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10 to Twins

By Jessica T

About this blog: I'm a late thirties mother of a ten-year-old and infant twins. My family moved to Menlo Park 6 years ago from Virginia - where I grew up, went to college, got married, had my first born, and got an MBA (in that order). I'm a manag...  (More)

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Don't fund the rape culture at my alma mater

Uploaded: Nov 23, 2014
It was an eerie weekend. First, I received an email from my father. He said he'd been out to our garage and looked at our family's diplomas from the University of Virginia. His Master's, PhD, my mother's Masters, my sister and my Bachelor's degrees all had blood stains on them. I didn't catch what my dad meant until RollingStone Magazine (warning: this is a deeply disturbing story) came to our house a few hours later. In the afternoon, my college friends called. They had loyally returned to Charlottesville as they do each year to remember our friend who died from a drinking-related accident and to run a 5K in her honor.

The stories about UVA's rape culture, which has been nurtured and perpetuated by its Greek system and ignored by the administration, are horrific. What made reading the story even worse were my own memories that surfaced of my time at the school: A boyfriend turned drunk who broke his leg (not once, but twice) jumping off of the roof of a fraternity house. A threat I received in economics class from one of his friends, a former high school classmate of mine, after I broke up him, that I should never set foot in their fraternity house again or else. Serial rapist after serial rapist on the loose, and the lingering fears that never went away. Getting harassed at parties and dorm rooms by violent, rich, and lewd "good ole boys."

I've always been outspoken, and I never participated in the Greek culture at UVA. In fact, I was adamantly opposed to it, but the social scene is such that it's unavoidable to not have a handful of experiences. I have acquaintances whose experiences were similar to those described in the story. Semesters were spent hiding in their closets after assaults. It took many semesters for their GPAs to recover from missed classes and assignments.

What's more maddening is this: I buried some of those memories and moved on. I hoped (and assumed) that as time had gone on perhaps the culture at UVA had improved with a more enlightened younger generation. Before graduate school, I worked in UVA's fundraising offices writing well-researched thank you notes from the President to the moneyed donors who kept the University's well-lubricated traditions alive. I loved that job and did it graciously - UVA paid my family's health insurance and had granted my husband a free ride to get his Masters of Fine Arts. And once I landed a tech job in the valley, we donated generously and loyally year after year to the Creative Writing program.

Until today, we encouraged my daughter to consider going to UVA like her parents and grandparents. We bought her T-shirts and liked the idea of her going back to a place where so many of our formative experiences took place. But today, we told her straight up that UVA wouldn't be a good school for her. I hope that parents across the country say this to their daughters.

While I do love the Creative Writing Program and was heartened to see a photo of one of our favorite professors at an anti-rape rally at UVA in the Wall Street Journal today, I cannot and will not give my alma mater a dime until drastic action is taken to ensure that changes are made to disrupt once and for all a sick culture that feeds on the degradation of women. I urge any and all Silicon Valley UVA alumni to withhold their generosity and follow suit.

My husband is a scholar of UVA history and said that Jefferson thought his great institution was going down the tubes at the end of his life. I'm told he cried during a graduation ceremony. He is surely crying now - as all of us should be.
Community.
What is it worth to you?

Comments

Posted by Confused, a resident of Atherton: Lindenwood,
on Nov 24, 2014 at 8:40 am

Is there anything behind this we should know more about, or just take your word that UVA is a horrible place? If you wrote an article like this about a person, you could be sued for slander/ libel.
Maybe a connecting story saying that x amount of rapes were unpunished last year alone, and that x amount of students were asked to leave campus because they accused another student of rape.

For a writer, your story is lacking - F to UVA for handing out a degree to someone who cannot put together a decent story.

However, it is a common problem on college campuses, I think I viewed a lot of similar instances at my alma mater - greek related, or otherwise... High schools too, a person gets their heart broken and his or her friends defend, or attack the ex.


Posted by professor platypus , a resident of Castro City,
on Nov 24, 2014 at 9:26 am

I'm sure UVA is the only school where this type of behavior is occuring. I'm sure Jessica must of felt some pressure from her father or someone close who nfluenced her decision on writing such an article. If you are in fact over your experience and have moved on from it, why rehash it on your local newspapers blog? Or why bash your alma mater after the fact of such an occurrence and place blame on a group or culture? You realize it is 2014 and not the good ol' class of 82' that your talking to right? And as you can see by my grammar I'm not the sharpest pencil when it comes to writing, what's the other side to the story? Or do I have to click the link you provided .....which I will not do.


Posted by Hmmm, a resident of another community,
on Nov 24, 2014 at 10:48 am

Hmmm is a registered user.

Good for you, Jessica, and for your family, as well! It sounds to me like you knew, out of the gate, enough about Greek culture there to have strong boundaries. Many, many universities and colleges have versions of your alma mater's culture. It behooves students and alumni to remove any blinders they might have so that they can decide if they want to participate in alumni culture. Pressure from alumni may result in some important changes there.

For those critical of this blog entry - well, it may not be the best written story, but it's thought-provoking and informative. It's not Jessica's fault if you're not up on the current issues the school is facing, or if you don't want to clink the link provided.


Posted by Michael G. Stogner, a resident of another community,
on Nov 24, 2014 at 11:09 am

Michael G. Stogner is a registered user.

Jessica T. Very Good Advice

Don't fund the rape culture at my alma matter.


Posted by PA North, a resident of Downtown North,
on Nov 24, 2014 at 12:24 pm

Now: UVA is bad because it is now publicized that their rape problem is no longer hidden.
Then: UVA is great because I went there, gramps went there, and their job paid me money, healthcare and free tuition for my hubby's MFA degree.

Does that summarize it? Mostly?

As others have suggested, perhaps a re-write is in order. This time address why UVA's rape problem is worse than Dartmouth's, Harvard's, UC Berkley and other elite schools. And also highlight what UVA did and did NOT do to correct their problems, once people made those problems visible to the UVA Administration.

Other than those issues, you did a great job. A+ for effort!


Posted by Steve, a resident of Shoreline West,
on Nov 24, 2014 at 1:14 pm

@professor platypus:

> I'm sure UVA is the only school where this type of behavior is occuring.

"The University of Virginia is one of the 86 schools now under federal investigation" (From the Rolling Stone article)

The "everyone else is doing it" excuse doesn't work past second grade.


Posted by Steve, a resident of Shoreline West,
on Nov 24, 2014 at 1:16 pm

@Confused

"Is there anything behind this we should know more about"

Read the Rolling Stone article.

"For a writer, your story is lacking"

Read the Rolling Stone article.

"Maybe a connecting story..."

That would be - you guessed it - the Rolling Stone article.




