Recently, a Department of Education administrator (in charge of Civil Rights within the Department at present) stated that 90% of campus rapes were alcohol related. There are NO data, I repeat no data, supporting this position. Here's the citation: http://www.chronicle.com/artic...4?cid=trend_right_a, lest you think I am making this up. Who could even make this stuff up -- even if you tried?
For me, this kind of misstatement requires more than an apology. It requires re-education and perhaps even a suspension. The data show that alcohol does play a role in rape (as anyone who has been on a campus as a student or administrator knows). But 90% is hyperbole and disrespectful and downright wrong. How demeaning. And as to timetable for reporting? Ask anyone who has been abused or traumatized; it can take years to report. Please. Enough lying. Truth? Where is it?
One more thing on this before I explode in anger: if you have been abused, then this type of statement makes recovery even more difficult and it brings up memories for those abused in the past of people who neither believe nor understand. It is unacceptable on every measure.
I appreciate that the handling of sexual assault and harassment on campuses is suboptimal. I understand why people are concerned about the rights of victims and the treatment of accusers. Campuses have been far from transparent and they are certainly not all quality adjudicators. I get all this. I worried about it myself as a college president. Improvement is needed. Now.
But misstating data is inexcusable. There are some things for which an "oops" and "I'm sorry" are not enough. Same is true in other situations. Apologies are words. Actions are what count. And, let's see what actions the acting head of Civil Rights at the Department of Education can demonstrate. Now. Time is a wasting and the misstatement gathers steam just by being spoken.
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