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I'm gonna tweet some things about Alex Morse but it's gonna be a little bit nuanced! This thread is not gonna be easily categorized into one of the two main kinds of takes on this topic! If I'm really lucky EVERYONE is going to hate it! https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/08/10/alex-morse-holyoke-mayor-college-democrats/
Quick primer:
Morse is a gay Democratic mayor and former university instructor who had sexual relationships with local college students. He's running for Congress and now faces pressure to drop out.
Morse is a gay Democratic mayor and former university instructor who had sexual relationships with local college students. He's running for Congress and now faces pressure to drop out.
This is the kind of story that tends to push in one of two bad directions: (a) it was consensual! Any worries constitute victorian sex-negativity and/or homophobia! (b) power asymmetries are NEVER acceptable in sexual relationships! they're sexual predation on helpless youths!
Assuming the relationships in question were indeed consensual — and I've seen no allegations otherwise — their consent means he didn't rape those students. Which is... good but obviously a super low bar. Nothing close to establishing that everything was fine.
It is possible to be skeevy and bad, in a way that makes groups reasonable in not wanting to invite you to their events any more, without engaging in any nonconsensual sexual behaviour.
Specifics of Morse's alleged behaviour haven't been given, but if I assume reasonability on behalf of
the College Democrats of Massachusetts, it seems likely that Morse was behaving inappropriately, even if not sexually assaulting anyone. https://dailycollegian.com/2020/08/college-democrats-allege-inappropriate-misconduct-between-holyoke-mayor-alex-morse-and-college-students/
the College Democrats of Massachusetts, it seems likely that Morse was behaving inappropriately, even if not sexually assaulting anyone. https://dailycollegian.com/2020/08/college-democrats-allege-inappropriate-misconduct-between-holyoke-mayor-alex-morse-and-college-students/
This is based largely on inference from their choosing to to publicly complain about his behaviour. People rarely complain about these things only when they are fairly serious.
I DON'T think the abstract descriptions of behaviour are themselves enough to make wrongdoing clear.
I DON'T think the abstract descriptions of behaviour are themselves enough to make wrongdoing clear.
In other words, I read their letter alleging misconduct, and I think it's probably true because I am deferring to their testimony of their experience — not because I think the specifics sited amount to a proof of wrongdoing.
This is the part of the thread I think more of my followers might be in disagreement with me about.
I don't think matching with students on dating apps and/or having sex with them is necessarily skeevy or bad.
I don't think matching with students on dating apps and/or having sex with them is necessarily skeevy or bad.
(If it's a student that he was teaching, that's a different story, but I've seen no allegations to that effect. The stories are about unnamed students, including students at his university.)
Some people will say, a 30-year-old mayor/professor will always have an unbalanced power dynamic over a 20-year-old student!
And that is true, and morally relevant, but not an overriding consideration that must prohibit meaningful consent or a good relationship.
And that is true, and morally relevant, but not an overriding consideration that must prohibit meaningful consent or a good relationship.
Human power dynamics are very complicated, along many dimensions, and it's just... not true that sex can only be good or awesome or morally permissible if it is between partners who are equal in every respect.
Again, I don't say this in defence of Morse. I don't know enough to think this is likely in all of his cases. Indeed, I think it's unlikely. Lots of behaviour that looks like this WILL be quite bad.
But I want us to think clearly about what is bad about it and why.
But I want us to think clearly about what is bad about it and why.
There clearly was a pattern that made a lot of people feel uncomfortable and exploited. That's a big part of the story here.
I worry about reactions to Morse that codify rigid and unrealistic sexual norms. They're not what we need.
I worry about reactions to Morse that codify rigid and unrealistic sexual norms. They're not what we need.
