The Hon. Aaron Persky Santa Clara County Superior Court Palo Alto Courthouse Dear Judge Persky: As members of the Stanford Class of 2018 and students who are working for campus sexual assault reform, we are writing to you about the profound impact that the sentencing of Brock Turner will have on the entire Stanford community. We are in agreement with our peers who have written separately to you. We do not believe that probation or a short sentence would be an appropriate consequence given the gravity of Turner’s actions. Upholding fairness and accountability in the legal system will set a precedent against future misconduct both on our campus and at other universities across the nation. We recognize that, for survivors, reporting an assault to law enforcement or campus authorities is one of the hardest steps of the process. Too often, survivors will cite the intensiveness of the adjudication process or investigation as the main reason of deterrence from reporting. However, another - and possibly more important concern by survivors - is that the consequence does not match the action when someone is found responsible or guilty. This inadequacy leads to distrust by survivors of both the university processes and the legal system. When survivors do not feel supported by the system that is meant to uphold justice, they choose not to report because they have lost trust in that process. If we are to maintain the level of trust in our systems, we need to ensure that a survivor's dignity is upheld by adequately sanctioning the perpetrator. A light sentence, such as probation or a few months in jail, would send the incorrect message that this was not a serious crime. This would undermine the trust in the legal system at large, diminish reporting, and possibly make the Stanford community a more dangerous place for all. Furthermore, as a part of the Stanford community, we have spoken to many women, survivors, and other students on campus about Mr. Turner’s offense. The case not only brought to light the seriousness and prevalence of sexual assault on Stanford’s campus, but also raised concerns about campus safety. Students now fear being placed in vulnerable situations or simply walking alone at night because they understand that anyone can become a victim of sexual violence, as evident by Mr. Turner’s actions. Additionally, coming from a campus with a diverse student body, we are aware that Mr. Turner comes from a privileged upbringing as a Stanford athlete. Mr. Turner has had the fortune of growing up in an affluent, loving family, but this should not preclude him from facing the consequences for his horrific crimes. Mr. Turner, despite being blessed with many sources of support from his coaches, teachers, and family, still knowingly took advantage of another human being in a completely defenseless situation. As a privileged member of an institute of higher education, he should have known better. As a student of the class of 2018, Mr. Turner also received extensive education and training on sexual violence. Prior to arriving on campus, all incoming freshmen were required to complete an online training program on consent, alcohol usage, and sexual abuse. During New Student Orientation in September, Mr. Turner, along with the rest of the freshman class, was required to listen to hours of speeches on the importance of acquiring consent and not engaging in sexual activities when alcohol is involved or the other person is unconscious and unable to give consent. The multitude of training shows that Mr. Turner was surely aware of the gravity of his wrongdoings, and yet he still chose to commit a horrendous crime. With all of this said, we believe that Brock Turner’s actions warrant incarceration of at least 2 years as stated in the statutes he was charged and convicted under. As California Penal Code Section 220(a)(1) states that the assault with intent to commit rape “shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for two, four, or six years.” In line with our fellow students, we see no reason to provide a sentence less than what the law provides, and we encourage you to follow these guidelines. He does not deserve an exception and we hope you will not make one for him. Members of the Stanford community are expected to uphold high moral and ethical standards under