‘Rapists have gotten away with it.’ Protest calls attention to sexual assault at Fresno State
More than 125 people marched from Fresno State to the Phi Mu Eta Zeta sorority house Monday afternoon, protesting sexual assault and rape culture in the university’s Greek community while a former student who alleges she was drugged and raped at a fraternity party spent most of the day in a Title IX hearing.
As the protesters marched past Bulldog Lane and near the fraternity and sorority houses, they chanted “Phi Mu, we needed you” and “Silence is violence.” The marchers held signs that said #MeToo and called out rape culture.
The former Fresno State student who made the rape allegations finally joined a smaller crowd about 5 p.m.
Most protesters were young people who wanted to send a message that rapists must be held accountable. Fresno State’s NAACP chapter helped lead the protest.
“For too long, rapists have gotten away with it, and we just can’t have that anymore,” said Honoria Felton, 18, who will attend California State University Fullerton in the fall. “I’m Gen Z, and we’re a very powerful generation. We’re going to be the generation to put a stop to all the (expletive) in the world.”
Rape allegations
The Fresno Bee is not identifying the former student who made the rape allegations or her mother because she was a minor at the time of the incident. The Bee also doesn’t identify sexual assault survivors.
In March, the 17-year-old Fresno State freshman alleged she was raped twice during Super Bowl weekend — once at a fraternity party and another time at a Super Bowl party. She reported both incidents to police and alleged Greek life at the university perpetuates rape culture.
Fresno State temporarily suspended Phi Mu, the sorority to which the 17-year-old belonged at the time, and Kappa Sigma, the fraternity that hosted the party where the student alleged she was drugged and raped.
Phi Mu was eventually reinstated. Kappa Sigma remains suspended through Dec. 31. In addition, the fraternity may not host or allow alcohol on the premise of the chapter house until May 31, 2021.
No arrests have been made in the criminal investigations.
When she arrived at Monday’s protest, the former student said she felt empowered, appreciative to those who showed support and happy that survivors had a safe place to raise their voices and share their stories.
“The purpose of this was so that everybody’s voices would be heard because I know a lot of people haven’t had their cases investigated at Fresno State,” she said.
The survivor’s mother said her daughter’s experience isn’t the only time sexual assault has happened at a fraternity house.
“The sororities are covering it up,” she said. “They should be empowering themselves and helping each other to grow and ... protect themselves. And they’re not doing that. They’re allowing this to happen.”
A spokesperson with Phi Mu’s national headquarters did not return an email seeking comment. The Bee was unable to reach anyone affiliated with Fresno State’s Kappa Sigma fraternity.
Message from President Castro
Fresno State President Joseph Castro issued a statement Monday morning before the protest condemning sexual assault and sexual violence and saying he fully supports students’ rights to protest and speak out. Castro urged demonstrators to follow public health guides to help stop the spread of coronavirus, including wearing face coverings.
“Acts of sexual assault are reprehensible, regardless of location and circumstances; I condemn them vigorously,” Castro said in the statement. “We take reported assaults very seriously and will continue to do everything in our power to protect and support victims, as evidenced by the following actions in this particular case.”
Castro said his office reached out multiple times to the student who organized the protest seeking a meeting but received no response.
The former student, who plans to attend California State University, Long Beach in the fall, said after seeing Castro’s statement she found an email from his office that she previously overlooked. She plans to reach out to him.
But she said Castro should do more.
“He knows about all the incidents so I think that should be enough to step in and give them consequences and hold Fresno State accountable,” she said. “He should’ve been here.”
Title IX hearing
Monday’s hearing was painful, the survivor said. Her words were twisted, others left key details out of their accounts and some of her witnesses didn’t show up, she said. But, she’s confident school policy was broken and that will come to light.
Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, gender or sexual orientation in educational activities. Title IX protects all people regardless of their gender or gender identity from sex discrimination, which includes sexual harassment and violence.
Survivors of sexual assault can file a complaint with the university’s Title IX coordinator, which could result in discipline for the alleged perpetrator.
The survivor said she will attend another hearing Wednesday, and there will be one more that’s yet to be scheduled.
“I just know my truth and I know that because I’m saying the truth there will be consequences, just maybe not right now,” she said.
