Statement of Dr. Gretchen Legler, Department of Humanities, at University of Maine, Farmington.

A Button Proudly Worn by This Blogger: “In Your Guts You Know He’s Nuts”

“I signed this open letter to Senator Collins urging her not to support Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court because I want to support survivors of sexual assault and I want to send a message that we need things to change,” emailed Dr. Gretchen Legler, Department of Humanities, at the University of Maine, Farmington, earlier today.

Having taught creative writing and literature at the University of Maine, Farmington in Farmington, since 2000, I have had countless opportunities to learn about the suffering that young women have gone through and continue to go through as a result of sexual violence, its devastation, indelibly marks its victims for the rest of their lives.  The Kavanaugh hearings revealed that a culture of patriarchy and privilege is still intact and that protecting the reputation and career aspirations of Brett Kavanaugh seemed more important than finding the truth and that women who came forward with their accounts of sexual assault are still not believed, but are, instead, ridiculed.

Dr. Legler’s statement to Senator Collins continues:  I want Collins to vote no because I believed Dr. Christine Blasley Ford’s testimony because the job Kavanaugh was being interviewed for is one that requires an impartial person of the highest moral standing.  That does not describe the Brett Kavanaugh in the hearings.  His opening statement and answers to the Senators in the confirmation hearing, didn’t have an ounce of sympathy or respect.  All that came through was his anger and disrespect.

I also want to say that among my peers, friends and close family members the past weeks have been deeply disturbing for many reasons, partly because the hearings have ripped the scab off of old wounds, bringing back memories of past episodes of sexual assault and memories of not being taken seriously as victims.  Sexual violence is epidemic.  As a result of it, a huge segment of our society is suffering from simmering, on-going trauma.

We want Senator Collins to vote against Kavanaugh’s confirmation because we have to send a message that three (3) separate allegations against him is enough a least to question whether this is someone we want to elevate to one of the most powerful positions in this country,” concluded the statement to Senator Collins from Dr. Legler.

Please see posts herein dated October 2, 2018 and October 1, 2018 for more background information.  Referring to the letter sent from Maine academia mentioned previously, more than 900 have now signed the letter to Senator Collins opposed to the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh.