<p>Wondering what the reaction is on campus to ~~~</p>
<p>KNBC-TV
10:50 p.m. PDT April 26, 2006
USC freshman quarterback Mark Sanchez was arrested Wednesday for allegedly sexually assaulting a female student, according to Los Angeles police.</p>
<p>Football players are idolized at USC and I think this story is getting too much attention. The school aggressively kept the media away from the place where he was arrested. Damage control?</p>
<p>Whoa, definitely have not heard anything; this is the first time I'm hearing something.</p>
<p>And this sux since Booty is still recovering from his back surgery, meaning Sanchez is the starter until August.</p>
<p>We'll have to let the courts decide whether or not he's guilty. I'm sure the reaction is not a positive one around the USC community, as evidenced by some messageboards I visit. </p>
<p>And yes, USC is keeping the media away from the area where it occured because it's school owned housing (Cardinal Gardens). There are students as well as athletes who have tests, papers, and finals to worry about rather than some "mediot" sticking a mic in their face for a soundbite.</p>
<p>"The school aggressively kept the media away from the place where he was arrested. Damage control?"</p>
<p>No, privacy issues... He was arrested in at Cardinal, a complex full of freshman/sophomores... USC wants to protect not only Sanchez, but the hundreds of other students that live there...especially with class ending and finals starting...</p>
<p>As for the reaction on campus...I think most people are shocked, but withholding judgment until more is known about the case...</p>
<p>I was working as a student videographer for ATVN (the student newscast) and I was pushed back by DPS, accused of trying to sell my tape for commercial use and then harassed by the football players and their representatives. </p>
<p>(Fortunately, my footage is protected as property of ATVN and can't be resold. The clips that did make it onto local news were captured by another student)</p>
<p>Privacy issues? Everyone involved is over 18. The players are treated as celebrities, but as soon as they are arrested, it has to be kept quiet? The way the football players carry on at Cardinal Gardens at night, I have a hard time imagining any "studying" going on.</p>
<p>"Privacy issues? Everyone involved is over 18."</p>
<p>I didnt mean legal privacy issues... I meant the school doing everything it could to protect the privacy of its students because of principle... Why would USC allow a media circus into Cardinal, that would just be absolutely ridiculous, and no school administration in the country would let the media near their student dorms</p>
<p>
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The players are treated as celebrities, but as soon as they are arrested, it has to be kept quiet?
[/QUOTE]
Last time I checked, it was all over the news. USC has a right to deny mediots from entering the premises at their discretion. I think they're doing the right thing by keeping them out. I know when I come back from class or want to go out, I don't want a mic in my face. If someone wants to give their opinion, they're free to seek out media and do so.</p>
<p>I may have been a little broad in my earlier posts. I agree that the complex shouldnt be crawling with commercial press. My comments were based off my experience as a student journalist, and my interactions with DPS officers who immediately assumed I was only interested in smearing reputations and selling footage for profit.</p>
<p>I was forced to film out the window of my personal apartment (much to the dismay of officials on the scene) after they were evasive and wouldnt tell us what was going on.</p>
<p>By the way, what do you mean mediot? I would guess it is a hybrid of media and idiot which is a rather hasty generalization.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Privacy issues? Everyone involved is over 18.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>And that makes a difference...how? Would you like a camera shoved into your face just trying to walk into your home?</p>
<p>
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The way the football players carry on at Cardinal Gardens at night, I have a hard time imagining any "studying" going on.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>So since some students don't study, all students are allowed to be interrupted by a media circus right before finals? If the media parked on my front lawn, I wouldn't wait for USC/DPS to come clear them out, I'd call DPS/LAPD myself and insist they leave.</p>
<p>If you think USC wants to "keep it quiet" then you obviously haven't seen the daily trojan with "Sanchez arrested" in big block letters.</p>
<p>About the privacy issues, I misread CubsRule's earlier concern and interpreted it as a legal privacy issue. Institutions responsible for children under 18 have more obligations to ensure their privacy and safety. However, all the students here are legally adults. If you don't want to talk to the press, you don't have to.</p>
<p>The Daily Trojan is a student run newspaper over which the administration has no control. The school obviously wants to minimize any damage or disruption, but it's still a campus story that will be covered by student media. Logically, the story is not featured on USCs official homepage.</p>
<p>Personally, some reporters milling around for a day or two wouldn't throw me off studying for finals that are still a week away. Police have long since cleared out, so there isn't much to see. But I can understand how it is more pleasant without the press around.</p>
<p>
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The arrest occured in front of myriad police cars and helicopters circling the Cardinal Gardens apartment complex.
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Is this true? If it is, then I have to say that this is indeed taken waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay out of proportion: <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/news?slug=rivals-22920&prov=rivals&type=lgns%5B/url%5D">http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/news?slug=rivals-22920&prov=rivals&type=lgns</a></p>
<p>I mean come on! They needed a chopper just cuz some guy touched a girl inappropriately? :confused:</p>
<p>Yes there were helicopters probably because DPS wouldn't allow reporters to enter the complex. Until USC establishes an air force, there's no way to stop that kind of coverage ;)</p>
<p>I agree it is out of proportion, but again, I believe the celebrity status of USC football players is to blame. They get a phenomenal amount of coverage throughout the year, so when something like this happens, it becomes big news.</p>
<p>
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By the way, what do you mean mediot? I would guess it is a hybrid of media and idiot which is a rather hasty generalization.
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Oh come on, like your comment about students not studying Cardinal Gardens, isn't? Let's call a spade a spade. By the way, it's a term of endearment.</p>
<p>
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They get a phenomenal amount of coverage throughout the year
[/QUOTE]
When you're on top, people love to see you fall from grace.</p>
<p>I'm still struggling with this though: Do people want to hear about this story or not? If the public likes hearing about a "fall from grace", then why is it the reporters who are simply meeting this demand are demeaned?</p>
<p>Because most of the media people in LA are USC grads and they dont want to give the school negative publicity. lol...not really but maybe :-)</p>
<p>Sure people love to hear about the "fall from grace". But no reporter has the right to intrude on private property to get a story. The right to a free press isn't the right for the press to do whatever is necessary for a story.</p>
<p>Press card or no, if someone is on university owned property without permission and they are given notice to leave by DPS, and they refuse to leave, then that could be considered criminal trespassing.</p>
<p>
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If the public likes hearing about a "fall from grace", then why is it the reporters who are simply meeting this demand are demeaned?
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I didn't say USC liked it but America as a whole seems to love to tear people down, only to build them up again.</p>