Rolling Stone article on sexual assault at UVa

<p>The author of the Rolling Stone article and the author of the NY Times op-ed on mishandling campus rape were interviewed this morning on the excellent NYC public radio program, The Brian Lehrer Show. Listen here:
<a href=“The Grave Mishandling of Campus Rape | The Brian Lehrer Show | WNYC”>http://www.wnyc.org/story/mishandling-campus-rape/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>My S says he never heard those lyrics either. And we would visit several times a year during his time there and I have never heard the song. What is really a shame is that this situation has shed light on this very important issue and can really result in positive change but there are people that are not happy with that, people that are still pushing for innocent people and the University to be punished for justice rather than for guilt. </p>

<p>I don’t recall noticing that mural in Old Cabell but wonder about it’s context. To post it here without context is only going to serve to create more unfair misrepresentation about this issue. No different than all the calls for Dean Eramo to be fired which resulted in many people writing letters in support of her INCLUDING Jackie. Can you imagine the added stress jackie felt over that. </p>

<p>The greatest result we could have after this issue is for the students who all believe that sexual assault is wrong, which is 95% of Men and women at UVA (the non rapists) to start paying attention. I do believe that when you are young and not that kind of person you have a hard time comprehending that those kind of people are out there. I think this is a lesson for all of them. </p>

<p>Lets all take a breath here and give the University and the police the chance to make the changes they are talking about making and to conduct the investigation. </p>

<p>Here’s an article on the mural from the university magazine.

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<p><a href=“Perry’s Progress—VIRGINIA Magazine”>http://uvamagazine.org/articles/perrys_progress&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>I don’t need “context” to know that a painting of a scantily clad student being handed her lingerie from a lecherous professor as his wife looks on is inappropriate. Guess that’s one more thing the typical female UVa student has to worry about?</p>

<p>Really Sally now the professors at UVA are lecherous?? </p>

<p>That’s what the mural depicts, Mamalumper. The painting is supposed to show the arc of a fictional student’s experience. I have never been there. You tell me.</p>

<p>^^^^^^FICTIONAL is the operative word here. Pretty strong implications about the faculty coming from someone who has never stepped foot on Grounds. As Mamalumper suggests, let’s allow the authorities and the justice system to resolve this according to the law. </p>

<p>Art is a large part of culture. To have this mural shown in a prominent location at UVA reflects the culture of UVA on some level at some point. Same with Rugby Road. Is that the future culture of UVA? The response of UVA to the current situation and these two pieces of art will answer that question.</p>

<p>What’s next…banning books from the English Department reading list? Yes, the culture need to change. That doesn’t happen by removing works of art and drinking songs. It happens by changing leadership and enforcing the law.</p>

<p>Wow, that mural is inappropriate. The male faculty member handing a bra to the female student while his wife walks up the steps. Wow. Did the same “artists” also write the Ruby Road song? I can see the good old boys painting and laughing. As for the future, why were the board members laughing while writing new sexual assault policies yesterday??? </p>

<p>Here’s the latest from the media…I’ll bet 60 Minutes comes calling next.</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/26/us/uva-response-rape-allegations/index.html?hpt=hp_c2”>http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/26/us/uva-response-rape-allegations/index.html?hpt=hp_c2&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>And more…</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/26/opinion/kohn-uva-rape-allegations/index.html?hpt=hp_c2”>http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/26/opinion/kohn-uva-rape-allegations/index.html?hpt=hp_c2&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>And another…</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/25/opinion/foubert-uva-rape-allegations/index.html?hpt=hp_c2”>http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/25/opinion/foubert-uva-rape-allegations/index.html?hpt=hp_c2&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Last one (for now)…</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/24/opinion/smithhisler-uva-rape-allegations/index.html?hpt=hp_c2”>http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/24/opinion/smithhisler-uva-rape-allegations/index.html?hpt=hp_c2&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>And I’ll add a Thanksgiving message for the 7 Phi Kappa Psi cowards…while you are enjoying your turkey tomorrow, think about Jackie. Do the right thing, man up and turn yourselves in on Friday morning.</p>

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<p>The mural is not fictional. It is apparently a source of pride for the university.</p>

<p>I don’t need to step foot on “Grounds” to recognize something offensive when I see it. </p>

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<p>Interesting choice of words.</p>

<p><a href=“Old Cabell Hall Mural Expands to Encompass a Lifetime of Learning | UVA Today”>http://news.virginia.edu/content/old-cabell-hall-mural-expands-encompass-lifetime-learning&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>^^^^^ I was not referring to the mural. I was referring to your reference to “lecherous faculty”. How are you drawing this conclusion when you have zero first hand knowledge or facts?</p>

<p><<not sure="" who="" the="" poster="" was="" said="" they="" never="" heard="" rugby="" road="" song="" when="" were="" at="" uva,="" but="" apparently="" marching="" band="" played="" it="" till="" 2010="" and="" glee="" club="" performed="" until="" last="" week.="">></not></p>

<p>I don’t think you were talking about me, but I have posted that my son (and all his friends) had never heard the song. He is a second year student - obviously not there in 2010 - even if he was, a marching band doesn’t use lyrics. Also, not all the students hear the Glee Club perform. He has spoken to many classmates, most of them don’t know it either. The first he saw of the song was when he read the RS article.</p>

<p>robertr, I said the mural depicted a lecherous professor. Since it is supposed to represent the prototypical student’s journey–along with many other more positive experiences–it seems reasonable to wonder whether “having a fling with a prof” is something that happens with some regularity.</p>

<p>And anyway–MOST people don’t have “first-hand knowledge or facts” about what has happened to every single student at UVa. Just having a kid there or having gone their yourself doesn’t make you an expert on the experience for everyone else.</p>

<p>^^^^ Then along those lines, why don’t you conclude that it depicts a student who wants to climb in bed with her professor to make sure she gets an “A” in his class? If that’s the type of girl who attends UVa, maybe we should discourage our sons from attending.</p>

<p>Sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it.</p>

<p>The song is embedded in the UVA tradition? It must not be much of a tradition given that so many current students have never heard of it. It’s not just that they don’t know the lyrics - they have never heard of the song! Maybe within a certain subculture it might be- but not sure why you feel so sure that song is such a part of the school. (Possibly in the past - I can’t comment on that - but certainly not now). </p>

<p>As for the mural, who knows. Have you ever been to the Prado Museum in Madrid? Or the Louvre in Paris? Many of the paintings are quite scandalous. I took a semester long class at the Prado many years ago when I was in college, and oh my, it was amazing some of the stories depicted in the paintings. It was art though - and as mentioned above, without context, who knows what this painter was thinking - or what story he was telling. I honestly never noticed it before on a tour or any of my visits. Is it maybe inappropriate now given all that is going on? Possibly. Should it be painted over? Maybe. I’m sure that will be looked into as the school moves forward. But, there are definitely more pressing matters that will need to be dealt with first.</p>

<p>But why the nitpicking? Why the need to continue to focus so much on a song, or a painting. Why not spend the time and energy coming up with positive ideas and solutions. Or researching and studying what might be working at other schools. Why not try to help instead of spending all your time on attack?</p>

<p>Honestly, I have learned so much this last week about longstanding concerns at UVa that I never knew existed. But, I’ve also learned that there has been great progress over the last few years. There is still far to go - but you need to give the school time to right the wrongs. There are so many people, from students to staff, and parents and alumni, that want to move forward and work for UVa to be a safe place for every student and an example to colleges around the US. So give them a chance. </p>