“I am Jane Doe”: Peace Action’s protest

Raising awareness for sexual assault survivors and advocating for increased resources for SUNY Geneseo’s Title IX office

Photo Courtesy of Willow Peer

Last week on Monday, Oct. 5, Peace Action hosted a peaceful protest from 4:30-5:30 p.m. to raise awareness for survivors of sexual assault, while simultaneously protesting for increased resources for SUNY Geneseo’s Title IX Office. The protest was held in front of Doty Hall and students were asked to line South Street in support. Despite the protest being last minute, over 150 students came out to support this cause and line the street. Many students arrived with homemade signs, with multiple adopting the slogan “I am Jane Doe.”

Peace Action is an organization at SUNY Geneseo and a chapter of Peace Action New York State. The co-presidents—Sarah Schoeneman and Kathleen Mahoney—organize the events and protests, oftentimes alongside their sister group, the Geneseo Valley Citizens for Peace (GVCP). Along with that, Peace Action Geneseo helps train people to become Peace Marshals, who act as mediators and peace-keepers during protests. Meetings are held weekly on Thursdays from 6-7 p.m. in Bailey 101. During the meeting on Thursday Oct. 1—the meeting before the protest—the organization came together to discuss the situation at hand, hear directly from students, and plan out Monday’s protest.

This protest in particular was held in response to the recent news following the alleged rape of “Jane Doe” at Cornell University in 2024; according to a report made by CNN, Jane Doe filed a lawsuit against the men—commonly referred to as the Cornell 7 or the Cornell 57—and the story swept news outlets. The protest also highlighted the flaws and loopholes in SUNY Geneseo’s Title IX office—which is currently subject to an “independent investigation” according to Livingston County News—and came together for the improvement of the office in its handling of sexual assault complaints. 

At 4:30 p.m., students gathered on the front lawn of Doty Hall to prepare for the protest. Soon-to-be inaugurated fourteenth president of SUNY Geneseo, Dr. Melinda Treadwell, talked to and personally thanked some of the protesters and Peace Action members prior to the formation on South Street. Students then took their positions on the side of South Street, holding their signs up for drivers to see as they passed by. Protesters proudly raised their signs high, despite the windy and cold weather, to raise awareness for the importance of listening to sexual assault victims. The large showing had many supportive responses from drivers, including honks, waves, nods, smiles, and thumbs ups. 

During the protest, the co-presidents of Peace Action walked around handing out pins that stated “I’m Jane Doe,” “End Rape Culture,” and other similar sayings, Additionally, resources straight from Geneseo’s Title IX office, like the New York State Sexual Assault Bill of Rights and information on consent, were handed out as well. 

This was a great showing for Peace Action. The organization is optimistic to continue their fight against sexual violence on SUNY Geneseo’s campus. There are other events in store regarding sexual violence and other important topics. For updates, you can check out Peace Action’s Instagram page, @peaceactiongeneseo. The atmosphere at the protest was definitely positive, with men and women alike coming together to support this important cause.