Sexual Assaults at UCSB

UPDATE 12/19/2008

Our previous editorial dealt with what we perceive as the often lethargic response from UCSB when sexual assaults occur at UCSB; therefore, we where more that a little surprised to learn that the UC shut down the EAP  after one UC student alleged that she had been the victim of a sexual assault.  Apparently the UC System does take sexual assault much more seriously than we thought—at least they do when it happens in South Africa.  Perhaps Banjo Reams, our intrepid columnist my have to alter his remarks about racism.  Why would the UC cancel the EAP for one sexual assault and yet UCSB will not even exclude sex offenders and accused rapist from UCSB?

It seems that one sexual assault of a UC student while in South Africa was enough to close down the EAP program in that area.  We wonder why UCSB does not apply the same standards of response when the assaults occur on the UCSB campus or in Isla Vista?  It is estimated that there are as many as 300 sexual assaults of UCSB students each year. 

What is truly astounding about UC's response to a sexual assault of a student in South Africa was the admission made by  Bruce Hanna, director of strategic marketing and communications for the university-wide EAP office when he said "... we cannot guarantee safety or security just as the UC cannot at our California campuses.”  Did we read that quote in the Nexus right?   A UC official admits that the UC system cannot guarantee the safety of its students on campus?  I guess that that comment was meant to take the sting out of the sexual assault in South Africa. 

While on the subject of sexual assaults, a few observations about the Eric Frimpong case might be in order  It is always dangerous to express an opinion about an ongoing case because he is, after all, innocent until proven guilty.  Here are a few thoughts:

Why is it that defendants like Frimpong always have a group of "ardent supporters."   These loud and ardent supporters are steadfast even before any evidence has been submitted.  They continue to exclaim their hero's innocence after hearing evidence, and most alarming, they will continue to maintain his innocence after their hero has been convicted with compelling evidence.

Take away all the defense's flimflam about other people's DNA and you are left with a compelling fact:  The victim's DNA was found on Frimpong's genitals and yet he claims he doesn't know her and was not with her that night.   Is his defense that he must have gotten her DNA off of a toilet seat?  

We have an article on our website that states: "  Can you see the problem here? It is simple – when you engage in illegal activities (even a little underage drinking) you may lose your rights. This is doubly so when your so-called friends may not be a direct victim but do not want their illegal or immoral activity made public."  "If you engage in illegal activities (underage drinking, false ID, drugs, abuse of alcohol, cheating) you are exposing yourself to the possibility of being a victim of a crime and not being able to report it. Perpetrators often rely on the fact that their victims are too drunk to report or remember the crime. Moreover, they know you will be less likely to report a crime if you are engaging in illegal or immoral conduct."   That is exactly what has happened in this case.  The defense has focused upon the victims previous criminal conviction, probation, and drinking problems.  They also have focused on the victims conduct.  The fact that she was not merely drinking while on probation, but she was drunk out of her mind are being used against her.   These attacks on the victim and the defense's attacks on the District Attorney form the  basis of defense's case.  Here is the defense in a nutshell: The prosecution did something wrong, the victim is a drunk, and cannot remember, and what is a small twist on the one-arm-man/bushy-haired-stranger-defense, they claim the victim was assaulted by her "intimate partner."   

I would not want to be on this jury.  Not because I couldn't reach a verdict—the victim's (a person Frimpong denies that he even met) DNA was on his scrotum.  Unless he could convince me that he got her DNA off a toilet seat, I would most likely vote guilty.  No, the reason I wouldn't like to be on this jury is that the while I believe, based upon the published accounts, that Mr. Frimpong is the likely perpetrator, I would not like to sit through the review of the victims life—especially her past and present drinking problem and her sex life.   I would not like to witness the attacks upon her character that the defense uses to attempt to get Frimpong off.  The victim and the perpetrator are both UCSB students and it does not appear that either one of them is much of a credit to university.  

Mr. Frimpong did not take the stand in his own defense—surprise, surprise, surprise.  

May we assume the UCSB will soon be publishing a handbook similar to the one they use to instruct UCSB students on how to "beat the rap" will drinking and drugging in IV.  I guess the new student guidelines would advise a rapist to: 1)  Not give any statement to the police, 2) Use a condom, 3) don't bit, and 4)  take a shower afterwards! 

UPDATE 12/18/2007:   Eric Frimpong was convicted of rape on 12/17/2007.  He will face sentencing the end of January and could face up to eight years in prison.  It will be interesting to see how his band of supporters responses to the conviction.  Will they play the race card?  While they demand leniency because of his athletic ability or will the merely continue with their evangelical like pronouncements that they "know he did not do it."  The more important issue is will UCSB finally take action to remove this rapist (now that he has been convicted, it is no longer necessary to use the word "alleged") from UCSB?  Or, what is more likely, UCSB will merely wait until the appeals process is exhausted and Frimpong is in prison to quietly delete his name from the rolls of the school.  My bet is that there will be a group who will support awarding him as degree. 

On a positive note, some good things may come from this awful episode.  Here is our wish list:

Perhaps a few young people will learn that they give up some of their rights when they get drunk, break the law and act stupid.  When you are the victim of a crime, the defense will often attack your actions and your character while trying to vindicate the defendant.  

Women should know that regardless of how drunk, slutty, or stupid you are, you do not deserve to be raped.  No matter what, you can come forward and get justice.  The people who work in law enforcement and the district attorney's office will take action.  The victims of sexual assault at UCSB need to come forward in order to stop the abuse.  The ethos of the UCSB/IV community needs to change.   

One final and very painful comment to parents of UCSB students and prospective students:  If your child has a drinking or drug  issue while attending UCSB, take them out of UCSB—it is not a place that helps one sustain sobriety.  Don't let your child enroll here if they have had a previous DUI, or a history alcohol or drug abuse issues. 

UPDATE 12/19/2007:  UCSB's tepid reaction to verdict:  Paul Descruisseaux, the Associate Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs said, "There are no winners in this outcome, it's a very sad situation."  Editor's comments:  Are you serious?  The victim won, she has had some measure of justice.  The DA won.  Society won.  Hopefully other rape victims at UCSB will have the courage to come forward when they are assaulted, they won!   The campus community could have won as well if your institution took action to exclude rapists, drug dealers, abusers, and felons in general.  But I guess you don't want to be judgmental.  How about a simple comment that UCSB will take action against anyone who is a rapist.  The reason you won't make a simple statement like that is because you don't take action.  As I understand it, Frimpong is still attending UCSB—nice, very nice.  When it comes time for Frimpong's sentencing hearing, it will be interesting to see how many letters of support are furnished to the court by people associated with UCSB explaining to the court why Frimpong shouldn't get locked up.