a Stanford policy that is known as the Fundamental Standard. We are expected to show, both within and without the university, a respect for order, morality, personal honor and the rights of others as is demanded of good citizens. Mr. Turner knew this, as well as the implications of committing a crime of sexual violence. He violated both University rules and state law and as such should be held accountable for his actions. The Stanford Community would expect nothing less. In conclusion, if we are to promote standards of accountability and safety for all students at Stanford and beyond, we believe Mr. Turner should be held accountable for his crimes and receive no less than the statutory minimum sentence of 2 years. His actions have resulted in serious consequences affecting the entirety of Stanford’s campus. Standing in support of survivors, students’ well being, and the innocent woman victimized by Mr. Turner’s actions, we ask that you affirm the dignity of survivors and reinstate a climate of trust and safety by providing an adequate punishment that meets the severity of Mr. Turner’s actions. We must ensure that violent crimes will not be tolerated. Sincerely, Stephanie Pham ‘18 and Matthew Baiza ‘18 Founders of the Stanford Association of Students for Sexual Assault Prevention (ASAP) Signatories (Total signatures: 255) Brandon Hill James Landay Benjamin Taylor Maia Miller Jordan Parker Jimmy Zhang Ian Macato Jenny Hong Bailey Schultz Vickie Wang Aaron Aquino Andy Miguel Samantha Wassmer Shanta Katipamula Haley Shaw Brian Chu Shu Chen Ong Jess Spicer Stanford Undergraduate Vice President, Class of 2016 Professor, Computer Science Class of 2018 Class of 2017 Class of 2018 Class of 2018 Class of 2019 Class of 2015 Class of 2018 Class of 2019 Class of 2018 Class of 2016 Class of 2018 Class of 2019 Class of 2016 Class of 2018 Class of 2017 Class of 2017 Samantha Kargilis Kenny Leung Jacob Kaplan-Lipkin Alexander Richard Marin Callaway Shiree Lee Quint Underwood Sophie Beshar Alicia D'Souza Julia Rosedale Justin Kochis Nchedo Ezeokoli Natasha Batista Loza Kebret Taylor Chavez Japsimran Kaur Heather Connelly Gabriela Lomeli Victoria Peterson Kendall Jones Tiffany Kuo Lola Tijani Julia Sakowitz Emily Schwartz-Vartikar Cheyenne Poston Julio Chávez Alexis Kallen Patricia Flores Rebecca Bromley-Dulfano Abisola Kusimo Camille Van Neste Alicia Pérez Tina Ju Lachlan Green Mauricio Sanchez Emma Poplack Lillian Gill Alexandria Smith Lauren Schlansky Class of 2019 Class of 2016 Class of 2019 Class of 2016 Class of 2018 Class of 2018 Class of 2018 Class of 2019 Class of 2019 Class of 2018 Class of 2018 Class of 2015 Class of 2018 Class of 2018 Class of 2018 Class of 2018 Class of 2018 Class of 2018 Class of 2018 Class of 2018 Class of 2018 Class of 2017 Class of 2019 Class of 2019 Class of 2018 Class of 2018 Class of 2018 Class of 2018 Class of 2018 Masters of Science, Class of 2017 Class of 2015 Class of 2018 Class of 2018 Class of 2017 Class of 2017 Class of 2018 Class of 2017 Class of 2018 Class of 2018 Kendall Weierich Madeleine Rowell Niles Wilson Stephanie Flamen Amanda Hayes Elizabeth Davis Stephanie Hsiang Deborah Farrington Padilla, Ed.D. Edward Salonga Payton Broaddus Emma Fiander Jose Serrano Taylor Sihavong Rocio Hernandez Abby Dow Ines Gerard-Ursin Julia Howell Alex Sowell Ethan Barnett Emily Lauber Nicole Acevedo Jillian Murray Erin Rugland Brooke Berrens Collin Christner Amanda Lorei Kirsten Willer Jesse Burkett Lucy Randall Jason Platt Jennifer Ehrlich Holly Ramella Sarah Houamed Monica Sobrin Emma Sanderson Evan Spitler Kelsey arias Alka Nath Ada Statler-Throckmorton Class of 2016 Class of 2018 Class of 2017 Class of 2018 Class of 2019 Class of 2017 Class of 2016 Class of 1981 & 1999 Class of 2016 Class of 2016 Class of 2018 Class of 2018 Class of 2018 Class of 2018 Class of 2016 Class of 2017 Class of 2017 Class of 2018 Class of 2017 Class of 2016 Class of 2016 Class of 2016 Class of 2018 Class of 2016 Class of 2017 Class of 2016 Class of 2017 Class of 2018 Class of 2015 Class of 2016 Class of 2016 Class of 2017 Class of 2017 Class of 2017 Class of 2018 Class of 2016 Class of 2016 Class of 2016 Class of 2018 Sumaya Quillian Madison Hayes-Lattin Sao Bac Julia Busby Zoe Savellos Marisa Messina Sophie Keller Lauren Gibson Jacob Wolf Amy Cross Erica Knox