IC Students and Faculty participate in National Walkout
- Emily Chavez
- Sep 26, 2018
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 1, 2018
Key Points
On Monday, a National Walkout and Moment of Solidarity was led by IC’s club Planned Parenthood Generation Action club
This walkout is in response to the backlash women face when going public about sexual assault
On Monday at 1 p.m., students and faculty gathered around Free Speech Rock on the Academic Quad at Ithaca College. Some students wore all black to show their solidarity for Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and all survivors of sexual assault, abuse and appointment to the supreme court. This National Walkout and Moment of Solidarity was led by Tarana Burke, the leader of the #MeToo movement.
Current events lead to walkout
The climate of this National Walkout was prompted by the recent allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. The accuser, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, alleges that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her at Georgetown Preparatory School in 1982. In the past couple of days, another accuser, Deborah Ramirez, came forward accusing Kavanaugh for sexual misconduct.
These allegations motivated women’s rights organizations to hold a nation wide walkout to show support for Dr. Ford and Ramirez. At Ithaca College, Tati Jorio, the President of Planned Parenthood Generation Action, organized and led the walkout on campus.
“This is an important issue nationwide and also campus wide because as many people know, one in five women on college campuses are survivors of sexual assault and sexual violence,” said Jorio.
She added, “And so it’s just really important to especially when we see this happening at a national level and we see this women being basically just berated in the press to just say that we stand with her so that when people here on campus are coming forward with their stories, we are there to support them as well.”
The Walkout
Students and faculty showed their solidarity by walking out of their workplaces or classes to assemble at Free Speech Rock. IC senior, Zoe Vadney, works with Ithaca College’s Title IX department and explained why she decided to attend Monday’s walkout.
“I believe survivors might think that community based work is really important to have all the voices heard of those who have been survivors of sexual and dating violence,” said Vadney.
After the moment of silence for Dr. Ford and sexual assault survivors, Jorio urged students to call their senators with a script provided by IC Planned Parenthood Generation Action .
“This is basically [script] to just call your senator and just make sure the senate judiciary committee doesn’t make the same mistake they did with Anita Hill,” said Jorio.
Tompkins Community involvement
Among the crowd of supporters was Campus Educator at the Advocacy Center of Tompkins County, Lara Hamburger. She attended in solidarity with the students who walked out and all survivors who speak out in systems of power.
“I think students are the people and college campuses are often the place where these challenging conversations can happen,” said Hamburger.
She wants everyone to know that the Advocacy Center of Tompkins County is an organization that seeks to support all people impacted by sexual and relationship violence and child sexual abuse.
The Advocacy Center of Tompkins County has a 24 hour hotline if you need their assistance: 607-277-5000.
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