Gymnovosti posted on how rape is viewed in former Soviet Union nations. Things are even worse there for girls and women than in the west.
The protection afforded rapists there, however, reminded me of the protection afforded American Football stars. 🙁
_____ originally posted June 2016
I’m worried when gymnasts – male and female – go off to University.
College athletes have, at least, a support system on arrival. A team. Coaches and staff looking out for them.
You would never have seen Brock Turner’s face if he had been sentenced 3-5 years. Or more. He could’ve gotten 14 years.
When he was sentenced only 6 months people asked:
• Is it because he’s a Stanford student?
• Is it because he’s a scholarship athlete?
• Is it because he’s white?
This case led me to read Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town by Jon Krakauer.
The acclaimed author researched 230 rapes in town, most of which either weren’t prosecuted or the prosecutions were bungled. Most rapists walked away without punishment.
This guy did go to trial. If I were on the jury I would have found star quarterback Jordan Johnson guilty of rape.
Instead the state of Montana paid Johnson $245,000 under a settlement where he agreed to drop claims that the school and its officials mishandled the investigation against him.
This guy – Brandon Vandenberg – former Vanderbilt football player, was found guilty for his role in the gang rape of an unconscious female student in 2013.
Only one of his rapes. He was sentenced to 17 years in prison.
The Department of Education has an investigation ongoing into 192 universities alleged to be mishandling sexual-assault complaints.
A good gift for a student going away to University for the first time would be this book – Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town
Most young people don’t know the law. Are clueless when it comes to date rape. Acquaintance rape. 😦
related – my full review of the Krakauer’s book
Gymnastics Coaching.com 