BOSTON — Campus climate surveys, which supporters say can help schools identify the best practices for curbing sexual assault on campus, but which have been widely criticized by both conservative and feminist groups, could soon be coming to Massachusetts.
Last spring, state Sen. William Brownsberger (D-Belmont) authored a bill that calls for the creation of a task force assigned to develop campus surveys. The task force, consisting of rape crisis center representatives, government officials and college and university staffers, would then analyze survey results before "convening to determine future steps."
Graduation season is upon us, and thus starts the annual ritual of the middle-aged and elderly offering advice to the young. "Go forth and change the world!" "You can do anything!" "You have freedoms and resources that previous generations only dreamed of, take advantage of them!" These sentiments are unobjectionable, if trite. But is it all they need to hear?
American culture celebrates successful individuals who pursue their dreams, and develop their talents, at all costs. We celebrate Steve Jobs transforming personal computing from an idea to a product and changing the world while accumulating incomprehensible wealth; Oprah Winfrey developing a multi-media empire; or athletic stars, like Michael Jordan, whose passion for the game is so strong it appears nothing can overcome it.
