On the Same Team: Locker Room Talk, Student Athletes, and a Call for a Restorative Justice Approach to Sexual Assault Education

Abstract

First, this article confronts the myth that college athletes are the primary perpetrators of campus sexual misconduct. In reality, the problem is more widespread than college athletics and relates more specifically to all-male campus subcultures. Next, the article describes the dangers of all-male campus subcultures and the challenges and realities of college aged students; recent problems in athletic departments are reviewed and described. Third, the article proposes utilizing male major-sport athletes as an integral part of efforts to transform campus culture. Despite enormous time commitments and intense scrutiny to perform athletically, student athletes have a key role to play in changing campus norms regarding sexual misconduct. Utilizing a Restorative Justice philosophy, universities must educate their student athletes and then utilize athletes’ considerable social capital to begin to influence other all-male campus group subcultures.

Keywords: Title IX, Coordinators, Athletes, Sexual Assault, Restorative Justice