Summary and Student Responses to the Attack On Campus Yesterday

Yesterday, 9/27/19, Simon’s Rock fell into a panic after a violent attack on one of our students of color on-campus. Security responded with an email at 7:55 p.m. (more than 5 hours after the event) with an emailed statement which contained the following about the crime: “at approximately 2:30 p.m., a student reported being dragged into the woods and violently assaulted by an unknown individual near the Interpretive Trail” and went on to ensure that the police are looking into the issue. Although, they were seemingly calling upon students to help track down the perpetrator, asking if there was anyone with information about the violence. In the email, they also suggested that students walk in groups, as to avoid dangerous situations.

At 9 p.m., after a call from a concerned student, Simon’s Rock employed their male residence directors as defacto security outside of Late Night Breakfast. An event, during which, the peer mentors of Simon’s Rock wrote out a plea, urging the campus to issue a lockdown. This statement was sent to all, including faculty and staff, part of which read:

• For hours, there has been panic and search for information running across campus. As much as the administration would like us to feel safe, we do not. We cannot ignore what is before our very eyes and is in the hearts and heads of the students around us, as a part of their on-campus support system. As some of the people who are supposed to keep them feeling safe, we feel the need to speak up. We are inquiring about a lockdown in writing to you. If there is more information to be relayed as to why there is not one currently, it would be helpful to have access to. ​ (...)The lack of procedure seems negligent, and we feel there must be a reason why we are not in lockdown. With the information we currently have, there is no logic in this decision, considering it feels there is no evident downside. If the problem is a lack of resources, we are unsure where those resources would be more effectively expended

Just before this email was sent at 9:52 p.m., the campus issued a curfew notice to its students. This required that everyone return to their dorm by 11 p.m. for measures of safety. Many students assumed this would involve a form of head-check by the RDs, but the warning played out as more of a suggestion for on-campus Rockers. This was despite the fact that the violence originally occurred in broad daylight.
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In the meantime, many students took to social media to express their dissatisfaction and to warn others to stay safe. One user posted this message that was quickly passed around Instagram stories, 

• Campus is going through white supremacist-motivated attacks and threats pretty much neo-    nazi/fascist terrorism and administration has decided it’s not racially motivated? deadass? wonder what statement they’re gonna read at the next mandatory meeting for this one cuz obviously all we need rn is a verbal breakdown of the student handbook

Another important and rapidly spread message on both Instagram and Snapchat came from the survivor of the crime that read as follows:

What stands most important to the survivor is that everyone knows her attacker didn’t win. Her friends know that the allies are more aware than ever and they’re going to do everything they can to find the assailant and send them to jail.

Today, 9/28/19, there were messages from concerned parents saying that they were unimpressed with security on-campus. As a response, Pat Sharpe sent out an email expressing that students being affected by this should not have their midterm grades put in jeopardy. “I am writing to let you know that I have written to all faculty to say that  midterm grades and comments should be based only on the work you completed up to yesterday, Friday September 27.” Separately, they announced that Bard Campus will be sending additional security to Simon’s Rock for more student protection. In this email, they alluded, for the first time, to the possibility that this crime was racially charged. Notably, it was sent 30 minutes after a Student Council and BSU meeting calling for our current provost to respond to the crime.
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The Weekly Cad will continue to post updates on the situation as we receive them. Students are sharing their opinions right now on the Cad Instagram story: @theweeklycad

Author

Winnie Marion. Winnie Marion is the Co-Founder of The Weekly Cad.