Dismissed Vanderbilt football players indicted for rape
Source: USA Today
NASHVILLE -- Four former Vanderbilt football players have each been charged with five counts of aggravated rape and two counts of aggravated sexual battery, Nashville Metro police said Friday.
Brandon Vandenburg, 20, from California; Brandon Eric Banks, 19, from Maryland; and JaBorian "Tip" McKenzie, 18 from Mississippi and Cory Batey, 19, of Nashville, were charged in the indictment. Vandenburg was also charged with one count of tampering with evidence and one count of unlawful photography.
Police said the four raped an unconscious woman in Vandenburg's dorm room June 23. Police first got word after university officials checked a hallway security camera in an unrelated incident and saw suspicious behavior by the four.
Metro Police Chief Steve Anderson called the evidence, "compelling" and "unsettling"
Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/sec/2013/08/09/vanderbilt-football-dismissed-players-indicted-rape/2637039/
- - People and issues across the country come to me for help, due to my battle against manifest injustice (Goldman Sachs, Bain Capital & Mitt Romney). Where, as an amoeba I've been fighting a horde of ostensible, powerful, Goliath's for over a decade now. After the Penn State affair, we've been getting reports of similar sexual abuses debacles and cover ups from all over the country. Most recently, the University of Southern California had several girls come forward and complain how the University staff's are doing cover ups (Student Protest of cover up about sexual assaults - HERE).
- - For the last several months, I've been working with former federal and college officials on a scandal - on going - at the University of Michigan that allegedly involves a cover up of a sexual assault by the now famous kicker there.
We've agreed to become part of a collective to bring that case to justice.
- - In this particular case of the "former" Vanderbilt football players, unfortunately the case has hit a nerve; which made me more aware of why people circle the wagons. ("former" being that they were expunged from the team upon the realization of what allegedly transpired). From my college basketball scholarship days decades ago, I was cajoled by a brighter than most coach to go to Vandy, instead of Louisville or Univ. of Kentucky. Seeing Vandy disparaged in headlines, made me cringe.
But fr--k that stuff, this guys purportedly raped an unconscious girl;
that's extensively heinous and egregious.
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
radicalliberal
(907 posts)For example, Notre Dame has quite a history. Does anyone remember what happened during the summer of 1974? The noted journalist Robert Sam Anson wrote a magazine article about it. (Isn't anyone disturbed by the religious hypocrisy here?)
How much moral support do the rape victims in these cases receive from the fans? Well, one of the rape victims in the Penn State scandal was bullied so much by fellow classmates since their little god JoPa was made to look bad, that he had to drop out of his high school. The rape victim in the Steubenville case has had her life threatened despite the conviction and continues to be personally attacked online. So, do the rape victims receive any support from the fans? Well, not much, it appears.
laserhaas
(7,805 posts)It does speak well for the decency of mankind.....
BlueJazz
(25,348 posts)I try not to go there and don't act out my feelings but it's a rough trip for this poster.
radicalliberal
(907 posts). . . both of whom have accomplished far more than I did at their ages. Better human bengs, too. You can imagine how I feel! 
Perhaps the egos of these four "men" just got too big for obvious reasons. You know, that sense of entitlement. Seems I've heard about it before. 
laserhaas
(7,805 posts)They engaged in one of THE most despicable acts possible;
to satisfy their wiennie for a milli second.
ScumBAGS
laserhaas
(7,805 posts)Trust me (more than you know)
I KNOW what you mean....
niyad
(113,062 posts)on this horrific incident. and with football players involved, no less.
laserhaas
(7,805 posts)And I will remember to gather together a letter of thanks to them
for being brazen enough
to Do the Right Thing!
alp227
(32,006 posts)Also, people could have put two and two together earlier in the summer, as the Nashville PD publicly acknowledged an investigation of "an alleged June 23rd sexual assault at a Vanderbilt University dormitory" on July 1 shortly after Vanderbilt dismissed the 4 players. The Vandy Four names have been known to the public as early as June 28.
