Thank you for your support of the 2020 S.H.A.P.E. Campaign.

 

S.H.A.P.E.’s goals are to highlight current prevention methods; make visible campus resources and support networks; collaborate with other student groups and departments invested in addressing and ending sexual violence; and educate members of the Duke community about sexual harassment, sexual assault, and how both epidemics are perpetuated by certain aspects of our climate. While there is much work to be done surrounding this issue as it exists at Duke, we hope S.H.A.P.E. will continue to  be part of amplifying these important conversations.

 

Sexual assault on college campuses, both American and those abroad, is a public health crisis and dehumanizing, devastating epidemic. The reality is that stating “much work to be done” does not do justice to the scope and complexity of this issue. Duke University is lucky to have resources available for when this happens. But it is not enough to solely have intervention measures in place. As a community, and more saliently, as one of the top universities in the world, Duke can, and should, be doing more, particularly on the prevention side. This sentiment is not new; in fact, there are departments designated to handle sexual misconduct and address harassment and discrimination. However, there is a lack of transparency from the Administration to address new and current efforts or include undergraduate and graduate voices in these reforms.

 

We need to be an institution of activism, one more responsive to change, social movements, and its diverse, vital voices that contribute the invaluable brilliance, creativity, and academic excellence that makes Duke what it is. Sexual violence has been shown to disproportionately affect already vulnerable and often marginalized populations. In order for those voices to be heard, Duke must be actively listening. The time for progress was yesterday. We have to act today.

 

To those invested in this movement and/or affected by sexual assault, harassment, and trauma, either directly or indirectly, we stand with you. We are incredibly inspired by the brave survivors who have chosen to report, share their stories, and lead the way forward. You are powerful and you are valid. We, and countless others, believe you, even when we cannot hear or see you. And to those who have chosen to not report, you are equally brave, resilient, and valid. We wish you all healing, resilience, strength, and peace.

 

S.H.A.P.E. is about restoring accountability, equity, and justice; upholding responsibility; speaking truth to power; ensuring safety; and improving the Duke experience for everyone, inside and outside the classroom. We all must use our time at Duke to leave it better than how we found it when we first arrived. Think about future Duke students. What would our campus, and at large, our society, look like without sexual violence? What if we could shape one that is more proactive? Safer? Liberated?

 

Ultimately, the SHAPE Campaign is another step forward towards building a better Duke future. It’s not the first one, nor will it be the last. We can––and need to––do better. Solutions are out there. We either invest in them or we don’t. Students, staff, and faculty are ready for change, and we couldn’t be prouder of our fellow community members who have used their voices, bodies, and stories (all tools for radical transformation) to amplify, nuance, and continue these important conversations. We hope to see more people write about it, talk about it, and organize around it. 

 

A good University is run by Administrators, Staff, and Faculty, but a great University is led by leaders - leaders from every level of our Duke community. 

 

Thank you.