see hurricane

By ISA SHEIKH

Assosciate news editor

James hansen, a renowned climate change scholar and environmental activist, spoke Thursday evening at Indiana University south bend (IUsb) for the annual bender Lecture, urging young people to take action to combat climate change. henry scott, chair of IUsb’s physics and astronomy department, introduced hansen, the 2022 bender scholar-in-residence. scott recounted hansen’s education and career, particularly his decadeslong work leading the nAsA Goddard Institute for space studies.

“I suspect everyone here knows that dr. hansen is often referred to as the ‘father of global warming.’ I hope it is also known that, that is deserved for raising awareness and that no one is here expecting an apology,” scott joked. scott discussed hansen’s pivot from studying venus and helping to send a satellite to photograph the veiled planet.

“As you may know, venus is incredible and frankly, terrifyingly hot. As dr. hansen worked to improve our understanding of why this is so, he shifted his attention to earth and how its atmosphere may change over time due to human influences,” scott said. “over 40 years ago, he was the lead author on a paper which concluded that rising carbon dioxide levels in earth’s atmosphere would lead to greater warming that had been previously predicted. And that was just one of his nearly 170 published journal articles over his career.” hansen began his lecture by speaking to his larger aims.

“I’m going to skip what I wrote for notes here because, you know, we need to get young people to understand that they can actually influence the future, and they need to do that. And it’s possible,” hansen said.

In a wide-ranging lecture discussing the legacies of various presidents as well as his upbringing and career, hansen largely warned about the challenges of reliance on fossil fuels. he also discussed his process and philosophy as a scientist.

“To be successful, you must use all the data. be very skeptical of your interpretation and honestly reassess from scratch when new data becomes available. And your preference, your ideology, your politics must not affect your assessment. This last point is difficult. For most people, even scientists,” hansen said.

Going through the risks of ocean warming, rising sea levels, the threat of species being exterminated and belts of the planet becoming unlivable, hansen said he was cognizant of the value of fossil fuels.

“now to be positive, plentiful energy has enormous benefits. Fossil fuels are actually marvelous, and they have been a boon to humanity. The Industrial revolution raised living standards in much of the world. The energy source initially was coal and in the 20th century, oil and gas joined the party, and their condensed energy is comparable to that of coal and it’s more convenient. one gallon of gasoline contains the work equivalent of 400 hours labor by a healthy adult. so fossil fuels raise living standards in half of the world and the other half wants to follow that path, and they have the right to raise their living standards,” hansen said. “so fossil fuels are wonderful, but they also cause a problem. so what should we do?” hansen pointed to the lack of progress on mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, arguing that the quantitative reduction by countries like the U.s. was simply a function of moving production abroad to countries like India and china. Those emissions now appear on other nation’s tallies, he says.

“The co2 emissions are not counted in the United states total; they’re counted as part of china and other countries. In the future, emerging economies will be the source of most emissions. so we should work with china, India, Indonesia, vietnam and the other economies that are growing rapidly. In fact, in the West, we have an obligation to do that because we use more than our fair share of the carbon budget,” he said.

Ultimately, hansen’s plan comes down to two large policy reforms. First, he says it is imperative to include the cost to society in the price of fossil fuel, a plan he calls the carbon fee and dividend, previously billed as the carbon tax and dividend.

“The practical way to do that is to collect a fee from the fossil fuel companies at the sources, which are a small number: the domestic mines and the ports of entry. And to make it work, that money should be distributed to the public so that they would have the means to deal with the increased prices of fossil fuels,” he said.

“so if the United states and china would agree on a rising carbon fee the climate problem you would be well on its way to solution,” hansen added. second, hansen outlined the need for nuclear power arguing for its promotion and development, as well as for related technologies.

“history shows that once a good design for a nuclear power plant is approved, nuclear power provides the fastest way to decarbonize because of the massive amount of energy that’s provided by a single power plant. de facto cooperation between china and the U.s. drove down the cost of solar panels, wind and wind energy. We can do the same for nuclear power,” he said. hansen extensively addressed fears about nuclear power, referring to statistics about the minimal harm of nuclear energy, particularly in comparison to current methods of energy production.

