Look not trying to troll, my daughter is a recent grad of JMU. As a father you hate hearing this kind of stuff.

http://womensenews.org/story/rape/121025...t-harvard#

Judicial Affairs needs only a preponderance of evidence (50%) to open a case. No police report is required.
In this particular case, the video more than qualifies as preponderance of evidence.

Wonder what frat they are in.

(06-18-2014 09:01 PM)BDKJMU Wrote:  The JMU PD is equipped to handle investigations of crimes

Based on a couple incidents lately and the way they've been handled, I have to disagree with that. This is yet another example of a case that the school should have turned over to law enforcement rather than trying to handle it themselves. I don't think a school has any business acting as a law enforcement entity, nor should it. Their mission is to provide an education. Things like this should be handled by HPD. I agree that if everything here is true, this was handled terribly.

(06-19-2014 09:24 AM)DirtyDukes Wrote:  Wonder what frat they are in.

Sigma Chi

(06-18-2014 08:05 PM)bridgeforthduke Wrote:  Yes, its pretty embarrassing. I'm baffled that it took them a year to investigate something this serious and how they came to their final punishment. Something is seriously wrong with how JMU handles these cases if sexual assault takes a year to investigate and this the only final outcome they can come up with is letting the offenders finish their education.

Yep. Seems to me that judicial Affairs, just based on the video and the text evidence along with the girls story would be able to come up with a more severe punishment. How about suspended for a semester or more with at least a delayed graduation? As for those who are scared of a lawsuit, there is no judge that would look at that video (assuming it shows what the huffington post says it does) and see that they sent it out and side with them. Finally, isn't JMU's president a lawyer?

Please please show some leadership in something? Please.

(06-19-2014 09:42 AM)JMUETC Wrote:  

(06-18-2014 08:05 PM)bridgeforthduke Wrote:  Yes, its pretty embarrassing. I'm baffled that it took them a year to investigate something this serious and how they came to their final punishment. Something is seriously wrong with how JMU handles these cases if sexual assault takes a year to investigate and this the only final outcome they can come up with is letting the offenders finish their education.

Yep. Seems to me that judicial Affairs, just based on the video and the text evidence along with the girls story would be able to come up with a more severe punishment. How about suspended for a semester or more with at least a delayed graduation? As for those who are scared of a lawsuit, there is no judge that would look at that video ([/b]assuming it shows what the huffington post says it does[b]) and see that they sent it out and side with them. Finally, isn't JMU's president a lawyer?

Please please show some leadership in something? Please.

That's the big assumption. If the video is what the article says it is, this should've been a layup for judicial affairs.

I wonder how this story would have changed if the girl wasn't a JMU student or the three guys in question weren't JMU students.

This really should've been handled by Florida authorities, I'm sure there are always a handful of stories/incidents similar to this that Panama City has to deal with yearly.

I am in the "there has to be more to this story" camp. Based on the way the Huff Post story is written, the JMU Administration looks very bad. Based on the story, one would get the impression that there is an anti-woman, "old-boy", culture at JMU. I find that to be the furthest thing from the truth at JMU. The Huff Post, like any media outlet (but especially one that has a decided agenda) is there to "sell papers" (or attract readers). Facts aren't always imperative, especially if they don't fit one's narration. My limited dealings with the media have taught me that the truth is often molded to fit the story, rather visa versa.

(06-18-2014 08:32 PM)Potomac Wrote:  I have to admit, I misread the initial post and I thought your disgust was at the punishment of the assaulters. I can't respect anyone that stands up for assailants in a sexual assault case.
This case also had video proof on top of it. That's a rarity in many cases.
It's embarrassing, but at least they didn't get away with it like to many others do.

Believe me, I am not sticking up for these asshats, and while you and I may believe these cretins deserve a righteous ass kicking for being morally corrupt douchebags, colleges have to be very careful when wading into these sorts of things. Colleges are getting sued all the time for doling out justice under ill-defined 'preponderance of evidence' standards that violate the accused's due process rights. Colleges are just not good at this sort of thing.

Not making an excuse for JMU, and certainly not taking the side of anyone who would treat a woman (much less a "friend") that way, but I can't figure out why JMU is undertaking an exercise of investigating/adjudicating an alleged sexual assault (a felony) that took place not on campus, but in Florida (when school was out for Spring Break, no less). Isn't that why we have police and district attorneys? Let the police do their job, and if these pricks are guilty, expulsion won't even be necessary, unless JMU has a satellite campus in the Panama City jail.

(06-19-2014 09:35 AM)JMU2004 Wrote:  

(06-19-2014 09:24 AM)DirtyDukes Wrote:  Wonder what frat they are in.

Sigma Chi

shocker

(06-19-2014 10:18 AM)TXGiant Wrote:  I am in the "there has to be more to this story" camp. Based on the way the Huff Post story is written, the JMU Administration looks very bad. Based on the story, one would get the impression that there is an anti-woman, "old-boy", culture at JMU. I find that to be the furthest thing from the truth at JMU. The Huff Post, like any media outlet (but especially one that has a decided agenda) is there to "sell papers" (or attract readers). Facts aren't always imperative, especially if they don't fit one's narration. My limited dealings with the media have taught me that the truth is often molded to fit the story, rather visa versa.

