Sydney Erhardt, a sophomore majoring in international affairs, is a Hatchet opinions writer.
Updated: Oct. 27, 2016 at 12:23 p.m.
In a 2005 hot-mic recording, Republican U.S. presidential nominee Donald Trump talked about women in vulgar terms to Billy Bush, the host of “Access Hollywood.” In the three-minute video, which was obtained by The Washington Post and released Oct. 7, Trump bragged that he can “grab [women] by the pussy.” And added that “when you’re a star…you can do anything.”
Trump’s lewd comments prompted a tweet from Peter Konwerski, the dean of student affairs, reaching out to sexual assault survivors who may have been triggered by the video.
“GWU sexual assault survivors retraumatized by #Trump comments can connect with @GWHealthCenter 24×7 or @GWHaven,” Konwerski tweeted.
Of Konwerski’s 49,000 tweets, it is highly unusual to see one not related to GW, much less one that is about politics or a national election. Given the gravity of the situation, though, it’s a positive step for Konwerski to acknowledge the importance of this national scandal’s effect on students. So far, GW has not released an official University statement on the video. But Trump’s remarks are a campus-wide issue because the video could have easily re-traumatized sexual assault survivors and women, in general, at GW. Konwerski was right to remind students about services for sexual assault survivors.
In his tweet, Konwerski directed students to Haven, which offers students resources to respond to sexual harassment, sexual assault, stalking and dating or domestic violence. Staff members are equipped to guide survivors to medical care, help with University and legal counsel and reporting options. With this tweet, students were reminded of a particularly helpful resource available to them.
And if students were traumatized by Trump’s video, they weren’t alone: The Rape Crisis Center hotline typically receives between 75 and 100 calls a week but had a 20 percent increase in calls after the tape was released. Also, a national response center, the Rape Abuse Incest National Network, noticed a steep spike in demand for its live chat helpline, with calls jumping 35 percent the weekend following the tape’s release. Konwerski’s tweet was recognition that students were not immune from an increase in trauma.
At the end of the day, Billy Bush has been fired from NBC, but Trump is still running for president. With less than two weeks until election day, we can only hope that Konwerski doesn’t have to tweet about another Trump-induced traumatization. But if yet another remark is made, it’s a small comfort to know that administrators will help students find the resources they need.
Want to respond to this piece? Submit a letter to the editor.