“Ten thousand people a day are dying from indoor air pollution. many of the deaths are similar to those from smoking, very unpleasant to the victim and his family. Ten thousand people in one day is more than killed by nuclear power in 50 years,” he said. hansen also discussed his frustrations with the current political system, especially with campaign contributions — which he dubbed “legalized bribery.” he promoted the idea of a third party emerging, and of ranked choice voting. he also spoke to the political power of college students and other youth.

“They have tremendous political power, even high schoolers,” hansen said. hansen closed his remarks with a plea for action from youth, before taking questions from audience members.

“It’s going to be dependent on young people to understand the situation. You cannot simply say, ‘climate change is important to us, please fix it,’ because then they come up with the fix that the special interests are willing to do. And that’s not going to do,” he said.

Contact Isa Sheikh at isheikh@nd.edu

Hurricane

conTInUed From pAGe 1

not contact her family for days after the hurricane made landfall.

“I called my parents 100 times from the day it hit to like saturday and couldn’t get a hold of them. so I was seeing on the news bodies [that] are found and I’m freaking out because I’m like, ‘I haven’t been able to talk to my family,’” she said.

All of Thompson’s family members stayed safe during the storm, and her mother and father’s houses avoided serious damage. her mother’s house had about eight feet of standing water in the garage but avoided significant flooding inside the rest of the house, she said. her parents parked their cars by the interstate farther inland to avoid the brunt of the storm surge.

Alexandra chlumsky, a senior pole vaulter on the track and field team from Fort myers, said she did not anticipate the storm to be that devastating. having grown up in Florida with the perennial threat of hurricanes, chlumsky thought her family was prepared. however, as Ian approached last Wednesday, the magnitude of the storm quickly began to set in. she said she left her class when her mother informed her of the expected storm surge — before they lost cell phone service.

“It was emotional for me because this was so much worse than anyone anticipated,” chlumsky said. “In the moments leading up to it, my dad, he told me that this is as scared as he’s probably ever been in his life.”

The chlumskys suffered a better fate than most of the houses in their neighborhood. The main portion of their home did not seriously flood, but the garage flooded, leaving the family’s cars unusable. They also owned a condo on Fort myers beach that was entirely destroyed.

“I don’t even think it exists anymore,” she said. chlumsky said the hurricane devastated the homes of her friends on sanibel Island and Fort myers beach.

“Their houses are completely destroyed,” she said.

The causeway connecting the island to the mainland collapsed as a result of the storm.

Gable’s family was staying in a rental house across the street because his primary home is under renovation. The hurricane ruined the rental home, leaving about five feet of standing water inside, he said. The storm left a few inches of standing water throughout his primary residence but destroyed the floors that were under renovation. As a result, his family is expecting to stay in a condo for about the next nine months, Gable said. even with his mother from Louisiana and his father from naples, Gable said his family had never lived through such a devastating storm.

“They’ve been through plenty of storms. They’ve lived [in naples] for like 20 years. They did say this was the worst one they’ve seen,” he said.

In the midst of the tragedy left in the wake of hurricane Ian, Thompson said the devastation has resulted in unity and empathy both at home and on campus.

“my professors were reaching out to me, my old dorm rectors were reaching out to me, so I think this sense of a family away from family was huge to me there,” she said. “Who do I fall back on when I can’t get a hold of who I need most? And so I think that was huge for me.”

While her parents’ homes were not rendered uninhabitable by the storm, many in their neighborhoods were, Thompson said. now, her family has turned its attention to trying to help those who lost everything.

“The biggest thing we’ve been saying as a family is just how lucky we were to get out of this alive and with very little damage compared to a lot of people,” she said.

Thompson has been working with the University to organize a supply drive for schools and families in southwest Florida. The drive would send down items ranging from lightly used athletic gear to clothes and non-perishable foods.

As southwest Florida begins its recovery effort, chlumsky said the national attention cast on her hometown strikes her every day.

“There’s so many people in Fort myers, it’s a big city. The entire Fort myers-naples area encompasses close to a million people,” she said. “but when you start seeing your town all over national news, and you see these TikToks that are going viral, like it just makes it so much more real, in a way.”

The observer | Friday, OctOber 7, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com

inside cOlumn

Lunchtime

Peter Breens

news Writer

I remember my first day of first grade. I was at a new school and my relationships with the other eight kids in my homeroom were all about the same. All eight had already gone to either montessori or kindergarten together. I was the new kid.

