University of Minnesota students and graduates of all shapes and sizes marched up the university’s fraternity row to protest sexual assault.
With signs that read “I believe the survivor” and “Silence, secrets [do not equal] brotherhood,” about 80 protesters marched along the university’s fraternity row on University Avenue Southeast this past Saturday to speak out against campus sexual assault.
The protest, which included fraternity men marching in their Greek letters, Interfraternity Council President Simon Beck, and members of Alpha Epsilon Pi, which suspended a member for allegedly assaulting a pledge in January.
Via MN Daily:
“This isn’t just about women, it’s about toxic masculinity and how pervasive that is within the fraternity system,” said Sarah Super, an advocate for those who have been sexually assaulted. Super founded the campaign, Break the Silence Day, and organized the Saturday protest.
“There is a clear problem in greek life when a man known to have committed sexual misconduct is elected president,” said Pederson, a University graduate who was sexually assaulted by a member of Delta Upsilon in her junior year of school.
Dawson Kimyon, a former Greek life member at the University of Minnesota who alerted Alpha Epsilon Phi’s international representatives about issues of sexual assault at the house, said it is up to the fraternity members to ignite a culture change:
“We’re going to need true allies on the inside because you guys have the privilege of making change from the inside out,” Kimyon said.
