ExpectingUnicorns
. . . only the pure of heart can see.
- Joined
- Sep 29, 2008
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I agree with you that this sort of thing happens way too often, not just at big football schools but in a number of scenarios. However, info in a blog or article with the intent to push a view is not the most accurate place to find out exactly what happened. In a number of cases, a good writer with a good story, makes things look quite different than the reality. I've seen this a number of time in a number of situations when I 100% knew the story.
If there was truly injustice done here, more should be done. Pressure from MSM for a start. Even if there is truly insufficient evidence to press charges, and that often is a huge stumbling block in rape cases, there should be a record fo charges filed, something that is there if in the future, any of those involved have other similar issues arise.
As to phone calls threatening the victim if she reports a case, every single one of them should be traced and the owner of the phones who sent them should be put on notice, so again there is a record. If it's many team member phones, there should be a public shaming.
In most cases of reported rape, it's very difficult to get anything even close to charges to be filed. Unlike with an assault where visible injury is evidence, unless the girl has physically evidence of assault, and unless it's something that is reported right away as in the one rape case that is linked to MH's, it simply does not meet burden of proof. To change that burden leads into a lot of other problems in the way our justice system works.
In JM"s cases, the schools did what they could. That LE could not procede any further, that the victims maybe didn't want it to go any further, is not something the schools could or should get involved in. Many people feel that the accused for anything should be convicted by LE before a school takes sanction for anything when it comes to serious accusations. Other wise a school is opening itself up to law suits. If I were accused of something that happened to be frivolous, and wrong, a lie, I certainly want my day in court to defend myself, and a school, a job, anything should not presume guilt until it is so determined in a court of law. So there is that gray area as to what sanctions a school can impose before a court verdict is received. Many schools just have rules in there that they use to flush someone rather than wait that long. I know in the case of Liberty U, it doesn't take a whole lot to get expelled for moral turpitude.
I find your posts very interesting and informed, jamicat, but will have to disagree with you in that it seems you feel the majority of schools are doing a fair job of handling the sexual assault and rape allegations that come before their staff. I believe there is enough historic proof (Naval Academy, Air Force Academy and, more recently the Penn State scandals) to demonstrate that there needs to be a complete examination of each and every public and private place of higher education. I believe this neglect is a national crime that is raging just below the surface of realization of parents and aspiring students.