Thank you. This notion that we never get better or move on to lead normal lives prevents people from seeking out help they need.

We also don’t hear about the men who raped someone, weren’t reported, and then went on to rape again. There’s a “potential data gap” either way.

I’ve been sexually assaulted twice; once was date-rape and once was something more... violent (um, there aren’t really good euphemisms for not date-rape rape, and I don’t need to get into the details here, so that useless description will have to suffice). I have a really awesome life and I’m happy to jump out of bed…

Ugh stupid that you had to point that out but THANK YOU. The assumption that once a lady is raped her life is RUINED and her only pursuits henceforth are wailing and gnashing her teeth both downplays the truly staggering number of women who will be raped or sexually assaulted in their lifetimes and perpetuates the…

I never said that he should be allowed to put this behind him. I also am not dismissing what he has done. He is a convicted rapist, that is a fact. If he wanted to join the chess or math club, people would be just as outraged as if he wanted to play football.

I was talking about more than this specific case, but if he was found guilty and served his sentence why shouldn’t be be allowed to be employed in something be excels at?

Oh, no, no, no. Most companies require a background check. Good luck passing that with a felony rape conviction. Let’s say he some how gets past the background check and gets hired. One Google search and he’s in a room with HR having his employment terminated.

You seem to be unaware of the consequences of having a sexual assault/rape conviction on your record and being on the sex offender list has for employment opportunities and even the ability to secure housing.

he should be shot in the head in a public square or carrying around a 100 pound weight for the rest of his life

Every sport has its share of criminals. Football just happens to be the most popular and make the most money therefore it gets more attention. The fact is a school is going to protect any athlete that benefits its earning potential. A practice I do not agree with. What happened at FSU and ND was a joke.

So the time he served means nothing? Why not just leave him jail the rest of his life then?

Why do you feel the need to defend this guy?

I don’t disagree with you. However, people would be upset if he joined the baseball, basketball or tennis team. If he was accepted as a student to the school, then he should be able to play or join any team he wants. He was also recruited to by the school to some day play football.

I really hate this narrative that rape victims are these permenately damaged people who can never recover. Bullshit. They are people, and people are strong and this woman will not, with the right support, treatment, and a drive to succeed, have to let this one instance completely mangle and destroy her life. She can…

No I’m not. I’m saying that if he is accepted as a student to the school, then he should be able to join any club or team he wants. Just like any other student. People would be outraged if he wanted to join the math team or chess club.

There are studies and survies that attempt to figure that out. There have also been DNA analyses of the rape kits.

Student athletes are supposed to be role models.

What he did was horrible and wrong. I’m in no way excusing or dismissing what he did. But, he was tried, convicted and served his time. As long as he is an upstanding member of the community and campus, I have no problem with him going to college and playing football.

...after his release [he] returned to Steubenville High School where he played football in his senior year.

I agree. I think it sets a bad precedent, he did serve his time (even if it was a ridiculously lenient sentence, he served it), and he should be able to get on with his life. I also seriously doubt he would put himself in the same kind of situation again.