Opinion: Put Your Pitchforks Down, You’re Angry at the Wrong People

Editor’s Note: This an opinion piece written by a guest writer, Tommy Scharnitz. 

You hate us, and base your opinion on every one of us off of 5 people.
You called for the statue, it was removed. You called for the death
penalty, but instead received murder. You have spent 8 months dragging
our name through the mud, so desperately needing blood to be spilled
and our entire university to be burned at the stake. You could care
less about responsibility and punishing those who deserve it. You
reiterate every single time that this is about the victims, about
those who were truly at loss during these heinous crimes, yet what
have you done to actually help them?

WE responded. WE were 10,000 strong at Old Main that Thursday. WE
traded our white shirts for our blue ones against Nebraska. WE wore
ribbons for weeks, and cried because we wish we could have done more.
WE donated over $500,000 to RAINN, and continue to advocate prevention
and awareness. WE investigated ourselves in search of the truth, to
make improvements, and to ensure this never happens again in any
capacity. WE held the necessary people responsible, even when it hurt
to do so.

So what now? Will you make good on your promise of caring for the
victims, spreading awareness, and seeking prevention? Will you donate
to RAINN or SCAN; have you done so already? Will you actually step up
and prove that you do care? Or will you readjust your grip on your
pitchforks, and head to the next town that so desperately does not
need an angry mob…