Ultimately, she hopes all Fresno State fraternities and Phi Mu are shut down.
“I just want to put an end to rape culture at Fresno State,” she said. “It’s so sad that nobody is paying attention to this.”
She also hopes Fresno State will allocate more funding to victim advocate programs.
She called on Castro to write a letter to the court advocating for Fresno State victims’ cases to be prioritized in case of any coronavirus-related delays.
Reporting what happened to her has been a long, exhausting process, she said.
“I’m tired. I’m exhausted. Mentally, this has been so draining” she said. “It’s traumatizing. I feel like the system is more traumatizing than the actual rape.”
While she hasn’t declared a major at CSU Long Beach, she’s considering going into law because of her experience.
Protest empowered survivors
Alicia Longoria, an 18-year-old who will attend Fresno State in the fall, said she related to the survivor who organized the protest, and that’s why she showed up on Monday.
“I understand why she would want support and for people to come together and say, ‘This is an issue and we need to fix it,’” Longoria said.
She brought with her a sign that listed all the ages she or people she knew experienced sexual violence or sexual harassment.
The protest made her feel safe and comfortable to share her experience, she said.
“It happens too often, and women don’t talk about it, she said.
Felton said she attended the protest because too many people who commit sexual violence don’t face consequences.
“Too often the conversation focuses on women,” she said. “We need to teach men to stop raping women.”
Resources for survivors
At Fresno State
Fresno State’s Confidential Advocacy Services provide confidential support, resources and referral services. To reach a campus confidential survivor advocate, call 559-278-6796.
Fresno State’s Title IX office covers sexual discrimination, sexual harassment, gender discrimination, sexual misconduct, stalking, domestic violence, rape and sexual assault and gender equality in athletics. To make a report, fill out this form or contact the Title IX office at 559-278-5357.
To report an incident to Fresno State Police Department, call 559-278-8400.
Community resources
For Rape Counseling Services, call the 24/7 hotline at 559-222-7273.
The Marjaree Mason Center provides emergency and longer-term safe housing, along with a wide variety of support services, for victims of domestic violence in Fresno County. Call 559-237-4706 or the 24-hour crisis line at 559-233-4357 (HELP)
Law enforcement
To report incidents of sexual violence to Fresno Police Department’s sexual assault unit, call 559-621-2460.
To report sex crimes to the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, contact Lt. Jose Salinas at 559-600-8029 or email him at jose.salinas@fresnosheriff.org.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREHelp The Fresno Bee investigate rape culture
The Fresno Bee continues to report on rape culture in Fresno State’s Greek community. If you or someone you know has first-hand experiences or information, please consider sharing with us. Information shared with us will be kept confidential.
UN Women describes rape culture as the social environment that allows sexual violence to be normalized and justified, fueled by the persistent gender inequalities and attitudes about gender and sexuality.
You can contact a reporter directly or submit an anonymous tip.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to communicate with reporters and editors as safely and securely as possible.
To contact reporter Brianna Calix, email her at bcalix@fresnobee.com or call her at 559-441-6166.
Resources for survivors
At Fresno State
Fresno State’s Confidential Advocacy Services provides confidential support, resources and referral services. To reach a campus confidential survivor advocate, call 559-278-6796.
Fresno State’s Title IX office covers sexual discrimination, sexual harassment, gender discrimination, sexual misconduct, stalking, domestic violence, rape and sexual assault and gender equality in athletics. To make a report, fill out this form or contact the Title IX office at 559-278-5357.
To report an incident to Fresno State Police Department, call 559-278-8400.
Community resources
For Rape Counseling Services, call the 24/7 hotline at 559-222-7273.
The Marjaree Mason Center provides emergency and longer-term safe housing, along with a wide variety of support services, for victims of domestic violence in Fresno County. Call 559-237-4706 or the 24-hour crisis line at 559-233-4357 (HELP)
Law enforcement
To report incidents of sexual violence to Fresno Police Department’s sexual assault unit, call 559-621-2460.
To report sex crimes to the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, contact Lt. Jose Salinas at 559-600-8029 or email him at jose.salinas@fresnosheriff.org.
This story was originally published August 3, 2020 at 2:20 PM with the headline "‘Rapists have gotten away with it.’ Protest calls attention to sexual assault at Fresno State."