Addressing rape in Indiana

It is amazing how nonchalant some people are when it comes to addressing the horrible act of rape.

One in five high school aged girls in Indiana have been sexually assaulted, and yet there continues to be an attitude of victim distrust and predator coddling.
The Indiana Supreme Court just decided upon a case that, while unfathomable to me, perfectly embodies this attitude.

When a 16-year-old student came to her principal minutes after being sexually assaulted on school grounds, he neglected to call the police because he was didn’t believe her. According to a March 31 IDS article, he found time to look at hours of security footage, search both students’ lockers and demand a written statement from the victim before someone else had to insist that she be taken to the hospital.

Even though protocol and human decency insist the principal call the police immediately, he refused to do so. He later claimed he was unaware he had to contact the police directly. Perhaps he was hoping to rely on the police force’s psychic powers.

On top of his blatant disregard for the wellbeing of the victim in his care, he also handled the predator with a lax and sympathetic hand, even though the victim was certain and clear that he was her attacker. The school’s athletic director was even invited to sit in, showing the lack of serious intent.

When students are in school, they are under the guardianship of the principal and the authority structure of that school. How can students be expected to feel safe when their wellbeing is so clearly disregarded by those authorities? How can female students be expected to feel protected when their schools don’t take their claims or safety seriously?

This nonchalance toward high school sexual assault must be addressed because it puts students at risk. It not only teaches young people that if they are attacked the authorities may be unwilling to help or sympathize with them, but that also being a sexual predator is not a big deal and will not be treated harshly.

I’m sure everyone remembers the Stuebenville case. News reporters were much more concerned with the injustice against the young rapists then those against the actual victim. This is exactly the kind of attitude that breeds predators. No other crime of this caliber would have the perpetrators being painted as victims. No other situation would have high school principles treating the victims as the untrustworthy party.

This state, and American society as a whole, needs to reassess its attitude towards rape and its victims, especially as it affects minors.
Sexual assault is not typical teenage behavior.

It’s time administrators wake up to the fact that it is happening and the harm it does.

It’s time they stop treating victims like liars and rapists like naughty children. We need to put the blame where it belongs, and help the victims where we can. Maybe this change in attitude can change the statistics.

jordile@indiana.edu