Posted by Tunbridge Wells, a resident of Menlo Park: Allied Arts/Stanford Park,
on Nov 24, 2014 at 1:17 pm

Tunbridge Wells is a registered user.

Thank you for writing this, Jessica. Colleges and universities across the country have historically handled this problem very badly. The thing that will eventually get colleges and universities to do better is exactly what you are doing- calling out your alma mater. When alums stop giving, and parents start making student safety a dealbreaker, our institutions of higher learning will have to do better.


Posted by rape is no joke, a resident of Gemello,
on Nov 24, 2014 at 2:27 pm

@steve, sorry my sarcasm was not obvious. I'm sure that 86 number unfortunately could easily be doubled if the proper man/women power looked at university's closer.


Posted by Steve, a resident of Shoreline West,
on Nov 24, 2014 at 2:55 pm

@rape is no joke, @professor platypus

Rape and sarcasm don't go together. Your implication was that this is going on at many places, so picking on UVA was unfair. As I said "Everyone else is doing it" doesn't work past second grade.


Posted by parent, a resident of Woodside: other,
on Nov 24, 2014 at 3:26 pm

Jessica, thank you for posting this blog. The scary part are the articles from 2004 that sound similar in terms of the universities non-response... and nothing changed at UVA. Yes other schools have issues, but every one of them will only make changes when it hurts their own bottom line.

Google UVA Annie Hylton Matthew Hamilton



Posted by PA North, a resident of Downtown North,
on Nov 24, 2014 at 3:44 pm

Going on since long before 2004...

"She said she believes that not much has changed since she was a student there three decades ago. As a freshman in the fall of 1978, the woman said she was date-raped after a party."
?What is seared into my memory is that he was on top of me, and I was saying, ?No! No! No!? ? she said. ?I never told anybody. I felt shame and embarrassment. I thought it was my fault because I had gotten myself into that situation.?

...and...

"One prominent board member, former rector Helen Dragas, posted to the university?s Facebook page to say she had learned that a college friend ?had the exact same thing happen to her in a fraternity house."
?I never knew it,? wrote Dragas, who attended U-Va. in the early 1980s, ?and I was really shaken that women were being victimized then, and still are more than thirty years later. This is a serious problem, to say the least. We need to solve it.?

From: Web Link

-/-/-/-

Jessica, when did you graduate from UVA?


Posted by Menlo Voter, a resident of Menlo Park: other,
on Nov 24, 2014 at 7:53 pm

Menlo Voter is a registered user.

professor platypus:

click the link. you can read the source material. Unless, of course, you're afraid to see that your Alma Mater has a culture of rape and the administration has done zero about it.


Posted by Jessica T, a Mountain View Online blogger,
on Nov 24, 2014 at 8:18 pm

Jessica T is a registered user.

Readers,

Please consider signing this important petition on Change.org.


Posted by Don't know how to spell, a resident of Menlo Park: Sharon Heights,
on Nov 25, 2014 at 2:48 pm

Jessica,

Too bad you spent all that money at UVA and did not learn how to spell.


Posted by PA native, a resident of another community,
on Nov 25, 2014 at 4:11 pm

Jessica: thank you for column. I felt so disgusted after reading the Rolling Stone article; I can't imagine what you must have felt as an alum, donor and former employee.

Ignore the trolls. This seems to be the same guy posting under different names.


Posted by Peter Carpenter, a resident of Atherton: Lindenwood,
on Nov 25, 2014 at 4:57 pm

Peter Carpenter is a registered user.

One of the biggest mistakes is that universities have declared that they are somehow separate from the legal system.

Rapes should be reported to the local police, not to the university. The universities have no business insulating their students from the protections and the penalties of the law.


Posted by Menlo Voter, a resident of Menlo Park: other,
on Nov 25, 2014 at 6:23 pm

Menlo Voter is a registered user.

Peter:

The universities protect them because their parents, you know the one's that pay the bill, demand that they do. Their precious little boys couldn't possibly have done anything wrong. After all it would reflect poorly on the parents. God forbid that should happen. Just more self absorbed jerks.


Posted by UC Davis Grad, a resident of Mountain View,
on Nov 25, 2014 at 6:36 pm

@Menlo Voter -- Remember, though, that in a number of communities with big-time colleges, the local law enforcement authorities are not always willing to go after college students that may have violated the law. ESPECIALLY if they really are "students" (read: athletes).


Posted by Thimk, a resident of Blossom Valley,
on Nov 25, 2014 at 8:58 pm

(Yes, Thimk)

Same logic demands we shut down the local high schools because they obviously foster suicides.

If only this was some of Johnathan Swift lol piece.

With this kind of thinking we should shut down all the dorms because of all the underage drinking and illegal drug use. Not to mention rapes that occur in the dorms.

Likewise find all the demographics that make up the least likely to graduate group and keep them out of college. That way we can concentrate on only those who are serious students.

Look at the UCR. We can lock up anyone who matches segments of society prone to crime. We're painting with a broad brush here after all.


Posted by Perspectives, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood,
on Nov 25, 2014 at 11:14 pm

Perspectives is a registered user.

I don't even know where to begin with this.... I grew up in Charlottesville and also went to UVA as an undergrad. Jessica, I am honestly shocked at your blog article here. I read the RS article the day it came out and cannot believe you have patently sided with those who wish to rake UVA over the coals based on this article. To say you will hope your children/ daughters don't go there to school is so sad. I'm sincerely sorry if you personally, or so many of your friends as you say, experienced a "rape culture" just like what has been described in the RS article.... But I can assure you my own experiences, as well as those of my friends there, was nothing like what was written about. And I was quite involved in the social scene- including frat parties.

What a shame that you would throw away your alma matre and all the good that is a part of UVA bc of an article in Rolling Stone- which, by the way is erroneous factually in at least one place that I know of (the Virginia Gentlemen do not sing "Rugby Road" as they said. It was the Glee Club, and they did not sing the raunchy verses.). Talk about throwing the baby out with the bath water. It would serve everyone well to take a deep breath and not jump on the bandwagon of using UVA as the scapegoat for university party culture- how about let's look at a PLETHORA of universities in our country who should revamp safety practices.

I don't know if it's supposedly PC to bash one's alma matre over an article like the one in RS (?). I guess maybe that somehow shows cool evolvement? It's incredibly reactionary in my opinion. And damaging to the good that UVA has. I wish you would not demonize an institution that has a lot to offer. This is said as a community member who hopes to see future UVA alum contributions to the world, and as a proud fellow alum. Or at least I am proud to call myself one- you apparently are not.


Posted by Perspectives, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood,
on Nov 25, 2014 at 11:37 pm

Perspectives is a registered user.

