Rolling Stone has published a note to readers apologizing for an article about an alleged U-Va. sexual assault, saying new information shows discrepancies in the victim's story. (Reuters)
CHARLOTTESVILLE — Students and faculty whipsawed by traumatic events in the fall semester at the University of Virginia confronted a sudden twist Friday as the credibility of a blockbuster magazine story about a gang rape on campus fell into doubt.
The Grounds, as the campus here is known, was jolted Nov. 19 by Rolling Stone’s account of a 2012 fraternity-house gang rape of a student named Jackie. Then the campus was galvanized as student activists and university leaders came together, pledging to reform whatever elements of U-Va.’s culture might have facilitated sexual violence.
The backdrop for these events was the community’s agony over the disappearance of sophomore Hannah Graham in September and the discovery weeks later that she had been slain.
Now the community wonders what to make of questions raised about the central incident in the Rolling Stone story after a detailed rebuttal from the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity and an apology from the magazine’s managing editor.
“I felt like there was a healing process that was beginning and there was a moment when the rage and anger were morphing into self-reflection and healing, and now the healing process has been interrupted and attention has been focused on what’s true and what’s not true,” Andrew Kaufman, a lecturer of Slavic languages and literature, said during a stop at a coffee shop.
The University of Virginia held a special meeting on Tuesday to discuss recent allegations of sexual assault that have rocked the campus. University President Teresa Sullivan said any systemic problems “must be rooted out.” (AP)
Students are scrambling to complete projects and prepare for final exams. They grabbed snatches of the latest developments from Facebook, smartphones and old-fashioned word-of-mouth. Many were bewildered.
“It’s finals season,” said Sabrina Song, 20, a junior who was walking in a chilly drizzle along University Avenue to turn in a portfolio of poems she wrote for a poetry class. “It’s hard to really figure out what’s going on and reflect on it.”
“It’s been a stressful first semester,” said Michelle Lynskey, 18, a freshman who was walking past fraternity row. Since she arrived, Lynskey said, the university has held several rape-prevention programs, encouraging students to be “active bystanders,” and distributed T-shirts bearing the slogan, “Who’s got your back?” Lynskey was wearing hers under a winter coat.
That made her believe the university was taking the issue seriously.
White Christmas lights twinkled on the columns in front of the Phi Kappa Psi house on Rugby Road, which has been the target of ire and demonstration since the story appeared. Students inside turned reporters away Friday afternoon, directing them to the formal comment from the fraternity. So touchy was the subject that a member of a neighboring house shooed a reporter off a walkway outside, saying he did not want his fraternity to get dragged into the matter.
Several people said they were upset at Rolling Stone’s statement that its trust in the alleged victim had been “misplaced.”
“I believe Jackie — point blank, period,” said Greg Lewis, 21, a senior. “Whatever misreporting Rolling Stone did, that’s not a Jackie problem.”
Anna Boynton, 21, another senior, also faulted the magazine.
“If there was a discrepancy . . . they should have checked it out first and not thrown her under the bus a week later,” she said.
Rebecca Lim, editor-in-chief of student-run Cavalier Daily news outlet, said student journalists were hearing mixed reactions. “There’s obviously some people who are angry,” she said. “And there are other people who are trying to redirect the conversation to the fact that rape is still a huge issue on college campuses.”
Taylor Sandridge, 21, who is not a student, works at a Dunkin’ Donuts on University Avenue that caters to the U-Va community. Like many here, she worries about what has happened to reputations — the fraternity’s, the school’s, the city’s. “The damage has already been done,” she said.
Anderson reported from Washington.
Laura Vozzella covers Virginia politics for The Washington Post.
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