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Blasey Ford Nominated For UNC’s Distinguished Alumna Award

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Mike Brest Reporter
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Dr. Christine Blasey Ford has been nominated for University of North Carolina’s distinguished alumna award after publicly coming forward with allegations of sexual misconduct against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

Jennifer Ho, a professor in the Department of English and Comparative Literature, nominated Ford.

CBS 17, the local affiliate, published the letter in its entirety on Tuesday.

The letter read in part, “What Dr. Blasey Ford did on September 27, 2018 was something that was extraordinary in how ordinary it was: she told the truth about a sexual assault she experienced when she was fifteen years old at the hands of Judge Brett Kavanaugh. She made a statement and then answered questions for over three hours in front of a Senate Judiciary Committee with the cameras of the world trained on her.”

Ho also preemptively dismissed potential claims that her nomination was based on partisan politics.

“It is about recognizing that the simple act of speaking one’s truth, especially when that truth involves sexual assault, is an act of bravery. We live in a society that does not believe women,” the letter continued. “The many indignities that women experience in their day-to-day lives is proof of this, as is the continued attacks on Dr. Blasey Ford after her testimony.”

“By awarding Dr. Christine Blasey Ford as a distinguished alumna, UNC Chapel Hill sends a message to her, to our students, faculty, and staff, and to the larger community of the US and the world that we believe her—that UNC Chapel Hill believes survivors of sexual assault,” it concluded.

Last month, Ford and Kavanaugh testified in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee about her allegations.

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