Good thing they got arrested. They better get the book thrown at them hard! Please, don't let them be the future Jerramy Stevens!
laserhaas
(7,805 posts)Appreciate it....
abbeyco
(1,555 posts)It starts in high school, at least it did with me. A party, alcohol involved, and when nearly all guests go home and you stay overnight with your 'best' friend you find out in the night that not all of the guys have left. After you vomit and clean yourself up after drinking way too much than your young body can handle, a 'good' guy helps you to bed and in the course of that help, he forces him upon you to give him oral sex. When he's done, you vomit again, not from alcohol, but from having semen in your mouth and throat for the first time and you tell no one and are embarrassed and full of shame. No charges filed - too much shame and as a State Champion swimmer, he begged and then threatened to not be outed for his behavior.
A few years later, you go to a former Big 8 school for the big Spring Football game, expected attendance is 70K people. You're there with a family friend who plays on the team and he's your 'guardian' for the weekend. You attend a post-game party/BBQ and for the first two hours, it's fun - eating, drinking and reliving how well everyone played and how well the season should go, come Fall. When the drinks have been enough and there's a need to lie down and take some time to recover from all of the drinks, the quiet room you've been led to suddenly has 3-4 guys in it wanting to be serviced or have sex, regardless of your condition. When the 3rd guy hits you for not being responsive enough, you fight to get out and away and eventually the police respond after getting out of the house and screaming for help. However, because of the 'guests' at the party and the nature of their positions on the team, not to mention that your father is a past football alum, the police are not terribly concerned about what happened to you and they believe that will never know what really happened because you were too drunk, saying "No" couldn't be proved, and none of the players admitted to being at the party...although they were there when the police responded. No charges filed - again, too much shame.
A year after the football event, raped at gunpoint during a random robbery and attack, in my neighborhood and from a, later determined, serial rapist. Police called, rape kit done and eventually the rapist is caught and ID'd by DNA; he's in prison for about 20 more years.
I'm now an advocate for sexual assault victims - because I didn't speak up the first two times because they were 'social' events and were considered date rape before the phrase was coined, I need to speak up now.
Rape happens and it happens frequently on college campuses - regardless of their size and stature of the school. I'm happy these Vandy players are going to be held to account and will go through the legal process to determine their guilt or innocence. If the are found not guilty, then let them go on their way, but if found guilty then they need to do be held to account. The should NOT be able to play and/or should be dismissed from the school while the investigation goes on.
Sorry to dump my life crap - but this whole thing strikes a chord, a bad one. While there a lot of good college campuses who are proactive and work to prevent sexual assaults, there are still the high profile, big dollar schools who don't acknowledge the issues on their campuses.
cosmicone
(11,014 posts)You are a brave person.
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)That is awful. 
laserhaas
(7,805 posts)As you can see (and I'm sorry I was called away and unable to draw more attention to this thread by responding to everyone sooner)
those who have taken the time to read your plight - Do Care!
And that is a Good Thing!
Your joining the crusade against injustice is welcome and desired;
especially given to your "objective" remarks of "If" they are (or are not) guilty.
I belong to the 1 in 5 network started by SwedishJewFish (of the "orange" realm).
Will send you some links PM
laserhaas
(7,805 posts)and the posting of several stories.
I did not tell my story - just rushed in a poem to help her get started.
Told her I would take more time; but she said leave it like it is.
http://the1in5.tumblr.com/
niyad
(113,062 posts)to help others. I admire your bravery so much, and am so very sorry for what you endured.
Just Saying
(1,799 posts)And I'm sure you're a wonderful advocate. I don't have to tell you how common this scenario is. I'd bet most women on DU have either been victims or know someone who was.
It's past the point where boys need to be better educated about respecting women and what is expected of them from our society. We can and should do better.
bravenak
(34,648 posts)I've had incidents beginning at five years old.
There are so many of us.
This needs to stop.
freshwest
(53,661 posts)
freshwest
(53,661 posts)
L0oniX
(31,493 posts)I always despised them in high school. Fucking arrogant meat head thugs. Perfect candidates for police employment.
laserhaas
(7,805 posts)T'aint a pretty world, from that perspective.