After a light morning of introductory material, my homeroom teacher decided to take the nine of us down early to lunch. In the transition from classroom to cafeteria, I somehow ended up in the back of the lunch line. At the moment, this was no issue; bus rides on the way to my parochial preschool/kindergarten had taught me that it was actually cool sometimes to be in the back. And it was not as if I wasn’t talking to the eighth kid in line. I’m pretty sure I put up a decent effort of some laid-back conversation.

As each one of us filtered through the lunch line, we were directed to the two circular tables that would serve as the eating grounds of my homeroom for the forthcoming year. The table closest to the exit of the lunch line happened to have eight chairs. First graders also happen to follow the behavior of the kid in front of them

Therefore, when I made it to my homeroom’s section in the cafeteria, I was forced to sit alone, as the eight kids in front of me had gone and filled up the first table. now my homeroom teacher quickly realized what had happened and prompted the rest of my class to recognize the injustice they had passively accomplished. soon enough I had half the class around me at my table and life went on from there. did it feel good being made an exclusion case study? no. Was it personal? Probably not. Am I still harboring resentment? Possibly.

The memories of my school lunchtimes since then could fill volumes.

I remember passing the twelfth second of 12:12 p.m. on dec. 12, 2012 in that same cafeteria I first enjoyed in the first grade.

I remember how my happiness each day in middle school came to depend on who I was seen eating lunch with in the cafeteria we shared with the high school I never wound up attending.

I remember the tall tales I told at the lunch tables my own freshman year of high school to attract the attention I desperately need.

I remember taking my to-go lunch out of the cafeteria during the second semester of my senior year of high school to eat behind the library book stacks while reading news articles about some disease that was tearing through china.

I remember reading the summer before college about the Zahm table in the north dining hall that would never materialize again due to covid.

I remember sneaking in subway turkey sandwiches back from LaFun in my backpack to eat at my desk day after day my first-year. now a proud baumer buccaneer, I call south dining hall my home. I have even found a little bit of love writing for The observer’s news, sports, scene and social media departments in the basement of sdh. still, monday through Friday this semester, after I get out of class at either 1:40 p.m. or 1:45 p.m., I head to sdh to eat alone.

I’m usually wearing boots and trying to get better about not wearing my headphones. If you want to eat with me, let me know.

You can contact Peter at pbreen2@nd.edu.

The views expressed in this Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

Why I ‘worship’ Taylor Swift

Isabella Kause

simple beauty

When Taylor swift first rose to fame, her flocks of fans, passionately known as swifties, formed shortly thereafter. As a proud member of this group, I can attest to the personal benefit it brought to my own life.

After that first Taylor swift concert I experienced years ago, my mom bought me a bracelet to commemorate the special evening. she never realized this at the time, but that two-dollar purchase would turn out to mean everything to me. once I had that bracelet on, I subconsciously decided never to take it off. I wore it every day following that unforgettable night, even to middle school dances. on one particular occasion — after having just completed my second day of an arduous high school math class — I went to lunch to decompress and ended up randomly sitting next to a girl with blonde hair and bright blue eyes, who also happened to be sporting the same rubber Taylor swift bracelet as me. nervous to strike up a conversation but eager to make a friend, I turned to her and said, “Are you a Taylor swift fan?” as if the bracelet wrapped around her wrist did not already answer my question. When she confirmed that my assumptions were true, I couldn’t have been happier, and I know that she felt the same way, too. From that point forward, a friendship like no other blossomed, all thanks to Taylor swift. because Taylor brought me my high school best friend, one person I have always “worshiped” is her — in a non-literal way, of course.

To a majority of people, hearing that I “worship” Taylor swift might come across as extremely ironic, especially since she and I have never even met and she quite literally has no idea I exist. however, to me, she is everything. Taylor is the epitome of kindness and generosity. she gives to those around her without expecting anything in return, whether it comes in the form of paying for someone’s rent or visiting terminally sick children in the hospital. The environment that she creates for her fans is very welcoming. one thing that people who have met her will surely tell you is that when you have a conversation with her, she makes you feel like you are her best friend and the only person in the room who truly matters.

