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Ohio State issues statement regarding alleged rape in Steubenville

maks.1@osu.edu

Published: Friday, January 4, 2013

Updated: Friday, January 4, 2013 20:01

Ohio State released a statement Friday regarding an alleged rape that occurred in Steubenville, Ohio, a town of about 18,000.

Steubenville, which is located just less than 200 miles from Columbus, finds itself in the national spotlight after two 16-year-old Steubenville High School football players, Ma’lik Richmond and Trent Mays, were charged with raping a 16-year-old girl at a string of parties in August.

“Sexual assault is a terrible act of aggression and violence, and our hearts go out to all victims,” the statement reads. “The situation in Steubenville is particularly disturbing, and our thoughts are with those affected.”

In particular, OSU’s release comes after a video taken on the night of those parties started to make its way around the Internet Wednesday.

The video, which can be found under different names on YouTube, features Michael Nodianos, a Steubenville High School graduate and former OSU student, talking and laughing about the alleged rape for more than 12 minutes amid a group huddled in what appears to be a living room.

Nodianos, who has not been accused or charged of any crimes, could not be found on “Find People,” OSU’s staff, faculty and student directory, Friday, though such information (his name, university email address and major) was accessible Thursday.

Nodianos did not respond to The Lantern's request for comment. 

While the university cites that it is “not at liberty to comment” because of Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) regulations, the school confirmed through its statement that “the student in question” was in attendance at the university “only through Dec. 12.”

According to “Find People,” Nodianos was an electrical and computer engineering major.

Nodianos, a former Big Red baseball player, according to a nearly 6,000-word story in the New York Times, opens the video by making “she’s deader than” analogies regarding the alleged victim, who did not die, but was reportedly unconscious during the alleged rapes.

According to the Times, Richmond and Mays are under house arrest and awaiting a trial that has been set for Feb. 13. 

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26 comments

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Anonymous
Sat Jan 5 2013 00:41
To the commenters above, the release of further information is protected under FERPA and if he remains a student he has a right to due process from the University whether or not we like it. I'm not defending him, but simply stating the reality of the situation as someone who has worked as an administratior at a similiar state institution.

Additionally, people would be correct about the end date of class. However, it's important to remember that academic dismissals come after the last day of class. It's perfectly reasonable that the student of question would have been placed on leave after the finals.

Anonymous
Sat Jan 5 2013 00:31
Anonymous has made the allegation that the sheriffs department erased photos and videos. These claims should be investigated by the Department of Justice.
Student13
Fri Jan 4 2013 23:40
Correction to my earlier comment: You did point out that they said he was only in attendance through the 12th, but as I also stated in an email to the woman who gave the statement, every student was only in attendance through the 12th; it was the last day of finals. By this logic, everyone could be considered to no longer attend OSU, again questioning your claim that he is now a "former" student.
Student13
Fri Jan 4 2013 23:36
Just because he wasn't on Find People does not mean he was expelled or is a "former student." His information could have been removed by the university to prevent harassment. If the university is not giving out information, then I'm assuming The Lantern also does not have that information. Get your facts straight, guys. You're a major news source for the university, and you didn't even include that the statement said the only thing the university could confirm was that he finished his finals; not that he left the university.
Anonymous
Fri Jan 4 2013 21:13
Yes, we all have to fear the indifference of good men. To stand by and not do anything while a crime is being committed is itself a crime which makes them ALL criminals. The University covering up this case to protect their football players is beyond criminal and by definition "Organized Crime!". The University of Montana had a similar thing happen (multiple times actually) and a subsequent cover-up. A lot of the coaching staff and some University officials were canned, then the Justice Department launched an investigation into similar allegations. The Justice system even went so far as to investigate our District Attorney for not prosecuting crimes against football players. Most of us lost all faith in our police, football team, coaches, and University officials.
Anonymous
Fri Jan 4 2013 20:08
Ohio State University needs to do something more than issue this tiny statement. Please tell Ohio State University how you feel about the comments Michael Nodianos makes in his video.

The statements alone should act under some code of conduct that they have to remove his scholarship as well as expel him. Not saying he is rapist or party to the rape but rather we should condemn him for his little rant.

Please visit tinyurl.com/a2f4j2v

and sign the petition

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