Historically, and a problem that is still relevant today, is sexual assault and rape on college campuses. Although the media has managed to control nearly every narrative of rape commonly known to those who keep up with the news, many victim’s stories go forgotten, unseen or even disregarded. The stigma surrounding rape that exists today curbs victims of rape or other forms of sexual violence and assault from coming forward publicly and legally with their rape. Although the environment on Tulane’s campus is warm and welcoming to most, there still lays risk of assault each and every day, not just for women but for men as well, due to the deeply rooted misogyny that exists within our society. This is not only pertinent to Tulane University, but to all campus universities across the country. Despite a university's insistence on providing a safe environment for its students, rape often remains under-reported or “brushed under the rug” due to the need for universities to hold onto their public image as well as the stigma surrounding rape victims. An interesting topic to explore would be the history regarding sexual assault on Tulane’s campus, from the perspective of female students who attended in the earliest years of the universities existence with the allowance of women. Through exploring the narrative of sexual assault and its history on Tulane’s campus from the perspective of primary resources created by previous students or New Orleans residents themselves, one can develop a more thorough understanding of why assaults often go underreported, and the agents involved in protecting the women on campus in the past. A one semester research project dedicated to a focus on the history of sexual assault/rape and the measures taken against such action by the university or other nearby residents could, considering the political climate of our time currently, produce profound insight into those taking action against such behavior and help construct a richer history of activism on Tulane’s campus.

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The importance of gathering and compiling all of this related archival documentation of social action taken against sexual violence towards women on campus lays in the idea that the more we discuss a taboo topic, the less taboo it becomes. Sexual assault has always been and still is taboo in our society. Seeing the efforts of various women, faculty and students with regards to sexual assault activism at Tulane University throughout history reveals the importance of standing up for what you believe in, and fighting tooth and nail for beneficial outcomes. This fight is definitely not over, but using our historical fuel has the potential to get us one step closer to fully obtaining equality and protection for women. 

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Thank you to everyone who helped make this project a success, especially Chloe Raub, Head of Archives and Special Collections at the Newcomb Archives. To check out the website for this archives and special collections library, click HERE.