While she is definitely someone I look up to on a personal level, I also respect the way she carries herself in the business world. most recently, she had her album recordings stolen out from underneath her. The songs she had spent hours handwriting on her bedroom floor were now gone. The songs that teenage girls like myself related to now belonged to someone else, a person who was hungry to make money off her fame and success. Taylor knew that not only was this a devastation to herself, but also to her millions of loyal fans. so she took matters into her own hands, announcing that she would be rerecording each one of the albums that no longer belonged to her. I have a deep admiration not only for how she responded from an artistic standpoint, but also for the fact that she did not let power-hungry record label walk all over her and steal her pride and joy. she set an example of right and wrongfor her fans — an example that will surely never be forgotten. even though Taylor does not know who I am, I still consider her one of the greatest people to “worship.” I aspire to be like her, someone who does not back down from a fight while also making sure to live their life acting in kindness and making the world a better place. I worship the humble way in which she carries herself when she interacts with her fans and how she is an example for those within the music industry. no matter where my life takes me, I hope to act in the way Taylor does with such grace and compassion. And at the end of the day, I know I will never be too tired to turn on a Taylor swift song.

Isabelle Kause is a sophomore at Notre Dame studying sociology and minoring in journalism. When she’s not busy, you can find her listening to country music or Taylor Swift or trying out new makeup/ skincare products. She can be reached at ikause@nd.edu.

The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

Interested in Viewpoint? Contact us at viewpoint@ndsmcobserver.com

The observer | Friday, OctOber 7, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com

7 7

The forgotten women

Jack Griffiths

neurodivergence

In my columns, I’ve primarily focused on my own experiences to provide insight into neurodivergence. however, while I’ve enjoyed sharing my thoughts and personal history, there are obvious limitations to this approach. neurodivergence can manifest itself differently from person to person, and one’s other identity factors can also contribute to unique experiences. hence, this week I’d like to focus on how neurodivergent women encounter their own specific challenges, challenges formed by the toxic intersection of misogyny and anti-neurodivergent discrimination.

While neurodivergent women have always existed, there are typically let down by exclusionary diagnostic criteria. Autism diagnosis methods were “developed using the experiences and symptoms of cisgender white males” (Astra). Adhd diagnostic methods are similar; the “early studies were based on the behaviors of white hyperactive boys” (Additude editors). As a result, many of these women have never had their neurodivergence officially recognized, leaving them in an often-lonely position of uncertainty, even when they know that something sets them apart from broader neurotypical society. This underdiagnosis has had ripple effects, influencing popular conceptions of neurodivergent conditions, as most people will imagine a boy when considering the prototypical example of a child with something like autism or Adhd.more challenges arise when people dismiss potential signs of neurodivergence due to gender stereotypes. If a girl on the spectrum cries due to overstimulation, we say that she’s just being excessively dramatic and emotional. If a girl with Adhd struggles to complete certain tasks in the classroom, we simply shake our heads and call her scattered, and then we tell her that she’s simply not destined for academic success. Instead of considering the possibility of neurodivergence, we crush girls and women under the weight of gendered tropes, producing feelings of stress and insecurity.

because our institutions fail to recognize and dignify neurodivergence, young women are often implicitly forced to “mask,” or hide, their quirks and differences; even if something produces anxiety, they’re left with no option other than to internalize their worries and concerns. The editors of Additude magazine note that “society’s long list of expectations for women — managing the self, the family and the home — requires consistent coordination of executive functions.” Although “women with Adhd are not well-wired for these demands,” they must conceal their personal concerns in their attempts to satisfy such standards (Additude editors). Zhara Astra, an autistic woman who is currently a professor at Arizona state University, notes similar struggles, sharing that her peers never “suspected [she] was on the spectrum” partly because she “had become accus tomed to masking [her] quirks.”challenges can persist in adult life, particularly in relationships. In a keynote address to the United nations, Autistic self Advocacy network’s Julia bascom discusses how autistic women, and neurodivergent women in general, experience higher levels of domestic and genderbased violence relative to neurotypical women. she explains that due to “lifetimes of behavioral conditioning and compliance training,” neurodivergent women are often “groom[ed] and victimize[d]” (bascom). even worse, when neurodivergent women try to speak about the violence they’ve endured, their different communicative tendencies and preferences might result in service providers failing to adequately assist them (bascom).

Indeed, misogyny and ableism can coalesce to create enormous obstacles for neurodivergent women seeking recognition and respect. To remove them will require the efforts of many different societal actors, from academic communities to individual people.

