A Former Dean of Students Rethinks Sexual Assault Response | Hacker News Reader

A Former Dean of Students Rethinks Sexual Assault Response

leeburdettewilliams.medium.com

24 pointsHarryHirsch19 comments

This author strings everyone along in this post to no resolution just like they did in their job.

Completely unnecessary exposition for the anticlimatic result, the author got invited to the lion’s den and failed to please the lions. Put that in the topic sentence! So frustrating to read

This almost reads like a court ordered introspection or mandated by the Office of Civil Rights to former Deans.

The author has no confidence in anything she ever did or any assurance she ever gave. The only point of this exercise is that she is now aware of the spineless empty words she gives so I congratulate FACE for creating the venue and luring her to it so that everyone can see how the emperor has no clothes. But despite acknowledging it, the long winded play by play, with exposition to give background that surprises no-one, really makes me doubt if the author learned anything.

I was left unsatisfied, but also grateful that the author is capable of being vulnerable by being forthright in their introspection.

May I have that courage if needed.

I didn't go into it expecting her to have any answers. If there were easy answers, they would already have been implemented. I thought it was a good read, and admired her bravery, honesty, and self examination.

> self examination

The bit about the people at the hearing all being friends was interesting. Obviously, employees in the same department might be friends outside of work. On the other hand, it doesn't look good for legitimacy.

For PhD exams you get an external examiner, and for serious legal trouble you hire an outside law firm. They aren't even trying, are they?

> So frustrating to read

Mostly because she just needed to get on with it. Her paragraphs were fine, but they just kept coming. The story is essentially college dean meets families of men accused of sexual assault, both sides gain some perspective. It's a good story to hear, but it could have been 1/5th as long without losing the point.

You have too keep in mind that the author is taking a huge personal risk writing this. She could very easily be burned at the social media stake for wrong think so she really has to be careful in what she says

I fail to understand why universities are involved in sexual assault or any other criminal matter. They should be dealt with by the criminal justice system. If a court finds someone guilty than the university can act further based upon that finding.

In think the author one of the good ones. It’s nice to read how someone can get a completely new perspective and handle it with Grace.

Unfortunately there are too few folks like thar and most are just trapped in their belief system

I have 5 stories on both sides I wanted to share but deleted them before I pressed post. This subject is too radioactive to comment on and have linked to you in the future. TLDR from the stories: several of my female friends have either boasted of false accusations (later retracted) or else been sexually abused as children or young adults and it’s just a messy horrific situation

> "Where have you folks traveled from?” They exchanged glances and Teresa tentatively answered, which should have been my first clue that all was not going to go smoothly.“We’re from New York.” “Oh. What part?” ... Another meaningful glance passed between them. Eileen finally answered after what felt like about five minutes. “We’d rather not say.” Okay. So this was an answer I had never gotten before.

lol she got treated like a man, the equality she's spent her whole life for

welcome to the party, where benign conversations are harassment unless you're found attractive, in which case the exception isn't even noticed!

that's surprisingly fitting, almost as if it was a planned skit made just for her

Why is this posted here? It has nothing to do with tech or intellectual curiosity.

As an inside perspective on the culture wars I found it interesting. Universities and tech, these are the two epicenters of diversity, equity & inclusion.

The “culture wars” are the exact opposite of interesting. They’re cliche and banal, especially HN’s take on this subject.

You may not be interested in the culture wars, but the culture wars are interested in you.

-Lean Trotsky (paraphrased)

What the parent is calling “culture war” is a very specific neo-reactionary term that has no relevance outside of their Quixotic war with neo-liberals. It has no greater significance and definitely has no impact on my life beyond getting annoyed at the low quality of discourse on this forum around the subject.

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