Content warning: Mentions of sexual violence.
About 150 community members across the 7Cs gathered at Scripps College’s Elm Tree Lawn Thursday at 1 p.m. and marched to Pomona College’s Walker Beach to rally against sexual violence in the wake of drugging and gang rape allegations at Cornell University.
Co-organizers Don James (DJ) Basilico PO ’27 and Stephanie Li PZ ’28 brought together several student organizations, advocacy groups and Title IX Coordinators to spread awareness about sexual violence on college campuses and to protest the Cornell administration’s response. Li said she organized the rally to stand with the Cornell plaintiff, referred to as Jane Doe in the lawsuit filed last month, and every survivor of sexual violence.
“I wanted to send a message to Jane Doe to tell her that we, as the Claremont College Consortium, support her,” Li said. “I wanted to send a message to Cornell that this is what a proper administration that supports its survivors looks like.”
On the same day as the rally in Claremont, demonstrations were held in more than 40 states in response to Cornell’s handling of the case.
Penelope Sheer PZ ’28, a rally attendee and member of Pitzer Advocates, said the Cornell investigation is just one example of many sexual assault cases and that rape culture “permeate[s] every culture of campus life.” She urged the 7C community to hold itself and its institutions accountable.
“I think that we need to really show up for survivors and internally reflect on how our policies are allowing for rape culture,” Sheer said.
Fiona Woods PO ’27, a rally attendee, said they believe it’s important to continue calling out sexual violence.
“[The Cornell case] is just very disheartening, and so it feels good to be able to do something about it,” Woods said. “[It’s important to be] making sure that stuff like this is not normalized. We should be as outraged the first time this happens as the 1,000th time this happens.”
Throughout the demonstration, attendees chanted various slogans such as “I am Jane Doe,” “believe survivors,” and “no more violence, no more silence.”
Lucas Cejas PZ ‘30 said he attended the rally to show up for victims who haven’t received proper support.
“I was shocked, but also at the same time, not surprised at the action that Cornell had taken against the perpetrators,” Cejas said. “Something I immediately think of is things that have happened to my family members. That’s also a big reason why I’m here, to represent everyone I know, and myself, who have been affected by these issues.”
Cejas, among dozens of other students, placed their handprint on Walker Wall to represent the sheer number of people who have been directly or indirectly affected by sexual violence.
Several speakers were featured at the rally, including Scripps Dean of Students DeMethra LaSha “Sha” Bradley, who emphasized the importance of believing survivors and the community’s responsibility to hold anyone who has caused harm accountable.
“To our students, please know that we see you, and we care about you and we stand in solidarity with you,” Bradley said. “No one should carry these feelings alone. At moments like this, it is important that we reaffirm our values. We believe who?”
The crowd called out “survivors,” in response.
Jim Marchant, Pitzer College vice president and chief of staff, also spoke at the event, which Li praised in a public comment.
“Thank you, Pitzer, for being supportive of students,” Li said. “Cornell, take notes.”
According to Sheer, Pitzer Advocates is working to expand its prevention and organizing work to directly change campus cultures, instead of only offering support after harm has already occurred.
Hanna Shigemitsu SC ’27, junior co-head of Scripps Advocates, said survivors shouldn’t feel pressured to attend rallies about sexual assault if they aren’t comfortable.
“I want to recognize that protesting is a right in itself,” Shigemitsu said. “Not everybody feels safe in doing so … Especially with this rally, something that Scripps Advocates is really making sure that survivors know that choosing to not participate doesn’t invalidate your story.”
Samantha Fornaris PO ’28 formed the Lotus Circle this semester in response to the Cornell case. The club is designed to be a “supportive healing space” where survivors of sexual violence can meet and share experiences.
“What I want to do with the Lotus Circle is show [that survivors] have the power, it was not taken from you, it is not gone,” Fornaris said. “You have the power, and the fact that you can address that something happens gives all that power to you.”
Mayor of Claremont Jennifer Stark PZ ’98 shared her support for survivors in a statement to be read at the rally.
“When a survivor comes forward, the response matters,” Stark wrote. “It is a test of whether an institution is willing to confront a serious allegation with honesty and care, even when doing so is uncomfortable. To the students of the Claremont Colleges placing painted handprints on the free wall today: the City of Claremont stands firmly behind you.”
The EmPOWER Center, a violence prevention and advocacy center, aims to support all 7C members by offering bystander intervention training and support hours. The CMC and Pomona advocates both have a 24-hour hotline. CGU and KGI students can reach their advocates by hotline as well. Scripps Advocates operate an anonymous non-emergency “warmline,” which operates from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. every day of the school year. HMC, Pitzer and Scripps Advocates all have support hours by appointment or drop-in.
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