First, the field of psychology must explore and address the under-diagnosis of neurodivergent women. In particular, diagnostic criteria that is currently based on data of white male boys should be updated to acknowledge the different ways conditions like autism and Adhd can manifest in women. diagnosis can be empowering because it serves as “an answer and an explanation…a way out of cycles of self-blame and guilt…a passport to an entire community…[and] a connection to the understanding, supports and services [women] need” (bascom). This empowering tool can help reverse the negative impacts of the insecurity experienced by women uncertain about their diverging minds. second, families of possibly-neurodivergent girls should cultivate an environment of acceptance. Instead of viewing these girls’ anxieties as inconvenient drama, they should recognize them as genuine emotions that demand empathetic responses.

Finally, and most importantly, everyone — including neurotypical people and neurodivergent men — must actively surround themselves with the perspectives of neurodivergent women. In the process of writing this article, I consulted various articles written by women who have provided me with insights that have broadened my understanding of autism beyond the limitations of my own personal experience. I’m eager to delve further into these female experiences. I hope that in response to my article, you will join me, taking a few moments to look for neurodivergent female perspectives, whether they exist in social media posts, articles or creative works of art. doing so can prevent us from, to use Julia bascom’s words, “tell[ing] narrow stories about autism,” such as ones that suggest that “being autistic and being an adult or a woman are incompatible.”

Jack Griffiths is a senior at Notre Dame majoring in English with a supplementary major in global affairs. His areas of interest include neurodivergence, migration and the intersections between faith and public policy. When he’s not writing, you can find him singing with the Liturgical Choir, walking around the lakes or playing Super Smash Bros with folks in his dorm. He can be reached at jgriff22@nd.edu.

The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

A guide to sin and forgiveness in Judaism for non-Jews

Blake Ziegler

news with Zig

since last week, I and other Jews across the world have begun celebrating the high holy days, a period of serious moral reflection for ourselves and our community. We assess our behavior in the last year in hopes of doing better this year by contemplating topics like forgiveness, redemption, freedom, joy, more through prayer and celebration. The most important period during this time is the high holidays, rosh hashanah and Yom Kippur. The former, celebrated last week, marked the Jewish new Year and the 10 days of repentance when we seek forgiveness from others for our wrongdoings in the last year. only those who forego sin are inscribed in the book of Life, the metaphorical concept meant to encourage Jews to become better people in the new year.

The repentance period culminates on Yom Kippur, the day of Atonement, which concluded yesterday evening. Yom Kippur is the holiest day on the Jewish calendar, where it is believed that heaven and earth are closest and we are on the level of angels temporarily. Like the angels, we don’t eat or drink on Yom Kippur because our sustenance comes from G-d. The day is spent on intense engagement with repentance, human frailty and humility before G-d. We participate in communal repentance for sins as the book of Life is sealed. my earliest memories of Yom Kippur included feelings of starvation and weariness from day-long worship services, not necessarily the holiday’s theological significance. Ironically, it wasn’t until I began catholic school that I seriously reflected on my own religion’s conception of sin and forgiveness. I was never truly confronted with another approach to these issues until my friends had to explain why I shouldn’t go with them to confession. After 11 years in catholic education, I wouldn’t claim to know everything about the University’s religious tradition. but I do recognize the rich theological discussions and spiritual development I’ve had from learning about catholicism and christianity. seeking to understand other faiths has greatly benefited my own faith life, strengthening my spirituality while developing an appreciation for other religions. Along this sentiment, I’d like to share some reflections on my tradition’s approach to sin, forgiveness and repentance in the hope that it’ll enrich readers’ spiritual journey, like engaging with christianity did for me. At the very least, maybe my explanation will help you review the hebrew bible for Foundations of Theology.

Likely the most startling difference between Judaism and christianity on this subject is that Jews don’t believe in original sin. Judaism does attest that Adam and eve’s sin had cosmic ramifications and created a chasm between humanity and G-d, like christianity. however, our traditions differ on the legacy of that sin. Jews believe that humans are born into the world free of sin, not in a state of sin like saint Augustine wrote. There are some rabbis throughout history who believe that death was punishment for the first humans’ sin, but not that we’re born with sin. rather than be inherently sinful, humans have the same capacity to commit sins or mitzvot, the 613 commandments in Judaism. In Genesis 8:21, we find that the “devisings of man’s mind are evil from his youth.” From here, the rabbis teach of the yetzer, or inclinations. For Jews, life is a constant attempt to resist the evil inclinations and act on the good inclinations. but the evil inclination isn’t actually evil or some demonic influence; instead, it’s the allure of satisfying one’s pleasures, which if left unregulated, can lead one away from G-d. Judaism also teaches that the inclinations are born separately. A child begins life with the evil inclination and doesn’t develop the good inclination until age 13. At this point, sinful acts are countered with moral rebuke that teaches the child the difference between right and wrong. From then on, there’s a battle between the inclinations for supremacy.