Can't seem to go in to add to my post... But I do want to be clear- I am (hopefully this is an understood given) not proud of any potential wrongdoings or minimizations on the part of administration if that turns out to be the case. And certainly I am not accepting of harassment, rape and/or and degradation of women (or men). What I am saying is that I will not throw out all that is good- and in fact great in many many ways- about UVA bc of a potential need to make important changes. I would hope that other alums don't throw up their hands and discard their school with disgust and instead try to raise it up as a leader for facilitating change nationwide.


Posted by Educator, a resident of another community,
on Nov 26, 2014 at 6:05 am

Mr. Carpenter,

Thank you for your comments. Educational institutions, from elementary schools to universities, often seek to adjudicate criminal matters "in-house." Crime victims are entitled to the full protection of the police and court system and should seek this protection when victimized.

An assault is an assault, a rape is a rape, whether it occurs in a classroom, on a campus, or on the street.


Posted by Amazing, a resident of Old Mountain View,
on Nov 26, 2014 at 8:28 am

These Town Square trolls are something else. Even complaining about Jessica's story ("Confused," "PA North") when it's largely just her personal testimonial (were they there with her, and remember her experiences differently??)

Exactly what don't all these people understand about (a) rape is rape, (b) "everyone else is doing it too" excuses nothing, but says something about the person who thinks that way, and (c) if colleges refuse to deal with such a serious problem (the bureaucratic evasions -- 'You need to focus on your healing' -- and the smooth-talking dean at the trustees meeting -- in the RS article present a pretty picture), it'll backfire. Sooner or later, big-time, as it did with the Catholic Church. Given the history here, including Jessica's own experience, what else can conscientious alumni possibly do but withold their money and their children? The university's inaction forces that reaction.


Posted by Tunbridge Wells, a resident of Menlo Park: Allied Arts/Stanford Park,
on Nov 26, 2014 at 9:03 am

Tunbridge Wells is a registered user.

"UVA is one of more than 70 institutions under Title IX investigation by the Department of Education for the possible mishandling of sexual violence and harassment reports. "

Read more: Web Link


Posted by Adobe, a resident of Adobe-Meadows,
on Nov 26, 2014 at 9:23 am

"I read the RS article the day it came out and cannot believe you have patently sided with those who wish to rake UVA over the coals based on this article. To say you will hope your children/ daughters don't go there to school is so sad"

Did you really read the RS article? Where is your empathy for the woman in the article? At the fraternity party, she was beaten and forcibly gang-raped by over six men--who laughed and congratulated each other as they did this. What if this had happened to your sister or your daughter? Your response to the article is to immediately defend the university against any criticism--exactly the kind of thinking that has perpetuated the rape culture at UVA.


"I'm sincerely sorry if you personally, or so many of your friends as you say, experienced a 'rape culture' just like what has been described in the RS article.... But I can assure you my own experiences, as well as those of my friends there, was nothing like what was written about. And I was quite involved in the social scene- including frat parties."

So you're saying that because you personally did not experience a rape culture at UVA then the experience of the female student in the RS article is somehow invalid?

Good article, Jessica. As others above have said, please ignore the trolls.


Posted by Menlo Voter, a resident of Menlo Park: other,
on Nov 26, 2014 at 9:58 am

Menlo Voter is a registered user.

UC Davis Grad:

That may be the case, but in this case, it's not even being reported to the police. That's the problem. If it gets reported to the police and they don't do anything that's a different problem and there are ways to deal with it.


Posted by Menlo Voter, a resident of Menlo Park: other,
on Nov 26, 2014 at 10:06 am

Menlo Voter is a registered user.

Turnbridge:

thank you for that link. Interesting article. Those who don't think UVA has a big problem should read it as well as the Rolling Stone article.


Posted by Steve, a resident of Shoreline West,
on Nov 26, 2014 at 11:03 am


"But I do want to be clear"

Yes, you were clear. You called the author and the women in the Rolling Stone article liars.


Posted by Perspectives, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood,
on Nov 26, 2014 at 11:49 am

Steve, I most certainly did NOT call the victim in the RS article a liar. That is shameful- and slanderous- that you would claim that I did.

I said that I personally did not experience a "rape culture" at UVA. What happened to the victim in the article is despicable and should be investigated and punished fully. I said it was not a "CULTURE" I personally experienced and did not find those experiences to be "the culture". Culture- to me- implies the norm. Just as Jessica gave her personal opinion of the culture there, I am giving mine.

Adobe, I don't know why you would say that I am immediately defending the University against ANY criticism. That's absurd. I said in my comments that a plethora of universities need to be looked into. UVA included. If rapes are being covered up by administration the school should be held accountable. I am only defending that UVA still has redeemable qualities and to demonize the entire student population and alumni is counterproductive.

Having a different viewpoint is not being a troll folks.

On a related note, I am completely turned off by these Palo Alto Online comment/town square comment sections and commenters. The environment is incredibly hostile. I'm done. And fully anticipate the real trolls to make comments like "good riddance". Carry on.


Posted by Hmmm, a resident of East Palo Alto,
on Nov 26, 2014 at 12:19 pm

Hmmm is a registered user.

How can it be slanderous if you don't use your real name, Perspectives?

Perhaps pulling your POV out of 1964 and into 2014 will allow you to actually understand what's going on. The blogger isn't responsible for the problems at UVA< and obviously feels strongly enough to go public with her opinions. You may not agree, but to try to invalidate her POV by asserting yours is transparently stupid.


Posted by Steve, a resident of Shoreline West,
on Nov 26, 2014 at 12:27 pm

@Perspectives

"I'm sincerely sorry if you personally, or so many of your friends as you say, experienced a "rape culture""

*if*, *as you say*, *"rape culture"* (in quotes). Yes, you implied she is not truthful.



"The environment is incredibly hostile."

Funny that. You call people liars and you find it hostile.


Posted by Peter Carpenter, a resident of Atherton: Lindenwood,
on Nov 26, 2014 at 1:12 pm

Peter Carpenter is a registered user.

Another perspective on the issue of campus rapes:

"College Rapes, Sexual Assaults: America?s Nightmare
By Vincent J. Bove | Reawakening the Nation | November 21, 2014

It has been my privilege to conduct extensive security initiatives over the years for colleges and universities.

These have included:

Hiring, management, and training of security personnel
Collaboration with law enforcement
Development of post orders and emergency plans
Keynotes for law enforcement, security directors, managers, and supervisors
Serving as spokesman for families victimized by the Virginia Tech tragedy and the completion of a report on their behalf
Publication of numerous articles, blogs, and a book
Police academy presentations for law enforcement seeking crime prevention practitioner certifications
Aside from these security initiatives, I have also been privileged to conduct many programs in character, ethics, and leadership, which in my opinion are inseparable from security at campuses.

