This thesis explores the concept of textual traces and how they can provide valuable insight into the cultural implications surrounding sexual misconduct on university campuses. By analyzing the MSU presidential communications as an example of textual traces, we can better understand the rhetorical devices used to contribute to campus culture. While ensuring proper documentation and organization of such documentation is vital in holding individuals responsible and allowing for transparency and community collaboration to protect communities and prevent future assaults, this alone is not enough to mitigate and prevent assaults on campuses. A cultural shift towards respecting and protecting survivors of sexual assault and discrimination while holding perpetrators accountable for their actions is necessary. This requires decolonizing the mind, body, and soul from the misogynistic patriarchal force that legitimizes violence and racism throughout the fabric of society. The influence of biased laws on policies and procedures is undeniable, and this profoundly impacts the textual traces produced. When the laws that govern our society are built on a foundation of discrimination and bias, this will inevitably filter down into the policies and procedures implemented to enforce them. By gathering and analyzing textual traces, we can identify larger systems at play and better address problems, and create cultural solutions. This nexus of culture, communication, and theory is also a rich and important site of inquiry for equity professionals, rhetoricians, and technical communication researchers. Furthermore, I hope my study here-one that employs Theory and qualitative methods-provides one example of how to build bridges between these communities of practice. Specifically, when I use the term "textual traces," I aim to use textual tracing as a mode of analysis to understand how these texts inspire action and reveal underlying racist and sexist ideologies within a system and culture. This study contributes to the broader understanding of the role of textual traces in shaping campus culture. It offers insights for creating positive change in a rapidly changing world.
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