In the most recent case of sexual assault perpetrated on a college campus, Stanford swimmer, Brock Turner, was convicted on three counts of sexually assaulting an unconscious woman. Both Turner and the unnamed victim had attended a fraternity party by which he subsequently took advantage of the woman's state and assaulted her behind a dumpster. The attack was interrupted by two other students who restrained Turner after he attempted to flee. Despite the severity of his crime, Turner, who faced a possible sentence of 14 years, was handed a ruling of six months.
This incident is added to the ever-increasing number of sexual assault cases on college campuses. The court’s lenient decision, more equivalent to a slap on the wrist, continues to promulgate the disheartening rhetoric that the lives and careers of student-athletes who perpetrate such crimes are more important than those of their victims. Exemplified in this case, as the serving judge argued that an elongated prison sentence would, “have a severe impact on [Turner].”
Over the past few years, there have been a plethora of rape and sexual assault accusations brought against college athletes. In many of these cases, we see educational and justice systems continue to protect these individuals who are revered as gods among men. In American culture, sports figures represent the apex of perfection, embodying the All-American ideals of strength, determination and grace.
However, when that narrative is skewed, and these individuals are accused of something as abhorrent as sexual assault, often we find it easier to overlook the possibility of evil and vulgarity within humans and discredit the merit of the victim’s claim. College sports culture is largely to blame for the air of impunity that surrounds these athletes. The overwhelming significance placed on sports as indicators of an educational institution's success and importance creates a sense of celebrity-like entitlement within players that makes them seemingly untouchable and exempt to the consequences of their deplorable actions. Educational institutions seem more inclined to overlook such violations in an effort to uphold the integrity and reputation of individuals who contribute to their sporting legacies, rather than give justice to those who lose their dignity as a result of the crime.
We’ve seen this exemplified in the case of Jameis Winston, a Heisman winner and former player for Florida State University, who was accused of rape and underwent "investigation" but was allowed to continue playing throughout the season. We’ve seen it at the University of Delaware, where a former student claims that after she reported she was raped in a sophomore football player’s apartment, the Assistant Dean of Students “did not share the student’s rights as a victim or offer any protection or required services, nor did she notify police or any other administrators about the incident or pursue an investigation.” We’ve also seen it at Columbia University, where three female students claim they were sexually assaulted by a campus athlete and “were never encouraged by the school to go to the cops,” while “the school also dragged out their investigations for months.” These stories and many like them send the frightening message that if you can contribute to a university’s legacy, then you are held to different standards and are allowed to play by a different set of rules.
Rape culture continues to be an unsightly blemish on the face of society. It is marked by victim blaming and the normalization of rape through tactics such as teaching women ways to avoid being raped instead of teaching men not to rape and sweeping accusations under the rug in light of a perpetrator's status.
This happens particularly on college campuses where the environment is conducive to sexual assault. There needs to be a renewed interest in bringing this to an end. Educational institutions should lead the charge that sexual assault is unconscionable and will not be overlooked, no matter how well you can throw a ball or wade through water.
