By Meredith Matz and Mikiya Ellis-Glunt
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writers
Freedom Square is the marketplace of ideas on Towson University’s campus and a Towson senior decided to put his thoughts into action by sparking a conversation about sexual assault and how us, as a society, can end it.
In the span of two weeks, TU has been under a microscope dealing with multiple sexual assaults on campus.
“After I read the email, it hit me pretty hard and I knew I had to do something different,” said Ian Lazarenko, 21, a senior, referring to a campus-wide email sent by President Kim Schatzel calling for a forum to discuss recent incidents of violence and sexual assaults.
“I had an idea to do some sort of demonstration for support of people that I didn’t even know on campus who were probably hurting,” he said.
Lazarenko was the organizer and leader of the Unity Rally at Freedom Square Wednesday night. A large crowd of students, faculty and staff gathered, not only showing up physically but emotionally and mentally charged as well.
“I wasn’t the only person who knew that this wasn’t something that only happened that one time,” Lazarenko said. “This was something that happens every semester, something I’ve dealt with as an RA (resident assistant) in the past.”
Lazarenko has been an RA for three years at Towson and with his experience, he said he knew the pain that this issue has caused others in the past.
“Knowing that it has been such an issue, not only at Towson, but all across the country, I knew that we had to do something to make sure that people realized that Towson was different; that we weren’t going to just sit back.” Lazarenko said.
Lazarenko opened the rally, applauding and thanking everyone for showing up and explaining the prevalence of violence and sexual assault. He called for action to stop sexual assaults from occurring.
Schatzel attended the rally to provide moral support but did not speak. Last week, the president announced sweeping policy and personnel changes that included increasing police patrols, extending shuttle services, adding more counselors and requiring background checks of all campus employees.
“Nothing you do, wear, or say ever gives somebody the right to assault you or hurt you,” Sgt. Shannon Cotton of the TU Police Department told the rally. “And I find that really important because in a society that we live in today we do a lot of blame – where we like to blame people. ‘you were doing this, you were drinking, what were you wearing.’”
Peer education students led the crowd through a group exercise during which everyone was asked to close their eyes and think of things they loved, people they looked up to, a favorite place, best friends, etc. Then, the crowd was asked to think about not being able to access them or that anymore. When everyone was asked to open his or her eyes, the peer educators explained that the sense of loss is how a victim or survivor feels.
“Sexual violence affects so many people, and yet so many people who have experienced it feel so incredibly alone,” said TU school psychologist Maria Wydra, who works in the Counseling Center.
“Survivors continually tell me that they’re made to feel as if they should have done something to prevent it,” said Wydra. “The worst part of hearing that message is that survivors are already saying that very thing to themselves. And when they hear it from others, it echoes their worst fears.”
TU senior Tiera Lee agreed.
“Doing things that are necessary before the unnecessary has to happen is really important,” said Lee. “Injustice anywhere is affecting justice everywhere.”
The fight to end sexual assault is still an ongoing battle, said Lazarenko.
“Sexual assault is real, it’s present, but it can be stopped,” he said.