The group Student Assembly for Gender Empowerment (SAGE) demanded the new rule at the Lyon Center. SAGE bills itself as a “programming assembly and intersectional feminist organization under the student government, committed to uplifting all voices oppressed by the patriarchy.”
The Post quotes Mengze Wu heralding the move to end “male-dominated” spaces, adding:
“My past experiences with being in enclosed spaces where it’s very male-dominated have never been super pleasant. There tends to be this problem where I don’t get to take up a lot of space unless I really assert myself. And even then, I face a lot of hindrance in feeling completely comfortable.”
Other students said that barring men would protect her from always feeling “judged” by them.
The measure is likely to draw criticism and possible action from the Trump Administration. However, it is also discriminatory on the basis of gender. Men are being banned because their very identity or presence is viewed as offensive or disruptive. Imagine if USC took such exclusionary policies toward any other racial or gender group.
This is not the first such measure in higher education. Years ago, liberal educators embraced segregation as a positive tool for creating “safe spaces” and diversity zones, including women-only hours at gyms at Harvard and McGill.
Putting aside possible legal challenges, such segregation only further balkanizes higher education and reinforces the contested concept of “safe spaces” to protect students from other groups or divergent ideas. The identity group agenda is difficult to oppose in universities. To do so, one risks being labeled insensitive or, even worse, a force of male domination.
In the meantime, what will happen to Hanz and Franz who are just trying help?
