Letter to the Editor

To Whom It May Concern:

I feel it is important—as someone directly involved, and as a student at Lang—to address the backlash from last issue’s article about the Feminist Resurrection. I had volunteered to be interviewed by the Free Press as someone who was not a part of the “Coming Resurrection,” and who would offer a somewhat unbiased opinion about the future of Feminism at Eugene Lang.

I did not attend the “Coming Resurrection”, but I was informed by students who did-all of whom said that same thing: They were impressed, intrigued and enlightened by the SAFER demonstration, and they were informed on the dated sexual harassment policy at the school and agreed it should be updated.  However, the future of Gender Studies and the “mainstreaming”   that was brought up in the Free Press article were universally unclear and misunderstood by everyone I spoke with who attended the meeting, including—it seems—the Free Press.

I was prepared for anger and protest from the women who organized the event—I wouldn’t have agreed to be interviewed if I wasn’t. However, what I wasn’t prepared for was to be chastised for voicing my opinions. Within 48 hours of the Free Press release, I found myself writing long responses to blog and Facebook threads about my interview to members of the “Coming Resurrection.” Some of these conversations were civil, some were not. My suggestions and request for more information regarding the future of feminism at the New School were brushed off or denied. I was treated with disrespect and condescension, and most importantly I was shut out of the circle of information only they could provide a student unclear of their intentions. So I let it go.

I think the article should have identified me as someone speaking outside of the “Coming Resurrection,” and state that I didn’t attend the event. I also think that the women in charge of the event should not have shot me down and shut me out when I approached them as an ally, not an enemy. However, I don’t regret anything I said during my interview with the Free Press. I’m not afraid to stand up for what I believe in, or defend my character when it is being attacked—and I expect no less from the women behind the “Coming Resurrection” or the reporters at the Free Press.

Yours,

Nico Cassanetti