Statement on the Cornell 7

As a trauma therapist, I have always had my concerns about fraternities. Paternalism, secrecy, popularity, and the bystander effect are just some of the components that leave our loved ones vulnerable to perpetrators of abuse. And these same components ensure that there is no justice because the perpetrators hold the power, closing ranks against anyone who dares to challenge this tyranny.

We can, and we must, do more to take a stand against abuse. 

If you are a survivor, you are not alone. There is a whole community, a whole wolf pack out there who are ready, willing, and able to support you.

If you are a parent, know that the overly simplistic messaging that some schools communicate (eg, "Choose to be nice") can be damaging. We must teach our kids more than this, and this includes the importance of boundaries and assertiveness. We also need to teach them that it is not enough to stand by and witness bullying, exploitative, and abusive behavior. As I mention in chapter 9 of Beyond the Wolf Pack (Bystanders, Enablers, and Social Apathy), there are psychological reasons why we can end up as a bystander, enabler, or with social apathy (for example, the bystander effect) but there are also psychological reasons why it is beneficial for our mental health to take a stand against a bully or perpetrator of abuse. The bystander effect (for example) is not inevitable, it is a psychological tendency that we can become aware of, and guard against.

Silence is complicity, and, with all the information out there to access, we cannot claim ignorance as a defence.

Chris Warren-Dickins
Psychotherapist and Author in Ridgewood, New Jersey