A university football team four of whose members are alleged to have raped an unconscious student, videotaped the rape, and sent the videotape to friends. They will go on trial soon, as will yet other players, named as accessories.
What to do?
The coach has already announced – before the trial, before we all get to see the film and read the text messages, before everything – that his non-raping players have “dealt with this, and we’re trying to heal and move forward.”
It’s all over, see, and now it’s just about the wounded – his players – somehow finding healing and turning the page. So that’s what to do.
But there are already indications that the poor lads are trying to heal approach might not work.
Take this open letter to Vanderbilt University, written by a recent graduate who, post-rape allegations, is having “a hard time feeling good about my allegiance” to the university.
If a Vanderbilt football player dropped out after his freshman year to go free Tibet, I’d be proud. When they’re kicked out for revolting crimes, I’m ashamed. It’s that simple.
This alumnus
proposed to the administration of the Women’s Center that they partner with athletics for some sort of… anything. Fundraising. Volunteer drive. A patch on players’ uniforms. Whatever, as long as it shows real public support for survivors of sex crimes, or works to prevent future incidents. The point was to give fans who are depressed by recent news something to be proud of, morally. The point was to show that Vanderbilt football stands with survivors of sexual violence.
Response from the Vanderbilt administration? Fuck off.
This annoyed the letter writer. That’s why he wrote the letter.
In making the decision to hold its breath until this thing blows over, the administration decides to be among those (many) institutions that contribute to a culture of quiet enablement.
Vanderbilt begins to look like Yeshiva University.
August 22nd, 2013 at 2:52PM
“The mantra he has preached to his Commodores is 6 seconds.”
I’m thinking of a couple of possibilities here: (1) Isn’t this what got them in trouble in the first place? (2) These guys are FAST.