MU Response to Tribune Story

[T-Bone]

Will be in tomorrow's Trib. 

From the e-mail I received. 

Dear Chicagoland Marquette Family:

Many of you are likely aware of Friday's Chicago Tribune story on Marquette's sexual assault incidents. The story is on the Chicago Tribune's website.

The story is painful to read as alumni, parents and friends of Marquette University. Each of us, in our own way, cares about Marquette students and about our shared mission as a Catholic, Jesuit university. And in the case reported, it is clear that we made serious mistakes in how the incident was handled—including the failure to report it directly to the police and the inappropriate handling of the investigative information. As a university, we have instituted multiple changes in both policy and procedures so that such a lapse cannot happen again.

Father Scott R. Pilarz, Marquette's 23rd president, outlined some of those changes in a letter to the Chicago Tribune that we expect to be published on Sunday, October 30. On his behalf, I am sharing an advance copy with you, along with his pledge that we will not rest on the progress we have made to date. Our values as a Catholic and Jesuit University expect more of us. Most importantly, our students deserve nothing less than our vigilance and advocacy for their safety and wellbeing.

Given the prominent placement of two substantial stories on this issue in the last four months, we are very aware that Marquette Pride in Chicago has been damaged. So our particular pledge to you - beyond the absolute commitment to ensuring the safety of our students - is that we will work steadfastly to help you fly the Marquette flag again with pride and enthusiasm.

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me directly at <e-mail address - my edit.> . I look forward to hearing from you and thank you, as always, for your care and concern for Marquette University.

Julie A. Tolan
Vice President, University Advancement
Marquette University

********************************************************************

LETTER TO THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE EDITORIAL PAGE FROM FATHER SCOTT PILARZ:

When I became President of Marquette University at the start of this semester, I pledged my deep commitment to reducing sexual violence on campus and to addressing with other university leaders around the country its devastating effects.

At Marquette, we have worked pro-actively and aggressively to address this problem. As was reported in the Tribune this summer, all sexual assault cases are referred promptly to the Milwaukee Police Department. We have also launched aggressive awareness and education campaigns on campus; we have added a full time victim's advocate to our staff; and we have started a community wide conversation involving advocates, law enforcement, community representatives and university leaders, both on-campus and off, to help ensure that we are treating each student appropriately and doing all we can to prevent future incidents. There can be no exceptions to our commitment to treat every Marquette student with the care and dignity that we promise as part of a Marquette education.

Too many young men and women throughout our communities, including in our Marquette family, have suffered from sexual violence. We cannot stop our efforts until this problem has been eliminated. On my part, I pledge to provide resources, leadership, vigilance and the full power of the office I hold to this cause. I do so on behalf of victims, their families and all those affected.

Rev. Scott R. Pilarz, S.J.
President
Marquette University
Milwaukee, Wis.

Legally that's all they can say, and what would be expected.  Nothing ground breaking.

[tower912]

As much as they can say and as much as they can do at this point.   

[muwarrior69]

Perhaps Father Pilarz should consider reinstituting men and women only dorms and curfew hours for students. When I was at Marquette the women had to be in their dorms by 10:30 pm Sunday-Thursday and 12 midnight on Friday and Saturdays. The curfew for men was one hour later than the women.

[ATL MU Warrior]

Perhaps Father Pilarz should consider reinstituting men and women only dorms and curfew hours for students. When I was at Marquette the women had to be in their dorms by 10:30 pm Sunday-Thursday and 12 midnight on Friday and Saturdays. The curfew for men was one hour later than the women.

And watch enrollment shrivel to nothing.

[SaveOD238]

There are men and women dorms and curfew hours.  Cobeen is all women and O'Donnell is all men.  Opposite-sex guests from outside the building can only stay until 1am on weekdays and 2am on weekends.  Girls are supposed to be off guys floors and vice-versa in co-ed buildings by the same time, but it isn't always enforced.

Of course, neither of those affects Humphrey, which is an apartment building.  Students can basically come and go as they please out of Humphrey.

That being said, I really like what the University has been doing in regards to sexual assault.  All freshmen this year were required to go through a sexual assault prevention training session.  I got to see the session as a student leader, and i think it was effective.  I would guarantee that there have already been girls who worked their way out of tricky situations and guys who stopped because they realized that what seems consensual can be considered SA if they are drunk because of the sessions.

[lab_warrior]

Perhaps Father Pilarz should consider reinstituting men and women only dorms and curfew hours for students. When I was at Marquette the women had to be in their dorms by 10:30 pm Sunday-Thursday and 12 midnight on Friday and Saturdays. The curfew for men was one hour later than the women.

Also great ideas:
Dress Code
Clergy teach all classes
No phones, cars, computers, or internet
Segregated water fountains
Mandatory lights out at 8:30pm
AND...
All students required to get into a time machine and travel to 1950 for a week, because nothing bad ever happened back then.