Bullies galore...
Dreamer Tatum
(10,926 posts)L0oniX
(31,493 posts)while ignoring the fact that they were going to be drafted and sent off to Nam to kill or be killed.
LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)I imagine many small minds believe we despise only that which we may fail to achieve... 
(insert rationalization here...)
Dreamer Tatum
(10,926 posts)LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)Clever back-handed rationalization...
radicalliberal
(907 posts)That's interesting. I guess they're never bullied, either. We all know that scrawny boys and fat boys have always been treated with respect in mandatory sports-exclusive P.E., don't we?
For the record, I've never looked down on any guy for participating in a sport. I respect other people's preferences. But respect is a two-way street.
radicalliberal
(907 posts)"Oh, you were chosen last? Well, boo-hoo-hoo to you!" (snarky, snarky)
Well, the fact of the matter is that those who were chosen last didn't want to be chosen at all. Why would they? They just wanted to be left alone! They had no interest in sports! They were forced to take a class that served only the interests of the athletic kids and those who wanted to play sports. (Incidentally, some of those nonathletic boys would have been quite receptive to following some sort of exercise program. They would have appreciated a little support. I know that for a fact because I was one of them. But no exercise programs were provided for them because they were regarded as inferiors deserving no respect whatsoever. They were the nonpersons in the world of school sports.)
To get back to what I was saying, the "chosen last" line has absolutely no foundation because none of us even wanted to be there! We were forced to be there (in P.E. classes, that is) because of a bunch of boneheaded people who really were completely indifferent to the physical fitness needs of sedentary nonathletic kids. If any reason or decency had prevailed, the ones chosen last would have been kids who wanted to play the game!
bravenak
(34,648 posts)Hold it now.
radicalliberal
(907 posts)Perish the thought that the other side might actually have a legitimate point of view!
Just like a parrot. squawk squawk squawk
[img]
[/img]
(Just to avoid any misunderstanding, I wasn't criticizing you, bravenak. I was agreeing with you.)
bravenak
(34,648 posts)It's automatic to be nasty here somedays. I've practiced it today too, but I can't keep it up that long.
I agree the squeaking is incessant. It gets skaggy around here.
radicalliberal
(907 posts). . . feelings. But I get sick and tired of people refusing to recognize that someone from a background different from their own might have a legitimate point of view. (Bad writing here?) I have a sister who's farther to the left than I am, yet she refuses to join any online forum. She says there's just a bunch of yelling going on. I guess we're all living on different planets. Oh, well . . .
olddots
(10,237 posts)they were both raped . this has to stop and this jock sub human mentality is all about conservatives conserving the worst of human traits .
laserhaas
(7,805 posts)is more prevalent and prominent than it has been (thus far) in my lifetime...
niyad
(113,062 posts)bravenak
(34,648 posts)This is why.
CincyDem
(6,338 posts)...the unrelated security incident mentioned in the article was a fire on that floor of Gillette Hall several days later. In reviewing the hallway video tapes to understand possible causes, the security guys found this.
...the "compelling and unsettling" aspect (aside from the sheer horriffic act itself) was that the alleged activity was not confined to the room and some portion of the alleged activity occurred on the video.
...campus security notified the athletic department and Nashville Metro concurrently.
I've got three daughters and couldn't agree more with your closing line.
One went through USC in LA and they have an absolutely terrible campus reputation of sweeping this sort of stuff under the rug. (What other school would even utter the phrase "it wasn't really rape because the alleged assailant didn't have an orgasm"...WTF???)
We now have one at Vandy (in the same class as these guys) and as terrible as this is, I'm glad to see the school stepping up on the right side of the law here as well as making several changes in visiting and RA monitoring programs. I sure hope that last part of the campus conversation about notifying metro is right.
Note: not a post of "facts", just the consistent story throughout campus among the class of 2016.
freshwest
(53,661 posts)laserhaas
(7,805 posts)Will return tomorrow.
Appreciate all the good insights and humanity most kind to those who reveal their pain.