Caroline Ho Shane Johnson Vanuyen Pham Clare Flanagan Claire Abraham Claire Jacobson Katherine Uhlman Lise MacPhee Albert Gehami Jake Glassman Hadley Reid Na He Jeon Bianca R. Draud Shaelene Holstrom Sharon Tseng Adam Ellner Ede Alem Paloma Hernandez Emily Warren Jamieson O'Marr Hannah Brown Jacqueline Lin Stephen Goodspeed Ellen Rudolph Daela Tipton Hannah Hoang Sarah Brickman Sri Muppidi Class of 2016 Class of 2019 Class of 2018 Class of 2019 Class of 2018 Class of 2016 Class of 2019 Class of 2017 Class of 2019 Class of 2017 Class of 2016 Class of 2019 Class of 2016 Class of 2018 Class of 2018 Class of 2018 Class of 2016 Class of 2018 Class of 2019 Class of 2017 Class of 2017 Class of 2016 Class of 2018 Class of 2017 Class of 2018 Class of 2017 Class of 2018 Class of 2018 Class of 2018 Class of 2017 Class of 2018 Class of 2016 Class of 2017 Class of 2016 Class of 2016 Class of 2019 Class of 2018 Class of 2017 Class of 2017 Matthew Millett Katherine Liu Chris Sackes Alyssa Cash Jonah Bolotin Anne Olsen Catherine Xie Erik Raucher Jenny Han Nora Tan Shankara Anand Georgia Savage McKenzie Lynch Brianna Wright Phuong Nguyen Ali Zilversmit Debra Pacio Carolyn Zhang Erica Fearon Claudia McKenzie Kester Wade Chandler Mores Naomi Lattanzi Julia Maggioncalda Christie Dawson Maya Kuppermann Maya Burke Anna Cole Christina Tran Tashrima Hossain Monica Vergara Jasmine Johnson Sophia Sterling-Angus Matthew Daniel Vicki Tang Arianna Tapia Rebecca Stepp Emily Xie Jacob Nierenberg Class of 2016 Class of 2018 Class of 2016 Class of 2016 Class of 2018 Class of 2017 Class of 2019 Class of 2018 Class of 2019 Class of 2017 Class of 2017 Class of 2017 Class of 2018 Class of 2017 Class of 2017 Class of 2018 Class of 2015 Class of 2016 Class of 2018 Class of 2018 Class of 2018 Class of 2018 Class of 2016 Class of 2017 Class of 2018 Class of 2018 Class of 2018 Class of 2019 Class of 2017 Class of 2019 Class of 2016 Class of 2017 Class of 2019 Class of 2018 Class of 2017 Class of 2019 Class of 2018 Class of 2017 Class of 2017 Jennifer Perry Adam Landeros Alfred Xue Diego Hernandez Laila Al-Shamma Andrea Ward Julien Brinson Tiffany Alunan Katie Joseff Paige Saucyn Carter Burr-Kirven Allison DeCastro Kimmy Phan John Ribeiro-Broomhead Julia Daniel Raul Cabrera Malcolm Lizzappi Sam Lee Christine Nguyen Rachel Liaw Julia Espero Kevin Coelho Carmelle Millar Chung-Pei Shu Julia Duncan Max Vilgalys Christine Kazanchian David Xue Sarika Reddy Nadia Wan Rosli Aliyah Chavez Alex Clay Erin McMullen Fabiana Diaz Carley Towne Emily Strickler Jamie Zhang Chloe Allred Jessica Davidson Class of 2019 University of California, Los Angeles Class of 2018 Class of 2017 Class of 2017 Class of 2018 Class of 2017 Class of 2017 Class of 2017 Class of 2017 Class of 2017 Class of 2018 Class of 2016 Class of 2018 Class of 2017 Class of 2017 Class of 2017 Class of 2017 Class of 2019 Class of 2017 Class of 2011 Class of 2018 Class of 2017 Class of 2019 Class of 2017 Class of 2018 Class of 2017 Class of 2018 Class of 2017 Class of 2017 Class of 2017 Class of 2018 Class of 2016 Class of 2016 Class of 2016 Class of 2016 Class of 2016 Class of 2018 Class of 2015 Student body VP, University of Denver, Class of 2016 John Pham Susie Pham Davis Chhoa Katie Nesser Emily Dial Sarah Cobarruvias Amy Lin Vicky Le Stephanie Feldman Matthew Kim Dan Yu Andrea Flores Erica Roberts Connie Li Jeremy Moffett Anna Wang Katherine Reinders Ellen Woods John-Michael D’Andrea Alejandra MacDougall Spencer Savitz Alexandra Cava Anusha Praturu Lauren Galvin Sarah Monroe Dylan Kennedy Spencer Slovic Laura Giscard Boulou Ari Mostov Christina Gibbs Jae-Young Son Valerie Gamao Michael Fang Shawna Sherman Jose Hernandez Laetitia Walendom Elizabeth Anderson Vivan Ho Parent of Class of 2018 Parent of Class of 2018 Class of 2018 Class of 2018 Class of 2017 Class of 2017 Class of 2018 Class of 2019 Class of 2014 Class of 2018 Class of 2018 Class of 2018 Class of 2018 Class of 2018 Class of 2016 Class of 2017 Class of 2018 Class of 2018 Columbia University, Class of 2018 Class of 2018 Class of 2017 Class of 2016 Class of 2016 Class of 2011 Class of 2016 Class of 2019 Class of 2018 Class of 2016 Class of 2016 Class of 2015 Class of 2018 Class of 2016 Class of 2017 Class of 2016 Class of 1996 Class of 2017 Class of 2015, 2016 Class of 2016 Class of 2017