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

["Felty, Wade P." <>]

I thought I had seen the high of absurdity in people making excuses, but nothing compares to these:

 

Two California school districts, both subject to civil action by the victims of sexual abuse that they suffered at the hands of school district employees, released statements which claim the victims themselves are partially to blame for what happened to them.

 

Lafayette School District: “Louis Leone, the attorney representing the Lafayette School District in that case, claimed "Jane Doe" -- who sued the district, Superintendent Fred Brill, Stanley Principal David Schrag and former teacher Michael Merrick earlier this year -- "was herself careless and negligent in and about the matters alleged in the complaint, and that said carelessness and negligence on (Jane Doe's) part proximately contributed to the happenings of the incident and to the injuries, loss and damages."

 

Moraga School District: “Kristen Cunnane was "careless and negligent" and contributed to her ongoing sexual abuse at the hands of a middle school teacher, the Moraga School District claimed in its first legal response to the UC Berkeley swim coach's lawsuit against the school district and three former administrators. The district and three other defendants claim Cunnane "was herself responsible for the acts and damages of which she claims," in the Oct. 24 legal filing. "Carelessness and negligence on (Cunnane's) part proximately contributed to the happenings of the incident and to the injuries, loss and damages," they claim.

 

This is even more outrageous given last week’s 20/20 expose about the role of Victim No. 1’s high school principal in the Jerry Sandusky abuse case – if you missed it, she failed to take action on several occasions when it became obvious that Victim No. 1 was being abuse by Sandusky who served as an assistant volunteer football coach at Central Mountain High in Lock Haven. Also, another football coach at the school was responsible for “escorting” Victim no. 1 to Sandusky’s office.

 

I’m sorry to be posting it, but all of these things coming out within 2 weeks is extremely disheartening. The actions of all three schools make me very afraid for the safety of children and the treatment victims who come forward can expect. I can certainly understand an entity’s desire to avoid massive damages from lawsuits, but to blame the victim for their own abuse is beyond outrageous.

 

http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_21906364/moraga-school-district-child-sex-abuse-victim-was?source=most_viewed

http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21917396/lafayette-school-district-says-14-year-old-child?source=most_emailed

http://samuel-warde.com/2012/11/american-misogyny-peaks-as12-year-old-sex-abuse-victim-is-blamed/

http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_21906363/moraga-school-district-child-sex-abuse-victim-was

 

Wade

 

 

 

Wade Felty

Wade Felty

Office of Residence Life & Housing and Judicial Affairs

Randolph-Macon College

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