UMass Student Confesses to Rape, Gets off Scot-Free

On the recurrent theme of "what the hell is wrong with college campuses," how can University of Massachusetts at Amherst think think that it's acceptable to let a confessed rapist keep attending classes and living on campus?

Honestly, it's bad enough that we have to deal with colleges dragging their heels on investigating rape allegations, the difficulty of proving an assault happened, and ongoing denials that rape is really "rape." But when you have a student who confesses to, and is found guilty of, raping a "friend" on campus, I would expect that the college would take steps to protect the student in its care and expel the perpetrator immediately. Instead, this rapist is receiving a "deferred suspension," which will allow him to graduate on time, and not even suffer the inconvenience of having to move off campus.

The UMass Code of Student Conduct states that a student can receive a deferred sentence, which "provides a student with one final opportunity before he/she is suspended.” One final opportunity to what? Rape somebody else? Rape should be a one-strike-and-you're-out kind of deal: get caught, and get expelled. If his victim isn't pressing criminal charges, then the rapist should consider himself lucky that all he's getting is expelled, and not thrown in jail, since being kicked out of school is nowhere near equivalent to the trauma and abuse he inflicted on someone else. Instead, the college is sending the message that, eh, rape isn't really that bad of an offense -- you can totally sexually assault your peers and get off scot-free, even if you're caught.

UMass students are, justifiably, angry and afraid that a confirmed rapist is still living in their midst anonymously. It's particularly irresponsible because the vast majority of perpetrators didn't just make a one-time mistake, they are repeat offenders; ninety percent of campus rapes are committed by repeat offenders. And since the nature of the crime makes it hard to prove that an assault has occurred, college administrations must act quickly to protect the student body when a single incident of rape is proven, since there could be many more by the same perpetrator undetected -- although one rape is plenty of cause for expulsion.

Unfortunately, it's not unusual for a school to merely suspend a rapist or essentially do nothing, as in this case, while the victim often finds herself forced to rearrange her life and transfer schools. Very few rapes are even reported, and such weak penalties for those found guilty certainly doesn't encourage student survivors to go through the ordeal of reporting an assault and seeking justice that is nowhere to be seen.

What the hell is wrong with college campuses?

Photo credit: rpscott123