04/10/2026
Alongside the family home, educational institutions shape moral and civic virtues of future societies, and so they carry a profound obligation to model equity across race, s*x, and gender. At the absolute minimum, they must instil the foundational truth that women are human beings, not commodities meant for the gratification of men.
It is deeply shocking and disturbing that Cornell University, one of America's most prestigious institutions, failed to uphold this standard. The handling of the "Cornell 7" and the lenient consequences for the repeated s*xual assault of a fellow student evoke an unacceptable culture of institutional bias, protectionism, and a disgraceful failure to safeguard female students, even though women comprise over half of the student body.
As the mother of a young daughter about to embark on her university journey, I am sickened to think that the very institutions tasked with shaping our future remain bound to an archaic patriarchy. As the mother of beautiful young men who deeply respect and adore women, I cannot fathom the moral compass of the parents of the students involved.
Ultimately, what is an institution saying about a woman if it fails to protect her physically and merely tut-tuts her absolute violation and assault?
Cornell University is a disgrace, but let this be an example to all educational institutions, especially in our own country. We all need to do better—systemically and personally—to protect the safety of women.
