dagblog - Comments for "Why Colleges Mishandle Sexual Assault"

Here's a great example of

Michael Maiello — Tue, 06 May 2014 03:26:38 +0000

In reply to Why Colleges Mishandle Sexual Assault

Here's a great example of what I mean about police and prosecutors being so blunt an instrument that I understand the impulse to keep them out of just about any situation.

A woman who elbowed a police officer while being arrested, as part of a mass arrest, at Occupy Wall Street, now faces seven years in prison. The jury had to decide whether they believed she threw an elbow as part of her escape attempt or instinctively tried to defend herself because the officer grabbed her breast.

Now, a rational system would just say -- come on, there was a lot of craziness then and there is no reason to put this person in jail for seven years. A rational system would have declined to prosecute. But look at this... total madness and tribalism as well as a complete disregard for this woman's life.

Very astute piece. It's

Michael Wolraich — Mon, 05 May 2014 18:22:14 +0000

In reply to Why Colleges Mishandle Sexual Assault

Very astute piece. It's bizarre to me that this issue hasn't advanced a single step since I graduated 20 years ago.

This is interesting. In a

Michael Maiello — Mon, 05 May 2014 17:25:57 +0000

In reply to Why Colleges Mishandle Sexual Assault

This is interesting. In a way, this is a real problem:

"Police and prosecutors are not concerned about everything working out for all parties involved. They're not worried about the long-term future of people accused of serious crimes. The police, by their nature, take sides. The accused can get his own damn lawyer."

Police and prosecutors can't really be trusted to do anything but pursue punishment. This is great if a crime has actually happened. But mistakes are made often enough and both police and prosecutors have exhibited over-zealous enough behavior that I can totally understand why a school might want to shield people (people who administrators and professors tend to think of as children even if the law does not) from exposure to the "authorities."

Now, in a way, the answer to me is "boo hoo." If you think rich college kids get it rough from the police, go look at what's happening elsewhere in New Haven. But I'd guess that some of this drive to keep problems on campus is informed by pretty healthy skepticism about the ability or willingness of authorities to be fair with the accused.