Courageous Conversations, Letter From Dr. Alesha Doan

Dear WGSS Students, Advisory Board, and Supporters,
WGSS supports the activism our students have undertaken to bring awareness to the issue of
sexual violence at KU and college campuses around the country. We have written the letter
below, which we will be posting on our Facebook page and attempting to have it printed in the
University Daily Kansan this week. We wanted to share this letter immediately so that our
students know that they are firmly supported by the Department of WGSS, and to remind them
to take courage in the long tradition of social justice activism that has preceded them.
Best,
Alesha Doan
Chair, Department of WGSS
Courageous
Conversations.pdf

Dear KU Community,

On February 4, 1972 a group of courageous women staged a protest on the KU campus. Calling
themselves the February Sisters, they occupied a building, refusing to leave until the university
addressed fundamental issues that were preventing female faculty, staff, and students from
participating as full citizens of the KU community. Their activism spurred the development of an
affirmative action office, a free day-care center, a health care program sensitive to women's
needs, more women in administrative positions, greater equity in women's salaries, and a
womens studies department.

The changes resulting from the activism of the February Sisters directly improved the lives of
women while also improving the well-being of the entire KU community. Their actions helped
KU travel down a new path that contributed to making KU a great place to be for everyone.

The Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) Department came out of the activism of the
February Sisters in 1972, becoming one of the earliest womens studies departments in the
nation. WGSS is proud of our history. We commemorate the actions of the February Sisters
annually, and, as we fulfill our academic mission, the department has remained true to its
foundational values of fairness, equality, and justice.

WGSS arose from the dual goals of examining inequalities resulting from gender, race, sexual
orientation, and class, and translating this research into tangible knowledge that contributes to
the betterment of communities. Our faculty members engage in research and teaching that
examines many domestic and global issues including discrimination, violence, human
trafficking, health, reproductive injustice, and inequality. We trace the roots of these problems
historically and analyze their manifestation in our current culture. And we celebrate those who
have struggled to improve society for all. The common thread throughout these different areas of
our research and teaching is the focus on investigating factors that create and contribute to
vulnerability across time and geography.

Recently, a fearless group of KU students has given voice to a much experienced but rarely
discussed issue that contributes to vulnerability and inequality across time and geography
sexual violence. Sexual violence has historically been discussed as a problem that individual
women experience, which has kept this problem hidden, discussed in secrecy and shame, and has
contributed to ignoring the deleterious impact sexual violence poses for society. Sexual violence
injures individuals, and it erodes the health and well-being of our communities; it is an issue of
social injustice that has long-term negative consequences.

Our silence does not enable survivors or their loved ones to cope with or heal from the pain
caused by sexual violence. Sexual violence stems from factors such as limited definitions of
what it means to be a man or a woman, a popular media saturated with unexamined images of
sexual violence, a culture that encourages silence it is a problem that is much larger than any
individual. It is a problem that affects all of us and therefore demands a collective effort to solve.
Our silence implicates all of us and our fear of speaking up contributes to the continued
treatment of sexual violence as an individual issue rather than a problem for each and every one
of us in the KU community.

The Department of WGSS supports and stands with our students who are having courageous
conversations about the impact that sexual violence has on our community. We also support and
stand with our students who are bravely sharing their stories to give voice to the grave injustice
sexual violence causes for individual survivors and our society. Their stories give us hope that
personal adversity and pain does not have to end in hidden individual suffering. Rather, the
courage and strength emerging from the collective voices of survivors of sexual violence,
advocates, and concerned members of our community are ushering in a transformational
conversation that has placed KU and the nation at a crossroads.

We are witnessing an historical moment where we can collectively retreat to our old dialogue
about sexual violence often laced with stereotypes and an unjust blaming of victims or we
can take steps to move forward with a radical new conversation. This radical conversation is one
that includes critical and courageous engagement that addresses the systemic problem and
collective harm sexual violence creates. This radical conversation challenges each of us to be
reflective and examine how our individual silence, apathy or lack of awareness contributes to the
normalization of sexual violence. This radical conversation also challenges our leaders and
institutions to do the same.

The unique history of the University of Kansas has been punctuated by moments of taking huge
strides for social justice by dismantling the barriers that have excluded minorities and women.
KUs history can be succinctly described as trailblazing, innovative, and making just choices in
times of adversity. In the 21
st
century, KU has emerged as a national leader, shaping research and
teaching in innovative, exciting and bold directions. Here at KU we are talking about sexual
violence in ways that havent been heard before. This critical dialogue has created an opportunity
for KU to continue to boldly lead and find innovative solutions to the universal problem of
sexual violence.

We are at a pivotal moment where we all have the opportunity to continue to add to the rich
legacy of KU that started long ago and has made the Jayhawk one of the most beloved university
symbols in the nation, which is the reason we should embrace rather than fear the courageous
conversations our students have started. The Department of WGSS hopes that everyone will
productively participate in this dialogue with a critical and open mind. Participating in Sexual
Assault Awareness Week (September 13-19) is a great place for each of us to start.

Sincerely,

The Department of Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies

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Dear WGSS Students, Advisory Board, and Supporters,

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