Hundreds of USC students participated in walkout

Hundreds of USC students participated in a walkout Monday in response to a controversial email that circulated through the Kappa Sigma Fraternity.

The USC Women’s Student Assembly and the USC Coalition for a Safer Campus and Community, among others, organized the “USC Walkout for a Safer Campus,” which is protesting the sexist and racist email sent through the fraternity last month.

More than a hundred students gathered in front of Tommy Trojan and more than 250 students have signed a petition to “eradicate sexual violence and sexism on campus.”

“This walkout is to bring together people and open up a dialogue—also to protest sexual violence, to say ‘We don’t stand for misogyny, hate speech,’” Alicia Lu, a protest organizer, said.

The e-mail referred to women as “targets,” and talks about women from different ethnic groups in a sexual context.

“I was personally hurt by this email. I am not the only one.  We know these words are not just the words.  Behind these words are perceptions, attitudes, culture that reinforce and bigotry and harassment,” Lu said.

USC professors also attended the demonstration and an open mic session Monday afternoon.

“I walked out of my own class,” Anthony Kammas, a USC professor said. “A lot of my students came with me.”

Some students, however, said the protest was unnecessary and disruptive.

“If it is a response to the scandal, I think the school has already responded in a respective manner,” USC student Hilary Bellis said.

Erin Wolfe, another USC student, said the students should continue to go to class and “not make a bigger deal out of it than it already is.”

The Vice President of Student Affairs, Michael Jackson, said the school will continue to be tough on sexual violence and harassment.

“Anything that belittles men and women in our community--we will make every effort to get rid of it, attack it, and hold people responsible,” Jackson said.