Art by Rebecca Horowitz
Editor’s Note: PGM staff members decide on the topic of a Staff Editorial together. The staff as a whole provides opinions and content included in this Staff Editorial to provide thoughts about and shed light on solutions for happenings at Pepperdine.
In light of the recent conversation surrounding sexual assault at Cornell University, the Graphic wishes to remind the Pepperdine community of the importance of these conversations on our campus.
College campuses should be a haven where all students feel safe and supported. Unfortunately, this is not always the case.
A former Cornell student filed a lawsuit in September 2024 alleging she was drugged and gang-raped by seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity. She reported the assault to university police, yet the report never stretched beyond the campus walls. Instead, the university took matters into their own hands — this resulted in the expulsion of two of the accused assaulters, yet the remaining five had a different consequence: writing essays, according to The Cornell Daily Sun.
Although seven are alleged to have gang-raped the survivor, 57 men were in a group chat on Snapchat, where messages included encouraging each other to enter the bedroom where Jane Doe was undressed and incapacitated, according to The New York Times.
It is reported that around 1 in 4 female college students are raped or sexually assaulted during their time in college. It is also reported that 90% of assaults go unreported, according to the American Psychological Association.
Further, it is important to note that Cornell’s student newspaper, The Cornell Daily Sun, kept up with the story when no one else did, dating back two years. With the deep care of these student journalists in following the story, they went public with the lawsuit Sept. 18 before publishing an editorial Sept. 22 titled “Cornell Won’t, We Will.”
As a college campus, Pepperdine has a duty to have these conversations on our Malibu campus. And as student journalists, it is our duty to hold people accountable — just as The Cornell Daily Sun did.
The Office of Community Standards sent an email to the Pepperdine community Sept. 25 regarding the University’s philosophy on alcohol and drugs. While the email made clear its hope to prioritize student safety regarding its drug and alcohol policies, it made no mention of sexual assault or the recent events at Cornell.
While some groups at Pepperdine have publicly posted statements standing with Jane Doe, the University’s silence on the matter only contributes to the larger issues surrounding sexual assault on college campuses.
The Graphic stands with Jane Doe and other victims of sexual assault, and we hope to shed light on this issue as it pertains to our own campus.
Aside from contacting the Department of Public Safety or local police, students seeking confidential support can utilize the Pepperdine Counseling Center, Student Health Center or reach out to the University Chaplain, according to Pepperdine’s website. Students can also contact the Title IX Office, and the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) hotline runs 24/7 at 800-656-4673.
This story was copy edited by Caitlin Murray.
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