Discussion List for campus-based and allied personnel working to end gender-based violence on campus.

["Langford, Linda" <>]

I agree, and I’ve been bothered by similar language in other news stories involving victims and perpetrators who are known to each other. I wonder whether the Clery “timely warning” requirement might (perversely) be part of the reason campuses tend to use language like this. The Clery act requires institutions to notify the campus community of crimes considered to be a threat to students and employees “in a manner that is timely and that will aid in the prevention of similar occurrences.” My guess is that officials calculate the immediate risk of harm to other members of the community from a domestic violence perpetrator to be relatively small (at least in the short run) and are trying to provide accurate information about the general public’s IMMEDIATE risk by assuming them that the crime was “not random” or similar wording. Ironically, unless they’re in prison, domestic violence offenders may be MORE risk to the community over time since they may move on to batter other victims, a point that gets lost with the focus on same-day risk. Even if my guess is true, that this language comes from timely warning-type concerns, campus officials and/or reporters could certainly convey accurate messages about the general public’s likely risk from a particular perpetrator in the next 24 hours without blaming DV victims,  minimizing the harm done to them, or skimping on the empathy. And why not add on a sidebar that provides a phone number or other resource for people who may be experiencing DV? That alone would bring a whole different tone to even a short piece like this one.  

 

Linda Langford

 

Linda Langford, Sc.D.

Associate Center Director, Higher Education Center for Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Violence Prevention

www.HigherEdCenter.org

55 Chapel Street, Newton, MA  02458-1060

voice (800) 676-1730 x2719 OR (617) 618-2719 (direct line)

fax (617) 928-1537

 

From: Chris Kilmartin (ckilmart) [mailto:]
Sent: Friday, October 15, 2010 1:23 PM
To: ;
Subject: RE: another DV homicide on campus - from wendy murphy

 

Interesting subtle victim blaming here:

 

dispelling fears that a random killer had come to campus. 

 

Seems to say that domestic violence victims don’t deserve as much attention or empathy as random violence victims.

 

From: [mailto:]
Sent: Friday, October 15, 2010 12:26 PM
To:
Subject: another DV homicide on campus - from wendy murphy

 

 

10/14/10 Virginian-Pilot & Ledger Star (Norfolk Va.) 10

2010 WLNR 20524888

 

Virginia Pilot and Ledger-Star (Norfolk, VA)

Copyright 2010 The Virginian-Pilot, Inc.

 

October 14, 2010

 

Section: Front

 

Woman found dead in college men's bathroom Woman found slain in San Diego college restroom

 

 SAN DIEGO

 

 A 19-year-old woman found slain in a men's bathroom at San Diego City College appeared to be the victim of   domestic    violence , school officials said, dispelling fears that a random killer had come to campus. 

 

  A student found the woman's body shortly after 10 p.m. Tuesday and notified a teacher, police said. Investigators Wednesday morning were retracing her steps.

 

 Police would not say how the woman was killed and were withholding her name.

 

 The woman's parents had reported her missing when she did not return home after a Tuesday night class, homicide detective Kevin Rooney told the San Diego Union-Tribune.

 

 Jasmin Perez told the newspaper that the woman was her cousin Diana Gonzalez, of National City, and she has an 8-month-old daughter. Perez said Gonzalez wanted to be a nurse and was taking general education classes.

 

 - The Associated Press

 

EDITION: VP - The Virginian-Pilot

 

Word Count: 147

10/14/10 PILOT-STAR 10

END OF DOCUMENT