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Stanford University student Scott Arkin, a 2014 Beachwood High graduate, and his 'No More' sign.
(Photo courtesy of Scott Arkin)
BEACHWOOD, Ohio -- A recent Beachwood High School graduate didn't take as mere after-dinner chit-chat a discussion he had with his aunt during her recent visit to a family function.
Scott Arkin took to heart what he heard from his aunt, Helene Paris, visiting earlier this year from Chicago. Arkin went into action in attempting to prevent future episodes of on-campus sexual assault.
Arkin, 19, is a sophomore at Stanford University in California. Paris, formerly from the Beachwood area, now is a board member for an advocacy group helping victims of sexual assault in her current home town. Paris suggested Arkin, a 2014 Beachwood High graduate, watch the documentary "The Hunting Ground," which he did.
Meanwhile, back on campus, a fellow member of Stanford's Class of 2018, Madeleine Lippey, philanthropy chair for the sorority Kappa Kappa Gamma, started a campaign on campus called No More to call awareness to the issue of sexual assault and to try and prevent further instances of such behavior.
Lippey, in summer, 2014, had interned for the non-profit organization Joyful Heart Foundation. The organization had placed ads during last February's Super Bowl that had NFL players holding up signs that read "No More," followed by an act or aspect of culture that had to be curtailed in order to stop sexual assault.
On the Stanford campus, Kappa Kappa Gamma sisters recently spent time standing on the campus's White Plaza, furthering the campaign by taking photos of students holding signs featuring their own "No More" statements.
On campuses, much of the attention regarding sexual assault is focused on fraternities. Lippey told the Stanford Daily that fraternities were the groups she most deeply wanted to reach with her message.
The fraternity she most wanted to reach was the Greek community SAE, which had come to stand for, in the minds of those fighting against the problem, "Sexual Assault Expected."
SAE, which has houses on campuses across the country, did stand up at Stanford, and took part in the campaign. The fraternity wrote out a sign that read, "No More Sexual Assault Expected."
Arkin does not belong to SAE, but rather Sigma Nu. Arkin was aware that, in August, Sigma Nu's house at Old Dominion University had been in the news for hanging banners that were offensive to freshmen women.
Taking action to help at Stanford, Arkin organized a showing for his fraternity members, about 50 who live in the Sigma Nu house, of "The Hunting Ground."
He also arranged for a speaker from Stanford's Vaden Health Center, to speak to his brothers.
"They thanked me," Arkin said of those brothers and their appreciation for his efforts. "Most people in the house have similar views on this, so they were happy we did it."
Arkin said he and his brothers did even more at Stanford, where all fraternities are required to hold a party open to the entire campus.
"My roommate and I got real estate-type signs and put them up in the front yard when we had our party," he said. "We had things on those signs like the definition of consent, and 'Consent is mandatory here.'"
Arkin said he joined Sigma Nu for several reasons.
"I only rushed two fraternities," he said. "I didn't want the 'frat-bro' type of atmosphere where everyone is trying to be cool. I like the diversity of (Sigma Nu)."
When he arrived as a freshman, SAE was on probation for other matters and lost its campus house.
Arkin said that for the message to stop sexual assault to really take hold on campuses, it has to come from certain places.
"I think it has to come from within," he said. "Fraternities can be insular and so it's important that we hear the message from each other. Guys in fraternities have a tendency to do what the other members do."
Arkin said universities must be stern but fair in dealing with fraternities and its members. Not doing so, he said, could lead to brothers developing an attitude that the university is against them, an attitude that may not lead to positive change.
"Nationwide, it might be harder to make these changes at some colleges," he said. "Stanford is a place where I think they can be made."
Arkin, who has yet to decide on a major, had his efforts against sexual assault chronicled, along with Lippey's, in the Stanford Daily.
Of attending Stanford, he said, "I love it. The weather is nice and they have a good football team."
Speaking about his desire to help others, Arkin said it is part of his nature. His mother, Beachwood's Alison Arkin, agrees.
"Ever since he was very young, he was involved in community service," she said. "He'll take on a cause bigger than himself. That's what he does.
"My husband (Michael Arkin) and I raised him like that. (Serving the community) has always been a family value."
Arkin has established a fundraising site to benefit the Joyful Heart Foundation and its fight against sexual assault. To contribute, visit crowdrise.com/stanfordstandsagains/fundraiser/scottarkin.