Preventative Measures to be Taken to Combat the Culture of Sexual Assault in Boys Athletics

Article here. Excerpt:

'One organizer of the walkout, Mia Redmond, a senior in Communication Arts and Sciences (CAS), discussed her role in organizing the walkout, as well as her motives. The idea sprung out of a ‘CAS girls group’ after a shocking realization about the the amount of sexual assault occurrences at BHS. Redmond said, “I think it was just shock and disbelief that so many people have experienced sexual assault.” One thing that stuck out to Redmond was the lack of preventative action. She said, “After a sexual assault there is action, as well, that should be taken. But that is after it has happened and after the harm has been done.” She pointed to sports teams — where toxic masculinity is often plainly visible — as an example of where preventative action could be taken.
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Despite this, even at the walkout itself, a group of boys affiliated with a BHS sports team took it upon themselves to wear blue in what could only be described as an act of defiance to the young women speaking, as part of the plan for the walkout was to wear red as a symbol of solidarity for the survivors of sexual harm. For this very reason, one of the demands of the walkout was for the implementation of a program that educated boys on sexual violence at BHS.'

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Also see here. Excerpt:

'On Tuesday, February 4, a list appeared in marker on a stall door of the G-Building women’s restroom. The door read “Stay Safe Ladies” and proceeded to list the names of six boys at Berkeley High School (BHS) under the headline “Boys to Watch Out 4,” identifying them as either rapists, abusers, or “sus” (implying that they exhibit suspicious behavior). BHS administration was alerted quickly and the list was taken down. The next day, multiple lists popped up in bathrooms around campus with additional names and similar iden'tifications. In one bathroom, phrases like “F*ck girls that don’t support other girls,” and “F*ck staying silent,” covered the walls.

In classes and on social media, students have been having conversations, and often arguments about the validity of the lists. There are many who feel people were falsely accused, and others who disagree or argue in support of the idea of a list, however accurate, strictly for the protection and validation of their peers. The incident has triggered a lot of emotion and has started many important conversations, in addition to a wide range of rumors.'

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