What the Cornell 7 Case Reveals About Consent and Bravery

If we want them to learn bravery, we have to be brave, too. 

If you are a mom and a survivor of sexual assault and feel ready to share your story, consider telling your sons, as well as your daughters. For generations, these conversations have focused on teaching girls what not to do. Our boys need to hear their mothers’ stories, too. 

Dads, you also have stories to share. Tell your sons about the time you laughed along at something you knew was wrong, or stayed quiet when a friend crossed a line. Tell them how it felt and what you wish you’d done differently. 

We can show them that bravery doesn’t always feel good and speaking up can be hard, but both feel better than regret.

Student journalists at The Cornell Daily Sun, including a senior named Cereese Qusba who spent 23 months on her investigation, showed us what this looks like. They kept asking hard questions of their own university, knowing that the right path was the hard path. I want our boys to grow up knowing that’s usually the case.