"Part of the idea behind the vigil was to provide a supportive forum in which people could express their views," Kantor told The Amherst Student. "Unfortunately, I'm not sure if everyone would have felt comfortable getting up to speak at the all-campus meeting that we had in Johnson Chapel [on Oct. 1]." Kantor continued, "In order to facilitate change, we need to come to a time where it will not be considered bad for one man to say to another, 'You're too drunk to go home with that woman.'"
The vigil and the campus-wide meeting were just two of a variety of responses to rumors of incidents of date rape at the College. After a TAP protest in Seelye House, Alec Myers '92 and Bengt Johnson '91 established Men Against Rape Combating Harassment (MARCH) in order to educate and enlighten men about issues of sexual violence. The Student reported that over 75 men were present MARCH's first official meeting.
"It seems that women are not sure if they can trust men at all anymore," said Myers. "Part of the reason for starting this group was to let these women know that we support them and are not against them." One of the organization's first proposed projects was an escort service, to be created in collaboration with the Women's Center.
According to a related rumor, an issue of The Student containing articles about sexual harassment had been hidden from public view in the Admissions Office. Dean of Admissions Jane E. Reynolds, however, denied these allegations.
"How an institution handles incidents like this is certainly indicative of the type of place that it is," she added. "It is admirable that Amherst students are able to discuss ways of solving the problems of harassment."