not only shocking, but extremely upsetting. As I recall, our President stated that she was “disgusted” by the situation; I must agree. I was disgusted, and still am disgusted by both the situation and the way it was handled by the previous university administration. However, as I ponder why we are seeing a steady growth of those accused with misconduct, I become more and more fed up with the current administration. In just shy short of a year, more than four people (most in positions of power) have been charged with sexual misconduct. In the span of three days, two people in positions of power have been accused of sexual misconduct. In the span of our administration’s lifetime, only a handful of people in some type of power have truly made a difference.

First off, I’d like to make it clear that this is in no means an attack against any one person on the board of administration for CCSU. I also do not wish to belittle anyone’s hard work and commitment to making a change because of these events. I am truly thankful for the grit and determination of our amazing journalists involved with the Central Recorder – after all, you are the only reason why the student body is aware of the current state of our university. Some of you reading may not know this, but the most recent professor [accused of sexual misconduct] is still working on campus in the math department. Not only is it upsetting to think that a student must face their perpetrator almost daily in order to graduate, but it is infuriating to know that the victim was told that their safety would be the university’s top priority. Clearly, this was just another empty promise to avoid hysteria. So, I am writing this letter because I am, like many other CCSU students are, fed up with the indirect protection of these disgusting perpetrators by our university.

 Second off, to the CCSU administration/faculty who have ignored or encouraged these issues, please know how unbelievably fed up I am, and many other students are, with you. A university should not only be a safe place to exercise the privilege and right to learn, but for many, it should be a home. A home is not somewhere where a student feels that they cannot go to a classroom without being objectified. A home is not somewhere where a student feels that someone else – especially a professor – is interfering with their right to an education. A home is not where a student feels they are unsafe, belittled, silenced, or unimportant.

This is not a letter to punish you. This is a letter to educate you and to put you in the student body’s shoes. This letter is meant to inspire others to speak out when they feel wronged, to spark a change in our campus climate, and to remind everyone to do right after acknowledging their wrongdoing. If nothing else, let this letter be a warning. Not a warning of harm, but a warning of revolution. A warning of unbreaking, and unbelievably strong hope.

My mind is racing with a million ways to allow the students’ voices to be heard – whether it be a rally, a march, a petition, or a protest. Many students have come to me and my colleagues asking where we can start to begin a change. So, let this be a warning that a spark was made, a fire is starting, and change is coming.

Best,

Sara Courtemanche