Sexual Abuse and the Institutional Conspiracy of Silence
By Warren J. Blumenfeld

The allegations of sexual abuse and surrounding scandal, resulting in the firing of legendary football coach, Joe Paterno, and the president of The Pennsylvania State University, Graham Spanier, and the placement on paid administrative leave of assistant coach Mike McQueary, highlights in clear relief an overarching corporate/institutional culture of silence and cover up.

Whether it be allegations of sexual abuse of young boys over a 15-year period by former Penn State coach Jerry Sandusky; convictions of sexual abuse on young boys and girls by priests that has rocked the Catholic Church; allegations of sexual harassment by Herman Cain, former National Restaurant Association CEO and current presidential hopeful, and reported NRA cash settlements to his female accusers; or the estimated one-in-three female soldiers who experience sexual assaults by their male counterparts and higher-ups within the military establishment, institutions frequently close ranks to protect alleged perpetrators at the expense of alleged sufferers. As they model a culture of conspiratorial silence, institutions send the defiant message that they care more about their institutions’ reputations than the alleged targets of sexual harassment and assault.

On an individual level, this is also apparent, for example, in episodes of schoolyard, community-based, as well as electronic forms of bullying. According to the American Medical Association definition: “Bullying is a specific type of aggression in which the behavior is intended to harm or disturb, the behavior occurs repeatedly over time, and there is an imbalance of power, with a more powerful person or group attacking a less powerful one.”

Win $100 VISA Gift Card: Participate in National Survey on Sexual Identity in College

Are you currently a college student?
If so, your help is needed.

Researchers are trying to better understand the influence of sexual identity on higher education outcomes. When you have 15 minutes, please click on the link below to fill out a brief online questionnaire. It asks some very insightful questions and in no way will you or your school be identified. Responses are being collected until May 5th, 2010.

At the end of the survey you will have an opportunity to enter a drawing for a $100 Visa gift card.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/sexual_identity_in_college_students

Your thoughts and experiences are important! Results from this survey will help administrators at colleges and universities across the country make more informed decisions about LGBQ students.

After you complete the survey, please forward this email to all students who may be interested in taking a survey on sexual identity, particularly those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, questioning and other non-heterosexual identities.

Thanks in advance for your contribution. This survey is being conducted for research purposes by higher education professionals at the Pennsylvania State University. You must be at least 18 years old to participate. Please contact Kip Sorgen at kip.sorgen@psu.edu with concerns or questions.