The administration has finally validated the truth about our campus culture and publicly dismissed the baseless attacks against them. We stood our ground against those trying to drag the reputation of this university through the mud and we won. Do not let your guard down because we must keep holding …
August 5, 2018
Final supporters
Open letter to Franciscan University of Steubenville from Alumni:
Recently a discussion has emerged concerning Franciscan University of Steubenville’s handling of allegations of sexual assault on and off campus. Concern has been expressed that the University does not take seriously the plight of students who have suffered sexual assault and does not provide adequate help for these students.
In our experience as students and alumni the University faculty, administration, and staff are made up of people who care deeply about the well-being of the students academically, spiritually, morally, physically, and psychologically. While we may have experienced issues with the administration at times, our experiences in the world after graduation have made us even more grateful for the friendships made, education received, and opportunities for spiritual growth made possible by the extremely healthy culture on the University’s campus.
Therefore, we the undersigned alumni wish to state our support for Franciscan University of Steubenville and her administration. While we know that no human institution will always and everywhere perfectly address such issues and are aware that mistakes have sometimes been made, we are grateful for all the ways that the University has worked to improve its sexual assault policies and procedures and to better educate, defend, and protect students. We recognize that far from reluctantly addressing Title IX requirements, the University has faithfully implemented Title IX, and has gone beyond it by providing programming intended to help students recognize the dignity of every person, thus fostering a culture of true Christian chastity and respect among her students.
We wish also to state our support of the University for engaging in the public square and applying Catholic principles to the challenges of the modern world. We support authentic Catholic academic inquiry and discussion on how best to address current situations prudently, and hope that faculty, staff, alumni, and students will continue to do so in a thoughtful and respectful manner.
Finally, we wish to state our concern that the tenor of the current discussion is such that rather than aiding and championing victims of sexual assault, it may in fact have the effect of discouraging students from coming forward when they have suffered a sexual assault. We wish to encourage the faculty, staff, and students currently on campus as they strive to create an atmosphere of concern and caring, but also justice. And we especially encourage students who suffer sexual assault to come forward, confident that the administration will receive and investigate their case with compassion and fairness.
In Christ
Updates
May 8, 2018
The sheer momentum we have built proves the administration has loyal defenders who refuse to let the institution be dragged through the mud by baseless accusations. This growing wave of support shows that we see through the attacks and stay committed to the truth about our campus culture.
Reached 100 supporters
May 8, 2018
26 Comments
In my experience (FUS 2001), Franciscan University did an excellent job of fostering healthy and chaste relationships between the sexes. I have no reason to believe that anything has changed since my time there.
No institution is perfect but I believe that FUS is an orthodox and caring institution. While I was there I had a situation which required counseling , unplanned absences and help from many departments as I had to rearrange my schedule and volunteer commitments. Every department involved was caring, considerate and extremely helpful in getting me back on track. I do not know what the current situation is about. Mistakes may have been made. I doubt it is an institutional habit.
Franciscan University is a REAL Catholic college. Like all things REALLY Catholic, it is really loved or opposed. Sure it is composed of frail people, like all institutions and mistakes have been made. But it has stayed true to its Catholic principles on the whole. So the discussion and the controversy against the University is ultimately directed against the REAL Catholic Faith, as given to us by Jesus Christ, in particular its stand on sexual ethics, given to us by Jesus Christ, which some former alumni disagree with. But instead of being honest about disagreeing with the actual tenets of the Catholic Faith, they disingenuously attack a Catholic institution instead.
A friend of mine was assaulted by a non-student off campus and the college was as supportive as could be and went to great lengths to help her through the experience.
I personally know of 2 cases that were dealt with swiftly & completely in the 1990s. The fact that there is a targeted attack on orthodox Catholic institutions, like FUS, is very telling. Let’s not forget to pray for those people who feel compelled to publicly smear the good name of our school & exploit the victims of the alleged assaults; they clearly know not what they do. Sadly, I’m sure their bully tactics will extend to anyone willing to sign anything like this, so brace yourselves for the public smear campaign.
Thank you Franciscan for remaining true to our Catholic ideals amidst outside attacks.
