SA email following Kavanaugh confirmation should be commended

UPDATED: Oct. 7, 2018 at 11:59 p.m.

More than 100 students and faculty gathered Thursday on Syracuse University’s Quad to protest Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court nomination. Those voices matter, and how campus community members shared experiences related to sexual assault and violence should not go ignored.

On Sunday, SU’s Student Association sent a campus-wide email that not only addressed Kavanaugh’s confirmation, but also provided definitive ways to support those impacted by sexual assault, misconduct and rape culture.  The Daily Orange commends SA for that communication and believes the email, sent by President Ghufran Salih, is an effective form of advocacy on behalf of the student body.

That support is critical.

It’s important that SU  acknowledge the conversation at the university, spurred by the testimony of Christine Blasey Ford before the Senate Judiciary Committee in late September, and to the best of its ability ensure that students understand counseling resources available to them.

Thursday’s demonstration showed that students won’t shy away from important conversations surrounding sexual assault and rape culture, and Monday’s email from Salih is an example of how to best support those affected by Kavanaugh’s confirmation, moving forward.

The Daily Orange Editorial Board serves as the voice of the organization and aims to contribute the perspectives of students to discussions that concern Syracuse University and the greater Syracuse community. The editorial board’s stances are determined by a majority of its members. You can read more about the editorial board here. Are you interested in pitching a topic for the editorial board to discuss? Email opinion@dailyorange.com.

CORRECTION: In a previous version of this post, Christine Blasey Ford was misnamed. The Daily Orange regrets this error.