Same; I also feel like I wasted my college years on Catholic garbage, but I also broke free and am living much more healthily than I was back there. That is no small feat. I dont like it, but I do get why they cant sling accusations around. The college also acquired the Notre Dame Institute during O'Donnell's tenure. [28] College President Timothy O'Donnell acknowledged victims in an official statement, saying, "We have failed some of our students. If you admit to being a feminist, well, you might as well admit to worshipping Baal. With this goal in mind, the College utilizes single-sex dormitories, visitation policies to promote chastity, planned weekly events as a way to proactively promote sobriety and counter any temptation toward a drinking scene, and spiritual programs to foster students prayer lives and spirituality.. I didnt feel like the article clearly painted a picture of how she was personally treated poorly. Tweets. If the regulations force people to leave campus to kiss, then they are actually encouraging the kinds of situations that make assault more likely to occur even while they discourage it in other ways. In 2013, after Smith had graduated from the school, she again downloaded the student handbook and was aghast to see there was still no language forbidding sexual assault by students. The inaccuracies you mention are minor. In 1997, the Institute was merged with Christendom College and became the Notre Dame Graduate School of Christendom College, now the Graduate School of Theology. I've got complicated memories of the place. Its portrayed here as poorly as possible but you cant just go ruining guys lives like this. Protected: Ill See Myself Out, Episode 61: Dont be coming round here with no oranges. Their donations requests are a joke. The people from Christendom would be considered heretics by hard core traditional Catholics, and by the letter of the law they would be right (at least in my view). [T]he alleged assault of Adele did not take place on campus. Christendom College, a small, Catholic, liberal arts school in Front Royal Virginia, celebrated its 40th anniversary last year. Protected: Podcast 51: the Grift of the Magi, Protected: Podcast #50: The Five Stages of Revenge, Podcast 49: Not trying to hurry you (FREE PODCAST! Is it worse to let a rapist remain on campus or expel an innocent student? You are right, men do absolutely do have that ability to control themselves. "[34] He was released on $50,000 bail on July 12, 2021. All the fancy theology was useless for anything except further torturing myself for not being a good enough Catholic, not following the rules enough, and not being spiritual enough. But by not questioning the accused on the matter of rape (it wasnt mentioned in his disciplinary notice), the college forfeited responsibility altogether. Its handling of the case may not have been malicious, but it was certainly pusillanimous. They have a right to speak about the crimes committed against them. As a cis dude, I found the dress code obnoxious, but never harsh. Students are, however, punished for coming back to campus drunk, even if the drinking took place off campus for instance, at The River, a popular drinking spot where even professors are known to visit and socialize. It should do better. She describes the open houses that would take place in the dorms once a semester. Which of these rights do you want to see eliminated? There are more than a few other academic institutions whose rates of rape and sexual assault are much higher and/or go under-reported. [3] In 2002, Fr. 2) The schools which do not have PDA rules, or whose rules are less strict still have rape. This is America. It wouldnt quite be in keeping with her recent essay about letting go of anger. Men and women BOTH have free will. I have lived in Front Royal for more than 15 years. [32] As a result, a group of alumni called for the school to adopt Title IX policies to better protect students in the future and also called for the resignation of O'Donnell. To find out more about Student Achievement at Christendom, click here. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Then send your kids to a Jesuit school where they get free condoms. They should be paying me for the therapy I need, not the other way around. i Love this reply. I understand that everyone has a different experience at college. In what world is this okay? Smith said. An RA friend, Elizabeth Foeckler, also encouraged her to go to the administration. The students dont know Fro Ro very well. I hope and pray that the administration can get it together and respond better to sexual assault claims, because it IS a great place. They were in a confined space; the young man was around six feet tall, and Smith is five feet tall. I feel respected by my fellow classmates, male and female. It doesnt discredit their criticism, but it does show an obvious bias that the scandal is associated with the school and not the park police or FroRo police. Recipe for a Hit Piece And the sexist views of some professors didnt help us stay safe. Protected: Podcast 42: Jarods Prancing Musical Show! Latinos with darker skin face entrenched racism in colloquial Spanish, in which the word used to describe . But then into your mind jumps the thought no, I wanted to be married. For the unfamiliar, Christendom is a small conservative-Catholic liberal arts college in Front Royal, VA. Its intended mission is to equip Catholic students to 'restore all things in Christ' (though you can guess how well that turned out with me). But thats not entirely relevent here. #4. do we know/ do you know who is funding CC??? If it was truly necessary that students seek sexual/affection outlets, then I dont blame Cdom for wanting to have no part in policing or monitoring, how far is too far. Chastity is their moral prerogative and they would rather err on the side of caution than participate. Christendom College is a Catholic liberal arts college in Front Royal, Virginia, United States, located in the Shenandoah Valley. I really, really hope that she isnt approaching her stories with a big chip on her shoulder towards anything conservative Catholic. Its getting harder and harder for them in todays society. The unwillingness of boorish cynics like Karen to accept purity and goodness nor to validate the positive experiences of other women says far more