Sexual Assault Protest Signs Cause Stir At U Of M

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Sternly worded protest signs are a prominent feature at one house along the University of Minnesota's fraternity row. It's the University of Minnesota's Students’ Cooperative. One of its signs reads "frat boys stop raping people." Another states "stop protecting perps + silencing survivors."

The signs, protesting sexual assault on campus, were first displayed at the co-op earlier this year. Not surprisingly, the controversial signs are now sparking a discussion among students and community members.

Tell Patch: What do you think of the signs? Are they fair or overgeneralizing?

Some have expressed enthusiasm for the signs, while others aren't so thrilled. "Everyone has the right to their own opinion," Freshman Connor Kraft recently told KSTP."

"There's a lot of controversy over it, but you've gotta make sure that you're not contradicting your own beliefs. You can't generalize. You can't just say all frat boys are rapists."

A member of the co-op, Nick Knighton, told KSTP that "We have frats all around us. We feel that they are not held accountable to the level that they should be. We don't want this community to feel at risk, or feel scared coming down this block, this should be a safe place for everyone."

Some fraternity and sorority members at the university have voiced concerns about the signs, the Minnesota Daily reported. But the university's Student Unions and Activities body found that the signs violated no university policy, which means that for now, they're here to stay.

Photo by William Bornhoft/Patch.com