Demetra Lambros
@cookingingreece
Lambros, who offered a similar talk to our Upper School three years ago, is an attorney at the Department of Justice (and the mother of three alumni). As former general counsel for the Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by then-Senator Joseph Biden, she helped craft sweeping anti-crime legislation, gun-control measures, and the landmark Violence Against Women Act. She also played a central role in drafting the Obama White House’s initiative to help combat sexual assault on college campuses.
Speaking as both attorney and parent, Lambros opened with what she considers her wisest advice: Do not have sex until you are older and in a committed, loving relationship. Lambros then offered clear definitions of sexual assault, rape, and consent, airing a popular British video on consent to amplify her message of what does, and does not, constitute consent. Lambros described how both the criminal justice system and colleges today handle cases of sexual assault, noting that educational institutions are becoming increasingly aware of and attentive to assault cases.
Stressing the need for empathy, Lambros encouraged St. Albans students to make an extra effort to take coordinate classes, to engage girls in conversations, and to pay close attention to what they are saying. “Men who see women as equals are much less likely to assault,” she noted.