about herself than it does about Christendom or the sophomore student whom she was replying to. She says that the rules against romantic public displays of affection were so restrictive, it drove couples off campus. [39] Its flexible and accommodating studies allows students of all ages and from all over the world to attend either part-time or full-time, year-round, summers-only, or winters-only, and also to study at a distance through online courses. If you dont have weed places, does that mean youll get crack places? I feel challenged, respected, and loved by my teachers and am so grateful to be their student. Um, no. I am not only respected by my peers but also my teachers. Goodbye, Christendom College. Beyond that, it is about how Christendom failed this student and failed others students, and in so doing, failed their Catholic mission. Neither of which am I suggesting. Consent is not nebulous. In retrospect, the College may not have served these victims as well as we could have, and for this hurt we are truly sorry for any additional pain that this may have caused. People will actually believe this ludicrous drivel. The whole In loco parentis thing was alive and well and enforced. The message delivered was clear, according to Smith. When I approached President ODonnel about it, I was stone-walled. You can see it, you can feel it on the campusWhile some colleges in this Guide may match its Catholic commitment, it is unlikely that any exceeds it. The Newman Guide to Choosing a Catholic College. So places without rda rules have less rape? Therefore, you are being charged with violating the Code of Student Conduct., A disciplinary conference was scheduled for July 28 of 2011. I had seen already something was wrong, something had happened, Foeckler said. Smith claims they are dangerous. @CMFE But Hollywood isnt doing a better job. Smith says that the administration cracked down on professors hosting off-campus parties, because they involved drinking. Christendom College is a four-year coeducational Roman Catholic Liberal Arts College with undergraduate and graduate programs offered in locations in Front Royal and Alexandria, Virginia, Donegal, Ireland, and Rome, Italy. There are so many other choices that dont have these rules. Its way too small. So printing, rape is not tolerated or whatever they expected to be printed in the handbook sounds a little naive. Christendom doesnt have anything like that. While not commenting on this particular scenario, it got me musing (once again) on the whole problem of sexual assault and the current #metoo movement. [19], Christendom College has received notable attention from members of the Catholic Church since its founding in 1977, including from Pope John Paul II. The fact that every situation is different, makes it a matter of prudential judgment, and this seems completely lost on the author who partially blames the PDA policy, which I find insulting to college students and drastically counter intuitive to challenging the prospects of rape. The article linked directly to the current handbook.. Extraordinary how you miraculously have the ability and the right to judge her soul from an article. Anyway, while on a work call I found a mattress and sheets in the back room surrounded by rose petals and candles. Whose testimony is more consistent and believable? They could end abortion, and poverty, and racism, and poor educational opportunities, and lack of jobs, and poor housing, and nepotism in the local government, and drug use among teens, and unresponsive bureaucracies, and lousy healthcare in the local hospital, and the high cost of medicine locally, and the massive local traffic jams on peepers weekends. Use your words to express the difficulty of what you are feeling. Oh, and I also had the 'privilege' of meeting Dr. William Luckey, a blathering self-important moron who was somehow capable of being an ancap and an anti-French-Revolution conservative Catholic at the same time, despite both stances contradicting each other and observable reality. Does the handbook have to repeat the entire criminal code? Thats certainly not Christendoms fault.. Doesnt a higher responsibility denote a special power to influence culture? Marshner has since left Christendom. christendom college racism. If Front Royal is a tiny rural town, as these articles say, then a college, even a small one, is a large part of that town. http://mydailydiatribes.blogspot.com/2017/12/metoo.html?m=1. Smith does not remember getting dressed after the rape. They say your views are dangerous, hateful, fearful, or racist . Have you seen the alleged rape rate at those colleges that DO accept federal funds?? Its not 50% excitement its 100% terror. I didnt say they should immediately assume hes a rapist, call him a rapist, and publicly expel him as a rapist. Rob, earlier in the comments, gave wonderful suggestions as to what the school could do, and what he would expect them to do(that they did not), but its still worth noting that the article itself mentions things the school DID do to try to protect the students. It is genuinely baffling to methough perhaps it should not bethat so many people read an article about a Catholic university so badly bungling its response to the sexual assault of its students and when they get to the end can ask with a straight face what was your goal in writing this? Or worse, claim that the writing of it was badly motivated or will have deleterious effects that outweigh the good done by shedding light on wrongdoing. It may be that the whole thing wasnt handled as it should have been, but then, how should it have been handled? Not quoted or described? As alumni claim sexual assault is mishandled, Christendom College vows A Christendom drop out here. College students are able to refrain the same as monks, office workers, single adults and most adults in public life. Along with converting I made friends with a bunch of conservative catholics (not trads, but your typical intellectual ratzinger fan types). I also attended Christendom in the early 90s and while I loved it there I finally heard the truth about what the Church teaches student life was neurotic. But by not questioning the accused on the matter of rape (it wasnt mentioned in his disciplinary notice), the college forfeited responsibility altogether. No, they simply made the decision not