STEUBENVILLE (OH)
Pop Feminist, Patheos (blog)
September 15, 2018
By Emily C. A. Snyder
Elizabeth Vermilyea, PhD is a nationally recognized Traumatic Stress Specialist. As an alumna of Franciscan University of Steubenville (FUS), and in light of the continuing and unfolding fall out from the Catholic priest scandals including universities knowingly harboring priest abusers, she offers her words of counsel in the following open letter.
The following was originally addressed to FUS, regarding their acknowledgement of allowing Fr. Samuel Tiesi, TOR, to continue to work and be housed on campus, despite knowing about credible allegations of his sexual misconduct towards young college women. Allegations which FUS President, Father Sean O. Sheridan, TOR, addressed in an alumni email sent on Sept. 10, 2018. It should be noted that in answer to their own failings, FUS has made a gesture towards instituting better Title IX safety measures. Whether these measures are sufficient, remains to be seen.
Below, Dr. Vermilyea offers her advice about how universities and institutions can better handle these cases, with an eye to walking with victims through their trauma, rather than subjecting them to further silencing and misinformation. Please read.
Hello,
I want to be clear about how the University is coming across with the very recent (and all too late) Title IX review and the even more recent disclosures about Sam Teisi. Sam was a known offender from as far back as the 80s. He was Michael Scanlan’s best friend, lionized on the campus, feted and adored, and Scanlan knew he was an offender, knew he was assaulting women. He did what the church has always done, He moved him.
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