In 2012, two Steubenville, Ohio high school football players sexually assaulted a 16-year-old, who was unconscious at a party, and then posted the pictures of the assault on social media.
This was arguably one of the biggest scandals faced by an Ohio school and football team. One of the perpetrators, Ma’lik Richmond, served one year in a juvenile detention facility, before being released. After his release, he finished his senior year playing football for the Steubenville Big Red. Let that sink in -- he was able to return to his high school and finish out his football career.
Fast forward to August 2017.
Richmond has joined Youngstown State University’s football team. In the fall, Richmond will join the Penguins on the field as a defensive end. Richmond enrolled at YSU a year ago as a student and walked onto the team in January.
Not surprisingly, YSU’s athletic director, Ron Strollo, and football coach, Bo Pelini, have not commented on the issue. But, YSU’s president, Jim Tressel, who coached the Penguins and the Ohio State Buckeyes, defended the student. Among other things, Tressel said “What’s important now is the future,” and claimed that everyone deserves a second chance.
PAUSE. The president of Youngstown State University, an educated man, who has always been deeply involved in academics, publicly defended a RAPIST.
Yeah, whatever, he was young, people change, blah blah blah. He’s still a rapist.
Some people just don’t deserve second chances, especially ones who force themselves onto unconscious women and post it anywhere. Rape is rape; if you’re old enough to know what sex is, you’re old enough to know that it’s not okay to force yourself onto anyone. Rape is not funny.
It is not a joke. It should not be taken lightly.
Yet, here we are, basically rewarding a rapist just because he “did his time.”
What about his victim? She is serving a life sentence. She will never not be a rape victim, and he will never not be a rapist. She will always have to live with what those boys did to her, and they get to continue on as if nothing happened. Rape is not like a speeding ticket; you don’t pay your fine and do whatever time you need to and it’s over with. Rape leaves physical and mental damage forever. If the victim has to suffer for the rest of his/her life, so should the perpetrator.
I was always a proud YSU alum. I loved my time at YSU, and I always defended the school against any negative comments.
Yet, here I am, extremely disappointed with my college. Quite frankly, it’s embarrassing. And I know that I’m not alone. I have friends withdrawing their alumni donations, calling the school to make their voices heard, and publicly shaming the decision made by their administrators.
I don’t think Richmond should be denied an education (quite frankly, he needs all of the educating he can get, especially in women’s studies courses), but I do think he should be denied eligibility on the football team. Moreover, I think university academics and athletics need to take rape more seriously; it’s not a joke. And I think athletic administrations need to stop rewarding rapists.
They made a choice; let them live with the consequences.