to accuse someone of a violent felony with zero evidence. Christendom is nearly unique among Catholic colleges and universities in that, because it accepts no federal funding, it is not subject to the legal constraints of Title IX. Despite those inaccuracies, the hearts and prayers of our entire Christendom College community go out to all involved in the incidents described and to anyone who may be a victim of sexual harassment or assault. L.A. Councilmember Nury Martinez, others make racist comments - Los As a graduate of Christendom, I see no reason why he couldnt have been expelled. However, I avoided the professors whose reputation for being ultra-trad proceeded them as much as possible. Contact the Site Admin. The hollow piety I encountered there was so devastating, I expected everyone to be devout, not just going through the motions. The only time that happens is when the entire story is based on a provable lie that they should have known about. Graduates can choose from three theological concentrations: Systematic Theology, Moral Theology, and Catechetics. I graduated in 08, did I know him? Campus Reform the #1 Source for College News Smith had hurt her back in a car accident when she was a freshman. I am grateful to each woman who has come forward with her story. i grew up Novus Ordo and so did all my friends at Christendom. Very interesting. This is an insane accusation and was never the case, as students have stated. You could have discussed it without illustrating it so clearly. It is this faith that has been the guiding beacon during some difficult and seemingly hopeless times, even when I had turned my heart against Him and turned my back on [faith]. Thank you for writing that. If that happens, hopefully the young lady will have a CRKT S.P.E.W. Saunders left his position as dean, and founding faculty member Dr. Kristin Burns took over the position. It only works with Weinstein and Cosby because there were like 30+ allegations. however CC is thriving on a 50s mentality that supports men as always being the bad guys and/ or the immaculate prince and responsible for the assaults and women (not girls) women as meek little things who just go along. CC seems to be a very dangerous place for all. I can understand the experience of being surrounded by 'unholy' people and being unable to come to grips with them being Not Catholic Enough, though. It was a good conversation, to this day he is one of the only people I've spoken with in real life who I think truly understood the problem and its implications. Im not saying that the accused should have been expelled. I could go on, but my point is that we MUST see sexual assault as a bigger issue than something that men perpetrate upon women. On Racism and Cancel Culture - Cardinal Newman Society Students who go to remote areas are by-passing safe, public places where they could engage in the PDA behavior you complain is banned on campus. This gives women more of an opportunity to share a concern or incident with a staff member they trust. But there were many inaccuracies about the school: we never had to get outfits approved for dates, you are allowed to sit next to each other, and we didnt have to wear skirts all the time. It was only people in my freshman class greener than I was who were willing to lend any support. Are women safe in Christendom's bubble? Part I It is also about how Christendom needs to have safe, open, visible places on campus for men and women to interact. They didnt make any changes until after pressure had been applied over the course of several years. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Holding hands, a warm hug, perhaps even a peck on the cheek totally sins against chastity. In The Sin of White Supremacy: Christianity, Racism and Religious Diversity in America (Orbis, 2017), Jeannine Hill Fletcher, Ph.D., professor of theology, examines theology's culpability in perpetuating ideas that elevate both Christianity and whiteness over all else. These are some of the difficult questions the college should have asked itself. But you dont know more than that. We will do better. A.M.D.G. Smith continued to call the school after graduation to see if they had changed the policy. O'Donnell's biggest building contribution was the new Chapel of Christ the King, which he promised in his inaugural address as president. No wonder Christendom is so embarrassed that they havent put their apology on their website yet. Kind of makes you wonder why there are any rapes in the many (50?) My objective is to make Christendom more accountable for the safety of its students. Rights to a speedy trial. Good. Dont even get me going on how Steubenville is just a fusion of vineyard Pentecostalism with JP2 Catholicism. What if anyone found out? She returned the car to her friend, went back to her dorm, sat down in the shower fully clothed, and cried. Contact Leslie Mathews by email at lmathews@christendom.edu or by phone by calling 540.551.9300. That is absurd. The town has over 14,000 people, so the college isnt a large part of it. Not everything that the school chooses to ban has to be a sin. The other allegations against him were also by hearsay, and they put those allegations in writing and asked him to defend himself. I dont understand the logic of protecting the identity of the alleged rapist and meanwhile running the names of college faculty through the mud for not somehow preventing a rape that occurred on a mountain and for not expelling a student for a rape that went unreported for a year and a half with no evidence. Her subsequent behavior is entirely consistent with that of someone who has been traumatized and assaulted. Its just a natural human need to connect with someone youre in a relationship with, Smith said. They should be able to express themselves romantically in a public setting, which is a safer setting to learn how to navigate as a couple.. So we expect sexual intimacy to be all nice and clearly delineated? are honey nut cheerios high in oxalates. christendom college racism johnny juzang nba draft stock It was just a generic example used year after year. Christendom has taken several steps forward. The fact that students are taught that men can not say no and are nothing less than animals is degrading to the male gender and puts all responsibility on the woman without holding men accountable.