© Facebook via the Huffington Post
The signs, displayed proudly just down the street from Old Dominion University, directed parents to the "freshman daughter drop off," with an arrow pointing to their door. Another said, "Rowdy And Fun - Hope your baby girl is ready for a good time." One last sign said, "Go ahead and drop off Mom too."
These extremely disturbing signs were hanging from the house as freshman girls were coming into town to start their new lives. Most likely anxious about the start of something so exciting, their first impression is now one of sexual harassment; a confession from their fellow students that what they've heard about campus rape is very much true.
A Virginia man took a photo of the signs and posted it to Facebook. Since deleted, the image is now circulating via a story in the Huffington Post:
University President John R. Broderick wrote a letter to the college community denouncing the signs on Saturday, saying:
"I am outraged about the offensive message directed toward women that was visible for a time on 43rd Street. I said at my State of the University address that there is zero tolerance on this campus for sexual assault and sexual harassment. This incident will be reviewed immediately by those on campus empowered to do so. Any student found to have violated the code of conduct will be subject to disciplinary action."The swift action of Broderick and his zero tolerance policy are admirable, and parents and students alike chimed in on the school president's Facebook post, applauding his actions and reassuring new students that ODU is a safe place to go to school.
They may be right. ODU may be as safe as any other school in the US. It may have wonderful security and harsh discipline for rule-breakers. Unfortunately it also has at least a small element of that ever so dangerous rape culture that has become just another part of campus life in America.
. . . . wondering why so -many- men are so often such Richards; and not only, they give every indication of 'thinking' it's OK.