<p>I think it is important to learn whether Jackie’s story is all or partly false. To learn whether she did, in fact, suffer traumatic sexual assault at the Phi Psi house on September 28, 2012, or at any other place at any other time. “Something must have happened” is misleadingly open ended conclusion. For the sake of everyone, including Jackie, the truth needs to come out.</p>
<p>Does Jackie deserve privacy and to be left alone? I think at this point, unfortunately, no. She told her story to RS, the WaPo, to multiple fellow students. She became a sexual assault advocate on the credibility of her personal experience. She may have told the same story to the Dean of Sexual Misconduct. She may have told the same story to her parents. She disseminated her accusations widely and repeatedly, and these accusations have affected many other people. She needs to take responsibility for her statements and answer more questions from the police, the school – maybe even the press.</p>
<p>Why is it important to learn the truth? The reputation of the fraternity and its members is one issue, but more importantly, I think the major issue is the reputation of UVA’s Dean of Sexual Misconduct and by extension the administration and the culture of the school as a whole. </p>
<p>In the RS article Jackie claimed that she told Dean Eramo what happened to her that night – that she was raped and assaulted by seven fellow students organized and encouraged by two others as part of a fraternity ritual – and that Eramo’s reaction was do to nothing, except to thank her for sharing. Presumably Eramo notified UVA’s administration of the attack and they also chose to take no action. They saw no threat to public safety.</p>
<p>This is a terrible and shocking indictment on the competence and morality – not to mention common sense – of the UVA administration. Premeditated, institutionalized gang rape is on a different level from he said/she said date rape situations. If Jackie’s story is factual these men need to go to prison for a long time. Their lives deserve to be ruined.</p>
<p>Surely, Dean Eramo and the UVA administration would not have an accusation on this level of seriousness go unchecked. They may have used poor judgment in some other cases, but covering up this crime makes them in effect co-conspirators in a horrendous attack that could easily happen again.</p>
<p>So there are two possibilities: either Jackie told Eramo the same story that was described in the RS article, and UVA acted negligently. Or Jackie didn’t tell Eramo the same story that she told RS and UVA is being falsely accused of covering up or ignoring a crime. To me it’s important that we find out which it is.</p>
<p>This is not a denial that rape happens or an apology for sexual assault. In fact, it’s just the opposite, Jackie has by the credentials of her own experience become an advocate for victims of sexual account, even their spokesperson. If she embellished or fabricated her story – for whatever reasons – then she harms the credibility of all victims. I believe that most victims tell the truth and I want their attackers punished. In order to move forward at UVA, this specific story needs to come into the daylight.</p>
<p>I believe that Jackie was manipulated and victimized by Rolling Stone, and that she may well be suffering from sexual trauma, but until what really happened to her is understood she’s caught in a maelstrom lies. In the meantime, UVA is a victim too.</p>