“Blurred Lines: Rethinking Sex, Power & Consent on Campus” Author Vanessa Grigoriadis speaks at Mitchell College

Award-winning journalist and author Vanessa Grigoriadis will discuss her new book Blurred Lines: Rethinking Sex, Power, and Consent on Campus as part of Mitchell College’s Speakers Series on Monday, September 25 at 7:00 p.m. in the Weller Center. Presented in cooperation with Bank Square Books in Mystic, CT, copies of the book will be available for purchase that evening.

A new sexual revolution is sweeping the country, and college students are on the front lines. Women use fresh, smart methods to fight entrenched sexism and sexual assault even as they celebrate their own sexuality as never before. Many “woke” male students are more sensitive to women’s concerns than previous generations ever were, while other men perpetuate the mostcruel misogyny. Amid such apparent contradictions, it’s no surprise that intense confusion shrouds the topic of sex on campus.

Vanessa Grigoriadis dispels that confusion as no other writer could by traveling to schools large and small, embedding in their social whirl, and talking candidly with dozens of students – among them, both accusers and accused-- as well as administrators, parents, and researchers. Her unprecedented investigation presents a host of new truths. She reveals which times and settings are most dangerous for women (for instance, beware the “red zone”); she demystifies the welter of conflicting statistics about the prevalence of campus rape; she makes a strong case that not all “sexual assault” is equivalent; and she offers convincing if controversial advice on how schools, students, and parents can make college a safer, richer experience. The sum of her fascinating, fly-on-the-wall reportage is a revelatory account of how long-standing rules of sex and power are being rewritten from scratch.

About the Author

VANESSA GRIGORIADIS is a contributing editor at the New York Times Magazine and Vanity Fair, specializing in pop culture, youth movements, and crime reporting. She is a National Magazine Award winner and has been featured on MSNBC, CNN, Dateline, and Investigation/Discovery shows.

About Mitchell College and the Speakers Series

A small liberal arts college, Mitchell developed its distinct educational approach over 80 years, blending a tradition of mentoring with an expertise in teaching diverse learning styles to create a highly individualized model that benefits all students. Mitchell is committed to the broader community through building strong, creative and cooperative partnerships. Located on a beautiful waterfront campus in historic New London, it is also home to championship NCAA Division III athletics and the Duquès Academic Success Center which includes the renowned Bentsen Learning Center.

The Mitchell College Speakers Series opens the doors of the college to the local New London and the Connecticut community, inviting them to engage with acclaimed speakers from all walks of life. Join us throughout the 2017-18 academic year as we discover and celebrate the lives of our guests, learn from them, and explore the world through their stories. For more information, call 860-701-5092 or email speakers@mitchell.edu.