Judaism’s understanding of sin coincides with the image of a merciful, loving G-d. This concept is best captured by the central biblical verse of the Yom Kippur liturgy: “And the Lord said, ‘I pardon, as you have asked’” (numbers 14:20). G-d’s consistent forgiveness of the Israelites despite repetitive sin demonstrates that G-d’s essence is enveloped by mercy alongside his absolute being and absolute freedom. This act of forgiveness is repeated throughout Yom Kippur through various prayers and exercises asking for G-d’s forgiveness. one component is Kol nidrei, asking G-d to absolve us of any vows made in his name. The reasoning is simple: how can an imperfect human ever expect to uphold a bargain with G-d? The viddui is another important prayer, as Jews gather in a community to seek forgiveness for communal sins. Although one may not have committed the sins listed, the members of the community are intertwined on that day, making everyone responsible for each other. Along with other prayers, Jews exit Yom Kippur forgiven of our sins and resolve to be less sinful in the coming year, drawing closer to G-d’s will. engaging other religions is an opportunity to enrich one’s understanding of other faiths while strengthening one’s own spirituality. As an elite university that still emphasizes faith, we have a rare chance to have these conversations in meaningful, informed ways for the benefit of all.

Blake Ziegler is a senior at Notre Dame studying political science, philosophy and constitutional studies. He enjoys writing about Judaism, the good life, pressing political issues and more. Outside of The Observer, Blake serves as president of the Jewish Club and a teaching assistant for God and the Good Life. He can be reached at @NewsWithZig on Twitter or bziegler@nd.edu.

The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

The observer | Friday, OctOber 7,. 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com

Observer Editorial: It’s been 50 years. When will our campuses be safe?

Editor’s note: This story includes mentions of sexual assault. Fifty years ago in the fall of 1972, the University of notre dame enrolled its first class of women. one hundred twenty-five freshmen and 240 transfers joined the once all-male student body and, in the half-century since, notre dame women have boldly contributed to the accomplishments and community of our tri-campus.

Fifty years, and our tri-campus still isn’t safe.

Last week, at least five students between notre dame and saint mary’s came forward on social media to share stories of alleged sexual assault. Three said they reported their experiences to notre dame’s Title IX office. none believe they got justice.

As leaders of an organization comprised of students from notre dame, saint mary’s and holy cross college, The observer editorial board is troubled by these stories. It is our responsibility to serve this community — that means fostering a safe and compassionate workplace where sexual misconduct and violence are not tolerated. our Letters to the editor seek to give a voice to that community. We invite you to share your story if you are comfortable doing so. The observer cannot publish every submission, but at the very least, we will listen.

In the last several months, notre dame has hosted several events to commemorate both the 50th anniversary of Title IX and coeducation. bearing these milestones in mind, tri-campus administrators have not met our expectations for communicating about sexual violence — an issue that impacts all three student bodies. While we understand administrators can’t legally comment on ongoing disciplinary cases, students, especially survivors and allies, demand acknowledgment from campus leaders.

For example, in the wake of derogatory Yik Yak posts about saint mary’s students last fall, saint mary’s president Katie conboy released a statement stating she and her administration “[stood] in solidarity” with students. In addition, she advocated for more opportunities to build tri-campus relations. We commend conboy for speaking up about how demeaning language hurt the college’s students. however, we encourage her, University President Fr. John Jenkins and holy cross President marco clark to address their respective students about how they will prevent incidents of sexual violence in our community.

