Tagged: sexual assault

Posted: April 23, 2012 at 6:28 pm

They Still Don’t Get It

The University of Montana football team has penned a strange joint letter to the citizens of Montana that leaves serious doubts about whether the school understands its problem–an alarming series of sexual assaults involving football players.

The five-paragraph letter rambles on about “excellence” in football, but does not once express concern for the women allegedly raped or assaulted by U of M football players.

Instead, the letter portrays the football players as victims–for having lost their coach. The letter is posted on the official University of Montana Athletics website and Facebook page, which appears to indicate that its contents are sanctioned by university officials. The letter also contains language more likely to have been written by university public relations officials than football players. Take, for example, this sentence:

We also write this letter as students of a University we love, members of a community we cherish and as stewards of one of the most respected and honored football traditions of excellence in the nation.

If the university administration thinks this letter was a good idea, it shows that they still don’t get it. It shows that U of M officials are still more concerned with the football team than the women who were raped.

The whole letter is bizarre. The team writes that:

We understand and accept the fact that a few of our teammates’ actions, whether intended and deserved or not, have contributed to this unfortunate situation.

Just what the players mean by whether their numerous teammates’ actions were “intended and deserved” is unclear. Do they mean that the players deserved to rape women, that the women deserved to be raped, or that the players didn’t deserve to be held accountable?

The letter goes on to say that the players acknowledge their responsibility to honor their supporters and respect their fellow players and coaches. It does not mention their responsibility to respect women (rather than raping them.)

It shows that the trouble at U of M is bigger than the fact that football players aren’t being accountable for their treatment of women. It’s about the school’s failure to address a systematic problem: the way women are treated by the university. It shows that they still don’t get it.

UPDATE: John Marshall’s take on this mess in the Missoula Independent is not to be missed.

Posted: December 17, 2011 at 9:37 am

Racism, Sexism, and Just Plain Dumb

“We’re NOT Racists”

The Southern Poverty Law Center’s latest Intelligence Report focuses on the recent uptick in extremist activity in Kalispell and the Flathead. In the article “A Gathering of Eagles: Extremists Look to Montana” the SPLC details the activities of the various far-right movements and their leaders, including Chuck Baldwin, who is running for Lt. Governor here. The good quick summary of the Baldwin’s son Timothy Baldwin takes issue with the report on the TEA Party blog PolyMontana, calling it’s reporting a “sinister” conspiracy. Apparently, this blog is a “group” that is somehow involved.

Look here where this SPLC-like group in Montana describes my formation of the institution as, “Right Wing Re-education Camp Opening in the Flathead.” Like SPLC, that “Montana group” did not attempt to contact me about my education program. Their journalism appears as un-credible as SPLC’s, if that’s possible.

He also says he is not a racist and that:

“Some of my closest friends are of African descent. The same can be said of Chuck Baldwin.”

Blame the Messenger

Kudos are due to friend of women Pete Talbot for calling out the idiocy in the comments following the Missoulian’s article on the “3 UM football players allegedly involved in sexual assault on campus.” Comments like the one that attacked the reporter for daring to report on the matter ”on game day” demonstrate why sexual assaults often go unreported.

Interesting how the article or slander or crap or hearsay or what ever was written by a woman…..is that why it was released on game day with no facts or proof?”

Throw Away

More evidence has come to light this week that the GOP has thrown away a major statewide office. It seems they couldn’t even find a candidate for attorney general that knows the disclosure guidelines for campaign materials. Pasted below are screenshots from a recent web ad Republican state legislator Jim Shockely (R-Bitterrooter) ran in the Billings Gazette. The ads, which are missing the legally required party affiliation, can be viewed in their original context on the Gazette website here and here.

He also lacks visible party affiliation on his campaign website (screenshot), so the omission does not appear accidental. Nor does the campaign appear to be active. According to the campaign calendar he just left for Alabama for two weeks.

I’ve written before that the GOP has strangely conceded the AG’s race, as evidenced by the fact that their guy doesn’t even know which way is up. His major contribution to Montana policy in my opinion is getting caught drinking a red beer in his car.

Posted: June 26, 2011 at 8:28 pm

Tester Stands Up for Rape Victims in the Military; Rehberg Thinks Rape Victims Are Lying Sluts

It’s no wonder women are getting behind Jon Tester, who is working hard for women in the quintessential good ol’ boys club (Congress), by backing legislation to better protect victims of sexual assault in the military.

Recent reports show a sharp increase in sexual assaults within the military over the past several years – twice as many service women are raped as women in the general population.

For example, female soldiers deployed overseas are reported to stop drinking water after 7 p.m. to reduce the odds of being raped if they have to use the bathroom at night. Reports also indicate that many assaults have not been effectively investigated and being a rapist isn’t stopping anyone from receiving the highest military honors.

Tester’s bipartisan Defense Sexual Trauma Response Oversight and Good Governance (STRONG) Act would make make a bunch of changes to help protect women serving our country including providing access to legal counsel and services for sexual assault victims and actually requiring the military to keep investigation records of sexual assaults for the same amount of time required in civilian cases. More info on the bill is available on Tester’s website, here.

Meanwhile, millionaire Congressman Dennis Rehberg voted against rape victims when he voted to prevent the following situations from “counting” as rape: women who are drugged or verbally threatened and raped, minors impregnated by adults, and women who say no but do not physically fight off the perpetrator for fear of being murdered.