Newsletter

CIF Support Rally

By Duru Tas

November 2, 2026

In light of the Jane Doe v. Cornell case, the Center for Intersectional Feminism (CIF) and the Sexual Misconduct and Assault Reform Team (SMART) organized a Survivor Support Rally on the steps of Burke Library on October 12. The rally aimed to bring together Hamilton community to stand in solidarity with survivors of sexual violence, reflect on the ongoing impact of rape culture, and emphasize the importance of creating a safer campus community.

During the rally, students from CIF’s E-board and Hamilton faculty delivered speeches addressing the importance of supporting survivors and acknowledging the deficiencies both Hamilton and other colleges have in terms of supporting the victims of sexual assault. Following the speeches, the floor was opened to other students who wanted to share their experiences and perspectives, with various students giving important insights on the universality of the issue at hand and the spread of rape culture alongside touching upon the reality of the presence of persistent groups who deny the weight of the problem. The rally highlighted the importance of creating a community where survivors are heard, believed, and supported not only in the light of events that have media attention but any and all times. 

As the newsletter authors, we would like to thank the co-presidents of CIF, Iris Miller-Bottoms and Hailey Lanari, and everyone who attended the rally to show their support. Events like this remind us of the importance of standing together, and we hope that this event will help more people to feel comfortable speaking up. 

For further information, you can access Hamilton’s sexual and relationship violence support resources here. You may report harassment or discrimination based on sex or any other protected class here or directly to the Title IX/Title VI Coordinator, Debbie Owens, from titleix@hamilton.edu, dowens@hamilton.edu, or 315-859-4896.