Yet another unversity is putting its reputation above the well being of its students...
Worcester Polytechnic Institute is blaming a college student for her own rape, while she studied abroad in Puerto Rico. WPI claims that her risky behavior caused her rape, not their own negligence. She was raped by a security guard hired by the school to protect their students. Although the school could have prevented this rape, through proper vetting, the school is blaming the victim, because she was drinking.
Would you agree with me that if you had not gone to the roof with Mr. Rodriguez this incident wouldn’t have occurred?’’ the attorney asked. In the deposition, the school suggested that the victim deserved the brutal attack for moving freely about with someone the university had ostensibly vouched for. Blaming her actions for the rape is a horrifying display of rape culture.
We each need to stop teaching victims how to prevent rape, and start teaching offenders not to rape people.
This disgusting defense is extremely infuriating. When a victim is blamed for her own assault, it is like being violated all over again. It is never the victim's fault for being raped! We each have the responsibility to stand up for victims and against rapists. In this instance, the school has essentially sided with the rapist to avoid taking responsibility for their poor vetting practices.
Sign to show solidarity with rape victims, who continue to be victimized by rape culture and to demand a public apology from school officials.