Staggering Statistics
A January 2014 White House report titled ?Rape and Sexual Assault: A Renewed Call to Action? clearly paints the enormity of the crisis on college campuses:


1 in 5 women have been sexually assaulted while in college
Dynamics of college life with the ?get high? culture fueling the problem with many victims being drunk, under the influence of drugs, passed out, or otherwise incapacitated when violated
Perpetrators preying on incapacitated women and sometimes providing them with alcohol and drugs
The ?party mentality? problem with 58 percent of incapacitated rapes and 28 percent of forced rapes taking place at parties
Campus perpetrators equating to repeat serial offenders?an average of six rapes each
Lack of reporting sexual assaults by student victims to law enforcement?an appalling average of only 12 percent report the crimes
Low arrest rate?approximately 12 percent of 238,000 annual rape and sexual assault victims result in arrests
A 2012 report by the CDC paints additional disturbing facts:

Among sexual violence victims raped since their 18th birthday, 31.5 percent of women and 16.1 percent of men reported a physical injury with 36.2 percent of women requiring medical treatment
During 2004?2006 an estimated 105,187 females and 6,526 males aged 10?24 received medical care in emergency rooms as a result of nonfatal injuries sustained from sexual assault

Character Education and Leadership Initiatives
As mentioned earlier, during the many years that I have been conducting security initiatives, I have done so by integrating character and leadership programs as part and parcel to the issue. Security and character are inseparable in efforts to safeguard campuses. These initiatives paint the importance of this cohesion:

?Transforming American Schools: The Heart and Brick of Security??my signature presentation on school/campus security and character education that has been conducted for law enforcement personnel and educators nationwide
?Be a Person of Character: Change the World??a presentation conducted for students from middle school through college
Articles, blogs, and a newest book and this weekly Epoch Times column that continually emphasize the importance of integrating security with leadership and character development
Training initiatives for all elements of society?students, families, corporations, educators, government leaders, and law enforcement that present security as inseparable from character, ethics, and leadership. Just this year, events at The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey titled Inaugural Conference: Character, Ethics, Leadership and Be a Person of Character: Change the World at Monmouth University were both filled to capacity with over 1,000 law enforcement officials, students, and family members

Final Reflections
America must enhance and integrate security and character education initiatives at our colleges and universities.

Each and every week we see tragic headlines of rape and sexual assaults as well as the violation of ethical principles that breach the call to ?do unto others as you would have them do unto you.?

Only when America integrates cutting-edge security measures including physical, personnel, and emergency procedures with character education that emphasizes leadership and ethical responsibility will we be on the right track for reawakening the nation."

It is hard to dismiss these facts.


Posted by Menlo Voter, a resident of Menlo Park: other,
on Nov 26, 2014 at 7:49 pm

Menlo Voter is a registered user.

perspectives:

did you actually read the Rolling Stone article? Did you read the article posted by Turnbridge Wells? If you did can you honestly say there isn't a serious problem with your alma mater?


Posted by menlo mom, a resident of Atherton: West Atherton,
on Nov 26, 2014 at 10:39 pm

Jessica, please don't discount your degree and all the hard work it took to attain it. This is a national issue that has been in the news for years now, and at least it's finally being reported and schools are being challenged to become accountable for their frequent non-reporting of incidents and slap on the wrists to offenders. Maybe it would be better to earmark your funds to your school's rape crisis center or the many organizations that seek to educate and publicize about this ongoing problem. Perhaps early high school education needs to be done to try and stop this behavior. If you look at the local news over the past year you will see that many, Cal and UCSB are amongst the many schools with a rape culture, and both seem to have under reported many instances. Hopefully this culture can change before your daughter attends college, no matter which school she chooses.


Posted by Sally Hemmings, a resident of Adobe-Meadows,
on Nov 26, 2014 at 11:53 pm

Great post Jessica. UVA has had a lot of bystanding faculty, as has Stanford and other schools where sexual assault and frat culture have become serious risk management issues as a result. It is the job of the faculty ultimately to ensure that the leadership of the university is handling safety appropriately. If it is not, then it is the job of the faculty to show that they lack confidence in the management of the university and want either a change of course or a change of leadership.

UVA faculty have been "afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead." They should be ashamed. Please don't think for a minute that the first time faculty found out that their school was a frat party full of rape was this week. Please.

Alums have been bystanders as well so I commend you for your article. I hope you will send a letter to the university administration, and to other alums, and I hope you will withhold donations and urge others to do the same.

By the way, I doubt Jefferson is crying. He raped a 14 year old slave.


Posted by mauricio, a resident of Embarcadero Oaks/Leland,
on Nov 28, 2014 at 4:24 pm

mauricio is a registered user.

Many, perhaps most rapes in colleges are perpetrated by athletes. The colleges, their security apparatus and often local local law enforcement tend to shield and protect those athletes for a myriad of reasons. Unless this changes dramatically, rape will remain a very serious problem .


Posted by I didn't know that, a resident of Menlo Park,
on Nov 30, 2014 at 10:39 am

Mauricio -

"Many, perhaps most rapes in colleges are perpetrated by athletes" is a powerful claim. Do you have any supporting statistics to back that up?


Posted by I didn't know that, a resident of Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park,
on Nov 30, 2014 at 1:49 pm

Menlo Mom -


You write "If you look at the local news over the past year you will see that many, Cal and UCSB are amongst the many schools with a rape culture, and both seem to have under reported many instances." Just like Mauricio above it would be nice to see your supporting statistics regarding Cal and UCSB specifically.


Posted by menlo mom, a resident of Atherton: West Atherton,
on Dec 1, 2014 at 6:35 am

To I didn't know that, there have been articles in the newspaper as well as local news coverage in the past two weeks about a rape at Cal at a frat where drugs were used. UCSB has been in the news many times for their on/off campus rapes. I suggest you google it, as there is quite a lot of reported news about these two campuses in particular. In many articles both campus's have been decried for lack of reporting of instances and not doing enough to increase safety on campus.


Posted by I didn't know that, a resident of Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park,
on Dec 1, 2014 at 7:10 am

Menlo Mom -

If you don't have any supporting statistics that's fine - just say so. Here is a link to a piece showing the 55 open investigations by the department of education.


Web Link

There are approximately 7,000 Colleges in the US as of 2012
Supporting Link: Web Link


With around 90 campuses under investigation that's +/- 1.3% accused.


Posted by I didn't know that, a resident of Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park,
on Dec 5, 2014 at 10:47 am

"Rolling Stone" issues apology

Web Link

Sad that this comes out AFTER the damage has been done. I think we can all agree that when you move a bunch of 18 - 22 year olds out of their homes and introduce alcohol there are going to be some problems. My issue is the rush to brand so many groups and institutions as supporters of a "rape culture". So, Jessica T., can we make donations to UVA again?


