BACKDROP OF SEXUAL ASSAULT LAWSUITS
“Where are your Jesuit values now?” one
sign reads, referencing the university’s Jesuit
label. “This is what you call good faith ?
Yikes,” reads another.
vivors, and improved academic accommodations
for survivors of sexual
violence, as the traumatic experiences
can lead to mental health conditions
that impact academic performance.
Czernyk, for example, told the Bronx
Times that being raped as a Fordham
student caused the spiraling of her
mental health and delayed her education
by a year.
In hopes of improving the process,
the students want survivors to have
the opportunity to give feedback about
their Title IX experience at Fordham.
The group is also demanding that
the university teach all students about
Title IX, and believes there should be
mandatory training for everyone accused
of sexual assault, regardless of
whether they are found responsible.
Sweeney said helping people understand
what needs to change for survivors
“will create a safer environment
that’s both preventative and provide
restorative care.”
“We just hope that the university
recognizes us and tries to work with
the student body to create long-lasting
change,” she added.
Howe declined to share whether the
university is open to the demands.
“We know so many stories that are
different than Czernyk’s but also eerily
Fordham freshman Mary Routh holds her sign after the Dec. 4 rally. similar,” Quinn, one of the organizers,
to come forward themselves.”
told the Bronx Times. “And we
know so many people that chose not
to report because of the university’s
procedures, and they don’t want to go
through the process of dealing with the
people involved or the kind of invasive
nature of it all, so we want to create
change. We want the victims of sexual
violence at our school to feel safe and
supported by the university administration
and the Title IX policy is just
not doing enough for our students.”
Throughout the march, some onlookers
cheered and chanted along and
drivers honked in support.
A handful of local high school students
joined the stream of college protestors
and asked them afterward how
they could improve the culture at their
own school.
Fordham Freshman Mary Routh
carried a sign that read “Justice for Julianna
Czernyk.” The other side said
“Justice for Francis Austin” and “Fire
Dean Rogers.”
Another student’s sign simply read
“F*** Dean Rogers.”
Rogers is the assistant vice president
and dean of students at the university’s
Rose Hill campus in the Bronx.
In 2017, he was under investigation for
comments he made during a Title IX
training he facilitated, as the deputy
Title IX coordinator, politicizing sexual
assault. The lesson left dozens of female
students in tears, according to a
senior residential assistant at the time.
The investigation found that Rodgers
did not violate any university
policies, but university leadership acknowledged
student concerns. More
than 1,000 students signed an online
petition a year ago to remove Rogers
from his position at the school.
Routh said she was disheartened by
the stories about Czernyk, Austin and
Rogers.
“It’s really sad,” the fi rst-year student
said. “Especially when I’ve gone
through similar things and everyone
knows someone who has gone through
similar things and there’s an obvious
issue and the school doesn’t respond
the way you think it would, humanitywise.”
Czernyk, who is being represented
by Crumiller P.C., told the Bronx
Times on Monday that seeing her
name on Routh’s sign left her speechless.
“When I came out and fi led a lawsuit
against my assailant, I had no idea
what would happen,” Czernyk said. “I
never imagined that I would receive
such an overwhelmingly supportive
response, with so many people advocating
not just for me, but for all survivors.”
She wasn’t able to attend the rally
but said she hopes she can continue to
be “a voice of empowerment for survivors
who may not yet have the strength
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, D BTR EC. 10-16, 2021 9