The problem is not a lack of resources; notre dame, for example, has many speakUp is the University’s primary online reporting tool, not only for incidents of sexual misconduct but all forms of bias, discrimination and harassment. It is comprehensive and user-friendly, providing students with examples of harassment, confidential and non-confidential resources, what to expect after filing a report and strategies for helping friends. but in the 2022 Inclusive campus student survey, the University revealed that only 15% of student respondents knew how to use speakUp to report harassment, and only 24% of respondents even knew the purpose of the resource. Further, the survey observed that of the nearly 4,400 incidents of adverse treatment reported by more than 2,000 respondents, only about 300  — a little less than 7% — were officially reported. And then, only 7% of that 7% of reports were filed through speakUp, less than 0.5% of incidents experienced.

That is the problem. What good can these resources provide if students don’t know that they exist, much less how to use them? And in the face of the silence of leadership, do students even trust our institutions to listen when they “speak up?”

The survey also pointed to the intersectionality of this issue. According to the 2022 results, 31% of cisgender women said they at least somewhat agreed with the statement, “I have seriously considered leaving notre dame.” Thirty-three percent of students of color concurred. These statistics correspond to the students who came forward last week: of the five, four are cisgender women, three are black and one is non-binary. These are the students our campus is failing — these are the students who are hurt.

In addition, three of the five students attend saint mary’s. based on the relative size of the schools in the tri-campus community, we are alarmed by the disproportionate number of saint mary’s students who have been impacted by sexual violence.

In recent years, the college has improved the accessibility of student resources with the revival of the belles Against violence office (bAvo) and the student-led group, belles supporting belles. The college also hosted its inaugural sexual violence symposium last spring, hosting a variety of speakers and events in a week that culminated with Take back the night.

While these initiatives are promising steps in the right direction, saint mary’s students deserve a more complete set of resources to address the ongoing issue of sexual assault. currently, saint mary’s students can choose to report to several confidential sources, like the bAvo coordinator, or submit a non-confidential incident report to the Title IX office. however, in comparison to notre dame’s speakUp, the resources for reporting and healing after an incident of sexual violence seem less comprehensive. The saint mary’s Title IX website is merely a page in the student Life section of the college’s website — rather than a larger, individual site like speakUp or notre dame Title IX. on the page, there is no link to notre dame or holy cross resources, despite students being required to submit their reports to the school where the incident took place. Although the saint mary’s student population is significantly smaller than notre dame’s, it is clear that the college needs to continue expanding avenues for survivors of sexual violence. but, of course, our community includes three schools — holy cross students face similar problems to saint mary’s students and in addition to their own unique obstacles. similar to saint mary’s, holy cross’ online resources are confined to a subsection of its campus Life page, and other than a helpful diagram of reporting options linked at the bottom, they do not offer the depth of knowledge of speakUp or notre dame’s Title IX website. holy cross, in fact, links directly to notre dame’s Title IX site, but the holy cross resources notre dame offers can be broken and contain inaccuracies. one link to a PdF of holy cross resources returns a 404 error, while the options listed for reporting offenders from holy cross link to the Title IX office at the wrong holy cross— the college of the holy cross in Worcester, massachusetts. This lack of clarity discourages holy cross students from reporting misconduct, particularly Gateways, as these students already struggle with navigating resources and reconciling their identities between two schools. And as first-years, Gateways are also at greater risk in their first semester of college. clear communication is especially important when the very nature of Title IX is confusing and complex. notre dame’s Title IX website explains that Title IX is a law enacted as part of the education Amendments of 1972 that bars discrimination on the basis of sex, including sexual violence. however, both the scope and minutiae of the law are unclear to many students, as Title IX is also commonly used in reference to athletics. misunderstandings about what Title IX is — and uncertainty about the Title IX process — discourage students from coming forward and allow administrators to hide behind bureaucratic jargon. To increase awareness of resources, tricampus leaders must also increase awareness of Title IX. but mere promotional efforts will not be enough to address what has become a deep wound in our tri-campus culture. The fact that at least five students have taken to their personal social media to share their stories demonstrates a fundamental lack of trust in our institutions to handle cases on their own. The act of sharing these stories itself has only worsened that trust, as students once unfamiliar with Title IX reporting are now most aware of the students who feel betrayed by it. Tricampus leaders must not only promote their resources appropriately but earn back student trust. of course, it is also on us, the students, to create a safe campus community. At notre dame and saint mary’s, for example, you can become greendot certified through a popular bystander intervention course. however, all trainings this fall at notre dame have already reached maximum capacity. students, it seems, are eager to combat sexual violence in the ways that we can.

What about the adults?