I love Franciscan it truly blessed my life and our family
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The administration has finally validated the truth about our campus culture and publicly dismissed the baseless attacks against them. We stood our ground against those trying to drag the reputation of this university through the mud and we won. Do not let your guard down because we must keep holding …
August 5, 2018
Final supporters
Open letter to Franciscan University of Steubenville from Alumni:
Recently a discussion has emerged concerning Franciscan University of Steubenville’s handling of allegations of sexual assault on and off campus. Concern has been expressed that the University does not take seriously the plight of students who have suffered sexual assault and does not provide adequate help for these students.
In our experience as students and alumni the University faculty, administration, and staff are made up of people who care deeply about the well-being of the students academically, spiritually, morally, physically, and psychologically. While we may have experienced issues with the administration at times, our experiences in the world after graduation have made us even more grateful for the friendships made, education received, and opportunities for spiritual growth made possible by the extremely healthy culture on the University’s campus.
Therefore, we the undersigned alumni wish to state our support for Franciscan University of Steubenville and her administration. While we know that no human institution will always and everywhere perfectly address such issues and are aware that mistakes have sometimes been made, we are grateful for all the ways that the University has worked to improve its sexual assault policies and procedures and to better educate, defend, and protect students. We recognize that far from reluctantly addressing Title IX requirements, the University has faithfully implemented Title IX, and has gone beyond it by providing programming intended to help students recognize the dignity of every person, thus fostering a culture of true Christian chastity and respect among her students.
We wish also to state our support of the University for engaging in the public square and applying Catholic principles to the challenges of the modern world. We support authentic Catholic academic inquiry and discussion on how best to address current situations prudently, and hope that faculty, staff, alumni, and students will continue to do so in a thoughtful and respectful manner.
Finally, we wish to state our concern that the tenor of the current discussion is such that rather than aiding and championing victims of sexual assault, it may in fact have the effect of discouraging students from coming forward when they have suffered a sexual assault. We wish to encourage the faculty, staff, and students currently on campus as they strive to create an atmosphere of concern and caring, but also justice. And we especially encourage students who suffer sexual assault to come forward, confident that the administration will receive and investigate their case with compassion and fairness.
In Christ
Updates
May 8, 2018
The sheer momentum we have built proves the administration has loyal defenders who refuse to let the institution be dragged through the mud by baseless accusations. This growing wave of support shows that we see through the attacks and stay committed to the truth about our campus culture.
Reached 100 supporters
May 8, 2018
26 Comments
I worked in Reslife during my time at the University, If the University really was trying to cover up and ignore Title IX I and several of my fellow RAs would have been fired on the spot.
In my experience (FUS 2001), Franciscan University did an excellent job of fostering healthy and chaste relationships between the sexes. I have no reason to believe that anything has changed since my time there.
No institution is perfect but I believe that FUS is an orthodox and caring institution. While I was there I had a situation which required counseling , unplanned absences and help from many departments as I had to rearrange my schedule and volunteer commitments. Every department involved was caring, considerate and extremely helpful in getting me back on track. I do not know what the current situation is about. Mistakes may have been made. I doubt it is an institutional habit.
Franciscan University is a REAL Catholic college. Like all things REALLY Catholic, it is really loved or opposed. Sure it is composed of frail people, like all institutions and mistakes have been made. But it has stayed true to its Catholic principles on the whole. So the discussion and the controversy against the University is ultimately directed against the REAL Catholic Faith, as given to us by Jesus Christ, in particular its stand on sexual ethics, given to us by Jesus Christ, which some former alumni disagree with. But instead of being honest about disagreeing with the actual tenets of the Catholic Faith, they disingenuously attack a Catholic institution instead.
A friend of mine was assaulted by a non-student off campus and the college was as supportive as could be and went to great lengths to help her through the experience.
I personally know of 2 cases that were dealt with swiftly & completely in the 1990s. The fact that there is a targeted attack on orthodox Catholic institutions, like FUS, is very telling. Let’s not forget to pray for those people who feel compelled to publicly smear the good name of our school & exploit the victims of the alleged assaults; they clearly know not what they do. Sadly, I’m sure their bully tactics will extend to anyone willing to sign anything like this, so brace yourselves for the public smear campaign.
Thank you Franciscan for remaining true to our Catholic ideals amidst outside attacks.
I love Franciscan it truly blessed my life and our family
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I worked in Reslife during my time at the University, If the University really was trying to cover up and ignore Title IX I and several of my fellow RAs would have been fired on the spot.