Posted by scotty, a resident of Green Acres,
on Dec 5, 2014 at 11:24 am

Uh oh. The backpedaling from the university and rolling stone begins. Care to revise your story Ma'am? Can you say "Duke Lacrosse" Jessica?


Posted by Steve, a resident of Shoreline West,
on Dec 5, 2014 at 11:33 am

Oops :

"In the face of new information, there now appear to be discrepancies in Jackie's account, and we have come to the conclusion that our trust in her was misplaced," Dana wrote. "We are taking this seriously and apologize to anyone who was affected by the story."


Posted by Outta Towner, a resident of another community,
on Dec 5, 2014 at 1:05 pm

Hey, it's the narrative.

While this story might be technically fabricated, without any truth, it is important to note that sometimes the greater good needs to prevail. Since this topic is so important, sometimes truth is the first casualty. Twana Brawley comes to mind, and as already mentioned, Duke. Even Dan Rather and the Bush Nat'l Guard docs from 1970's written by MS Word, false but we all know that they are true, we just had to fabricate the evidence to prove the overall truthfulness. So just remember the narrative, don't lose sight of the higher level narrative.


Posted by Outta Towner, a resident of another community,
on Dec 5, 2014 at 1:28 pm

"Care to revise your story, Ma'am?"

Really. And others' comments as well!
Like this guy Steve,and the 14 buffoons who 'liked' it:

+ 14 people like this Posted by Steve, a resident of Shoreline West,
on Nov 24, 2014 at 1:16 pm
@Confused

"Is there anything behind this we should know more about"

Read the Rolling Stone article.

"For a writer, your story is lacking"

Read the Rolling Stone article.

"Maybe a connecting story..."

That would be - you guessed it - the Rolling Stone article.
-/-/-/-/-

I guess Steve's critical thinking skills never imagined that a RS story might just be a "story"!

No matter, it's the narrative!


Posted by And now, the truth, a resident of Bailey Park,
on Dec 5, 2014 at 1:40 pm

Oh we are soooo quick to accept false claims if they are said with conviction and strike a chord in us. Truth be damned, it was a hell of a story eh?!?
The fabricator should do hard jail time.
Web Link

[Portion removed by Palo Alto Online.]


Posted by I didn't know that, a resident of Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park,
on Dec 6, 2014 at 9:25 pm

On November 23rd Jessica T. wrote and uploaded these words in response to the now discounted "Rolling Stone" story:

"The stories about UVA's rape culture, which has been nurtured and perpetuated by its Greek system and ignored by the administration, are horrific."

The beginning of the first sentence - "the stories about UVA's rape culture..." is written as a factual statement by Jessica. Now, almost three weeks later, and after a retraction by "Rolling Stone", she is nowhere to be found. She has disappeared into radio silence.

[Portion removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]


Posted by Jessica T, a Mountain View Online blogger,
on Dec 7, 2014 at 8:40 am

Jessica T is a registered user.

As an alumna of UVA who had many friends who were victims of sexual assault during my tenure there, I don't think that this predictable examination and debate discredits the elements of truth portrayed in the article. Readers who have familiarity with sexual assault and indeed PTSD will know that this statement from a Dec. 5 NYT article is absolutely relevant "Victim advocates here say that even if aspects of Jackie?s account do not hold up under scrutiny, they still tend to believe that she was assaulted, and they note that survivors of trauma often have murky or inconsistent recollections of the event. But more important, they said, is their fear that an episode that had promised to force people to take campus rape more seriously will have the opposite effect." For this same reason, Teresa Sullivan, UVA's president has said, "Today?s news must not alter this focus.? Need I remind you that a woman at UVA was murdered earlier this fall? No - I won't be re-instating my donations to the University until I'm satisfied with the action that it has taken to change the culture and protect the safety of their female students.


Posted by Amazing, a resident of Old Mountain View,
on Dec 7, 2014 at 12:11 pm

Missed, evidently, by the likes of "Outta Towner," "And now, the truth," and especially "I didn't know that" (all piling on, quick to smugly cast stones of their own) is that both the original RS article and Jessica T's own testimonial here reported larger, longer histories of sexual assaults at UVA.

The Rolling Stone article used "Jackie's" story as a focus, a story now in question via circumstantial inconsistencies (specifically the identification of the specific fraternity where "Jackie" claimed that both her date lived and the gang rape occurred), though that falls far short of establishing that the gang rape didn't happen. When reading it originally, I noticed that writer Sabrina Erdely had placed more faith on one first-person account and less on its corroboration than is usual in serious national journalism. But the same article reports and quotes other UVA rape victims, 38 sexual-assault complaints in the last academic year, students adjudicated "guilty for sexual misconduct " yet treated lightly by the school, criticism even from a former UVA dean, and detailed evidence and allegations of university officials behaving as though rapes were an issue not mainly for the victims, but the university's image, or the risk of lawsuits from wealthy parents of rape perpetrators -- perpetrators! The sense of a "rape culture" including "administrative cover-up and apathy" emerges clearly from the long article, even if "Jackie's" story were discredited in substance (not just in its specifics of time and place), which it hasn't been.

It would be helpful if Rolling Stone followed up properly: not just acknowledging (as the magazine has done so far) the circumstantial issues within the "Jackie" story, but exercising some of the investigative zeal toward the truth of that episode that Erdely showed in writing up Jackie's version of it. That particular sub-story's weakness is a reminder that this sordid topic has further facets, including "victim advocates" who'll believe any rape accusation, however false (the Duke Lacrosse case is famous, but hardly unique). Yet the Rolling Stone article remains a sharp indictment of UVA -- only a small fraction of its content has even been questioned.


Posted by Oh what a tangled web we weave, a resident of Cuesta Park,
on Dec 8, 2014 at 12:14 pm

Now we can all see the damage lies create. We have some dismissing the story and issue all together while others back pedal and say "OK maybe THIS story is BS, but I know someone who was raped so lets act as if the story was true and condemn the school as harboring a rape culture worse than other schools. Is that the case? I know a 2 girls at Stanford that was sexually assaulted at frat houses. Does Stanford have a rape culture?

Sorry, this one has blown up in the faces of all who care about it, right or wrong. Boom goes the credibility .


Posted by Amazing, a resident of Old Mountain View,
on Dec 8, 2014 at 1:01 pm

No, "tangled." The situation is not as simple and pat as you and some others insist, stubbornly, on trying to portray it.

