How Neoliberal Response to Sexual Violence Fails: The Case of Michigan State University

Abstract

Sexual violence is a serious problem demanding attention in higher education. Neoliberalism, which is ubiquitous in higher education, may appear as an effective guiding philosophy for institutional leaders but falls short when it comes to preventing and responding to sexual violence. Using Michigan State University (MSU) as a case, we, graduates of MSU, argue that neoliberal responses to sexual violence, including processes of airbrushing and the protection of powerful people, led to institutional betrayal and thus exacerbated harm to victim-survivors and the community generally. We also present alternatives to the neoliberal response that emphasize collective action and education on sexual violence: a teach-in/learn-in and a grassroots effort called Reclaim MSU. The university’s self-contradicting speech and action and protection of certain faculty and administrators who committed, or protected those who committed, sexual violence illustrate some of the ways neoliberal responses fueled a sense of institutional betrayal.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.