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Letter to the editor: Using ‘alleged’ in reference to rape victims places doubt on stories reported

Published: Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Updated: Wednesday, March 20, 2013 01:03

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Letter to the editor

In regards to “OSU football players named in rape case” (3/19/13):

As a former journalism student, I can appreciate the care with which reporters from The Lantern must take when covering such sensitive issues as sexual assault. But as a former rape crisis counselor and victims’ advocate, I struggled to read Tuesday’s story on OSU football players accused of sexual assault. I understand that the story is still unfolding, and that journalists are not the judge or jury — and that words such as “alleged” must be used to caution against defamation. However, it was disappointing to see The Lantern refer to the woman as an “alleged victim” of “alleged rape” that “allegedly occurred” while not referring to her perpetrators in the same light. Instead of being “alleged attackers” or “alleged perpetrators” or “alleged” anything, they were referred to as Players: Player 1, Player 2, Player 3. Unfortunately, using the word “alleged” in conjunction with the victim and her report only further casts doubt on her story, while we hold the men to a different standard, allowing them to remain Players, not alleged perpetrators. Is it because they are football players? Have we learned nothing from Steubenville?

Kristy McCray
mccray.72@osu.edu
First-year Ph.D student in sports management

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6 comments

Anonymous
Thu Mar 21 2013 22:40
Anonymous with the capslock fetish: why don't you just teach your grandson not to rape people? Perhaps that's the most equitable solution here. Rather than shaming any woman who doesn't stay locked up in the library, and perpetuating the notion that inside of every man lurks a rapist animal, why don't you work on dispelling some of those medieval notions toward sexuality?
Kristy
Wed Mar 20 2013 15:36
Just to clarify--I wasn't asking for names of players, just that they be treated as the victim is treated--as "alleged assailants". If we are going to question her story, we should question theirs too.

Further, the ONLY person responsible--or who should be held accountable--for rape is the rapist. No matter what someone is wearing, talking to, drinking, or where they are at, no victim is ever responsible for rape. ONLY the rapist is responsible for rape. And when we place blame on the victims--well, why was she out drinking?--we're taking our focus and the responsibility away from the rapist, the person who harmed and hurt another human being.

Anonymous
Wed Mar 20 2013 15:29
@Anonymous, who posted about never having this "problem" with her daughers: Honestly, with your attitude, if I was your daughter and I had been raped, I would NEVER EVER come and tell you about it.
Anonymous
Wed Mar 20 2013 15:22
@ Chris: The point is not to name the players but to address them equitably as "alleged perpetrators" or "alleged assailants," rather than ignoring this aspect altogether. Addressing them as Player 1, etc. removes the possibility that they may have actually engaged in this behavior, which is another underhanded way to place blame on the "alleged victim." Victim blaming is not new and we should be challenging it whenever we see it, such as in this article. Bravo, Kristy!
Anonymous
Wed Mar 20 2013 07:49
My DAUGHTERS (one a Buckeye alum and journalism grad) sat in our living room last night in our hometown and listened to the mother of the DRUNK teen raped by Ohio ANIMALS give excuses and say "What if this was your daughter?" Well I personally would have been ashamed my MINOR was drunk with ANIMALS instead of in a library educating that brain (well maybe this is why I NEVER had this problem as a mother of DAUGHTERS!!) I have said for years time for mothers to make their daughters accountable for their behavior as well as men!!! I have a grandson now and I'll be d@ if I have him hung out to dry because some drunk loose chick cried rape because she didn't want mommy/daddy to know her behavior!!!! Lets keep ALL the names PRIVATE until the facts are in!!! I hope the Duke players walked off PAID the way they were ruined in the media!!!!!!
Chris
Wed Mar 20 2013 00:03
The Lantern does not print names of alleged victims or allege perpetrators of crimes until there is a conviction. This is reasonable, especially given the widespread journalistic travesty that was the Duke Lacrosse Case just a few years back. This policy does not seem a judgement against the victim, it is simple neutrality.




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