There is no "the story." Nothing has "blown up." Rolling Stone published a long, searching article on several aspects and cases of sexual assualt at UVA. One of the article's narratives is now questioned, regarding time and place of a reported gang rape -- no one has shown that the gang rape didn't happen. No one has ever even questioned the rest, the vast majority, of the RS article, part of whose disturbing impact comes from comments by UVA officials in their own words. All this has been pointed out in comments here. Why don't you Get It??

It's as if the trolls never read the whole RS story, or they insist on ignoring most of it (or claiming the problems are "the same everywhere" -- i.e. acceptable), because they don't personally like the implications.


Posted by What a complete mess, a resident of Bailey Park,
on Dec 8, 2014 at 2:40 pm

I feel sorry for anyone who gets falsely caught up in this mess. It's like Duke Lacrosse all over again. Even if nothing is proved, many will now always assume UVA has a "Rape culture" on campus.


Posted by I didn't know that, a resident of Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park,
on Dec 8, 2014 at 5:05 pm

Jessica T. finally responds and within her post says the following: "Need I remind you that a woman at UVA was murdered earlier this fall." It's written in support of her position that UVA is a dangerous place. It should be noted that if she is referring to the horribly sad case of Hannah Graham the person arrested for the crime is a non UVA student. Further, the break in the case came from video tape of the two of them together at the Mall in downtown Charlottesville about a mile off campus.

Web Link

Yes, Hannah was a UVA student, but to use her murder to support Jessica's own "rape culture" narrative is a sad stretch.

And to you, "amazing", you write "no one has shown that the gang rape didn't happen" The fact that no one has one piece of evidence that it did happen seems lost on you. It's wrong to make an explosive claim like that without evidence and then try to dismiss it because of how it supports the cause. It just is.

The best piece I've read about this is by first amendment attorney Mark Randazza. His piece here:

Web Link


Posted by Victimization, a resident of Cuernavaca,
on Dec 9, 2014 at 9:52 am

I donated to the UVA yesterday. Not much, just 25 bucks, but I feel they have been wrongly shamed by the irresponsibles in the media, too hungry to jump on a salacious story because they know they will get a bunch of readers, regardless of verified facts.

If others feel the same: Web Link


Posted by Steve, a resident of Shoreline West,
on Dec 10, 2014 at 11:35 am

@Outta Towner :

> I guess Steve's critical thinking skills never imagined that a RS story might just be a "story"!

If you cared to look at the Rolling Stone article, it has been updated.
If you cared to look at the post above yours, I have posted an excerpt from Rolling Stone's comment on the article.


Posted by pogo, a resident of Woodside: other,
on Dec 11, 2014 at 4:05 pm

pogo is a registered user.

What a travesty. Many of the details of Jackie's account of a gang rape have now been either disproven or put in serious doubt. This doesn't appear to be a case of PTSD as much as a case of shoddy reporting. The only saving grace is Rolling Stone's acknowledgement of its own culpability.

As others have pointed out, this is eerily reminiscent of the false claims against the Duke lacrosse team. Those students were universally condemned and subject to incredible derision until those charges were shown to be false.

Jessica T. - YOU BASED YOUR CONCLUSIONS ON A STORY THAT IS FALSE. It is just a little too convenient for you to change your rationale to a completely unrelated crime that has nothing to do with the "culture of rape" at UVa you claim.

The source of the story, Rolling Stone, has admitted their error. You should as well.


Posted by I didn't know that, a resident of Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park,
on Dec 12, 2014 at 6:48 am

Here is a link to the just released Department of Justice report on this very topic. It will be interesting to see how this report gets twisted to fit the "rape culture" narrative.


Web Link


Posted by Amazing, a resident of Old Mountain View,
on Dec 12, 2014 at 7:06 am

The denialist trolls here grasp at and spin any fragmentary question about the Rolling Stone article, as if it lets UVA off the hook. It isn't only that "I didn't know that" ignores or doesn't understand the full meaning of "evidence," or that just PART of the Jackie story has ever been questioned (from all that's now public, it remains far from clear that she wasn't gang-raped at UVA, or that "Drew" isn't an identified person -- the questions concern her recollection of the specific frat house where she says it happened when she was a new UVA student) -- but you can point this all out, and they still don't Get It.

These trolls all have had access to the RS article, yet their comments show that either they never read it, or they deliberately ignore it -- just as they keep ignoring Jessica T's own first-hand reflections on UVA at the start of this blog. They ignore the unchallenged 95% of the Rolling Stone article describing UVA's "troubling history of indifference to many other instances of alleged sexual assaults." They ignore the article's information about Liz Seccuro, Catherine Lhamon (Office of Civil Rights, on the extraordinary "Compliance Review" ordered for UVA), Susan Russell, Wendy Murphy, Emily Renda, the "roofie frat," David Lisak, the 38 UVA sexual assaults reported last year, former UVA dean John Foubert, "Stacy," the "One Less" testimonials, Rachel Soltis, and Dean of students Allen Groves's "deliberate and irresponsible" mischaracterization at a UVA trustee meeting when a trustee asked point-blank "Are we under any federal investigation with regard to sexual assault?"

Against the many reports of "indifference to instances of alleged sexual assaults" at UVA, it's striking, to a dispassionate observer, to see the dynamics of denial play out even on a local blog like this one.


Posted by I didn't know that, a resident of Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park,
on Dec 12, 2014 at 7:54 am

Facts are hard to argue with. "Amazing" notes "38 UVA sexual assaults reported last year". Even 1 is too many but 38 reported with a UVA enrollment of 21,238 ( 2013 ) is less that 2/10 of 1%. Hardly a "rape culture". I know, many go unreported. If the actual number were 380 or ten times the reported number we would be at a rate of about 1.8%. Again, even 1 is too many, but hardly a "rape culture".


Posted by pogo, a resident of Woodside: other,
on Dec 12, 2014 at 5:08 pm

pogo is a registered user.

I have not only read the Rolling Stone article but I have read the Washington Post's critiques which literally tear Jackie's account apart piece by piece.

An accusation of rape is one of the most serious criminal allegations someone can make. It literally ruins lives for both parties. Put succinctly, the incidents, people, time and places Jackie described in her story did not happen or exist.

In cases without physical evidence or independent corroboration, it comes down to an issue of credibility. Jackie's story no longer has any. Even the magazine that published her story admits as much.


Posted by I didn't know that, a resident of Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park,
on Dec 12, 2014 at 10:59 pm

Well said Pogo, well said indeed.

If someone posted here that there had never been a sexual assault on any campus in the United States many would rightfully post statistics proving otherwise. On Jessica T's blog we have a claim of not just a sexual assault but a rape. And not just a rape but a gang rape. And not just any gang rape, a gang rape at the University of Virginia, home to rich boys of privilege. Many of us have posted statistics to dispute this outrageous claim. None of said sexual assault doesn't happen. Just that the "Rolling Stone" article was inflammatory and not based in fact. "Rolling Stone" themselves discounted the account. We stated that using that article to support a so called "rape culture" was, in fact, incorrect. We even introduced facts and statistics to support our arguments instead of pure hearsay.

