As Wednesday's "It Happens Here" event approached, many of my friends asked me if I would be there. I told them that I wouldn't, but only because I would be in Atlanta for a conference. I wish I could have been there, however, to witness the remarkable resilience and courage of my peers as they shared their experiences with sexual violence on campus. I was wholly unprepared that in the lead up to the event, online and in-person, many of my friends who have been at Tufts much longer than I have would share their own personal experiences. The sheer number of familiar faces not only shocked me, but frightened me at the very same time -- how many other people did I know are battling this fight, far too often left to heal and make sense of the violence and subsequent injustice waged against their bodies alone?
As a queer, cisgender man of only 18, I happened to have no story to tell, no experience to reflect upon, no history or fear of being ignored and silenced into near submission to ponder. Yet, I have heard the stories of brave souls whose refusal to be politically correct and convenient comes attached with years of steadfast self-love, shame, hope, depression, fear and determination, and am a better man for it.
Their presence on this campus must be met with the same intense support, as it was on Wednesday, every day, if we are ever to truly knock at the knees of a culture that justifies rape, makes combatants out of victims and victims out of assailants. The uncomfortable is often the essential and talking openly about sexual violence on campus will never be "comfortable" or easy to digest, nor will the very real experiences of those who we love and care about at this university. But out of education and awareness comes an enlightened understanding of our role in the lives of others -- those of us who have not experienced sexual violence on this campus, or anywhere, must not forget that we have become the minority in communities around our world, varying in race, gender identity and sexuality.
No one is safe if we fail to secure the safety and insure the recovery of women and men who have done nothing "wrong" but survive and speak. It's so easy to compartmentalize sexual assault in our minds to the point where it is isolated from reality, nothing more than a joke or impossible circumstance that befalls everyone but us. Our contribution as individuals and a community to a counteractive culture that pretends these things don't happen rivals the act itself because were it our sister or our brother our minds and bodies would be hard pressed to stay silent and just "accept it," as so many survivors of sexual violence are expected to do.
There is very little I can contribute to the incredible work being done to bring these issues to light other than to give my voice to the cause and support those on campus who are dedicated to changing the status quo. These words are dedicated to everyone who spoke at "It Happens Here" and made their story known. We owe you more than you will ever know, and your defiance is truly inspiring. You have decided to live, and you are so loved. Stay politically erect.
Jonathan Moore is a freshman majoring in american studies and political science. He can be reached at Jonathan.Moore@tufts.edu.
