Tell Notre Dame to Apologize for Rape Victim's Suicide and Revise Protocol

Tell Notre Dame to Apologize for Rape Victim's Suicide and Revise Protocol

The Issue

On August 31, freshman Elizabeth Seeberg was assaulted by a football player at the University of Notre Dame. Nine days later, she took her life.

Both in the days following the attack and over the past three months, the University has failed to take the crime seriously, report it to police, or seek justice for the victim.

Sexual assault on campus is an epidemic, and Notre Dame is only perpetuating the widespread practice of ignoring victims and shaming themselves by not taking assault seriously.

Tell Notre Dame to take sexual violence by and against students seriously. To apologize for the death of Elizabeth Seeberg, the handling of her case, and to review their protocol for dealing with campus assault so that this doesn't happen in the future. Right now, Notre Dame values the "reputation" of its sports teams over justice for the victim of a sexual crime. Tell them to change their priorities.

Photo credit: Paul J. Everett 

avatar of the starter
P LPetition StarterPema is a journalist living in Washington, DC. She covers women in politics, reproductive rights and policy, and pop culture here at <a href="http://Change.org" rel="nofollow">Change.org</a>. Other interests include constitutional law, religion, and political history. She works at The American Prospect magazine.
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This petition had 1,937 supporters

The Issue

On August 31, freshman Elizabeth Seeberg was assaulted by a football player at the University of Notre Dame. Nine days later, she took her life.

Both in the days following the attack and over the past three months, the University has failed to take the crime seriously, report it to police, or seek justice for the victim.

Sexual assault on campus is an epidemic, and Notre Dame is only perpetuating the widespread practice of ignoring victims and shaming themselves by not taking assault seriously.

Tell Notre Dame to take sexual violence by and against students seriously. To apologize for the death of Elizabeth Seeberg, the handling of her case, and to review their protocol for dealing with campus assault so that this doesn't happen in the future. Right now, Notre Dame values the "reputation" of its sports teams over justice for the victim of a sexual crime. Tell them to change their priorities.

Photo credit: Paul J. Everett 

avatar of the starter
P LPetition StarterPema is a journalist living in Washington, DC. She covers women in politics, reproductive rights and policy, and pop culture here at <a href="http://Change.org" rel="nofollow">Change.org</a>. Other interests include constitutional law, religion, and political history. She works at The American Prospect magazine.
Media inquiries

The Decision Makers

Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C.
Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C.
President, University of Notre Dame
Donald B. Pope-Davis
Donald B. Pope-Davis
Vice President and Associate Provost/Committee on Women Faculty and Students
Phillip Johnson
Phillip Johnson
Director, Notre Dame Security Police

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Petition created on November 29, 2010