Old Dominion Reacts to Offensive Banners

Old Dominion University President John Broderick was “outraged” at suggestive signs targeting women.

Old Dominion Signs

The three signs were hung from the second story porch of an off-campus home on West 43rd Street and were directed at female freshmen, and their mothers:

“Rowdy and fun. Hope your baby girl is ready for a good time…” one sign read. The next included an arrow to the front door and read, “Freshman daughter drop off.” Next to that was a sign which added, “Go ahead and drop mom off too…”

Students removed the signs shortly after University authorities contacted them.

Reaction

Several statements were issued by the University, one of which read, “Messages like the ones displayed yesterday by a few students on the balcony of their private residence are not and will not be tolerated. The moment University staff became aware of these banners, they worked to have them removed.”

ODU President John Broderick said he was outraged by the signs, which he said offended students, campus community, and alumni. He also said the signs were hurtful to one student with whom he spoke.

A young lady I talked to earlier today courageously described the true meaning of the hurt this caused. She thought seriously about going back home.

But she was heartened, she explained, when she saw how fellow students were reacting to this incident on social media. She realized this callous and senseless act did not reflect the Old Dominion she has come to love.

A third statement, released by the student government, referred to the signs as “unwelcoming, offensive, and unacceptable.”

Student government officials say that the signs are an indication that “there’s still work to be done” in the University’s ongoing efforts to prevent sexual assault.