The likes of "amazing" don't like this approach. "Amazing" even states "They ignore the unchallenged 95% of the Rolling Stone article" What? Where did that 95% number come from?

The bottom line is that because we don't see it her way we are "trolls" and "don't understand the full meaning of evidence". We understand evidence "amazing". The question is when will you provide some?


Posted by pogo, a resident of Woodside: other,
on Dec 13, 2014 at 7:30 am

pogo is a registered user.

I think it's worth repeating thess few sentences from the post immediately above because it is so ON POINT.

"None of (us) said sexual assault doesn't happen. Just that the "Rolling Stone" article was inflammatory and not based in fact. "Rolling Stone" themselves discounted the account. We stated that using that article to support a so called "rape culture" was, in fact, incorrect. We even introduced facts and statistics to support our arguments instead of pure hearsay."


Posted by I didn't know that, a resident of Menlo Park,
on Dec 16, 2014 at 7:12 am

New story from "The Washington Post" raising fresh doubts about "Jackie" and the alleged assault.


Web Link


Posted by Jenny, a resident of Midtown,
on Dec 16, 2014 at 7:09 pm

You really dumped on UVA, your alma mater. Are you ready to apologize, AND criticize "Jackie", who clearly lied about the entire thing.

I have two sons and one daughter. I am aware of the issues, but boys/men need to be shielded from rape allegations, as girls/women are. Unless there is clear forensic information and other convincing evidence, nobody should be named in the press. The fraternity at UVA has a good case to bring a civil suit, IMO. What do you think?


Posted by I didn't know that, a resident of Menlo Park,
on Dec 17, 2014 at 3:42 pm

Here is a link to a piece that came out today ( 12/17 ) on CNN. Could the "alleged rapist" not even exist?

Web Link

It's clear that Sabrina Rubin Erdely made up vast portions of "A Rape on Campus." Her silence is deafening.


Posted by Jenny, a resident of Midtown,
on Dec 20, 2014 at 2:08 pm

This entire episode is just a replay of the Tawana Brawley scandal. Remember: Gang rape by white men. Completely false. "Jackie" (Coakley is her last name, btw) is the Tawana, and Jessica T. (and her histrionic ilk) are the Al Sharptons.

Let's not forget the Duke rape injustice, too.

Men are being ambushed by this hysteria.

This craze has really hurt the reputation of women. As a woman, I find this to be disgusting. Jessica T., you need to own it. We need to hear from you.


Posted by I didn't know that, a resident of Menlo Park,
on Dec 21, 2014 at 7:37 pm

Here is a link to a 7 minute video by C.H. Sommers, Phd. discussing how the now dismissed "A Rape on Campus" went viral so quickly. She points out the fact that sexual assaults in the United States have actually been declining over the past few years. Despite that, since 2010, there has been a rush to support the unproven fantasy that 1 in 5 women on campus are subject to sexual assault.

Have a look - it's only 7 minutes long.


Web Link


Posted by pogo, a resident of Woodside: other,
on Jan 13, 2015 at 11:21 am

pogo is a registered user.

The University of Virginia has now reinstated the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity.

The decision came after Charlottesville police told UVA "that their investigation has not revealed any substantive basis to confirm that the allegations raised in the Rolling Stone article occurred at Phi Kappa Psi," the university said in a statement.

They were CLEARED.

The author of this blog said her decision was based on "the stories about UVA's rape culture, which has been nurtured and perpetuated by its Greek system and ignored by the administration." Well, the principal story that precipitated your blog was UNTRUE.


Posted by pogo, a resident of Woodside: other,
on Jan 13, 2015 at 11:22 am

pogo is a registered user.

Sorry, I forgot the link.

Web Link


Posted by I didn't know that, a resident of Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park,
on Jan 22, 2015 at 5:07 pm

Pogo:

I don't think we are ever going to hear from Jessica T. on this. I'm betting that she waits a bit longer and then moves on to another blog entry with a similar theme as her others. It must be killing her that this 'home run' story about a privileged Fraternity at the University of Virginia allegedly gang raping a student has been proven nothing more than a fantasy. She has proven her inability to deal with it too by trying to defend the 'rape culture' with her shameful reference to the Heather Graham murder.

[Portion removed for objectionable content.]


Posted by perspectives, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood,
on Jan 24, 2015 at 12:17 pm

Just pointing out that this UVA alum (me) who had reservations about the RS article reporting, and about Jessica's blogpost, from the beginning (see my early posts)- is very relieved that the RS article did hit the fan and the majority of students there can hopefully get a little respect back. It's more than a shame about what happened from the fallout- a shame for the men of Phi Psi who had bricks thrown through their windows, to Ryan Duffin/Alex Stock/Kathryn Hendley who were publicly made out to be rape supporters, and to the women who are actually rape victims (the RS and "Jackie" set them and their justice back about 50 years). To name a few.

There is an interesting analysis of the RS article- yellow journalism article in river song wordpress- and Washington Post has also done some excellent reporting on the whole mess. And google "Haven Monahan" if anyone hasn't taken a look at the plagiarism and pretend friend of Jackie yet.

Due process has been dis-serviced. And it's completely inappropriate for someone to bring Hannah Graham as relevant into this RS situation. Her tragic murder has nothing to do with "Jackie's" story and her irresponsible lies.

I will forever be amazed at how many people were so quick to rush to judgement based on that article.


Posted by super duper, a resident of Barron Park,
on Jan 27, 2015 at 3:13 pm

The Rolling Stone article has been debunked, the 'victim' has been proved a liar. Research, honesty, and thoughtfulness should be encouraged.


Posted by NotSoSimple, a resident of another community,
on Feb 4, 2015 at 9:38 pm

The article just added more strife to the rape culture issue. It did not extinguish the issue or prove its nonexistence. There is a rape culture on college campuses, and it's victims are women and men who have been assaulted, and women and men who have been falsely accused. If one thing came out of this debacle, it is that colleges are woefully inept at handling the complexities of these crimes and accusations.


Posted by I didn't know that, a resident of Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park,
on Mar 21, 2015 at 10:06 pm

10 of the 11 bloggers on "calmanac.com" have posted a recent blog entry. The oldest of those entries was written on March 1st, 2015. Jessica T, having written the most sensational blog post in recent memory on November 23, 2014, hasn't posted anything since that date. In fact, she has only responded to comments, and the last of her comments came on December 7th, 2014. As I stated in my own comment on January 22nd, 2015 I don't think we are going to be hearing much from her going forward and that's a good thing. If she should post something new we should all keep her November, 2014 post in mind.


