New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

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Off-Third: NYU Debuts New Resource to Protect Sexual Predators

After facing a slew of controversies, the university wants those found guilty of sexual misconduct to know that they have a home at NYU.
%28Illustration+by+Abby+Hofstetter%29
Abby Hofstetter
(Illustration by Abby Hofstetter)

President Andrew Hamilton revealed Sunday afternoon that the university will be rolling out a new resource to provide protection for members of the NYU community who are perpetrators of sexual misconduct. Hamilton accidentally let this slip during a lunch meeting with the university’s Board of Trustees at Downstein.

A university spokesperson confirmed that the Center for the Observation of a Neoliberal Society’s Expectations and Narcissistic Tendencies (C.O.N.S.E.N.T.) will cater specifically to members of the NYU community who have been found guilty by Title IX investigations, have failed their annual sexual misconduct training courses or have been canceled.

“No member of the NYU community should have to go through life without C.O.N.S.E.N.T.,” the spokesperson said. “It’s important to us, as a university, to protect the most vulnerable on campus, and that means reaching out to members of our community who have been ostracised. It’s hard to be found guilty of sexual harassment, and we want to let you know that we’re here to help.” 

The resource, which will be an official branch of the Student Health Center, will provide security detail, weekly counseling, financial aid and tenure for faculty. When asked if C.O.N.S.E.N.T.’s development was related to Michael Steinhardt’s recent donation to the SHC, the spokesperson declined to comment.

Students have begun protesting against the resource, noting the contrast between the care given to perpetrators of sexual misconduct and the lack of accessible mental health resources found on campus. Hamilton addressed this in an email to the student body on Monday afternoon, saying that the university has a responsibility to treat all its members with respect.

“Universities have always brought illumination to dark places, and perhaps we can light the way here for others,” Hamilton said. “That does not mean we shall not encounter challenging and even offensive ideas on our own campus. It seems the fate of institutions that value the free exchange of ideas highly is to sometimes be tested with extreme examples.”

Steinhardt junior Mike MacMillan, who was canceled by his classmates after being found guilty of sexual harassment by Title IX last October, plans on making use of C.O.N.S.E.N.T.

“People just act before they think; they don’t realize that their actions have consequences,” he told WSN. “Just because I sexually harassed a few people doesn’t mean I don’t deserve love. Thoughtless actions like canceling someone can ruin a life. They’ve ruined mine.”

An info session on the new resource, titled “You’d Be Prettier if You Smiled — Learn About C.O.N.S.E.N.T.!” will be held at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts on Sept. 25. There will be free T-shirts.

Off-Third is WSN’s satire section. Try not to take us too seriously.

This article is satirical, and all quotes and events are entirely fabricated unless stated otherwise.

Email Abby Hofstetter at [email protected].

About the Contributor
Abby Hofstetter, Managing Editor
Abby is a CAS junior studying History, Creative Writing and probably something else. She's from Long Island, but please don't bring that up. If you need her, you can find her discussing the third season of Glee or why olives should be banned from consumption. Contact her for a terrible time.
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