A “special report” on campus sexual assault in Rolling Stone’s Dec. 4 issue included a graphic account of a horrifying gang rape that allegedly took place at a University of Virginia frat party. The sensational story quickly fell apart, as journalists noted that writer Sabrina Rubin Erdely had made no attempt to contact any of the alleged rapists, and Rolling Stone eventually apologized for the quality of Erdely’s reporting. A month later, a police investigation failed to reveal “any substantive basis to confirm” the allegation, and the fraternity at the center of the controversy was reinstated.
Even though the gang rape story was totally discredited, University of Virginia president Teresa Sullivan held a press conference at noon today to ensure that UVa would become a “national leader on campus safety,” moved to action by the bogus Rolling Stone piece.
Join us at noon for President Sullivan's address to #UVA community. Q&A to follow remarks. http://t.co/C6jaAtleic pic.twitter.com/F8oOAJVmkC
— Major Events Office (@UVA_Events) January 30, 2015
@UVa_Events Will she exhibit an oz of remorse for piling on #UVAPhiPsi so unjustly? Where is public apology to retract earlier public cmts?
— Rod Dillman ⚔️? (@RSDillman) January 30, 2015
No she won’t, and we have no idea.
"Before the Rolling Stone article was discredited, it seemed to resonate with people because it confirmes their darkest fears."
— Sean Cudahy (@SCudahyWHIO) January 30, 2015
"we have soundly refuted those fears with our actions over the last two months."
— Sean Cudahy (@SCudahyWHIO) January 30, 2015
Sullivan says UVA has been in the spotlight w/ sexual assault policy. "We have been put in a leadership position and we will lead."
— Sean Cudahy (@SCudahyWHIO) January 30, 2015
The Washington Examiner’s Ashe Snow reports that restrictions imposed on fraternities as a result of the discredited story will remain in place.
UVA president admits rape story was false; keeps restrictions on fraternities: http://t.co/RnKcTAmiay
— Ashe Schow (@AsheSchow) January 30, 2015
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Immediately following the Rolling Stone story, Sullivan extended the Greek council’s voluntary weekend ban (calling it a “pause”) on social activities through Jan. 9. And in order for Greek organizations to resume activities, they had to sign new agreements with the university that put new restrictions on their social activities.
Suddenly it’s okay to victim blame, so long as you do it in the name of safety – http://t.co/WS79NEfxqM
— Ashe Schow (@AsheSchow) January 30, 2015
Well, at least UVA’s president is finally acknowledging the Rolling Stone article was wrong: http://t.co/RnKcTAmiay
— Ashe Schow (@AsheSchow) January 30, 2015
@AsheSchow Her comments sound as though Ms. Sullivan actually wanted the story to be true & is disappointed to admit it was erroneous.
— Terry Brennan (@TerryBrennan211) January 30, 2015
Where are the plaintiffs attorneys? UVA Prez Admits Rolling Stone Gang Rape Article ‘Discredited’ http://t.co/07SZW29wW2 via @dailycaller
— Eric Owens (@ericowensdc) January 30, 2015
Fox News senior political analyst Brit Hume summed up the day’s events nicely.
UVa Pres. Sullivan continues to impose restrictions so that a rape that didn't happen will never happen again. http://t.co/IalIn48Pih
— Brit Hume (@brithume) January 30, 2015
@brithume Great line!!!
— Bubba Boomer (Russian Bot) (@bustadem) January 30, 2015
@brithume funny how that worked out.
— BBeg (@BBegly) January 30, 2015
@brithume Sums up most liberal policies
— powr2ppl (@powr2ppl) January 30, 2015
@brithume Sorry Brit. But your Alma mater has gone completely insane. Go spiders! 🙂
— Evan (@Mr8rightsid3) January 30, 2015
https://twitter.com/mrglenn/status/561279919208935425
@brithume Stupidity in academia. Why I'm not so excited about my kids going to college.
— Wendy Coffey (@mamabearcoffey) January 30, 2015
@brithume With logic like that Sullivan could either run for president or become a press secretary for the WH
— hunkerdad (@hunkerdad) January 30, 2015
@brithume Well it could've maybe possibly happened. You can't be too careful.
— diogenes (@diogenes323bc) January 30, 2015
@brithume Love how Obama wants to make college free but the Dems hold onto the 1 in 5 women in higher ed get raped narrative.
— diogenes (@diogenes323bc) January 30, 2015
https://twitter.com/JohnRiversToo/status/561282100524224512
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