The headline at Saturday's Assocated Press story at Yahoo News dealing with the implosion of Rolling Stone's November 19 story about an alleged — and, for all appearances, completely fictional — fraternity gang rape at the University of Virginia focuses, as so many other establishment press stories have, on the supposedly "chilling effect" ... (it) could have on sexual-assault victims reporting the crimes." Gosh, whatever happened to "the truth will set you free"?
A central issue here is the magazine's detail-free apology "to anyone who was affected by the story." While quoting several people who are outraged by the magazine's approach, AP reporters Alan Suderman and Frederic J. Frommer withheld key details from their readers — details which make it clear to anyone that Rolling Stone's story was incurably flawed.
The central problem is with the following passage:
... U.Va was roiled by the article, whose main allegation was that too many people at the university put protecting the school's image and their own reputations above seeking justice for sex crimes. The story prompted protests, classroom debates, formal investigations and a suspension of fraternity activities.
Phi Kappa Psi, where the gang rape allegedly occurred on Sept. 28, 2012, was attacked after the article was published, with cinderblocks thrown through the fraternity house's windows.
The fraternity issued its own statement disputing the account of Jackie, who described being led upstairs by her date, who then allegedly orchestrated her gang-rape by seven men as he and another watched.
"No ritualized sexual assault is part of our pledging or initiation process," the statement said. "This notion is vile, and we vehemently" dispute the claim. "We continue to be shocked by the allegations and saddened by this story. We have no knowledge of these alleged acts being committed at our house or by our members. Anyone who commits any form of sexual assault, wherever or whenever, should be identified and brought to justice."
The AP reporters apparently want readers to believe the matter is still a he-said, she-said situation where both parties' claims have equal weight. To leave that impression, they ignored the following official assertions by the fraternity found in the letter they quoted. The second and third items noted are readily provable, and blow the story "Jackie" told Rolling Stone completely apart:
... First, the 2012 roster of employees at the Aquatic and Fitness Center does not list a Phi Kappa Psi as a lifeguard. As far as we have determined, no member of our fraternity worked there in any capacity during this time period.
Second, the Chapter did not have a date function or a social event during the weekend of September 28th, 2012.
Third, our Chapter's pledging and initiation periods, as required by the University and Inter-Fraternity Council, take place solely in the spring semester and not in the fall semester. We document the initiation of new members at the end of each spring.
It's virtually inconceivable that a truth-telling victim could get Items 2 and 3 so totally wrong.
Responsible reporters interested in getting the truth out would have disclosed those claims.
Instead, Suderman and Frommer appear far more interested in irresponsibly protecting the ongoing march of the due-process-be-damned agenda becoming ascendant on all too many college campuses in matters such as these than in telling the truth.
Cross-posted at BizzyBlog.com.
