Oracle Online

I sought out Molly Regan, a member of the WRC and the person in charge of the week’s events to discuss my concerns. Molly told me that she knew when she posted the flyers they would offend some people; however, she told me, she posted them for “shock value.” She stated those flyers specifically were
intended to break the secrecy that so many people with eating disorders have surrounding their illness.
She said that she wanted people with eating disorders to realize that “people do know” and that they don’t have to keep their illness a secret.

First of all, Molly and the members of the WRC that posted those flyers need to realize that it is not ethical to employ shock value at the cost of another’s dignity and feelings.

Individuals dealing with eating disorders are already forced to deal with a heavy burden of pain, sorrow and shame. How could Molly and the WRC think it would be helpful to add to this burden by suggesting that “people know” of their illness?

Secondly, although Molly is right about the secrecy surrounding eating disorders, the secrecy that needs to be broken is not necessarily with one’s friends at school. The secrecy surrounding eating disorders has to do with a secret one keeps from him- or herself about their problem.

What an individual suffering with an eating disorder needs is medical treatment and personal honesty.
Who they choose to tell about their problem is their choice. Anyone with this illness should be concerned with their own health and mental well-being, not with what their friends are thinking or saying about their problem. These flyers referred to eating disorders as a piece of juicy gossip, instead of the anguishing and dangerous medical conditions which they are.

I tried to explain this to Molly, but from the start of our conversation it was clear she had no intentions of admitting that the flyers she posted around campus were hurtful and wrong. She told me that she was aware when she hung the flyers that she would be “having this conversation.” After she blatantly admitted that she posted the flyers knowing that they would cast shame, knowing that they would be hurtful, I knew our conversation was going nowhere.

I know Molly and the WRC had good intentions with posting those flyers. They were thinking that anything that could possibly drive someone into treatment for their eating disorder is worth trying. However, as a person who has suffered with an eating disorder for years now, I know what it takes to want help, to want health, happiness. I can tell you it takes more than a flyer on a bathroom stall suggesting that my friends are talking about my illness. I also know the shame and guilt that surrounds bulimia, and I don’t believe that I, or anyone else who has suffered with this illness, should not have to be subject to taunting and shame casting statements on the Hamline campus, especially not from an organization that is supposed to be a positive, educated and supportive resource for students on campus.

Julie Wroblewski
CLA Senior