Letters to the Editor

Cartoon sexist, offensive

In The Daily on Friday, Jan. 25, a Drawing Board illustration was published depicting an angry stick figure and the message "I like my women like I like my cell phone minutes: Unlimited on nights and weekends." Directly opposite this image were two Daily articles about the highly publicized sexual assault of an NU student that occurred near campus in May of 2007.

These two items juxtaposed in our student newspaper speak volumes about the culture here at NU. Whether or not the cartoon was created in an attempt to parody the attitude expressed in the quote, the illustration calls into question a set of beliefs about women and sex that research has shown to contribute to the alarmingly regular occurrence of sexual assault on college campuses.

Sexual assaults happen because the sexual aggressor believes that he is entitled to a woman's body and pursues sexual activity without care or concern about the wishes of the victim. Attitudes like the one expressed in the cartoon reflect and contribute to a cultural climate where women's value is based on their ability to sexually gratify men. When women are devalued in this manner and sexual relationships between men and women are viewed as adversarial, sexual violence against women is the natural extreme on a continuum of sexually aggressive and exploitative behaviors. In such a climate, the belief that women should be "unlimited" (and the assumption that they are) takes away an individual's ability to give consent to sexual activity.

Most men who commit rape do not define their behavior as assault and are therefore able to justify their actions to themselves and others. Perpetrators of sexual assault are products of a culture that encourages them to view women as sexual objects and to believe that they are entitled to unlimited sexual access to women.

The belief that the majority of sexual assaults are committed by strangers in dark alleys is a misconception. Perpetrators of sexual assault are not mentally ill or psychotic, as the myths suggest, but rather they are "normal" men on your campus who hold beliefs about women and sex identical to those expressed in the Daily cartoon.

While the cartoon was most likely created in good humor, it is critical to make the connection between this humor and the set of beliefs that perpetuates and justifies sexual assault. We can all play a role in changing the culture at NU by thinking critically about the messages we receive and striving to challenge those that support and condone sexual violence.

- Kathryn Guilfoyle Coordinator of Violence Prevention and Sexual Health Education NU Health Education Department

DM important for all

In reading Christopher Danzig's editorial "DM unrealistic," (Firing Squad, Jan. 28) I was very outraged and offended, as I'm sure many other Northwestern students were. Danzig not only pointed out that he doesn't care about philanthropy but that children are not quite worthy of our help. Danzig said that raising $800 is not easy, and he's right. It isn't.

But that's the point. He also said that, "I have no more second-cousins from whom I would solicit donations." This is just the wrong attitude. DM is all about working hard for something that you believe in, and the key word is working. There are other ways to raise money besides asking family members. A lot of people sell cookies, provide services or go canning. And canning, even though it is a considerable amount of work, is very rewarding and one could easily raise their whole total and more this way. I am in ZBT and the majority of the money we donate to DM is raised through canning, not alumni or parent donations.

I, personally, have never expected my parents to give. Instead, I worked my butt off last year and, I don't want to boast but, I raised about $1,400 by myself and I didn't even dance. So don't tell me it can't be done. Danzig also criticized DM for focusing on children and children's organizations. And my question is, "why wouldn't they?" Children are what everyone wants to see. People are, in general, more motivated to help children because they see the opportunity to make a bigger difference.

Now I'm not saying that the causes he mentioned are not worth our time, but DM wants a cause that will stimulate a lot of interest and outrage across the board. Children's causes match this description perfectly. DM is something that this school and its students pride themselves on. It is a great student achievement: something to be praised, not criticized. I would encourage Danzig to rethink what he wrote. I also feel that I am being personally attacked when The Daily prints something that so undermines our passion and goals as a student body. Next time, just save the space.

- Jabril Faraj Medill sophomore DM Special Events Committee