LAST YEAR, we heard the story of Liz Seccuro, a former student of the University who received a haunting letter from fellow student William Beebe, apologizing for a crime that occurred more than twenty years ago. Beebe apologized to Seccuro for raping her at a rush function at the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity house -- a crime for which he was never charged. Suddenly bombarded by feelings of anger, Seccuro did something many people did not expect her to do; she went to the Charlottesville Police. Beebe was sentenced yesterday for his crime, finally vindicating Seccuro's pain after years of torment.
Seccuro now says she forgives Beebe but cannot forgive the University for its lack of action. The University, though, as well as friends and witnesses, can only do so much without the full cooperation of the victim. Although Seccuro went to Student Health, met with school officials, and even gave anonymous interviews about date-rape during her time at the University, she never filed a police report. Rape is a felony, and the University cannot take the necessary actions for justice, as the police can.
It is no secret that victims of rape sometimes remain silent about their experience. According to the RAINN website, it is believed that about 59 percent of rapes go unreported. One in six women is a victim of sexual assault, and 44 percent of those girls are under the age of 18. Sexual assaults are among the most under-reported crimes in this country. These statistics, while frightening, are not shocking. Whether it is the fear of being disbelieved or feeling discouraged by others, college women often choose to remain silent rather than seek justice.
Seccuro reported her attack to university officials and campus police but said she did not feel encouraged to press charges against Beebe. Allison Motheral, president of Sexual Assault Peer Advocacy, understands Seccuro's feelings, saying, "The basic idea here is that sexual assault is not just about the attack itself ... Our society continues to re-injure and re-victimize survivors of sexual assault long after the attack is over, which is unacceptable." While this is true, Seccuro turned down the offer of an honor trial against Beebe and also did nothing with a report she filed at Student Health. When Beebe fled from the University out of fear after being contacted by school officials, the University could do little without Seccuro approaching the police.
At that point, it is the victim's responsibility to seek justice against rapists. Although Motheral notes that, "It is very hard for survivors to come forward to get help if they feel like they will not be supported or if survivors have not been supported in the past," pressing charges is the only way to prevent the rapist from attacking again.
In an interview with Dateline, Seccuro addressed those who disagreed with her decision to go to the police now by posing the question, "So it's not a crime if you apologize for it?" And she is right. No apology can right the wrong he committed that night. An apology does not erase the damage he caused her. However, Seccuro's anger at the University is misguided. Although the University certainly could have done more for Seccuro, such as provided counseling and legal advice, they could not force her to press charges. In the Dateline interview, she says that because she was a freshman in college, someone should have picked up the phone for her and called the police. Her parentsalso met with the University about the crime, and they did not encourage her to press charges either. College is the time when students must learn to make their own decisions, even the extremely difficult ones.
Rape is a sensitive topic, with many grey areas surrounding it. In the end, it is sad that no one was able to help Seccuro at the time of the rape -- even her friends and family. The University has changed a great deal since her case in 1984, now providing the Sexual Assault Board for cases such as Seccuro's. Although the system is not perfect, and the University must continue to make strides in dealing with victims of rape, the University should not be held responsible for the twenty years it took for Seccuro to receive justice.
Lindsay Huggins is a Cavalier Daily Viewpoint Writer. She is a second-year student in the College of Arts and Sciences.