<p>@robertr - My comment to turn down the temperature was about comments made towards other individuals on this forum, i.e. other members. Hence the phrase “each other”, which is clearly there.</p>
<p>I am not casting aspersions towards the entire school by any means. Clearly the focus is on those responsible for allowing this situation to develop as it has. But equally clearly this is not limited to just a few administrators either. To the extent that the individuals at UVA who control the process are the ones that are denying justice for these abused students, the fact that UVA is made up of many professors, alumni, and others completely uninvolved in the process is totally irrelevant. A student gets raped, what is she going to do, contact one of these alumni or a professor of physics? No, she is contacting the very people that horribly abrogated their responsibilities. Even a former Dean of Students who is now at the University of Oklahoma has stated that the problem is much worse at UVA than other places. See today’s New York Times. Also, how do you in fact explain, as UVA has admitted, that over the past 7 years at minimum there has not been one expulsion for rape even though many of the accused have admitted they are guilty of rape, yet there have been expulsions for cheating and other honor code violations. It seems to me that to any sensible person, that shows a bizarre, dangerous and sick attitude towards the significance of committing a rape.</p>
<p>Of course there will be UVA apologists at every turn. It is understandable. The fact that UVA themselves are now admitting they have a lot to fix and, in this particular case, have asked the civil justice system to open a criminal investigation indicates they also are now aware there is indeed a real problem and that their past actions fell woefully short of any standard of decency.</p>
<p>Contrary to what you might think, I have absolutely nothing against the school otherwise. In fact, before knowing all this, I would have been very proud to have my D attend the school. But ignorance is not bliss. These kinds of situations, no matter where they occur (and there are too many at other schools as well), turn my stomach. I would hope they would have the same effect on everyone, but we know that is not the case. </p>
<p>I think the majority of the people on this forum are trying to be part of the solution. The OP clearly doesn’t fit this profile hence the subsequent accrimony. Listen OP you have some fine choices on your list why don’t you channel your energies in a positive light and try to decide where you want to go to school instead of harping on where you don’t want to go. We get it, it’s not going to be UVA. </p>
<p>“Multiple studies have shown about one in five women will be sexually assaulted during their time on campus, a trend that has stayed consistent over time and across colleges” - Ruth Anne Koenick, director of Rutgers’ office for violence prevention and victim assistance</p>
<p>Again, the point being we don’t know that UVA is statistically any different than any other university campus - nor should we assume so. We should all agree (hopefully) that ANY acts of sexual assault should be considered equally appalling wherever they occur, and should carry appropriate penalties. In that vein, I do believe UVA will come out of this stronger and safer than many other schools who will not have such scrutiny placed upon them.</p>
<p>Just to point out that the 1/5 women will be sexually assaulted statistic was taken by evaluating a few large universities. I do not think it’s fair to make this blanket statement because the data represents rape at large, probably party universities.</p>
<p>It appears that the Jackie story is a very sad hoax. Despite that, I think that the response from students has been inspiring and despite a slow start, the response from President Sullivan has been mature and appropriately focused on the bigger issue. Like the rest of us, she’s not perfect, but I don’t think we realize how lucky we are to have her leading UVA.</p>
<p>I wrote my son a note just after the RS story was published telling him that while such an assault is a horrendous act, I thank God it happened at UVA - because it is such an amazing place where the community would respond in a way that will transform UVA into a beacon for all schools looking for a way to keep their students safe. </p>
<p>I have a daughter ready for college in 2017. Would I send her to UVA? Yes I would. No other school in the nation will be safer going forward.</p>
<p>Yeah graffiti on the frat is a great way for the community to respond… Also were some parts of the story clearly untrue? yes. Her friends do believe something traumatic happened to her though. </p>
<p>As a female applicant who has always been uninterested in participating in Greek life, reading the RS article shocked and saddened me, but it ultimately did not change my decision to apply to the University.
Going off of what @appzilla has said - one must remember that UVA has an undergraduate population of fifteen thousand. I do not think that all fifteen thousand of these students would act in the manner that the article describes.There is evil in this world, and in Charlottesville as well, but there is also goodness, kindness, and love…all of which are evident in the UVA community, and should not be unremembered in light of recent events. </p>
<p>I find it troubling that 38 women came to Dean Eramos office to report a sexual assault, but after talking to her only 9 decided to file formal or informal complaints. This is a criminal matter. In all 38 cases the police should have been contacted and THEY should have handled the investigation, not UVA. </p>
<p>All colleges have to follow a strict set of federal regulations in these cases. My understanding is that federal regulations would not allow a college official to call police if the victim refused to let them be contacted. Also, if victims knew the police would always be called, some victims would avoid getting needed counseling. Yes, victims should be strongly encouraged to go to police, to help avoid repeat offenses, but the U. can’t control that. </p>
<p>The feds require an alternative system so that even if a victim refuses to go to police, a college can expel them. That is the current UVa rule - to permanently expel persons who commit rape, whether or not the police are contacted. </p>