My thoughts exactly. The Huff post has been using that schtick for years and it's laughable to imply JMU has an "old-boy" culture when the school is a majority women, frat life is low and there are tons of resources/educational signs/pamphlets reccomending what girls do if something like this happens.

There's a lot more to this story than we're hearing.

I agree with the above.. We don't know all the facts.. It's sounds bad but who knows what really went on. Whatever happened it sucks all around...

I for one wont rush to judge without having all the facts.

I agree with you guys on that. In the era we live in where anybody can throw anything up on line with no accountability, I find myself skeptical of things like this that are so one-sided as well. Something tells me that this isn't the full or entirely accurate story. I can't help but think that if it was these guys would be allowed to receive a degree with minimal punishment. There isn't anything from their side in what I've read.

(06-19-2014 10:19 AM)91Alum Wrote:  

(06-18-2014 08:32 PM)Potomac Wrote:  I have to admit, I misread the initial post and I thought your disgust was at the punishment of the assaulters. I can't respect anyone that stands up for assailants in a sexual assault case.
This case also had video proof on top of it. That's a rarity in many cases.
It's embarrassing, but at least they didn't get away with it like to many others do.

Believe me, I am not sticking up for these asshats, and while you and I may believe these cretins deserve a righteous ass kicking for being morally corrupt douchebags, colleges have to be very careful when wading into these sorts of things. Colleges are getting sued all the time for doling out justice under ill-defined 'preponderance of evidence' standards that violate the accused's due process rights. Colleges are just not good at this sort of thing.

Not making an excuse for JMU, and certainly not taking the side of anyone who would treat a woman (much less a "friend") that way, but I can't figure out why JMU is undertaking an exercise of investigating/adjudicating an alleged sexual assault (a felony) that took place not on campus, but in Florida (when school was out for Spring Break, no less). Isn't that why we have police and district attorneys? Let the police do their job, and if these pricks are guilty, expulsion won't even be necessary, unless JMU has a satellite campus in the Panama City jail.

Totally agree, this is not campus parking violations, campus alcohol violation, drunk in public, honor code violation type of thing.....this is a felony that did not even happen on campus so why is JMU trying to adjudicate and dole out punishment. The is a matter for the legal system in either Florida or Harrisonburg. I think JMU is caught in a bit of a pickle trying to adjudicate an issue outside of their jurisdiction.

(06-19-2014 10:38 AM)jjthebutcher Wrote:  I agree with the above.. We don't know all the facts.. It's sounds bad but who knows what really went on. Whatever happened it sucks all around...

I for one wont rush to judge without having all the facts.

Yep, I realize I shouldn't assume the article is fact, but the tweets appear to suggest these guys groped a near passed out girl.

Also, I find it amazing that one of the texters wrote "I can't believe people think I am spreading this, I only sent it to ONE person and I told them to delete it"

Tale as old as time.

(06-19-2014 10:18 AM)TXGiant Wrote:  I am in the "there has to be more to this story" camp. Based on the way the Huff Post story is written, the JMU Administration looks very bad. Based on the story, one would get the impression that there is an anti-woman, "old-boy", culture at JMU. I find that to be the furthest thing from the truth at JMU. The Huff Post, like any media outlet (but especially one that has a decided agenda) is there to "sell papers" (or attract readers). Facts aren't always imperative, especially if they don't fit one's narration. My limited dealings with the media have taught me that the truth is often molded to fit the story, rather visa versa.

Thank you. Such a rational post and exactly what I was feeling. The video proves guilt but to think that a huff post article is the be all end all of details is wrong.
The truth is we don't know it all and it's hard to press judgement because of that. Unfortunately it's still a black eye regardless, as many won't stop to realize, "hey I don't know all the details and I shouldn't rush to judgement".

And.....while under the advice of her father, who is a police officer, I do find the victim at fault for not reporting the incident to the local authorities in Florida at the time of the incident. It's hard for the victim and father to be critical of JMU's action (or inaction) especially when they made a poor decision to not report the crime to the Florida authorities from day one. Again, there is something more to this story that we are not aware of.....so rushing to judgement against JMU is premature.

I agree that in a perfect world, the police would be involved and there would be a report. That doesn't change the fact that it was not originally reported in Florida and JMU was attempting to hold the students accountable through their university.
I'm glad that something was done. You'd be surprised how many assaults go unreported and no justice is served.

(06-19-2014 10:54 AM)Potomac Wrote:  

(06-19-2014 10:18 AM)TXGiant Wrote:  I am in the "there has to be more to this story" camp. Based on the way the Huff Post story is written, the JMU Administration looks very bad. Based on the story, one would get the impression that there is an anti-woman, "old-boy", culture at JMU. I find that to be the furthest thing from the truth at JMU. The Huff Post, like any media outlet (but especially one that has a decided agenda) is there to "sell papers" (or attract readers). Facts aren't always imperative, especially if they don't fit one's narration. My limited dealings with the media have taught me that the truth is often molded to fit the story, rather visa versa.

Thank you. Such a rational post and exactly what I was feeling. The video proves guilt but to think that a huff post article is the be all end all of details is wrong.
The truth is we don't know it all and it's hard to press judgement because of that. Unfortunately it's still a black eye regardless, as many won't stop to realize, "hey I don't know all the details and I shouldn't rush to judgement".

So basically every commenter on Facebook who claims JMU should be ashamed of themselves and that these kids should go to prison right now, no questions asked?