Failures in Sensemaking: An Exploration of Sadean Heterotopias

The university occupies a unique position in contemporary society. It is designed to inspire and instruct students in a safe space away from the pressures of society and in an environment in which freedom prevails. When universities turn a “blind eye” to sexual harassment and abuse, they become a breeding ground for sadistic behaviors across the continuum of the university setting, ultimately setting the stage for future deviant behavior in society. This article examines these failures through the lens of heterotopias inspired by Marquis de Sade. Poetry is used to introduce the poetical layered account methodology, culminating in opening the “black box” of the university heterotopia and exploring the negative impacts of Sadistic behavior that may occur when an institution is shielded from society. The use of poetry in an empirical setting vulgates that universities can be spaces where prospective and retrospective sensemaking collapse, awakening the inner evil described by de Sade in his isolated institutions. This article is germane to scholars in education, Sadism, sensemaking, and heterotopias.