Title/Author:
“Violated: Exposing Rape at Baylor University
Amid College Football’s Sexual Assault Crisis” by Paula Lavigne and Mark
Schlabach
Tags:
Football (American), college, rape, Baylor,
crime
Publish date:
August 22, 2017
Length:
368 pages
Rating:
5 of 5 stars (outstanding)
Review:
Sexual assaults on
college campuses have been a problem that has gained more notoriety in recent
years as universities have been held responsible to create a safe environment
for women. The institutions have been accused of protecting athletes accused of
assault, especially football players.
Baylor University, a Baptist school in Waco, Texas was exposed to
enhancing this culture and the investigation into this culture is the topic of
this excellent book by investigative reporters Paula Lavigne and Mark
Schlabach.
The book begins with
stories of unwanted advances, rape and even gang rape of female students by
various football players on the Baylor team. The victims are from various
backgrounds, races and interests. The accounts
of these attacks are difficult to read – detailed enough to make the reader
uncomfortable, but necessary to illustrate the magnitude of the crimes. These
victims are followed through most of the book as their lives are changed
forever. Those that were brave enough to
come forward then faced more problems on several fronts. Whether it was Baylor
officials not believing the victims, assailants being protected by coaches and
other school officials, or investigations that ranged from incomplete to poor,
the book shows the lack of compassion the university gave these young women.
As for the players, they
are not given any slack by the authors – they are held responsible for their
actions and the excuses or protection provided by the university’s athletic department
are exposed for the obstruction of justice that they are. The football coach and athletic director eventually
lose their jobs over this issue. Other
players who are not accused or took part in any of these assaults for the most
part are not affected, but those who would protect teammates or accuse the
victims of lying or consenting are criticized just as much as those who assaulted
the women.
Even more than the
players, however, is the harsh criticism that Baylor University took by the
authors and it was well-deserved. In
addition to the aforementioned lack of sympathy for the victims, the compliance
with Title IX, the federal law that promotes gender equality on college
campuses, was poor as well. The authors expose Baylor’s reporting of sexual
assaults and subsequent interviews and closing of cases that left a lot to be
desired. The people responsible are many and not just those in the football
program. Like most scandals, the
responsibility comes from the top, as college president Ken Starr (yes, THAT
Ken Starr) had to give up the position.
While this was a very
difficult book to read on all fronts and in all chapters, it is one that is
necessary to read in order for one to comprehend the scope and horror of the
sexual assault crisis. The reader will not only be angry at the men who
assaulted these women, it will be clear to the reader that the university must
bear the ultimate responsibility for the victims and must work to change their
culture.
I wish to thank Center
Street for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest
review.
Book Format Read:
E-book (Kindle)
Buying Links:
This is the book you mentioned to me, good to read a more in-depth review of what it's like.
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