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<p> I just wanted to say that the intensity that i was experiencing before has subsided. i'm relived for this and feeling like the world is less of a scary place some of the time.</p>
<p>i've started talking with a counselor and continue to do so, i have opened up a bit to people in my life not about specifics but about other stress factors.</p>
<p>on major thing that happened was something in one of my classes that lead me to have to drop my class and i decided to speak up about the materiel covered along with my universities student advocates. i will meet with the chair of my department sometime next week.</p>
<p>i feel so glad to be proactive, it has really helped me in the last few weeks.</p>
<p> here is the letter i sent, so you can get a jist of what happened and why i felt so strongly about the classroom environment afterwords.</p>
<p>----</p>
<p>Dear Dr. xxxx xxxxxx, I</p>
<p>am contacting you in regards to some course materiel within the xxxx program xxxxxxxxx class, taught by xxxxx xxxx.<br>
In one class the lesson plan included watching an episode of “Law and Order SVU”, in which a female student brings forth rape charges against her professor. Following the episode students were instructed to act as if we were a jury and decide whether or not the defendant was guilty or innocent. The discussion that occurred in the class was extremely problematic.<br><br>
Students were encouraged to debate the credibility of both parties. Arguments were made and allowed to stand as if viable about how many sexual partners the women had previously had, about what the complainant had worn when meeting with her professor (as if a low cut shirt was invitation for sexual advances or that it somehow negates the likeliness of her telling the truth about her rape), about how she behaved afterwords in reaction to the trauma and not acting like the "perfect" victim, etc. There are many more examples but these illustrate the type of problematic discourse I am objecting to. The failure to moderate the discussion on a topic such as rape and the complete lack of proper statistical information that was made available during the discussion to counter the myths being perpetuated in the class was completely unacceptable.<br>
Furthermore there was no warning given prior to the class that such a topic would be discussed, a topic such as this could be triggering to those who have survived sexual assault. As a rape survivor myself, I felt that the classroom environment changed for me drastically after that class and ultimately led me to discontinue the course.<br>
I would like to note that the issue at hand is not so much about the topic but rather about the complete lack of respect that such a topic was given, and the fact that no prior warning was given. Since the xxxxxxxx Department educates a fair amount of students who go on to pursue careers in the community service sector and other such professions, it is horrendous that professors are perpetuating stereotypes against women and rape victims. This can become even more problematic as these types of people make up the majority of the clientele and our need for respect and accurate information cannot be overlooked. <br>
Thank you for your time and understanding in this matter.<br><br>
Sincerely, xxxxxx (me)</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>---</p>
<p> </p>
<p>i am done finals on monday i am looking forward to taking some time for myself and my kid and just enjoying our lazy days off.</p>
<p>i've started talking with a counselor and continue to do so, i have opened up a bit to people in my life not about specifics but about other stress factors.</p>
<p>on major thing that happened was something in one of my classes that lead me to have to drop my class and i decided to speak up about the materiel covered along with my universities student advocates. i will meet with the chair of my department sometime next week.</p>
<p>i feel so glad to be proactive, it has really helped me in the last few weeks.</p>
<p> here is the letter i sent, so you can get a jist of what happened and why i felt so strongly about the classroom environment afterwords.</p>
<p>----</p>
<p>Dear Dr. xxxx xxxxxx, I</p>
<p>am contacting you in regards to some course materiel within the xxxx program xxxxxxxxx class, taught by xxxxx xxxx.<br>
In one class the lesson plan included watching an episode of “Law and Order SVU”, in which a female student brings forth rape charges against her professor. Following the episode students were instructed to act as if we were a jury and decide whether or not the defendant was guilty or innocent. The discussion that occurred in the class was extremely problematic.<br><br>
Students were encouraged to debate the credibility of both parties. Arguments were made and allowed to stand as if viable about how many sexual partners the women had previously had, about what the complainant had worn when meeting with her professor (as if a low cut shirt was invitation for sexual advances or that it somehow negates the likeliness of her telling the truth about her rape), about how she behaved afterwords in reaction to the trauma and not acting like the "perfect" victim, etc. There are many more examples but these illustrate the type of problematic discourse I am objecting to. The failure to moderate the discussion on a topic such as rape and the complete lack of proper statistical information that was made available during the discussion to counter the myths being perpetuated in the class was completely unacceptable.<br>
Furthermore there was no warning given prior to the class that such a topic would be discussed, a topic such as this could be triggering to those who have survived sexual assault. As a rape survivor myself, I felt that the classroom environment changed for me drastically after that class and ultimately led me to discontinue the course.<br>
I would like to note that the issue at hand is not so much about the topic but rather about the complete lack of respect that such a topic was given, and the fact that no prior warning was given. Since the xxxxxxxx Department educates a fair amount of students who go on to pursue careers in the community service sector and other such professions, it is horrendous that professors are perpetuating stereotypes against women and rape victims. This can become even more problematic as these types of people make up the majority of the clientele and our need for respect and accurate information cannot be overlooked. <br>
Thank you for your time and understanding in this matter.<br><br>
Sincerely, xxxxxx (me)</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>---</p>
<p> </p>
<p>i am done finals on monday i am looking forward to taking some time for myself and my kid and just enjoying our lazy days off.</p>
