I know the old adage; it was on posters in my childhood classrooms. “What’s right isn’t always popular. What’s popular isn’t always right.” I seem to be following that as an unspoken motto for my life.

There is no situation that doesn’t pertain to that quote. Every time that I speak up, there has been someone, even if they only exist in the back of my head as a caricature of someone I expect to meet in real life, who stands there, telling me that what I’m doing is wrong.

I continue to do what I deem the right things. I regret nothing. I’ve been tormented by my classmates for my decisions and actions, but there is always a shining moment that makes me realize that I did the right thing.

I posted on another feminist forum about the situation detailed in lesson six. I asked them what kind of disciplinary action I should be asking for in my letter; and asked if anyone else had any sort of experience with situations like these. Is what the professor said, if found to be true, a firable offense? Or something to damage the track of tenure?

I was expecting to be met with the sentiment “there’s nothing you can do about it.” I was fully prepared for that. What I wasn’t prepared for was every single comment on my thread to be just that. Essentially, had I asked if I should give up, everyone thus far will agree with me.

Their comments are valid. They bring up many of my same concerns: that the statement was falsified or exaggerated. They bring up a better situation: finding someone who was in the class and urging them to report it. However, in the latter situation, it would be much more difficult to find someone in the class than to just go to the Office of Equity myself and show them the evidence I have.

Someone said that it was “not okay” for me to be bringing in the young man who posted the comment on facebook. I can understand that, in a sense. He is merely the bridge between the statement and the professor; however, he has made himself that bridge by posting the statement online. I don’t expect him to get in trouble for posting the comment, and I really hope he doesn’t. All I ask of him in the letter is that he is made to understand why the statement is wrong, which would go hand-in-hand with why the Office of Equity would be investigating.

Ultimately, I don’t care if it’s “not okay” for me to be using him this way. I’ve been in situations like these and the police don’t care if you’re an innocent by-stander; they will question you. They have to. It’s their job. This guy witnessed a comment that was wrong, and because of the vantage point of the situation, he will be questioned. Plain and simple.

Had I posted something that got one of my professors in trouble… Yeah, I’d be pretty upset. But it doesn’t matter how I feel about the statement, because in the end, it wouldn’t be my fault that he got in trouble. It shouldn’t be, at least, because others in the class are just as likely to talk about the statement outside of class.

Everyone is saying that it’s just “hearsay” and thus the university won’t take me seriously. Part of me knows how much my university relies on its image, and at the very least, this comment will be seen as bad press. (In fact, I may write that up in my report.)

I am not on a proverbial witch-hunt. I was trying to enjoy my damn facebook time and was smacked in the face with this statement. The very idea of a professor saying that and getting away with it makes my stomach churn. It affected me, thus I have a right to say something about it, even if it is hearsay. I can’t prove that it’s not, but I can inform the Office of Equity and they can do that for me.

If the university doesn’t take me seriously, I will probably let the situation go, unless something comes up that outrages me more. Just because it’s hearsay and there’s a chance I will be blown of does not mean that I shouldn’t speak up. Think of how many people have spoken up only to be ignored, or murdered, and then they and others continue speaking up, knowing what the consequences are.

I won’t give up that easily.

It disheartens me that a bunch of educated feminists who I respect all disagree with what I’m doing. That they all think I probably shouldn’t say something, because the university won’t take me seriously. If they don’t think I should do it and it’s not “important” enough to make a record on, what will my university think? Will they take me any less or more serious?

I cannot control how the situation will unfold. That is one thing that I am always reminded of by someone, to the point where the end isn’t even what matters to me. I will continue to have nightmares and stomachaches about this until I inform the Office of Equity, and from there on, will come physical release. I will be able to sleep well knowing I did the right thing, although I might continue to be outraged at the way they will handle the situation.

I am disheartened by all of this.