Slander at U of Maryland?

[ repost from soc.feminism circa 1993 ]

It seems that some University women agree.

Rich

------------------

From: My frog wants snow ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
Subject: Re: Slander at U of Maryland?
View: Complete Thread (27 articles)
Newsgroups: soc.feminism
Date: 1993-05-17 19:34:52 PST

In article <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
(timothy shimeall) writes:
> I haven't seen any discussion of this in soc.feminism, and would like
> to know if the readers have any reaction.
> 
> A group of students in an art class at the University of Maryland
> picked a bunch of names at random from the campus phone book,
> selecting for one apparent gender, and posted those names publically 
> as potential criminals.

The students in the art class did not pick the names at random.
The students "named every identifiable male in the student 
directory" [The Diamondback, Wed., 5-5-93]
The names were posted as potential rapists.  This was a
response to the increase in campus violence against women.

> 
> When the named people protested at this apparent slander, the work was
> defended philosophical grounds by the school administration.
> 
> Do you feel that the students were sexist?  (Does it depend on the
> sex of the students involved?)

The students did not say that the men were rapists, just
that they were potential rapists.  Which, if you think
about it, is true--out of the male student body at UMD,
I am sure that some of them are rapists.  I would say
that here at UMD there are approximately 15,000 men
attending the school...so, anyone with statistics?
> 
> Given that the students were women in a "feminist" art class, the names
> they used for their "art" were all names of men, and the Poster read
> "Notice: These Men are Potential Rapists" do you feel that the men
> were slandered?
> 
> Why or why not?
>    Tim
> 
> Note: The facts are abstracted from a posting in soc.men...
>       The questions are mine.
> 
> Disclaimer: I speak for NO organization.

The names were not used for art.  The list was used to
start conversations about the high incidence of violence
against women on this campus.

I do not feel that the men were slandered.  No one said
that ALL of the men were indeed rapists, just pointing
out that you may know someone who is a rapist.

I don't think that I personally would have been
involved with something like this...I don't think
that it created much positive response.  I believe
that we should be more aware about potential rapists,
and that more action should be taken against rapists.

I just wanted to post something because I am currently
attending the University of Maryland, and I wanted
to clear up some things...

Anna M. Winkler
[EMAIL PROTECTED]