Students from every level of education are heading back to school, but no one quite expected the disgusting sexism we saw at Old Dominion University in Virginia.
As freshmen headed to college, banners hung from an off-campus housing unit. One read:
“”Rowdy and fun; Hope your baby girl is ready for a good time.”
Another said:
“Go ahead and drop off mom too.”
The students ended up removing the banners at the order from school officials. The President of Old Dominion, John R. Broderick, strongly condemned these sexist and vile actions.
He said the signs directed at women were “offensive” and reminded everyone that the school has a zero tolerance policy for sexual assault and sexual harassment.
A student group aimed at educating their student body about issues of sexual harassment and assault, named “Monarchs Rising Up,” released a video to show the public that the college as a whole is not represented by the males who chose to hang such offensive signs.
And now, members of the Sigma Nu Fraternity who live at the house where the banners were hanged, have been suspended.
Still, this is clearly indicative of the larger problem of rape culture and sexism that is pervasive throughout college life. These signs perpetuate the idea that women, who want to come to college to better educate themselves and prepare for their futures, are merely objects ready to be available for the pleasure of a man. Well, women are not objects and this culture has to cease. The vile nature of these signs presents us with an easy way out: condemn the few who made them. But can we condemn our society which still degrades and exploits women? Will we stand against the men who refuse to treat women with dignity? This is a tougher challenge but still one that obviously needs to be taken on.