The Syracuse University administration has a responsibility to take assault and harassment accusations into consideration when honoring alumni — whether through honorary degrees, statues or other commemorations — to end the preservation of problematic legacies on its campus. This conversation starts with Jim Brown.

Two SU alumni, Samantha Skaller and Seth Quam, are pushing to remove a statue of former Syracuse football player Jim Brown that sits outside the Ensley Athletic Center on South Campus and revoke his 2016 George Arents Award, which recognizes alumni achievement, in light of his controversial history of violence against women.

Between 1965 and 2000, Brown was accused and investigated for at least six incidents of violence against women, including one rape case. Brown was never convicted of rape or assault.

The Daily Orange Editorial Board acknowledges the complexities surrounding Brown’s legacy — which includes his famed affiliation with Syracuse, his advocacy in the civil rights movement and the assault accusations made against him — especially in the wake of the #MeToo movement, which has shown the prevalence of sexual assault and misconduct across industries. By promoting more dialogue, the #MeToo movement has forced society to confront how we should perceive individuals we may admire but who have been accused of assault.

That confrontation can be incredibly difficult, and there is no one solution on how to approach it.

Regardless of whether the SU administration removes the statue or revokes Brown’s award, it should publicly answer Skaller, Quam and community members who share their concerns. The administration should not factor potential rebuke from the campus community into its decision to release a public statement on the matter.

In an era when we are learning how to discuss sexual assault, the university won’t be able to produce an answer that fits every perception of Jim Brown in the SU community, and it shouldn’t be expected to. Still, a clear and thorough explanation of the decision to either keep or remove the statue and award is warranted to the campus community. A community that, like so many others, must confront its own sexual assault problem.

By acknowledging the reality of sexual assault, harassment and misconduct in its own community, SU can facilitate conversations that work toward tangible solutions. That could foster an understanding that some notable alumni shouldn’t be memorialized, and foster a campus that can have the difficult conversations necessary to confront sexual assault. That is the best way SU can stand in solidarity with assault victims and work toward a future defined by proactivity, not reactivity.

The Daily Orange Editorial Board serves as the voice of the organization and aims to contribute the perspectives of students to discussions that concern Syracuse University and the greater Syracuse community. The editorial board’s stances are determined by a majority of its members. You can read more about the editorial board here. Are you interested in pitching a topic for the editorial board to discuss? Email opinion@dailyorange.com.

Published on April 9, 2018 at 11:37 pm