Posted by NotSoSimple, a resident of another community,
on Mar 23, 2015 at 12:19 pm

Prior to this blog, Jessica T informed readers that she was stopping her blog to focus on her family and career. She came back to write this blog because she had a strong reaction to the Rolling Stone article as a UVA alum. I think many people were duped by that article and the shoddy journalism behind it. Only today have the police released the results of their investigation. Even the police state that we should not assume that a rape did not occur just because the evidence is inconclusive. I refer to my earlier post and reiterate that this story, whether ultimately true or false, gives reason to distrust these closed college communities where crimes and accusations are investigated by deans and administrators, rather than by law enforcement officers.


Posted by I didn't know that , a resident of Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park,
on Mar 23, 2015 at 3:47 pm

NotSoSimple:

Thank you for the information regarding Jessica T's decision to end her blog. Interesting that she returned and took the time to ask us to sign a petition on November 24th and then posted a second comment on December 7th AFTER "Rolling Stone" published their apology. In that December 7th post she tried to link the horrible murder of Hannah Graham to the story to support her "rape culture' narrative. She also wrote "I don't think that this predictable examination and debate discredits the elements of truth portrayed in the article." I suppose there were some 'elements of truth portrayed" in the story but it has mostly proven to be a piece of fiction written by Sabrina Rubin Erdely.

It would have been a much more graceful exit for Jessica T if she had simply stated that she made a mistake and left it at that.


Posted by Jenny, a resident of Midtown,
on Mar 23, 2015 at 4:13 pm

I understood that Jessica T. was running away from the damage that she had done. It was major damage to us women. Jackie Coakley, the liar at the center of this mess, is being given a pass. She should be prosecuted for false witness charges. Jessica T. and the rest of apologists need to come clean. The young men in the frat, and otherwise, were savaged, with no basis.

We women have a very hard time admitting that we are wrong, when we feel scorned. It does not behoove or become us.


Posted by pogo, a resident of Woodside: other,
on Mar 23, 2015 at 4:19 pm

pogo is a registered user.

One of the principal tenets of our legal system is that burden of proof is on the accuser, not the accused (it's difficult to prove you didn't do something).

In this instance, the accuser failed to meet that standard. I find this entire episode more of a commentary on Rolling Stone's journalistic standards than anything else.

And there is no excuse for Jessica T to fail to acknowledge her advice to others and her characterization of UVa was based on a very flimsy accusation.


Posted by Stuart, a resident of College Terrace,
on Apr 6, 2015 at 5:02 pm

Jessica,

You need to come clean on your witch hunt. You have hurt many people.

Today's revelations on the RS screed, by the Columbia U. Journalism Dept., lays it out. There was no "Rape on Campus".


Posted by NotSoSimple, a resident of another community,
on Apr 7, 2015 at 2:20 pm

Jessica is not Sabrina Rubin Erdely. Like many people, Jessica reacted to that bogus Rolling Stone article because they trusted that magazine and its journalism. Whom has she hurt? Anyone who is still reading this blog entry from Nov. '14 and heeding her stale advice to withhold donations to UVA needs to get out of their shell, read the news, and exercise their own opinions. Why is Jessica's blog still posted on this website? She quit her blog months ago.

Yes, it would be the responsible thing for Jessica to come forward and address her original post in light of the evidence that has come forth since. I hope she does. Until then, direct your contempt at the real culprit - Sabrina Rubin Erdely and the lazy, shoddy, headline-greedy editors at Rolling Stone.


Posted by pogo, a resident of Woodside: other,
on Apr 7, 2015 at 4:30 pm

pogo is a registered user.

Contempt should also be directed at "Jackie" who made the accusations. None of her accusations were substantiated. Not the people. Not the places. Not the dates.

Jessica used the false Rolling Stone story to validate her sentiments ("I've always been outspoken, and I never participated in the Greek culture at UVA. In fact, I was adamantly opposed to it...").

The Rolling Stone article didn't validate a thing. It would show integrity for the original author of this blog to acknowledge that.


Posted by I didn't know that, a resident of Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park,
on Apr 8, 2015 at 4:57 pm

Pogo -

Couldn't agree with you more. Jessica T. not only used the RS piece to "Validate her sentiments" she piled it on with comments like "Getting harassed at parties and dorm rooms by violent, rich, and lewd "good ole boys."

The most telling thing about how strongly Jessica T wants to further the narrative was her attempt to link the horrible Hannah Graham murder to this as I've mentioned before. Don't be surprised if the next thing we're going to hear is that there was a rich, lewd, good ole boy on the grassy knoll that horrible day in Dallas in 1963.

Here is a an article that discusses both this case and the recent Ellen Pao lawsuit.


Web Link



Posted by I didn't know that, a resident of Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park,
on Apr 9, 2015 at 7:24 am

Don't know how I missed this but here is a link to a Newsweek article documenting Sabrina Rubin Erdely's history of writing explosive pieces that lack journalistic integrity. Turns out that the "rape on Campus" piece was at minimum her second work of fiction.

Web Link

How is this woman still employed? More than that - How has she not been arrested?


Posted by Menlo Voter, a resident of Menlo Park: other,
on Apr 10, 2015 at 7:06 am

Menlo Voter is a registered user.

Why does Erdely's boss still have a job?


Posted by I didn't know that, a resident of Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park,
on Sep 6, 2015 at 9:14 pm

Everyone is due a paternity break. Heck, everyone is due a break whenever they need it. But, wouldn't you think, after the proof that this particular rape story at UVA is 100% fiction, that our local google mom blogger would issue some sort of apology? She said she was going to take a leave from her blog but stepped back in after Sabrina Rubin Erdely's story, so wouldn't you expect her to step back in now and say " wow - I really messed up. That story was completely fabricated. I am so sorry!

Nope - we're not going to see it. But, hey, Google did change their logo last week!


Posted by I didn't know that, a resident of Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park,
on May 7, 2016 at 9:51 pm

It's still appalling that Jessica T never owned up to her blog post after nearly 100% of the evidence showed that the RS piece was fantasy. Another data point about her character - she now doesn't even claim UVA as her alma mater but instead has switched to "College of William and Mary" on her LinkedIn page. This despite the fact that her inflammatory blog post was titled "Don't fund the rape culture at my alma mater"

I guess we shouldn't be surprised that she had disappeared.


Posted by I didn't know that, a resident of Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park,
on Jun 15, 2017 at 6:57 am

Looks like this is finally coming to a close. The Fraternity that was defamed by Sabrina Rubin Erdely and "rolling stone" has settled their lawsuit for $1,650,000.

Web Link

And still no comment from Jessica T who has moved on to trying to kill the MA Fashion show.


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