[VanderBabyBlue]

Perhaps Father Pilarz should consider reinstituting men and women only dorms and curfew hours for students. When I was at Marquette the women had to be in their dorms by 10:30 pm Sunday-Thursday and 12 midnight on Friday and Saturdays. The curfew for men was one hour later than the women.

What!?  When was this, the 1950s?  I can't believe there were curfews at all, but men had a later time than women?

[Marquette_g]

Perhaps Father Pilarz should consider reinstituting men and women only dorms and curfew hours for students. When I was at Marquette the women had to be in their dorms by 10:30 pm Sunday-Thursday and 12 midnight on Friday and Saturdays. The curfew for men was one hour later than the women.

I can't believe that this is suggested on this board. Should we burn all the books that teach unsavory things as well (stupid Darwin)   Maybe we should enact a don't ask don't tell policy too or stop being integrated as well.  

I wish we weren't graduates of the same school this idea is so terrible.

[Zar Zar Binks]

Also great ideas:
Dress Code
Clergy teach all classes
No phones, cars, computers, or internet
Segregated water fountains
Mandatory lights out at 8:30pm
AND...
All students required to get into a time machine and travel to 1950 for a week, because nothing bad ever happened back then.

Don't forget public executions for offenders. You know, to make an example out of them

[Marquette_g]

Has Footloose taught us nothing?

[tower912]

Perhaps Father Pilarz should consider reinstituting men and women only dorms and curfew hours for students. When I was at Marquette the women had to be in their dorms by 10:30 pm Sunday-Thursday and 12 midnight on Friday and Saturdays. The curfew for men was one hour later than the women.

Isn't that what they do at Bob Jones University?

[T-Bone]

I can't believe that this is suggested on this board. Should we burn all the books that teach unsavory things as well (stupid Darwin)   Maybe we should enact a don't ask don't tell policy too or stop being integrated as well.  

I wish we weren't graduates of the same school this idea is so terrible.

It's what was done at most private universities of the era, Marquette is included.  I didn't take muwarrior69 comments as a suggestion, just observation.

I agree with the point about regarding Footloose.  Tractor Chicken and "dancing".  That'll learn 'em.

[chapman]

Perhaps Father Pilarz should consider reinstituting men and women only dorms and curfew hours for students. When I was at Marquette the women had to be in their dorms by 10:30 pm Sunday-Thursday and 12 midnight on Friday and Saturdays. The curfew for men was one hour later than the women.

We're trying to stop sexual assaults on campus, not have the school start screwing all the students.

[muwarrior69]

Also great ideas:
Dress Code

Actually we did have a dress code. Not for classes but the men had to wear jackets and ties for the evening meal.

[ecompt]

There were curfews at MU as late as 1970, but it was never enforced at Schroeder (all males at the time) unless the guy coming in after curfew was obviously drunk.

[dgies9156]

Folks, at some point on these boards we're going to have to stop trivializing this incident. It's serious and like some posters here, I think Marquette has gotten a bum rap from the Tribune, who wants the athletes involved tried and convicted on their front page, come hell or high water.

The bad behavior by the woman and by the athletes needs to be addressed. I suspect Father Pilarz is doing that, because if the university, this could bring down the program even faster than the potential collapse of the Big East. We're a Catholic university and we stand for something -- and this aint it folks!

[Warriors88]

Not sure what was more disturbing – reading the Trib article or reading some of the posts on this site.

I know the Trib is going after Marquette.  They did the same thing with ND for the Declan Sullivan incident.   It may seem one sided.  The MU athletic department can't say anything and that really makes it look bad. 

What is hard to believe are some of the posts on this site blaming the female involved, or letting this incident slide because this was just college students being college students.   I don't care how big of a fan you are of MU hoops this incident reflects poorly on the players, coach, athletic department, and the institution.   That should concern all alums and fans of MU athletics.

[AZWarrior]

   I don't care how big of a fan you are of MU hoops this incident reflects poorly on the players, coach, athletic department, and the institution.   That should concern all alums and fans of MU athletics.

I don't think it does.  Any more than the initial allegations at Duke should have reflected one way or another on the Lacrosse team. 

The university has the obligation to investigate and to obtain the truth, as best it can.  Only after that is done would one know whom to criticize.

[Soapbox mode - off]

[jsglow]

Unfortunately, Marquette can't respond to the changes that have been leveled.  What has disappointed me is that the Tribune chose to re-report the story as if it was news again.  Also, there is no way for the Tribune to substantiate the claims made. 

I actually feel sorry for the alleged victim.  If her heart is true (in that she really believes she has a responsibility to speak out and is accurately detailing the events), then she is a courageous individual.  If her story is embelished or she has a different motive . . .  Unfortunately, we will never actually know.