While I think this story is horrible in every way, I am glad it's getting the full-on press by the New York Post. From what I can read, this girl was indeed gang-raped at school, went and got a rape kit done, reported it to the authorities and nothing was done. Sound familiar? Oh, and multiple rapist and those who stood in the room and hallway watching and "high fiving". Yep, sounds familiar all right.
I am so glad that Cynthia McGrath, the mother of the now-dead Megan Wright, filed this lawsuit. Someone fucked up royally. Make that many parties. It pains me to think of the similarities. I survived. This girl didn't; the crush of having so many people ignore her obvious pleas for help did her in. All for what? Money.
Oh, PS to the Post and reporters - by calling it "Suicide Tie to Sex Dormmates", you negate the nature of the crime. No sex took place here. It's called rape, which has nothing to do with sex. By perpetuating this, you make readers believe it was consensual, which is exactly the problem. It's time for even tabloid media to be more responsible.
It seems the detective (who, by the way, has way too much power), was "conflicted" as he was also a part-time teacher at this school - a private school which doesn't need to report it's Clery Act statistics. It also seems he bought this whole "consent note" situation, which rendered the rest of the evidence null. That is the most ridiculous thing I ever heard. Also, they should name his sorry ass. Why is he protected in all this fuckery?
Did this case have a Chief of Police? A District Attorney? I swear to God, I'll go up there and talk to Andrew Cuomo if he doesn't give this family some peace.
PS - Gloria Allred, thanks for all your help.
UPDATE: They've only uncovered 4 sexual assaults since 2002 and the Post is trumpeting that news. Once again, they're using the word "sex" in reportage - "sex" is something to be enjoyed. Sexual assault, assault, rape - these are the words to be used in reporting...even if you have to use the word "alleged" before it. But it's clear to me that they're onto something with this update and drawing attention to an otherwise non-reported subject. Oddly, The New York Post didn't even pick up the AP wire on Commonwealth v. Beebe.
BTW, note to Angele Montifinise; The Clery Act only applies to federally funded universities and colleges. Last I checked, Dominican was a tiny, private Catholic school that does not have to report its statistics, making it a very dangerous place indeed.
4 comments:
liz,
this tragic story leads me to ask you a sensitive question, and, of course, if you don't want to answer it, i totally understand: did *you* ever feel suicidal at any time after *your* attack, especially given how UVa covered up the attack and failed you so miseberably?
MARIO
liz,
something i forgot to ask you in my previous message: you know that the actress kelly mcgillis was raped, but did you know that actress fran drescher, star of the tv show The Nanny, was also raped?
it happened in jan. 1985: she and a friend were raped by burglars at gunpoint. she was 27.
also, 60s pop singer connie francis was raped in nov. 1974, also by a burglar.
MARIO
Mario:
I never succumbed to suicidal feelings but I do understand it's very normal. More than normal. I did feel very helpless (still do a little at times) and sad that no one wants to do the right, human thing. Fortunately, those feelings didn't translate to suicide, but they did to some depression, an eating disorder, panic and a perfectionism that still haunts me. Each victim of sexual assault carries their own scar - suicide is indeed one of them and, sadly, those who take their own lives will never know how much they are loved and how it was never their fault. I grieve for them.
liz,
you're gonna luv this:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/15/sources-recall-mccains-jo_n_112955.html
mario
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