A very expensive mural called “The Student’s Progress” covers the entire foyer and stairwell of Old Cabell Hall, which is also the University’s premier auditorium and the favored space for visiting dignitaries. The mural depicts, among other scenes of daily life at the University of Virginia, a male faculty member standing on a porch and tossing a mostly naked student her bra as his beleaguered wife comes up the stairs. My students and I have pointed out that wildly inappropriate section of the mural to faculty, administrators, students, parents, and donors, but so far, no one has been particularly horrified. The mural is proudly displayed and is prominently featured on UVA tours.
Be sure to read the entire article. If this mural isn’t disrespectful, I don’t know what is. It obviously has the approval of the University, it is positioned in one of the most prestigious buildings at UVA. Cabell Hall is at the other end of the lawn from the Rotunda. My high school graduation was there, as a matter of fact. I attended the Women’s College of the University of Virginia.. Students dated faculty members. Several of the faculty members trolled the C-shop (student union) for women to “talk to.” It was all done out in the open. I am sure it was done at UVA also but the pickings were smaller. The only women students were education students or nursing students.
Meanwhile, how does this type of acceptance of women as sex objects translate into campus sexual misbehavior? That is what we need to be asking ourselves. Also, as a tax payer, is this mural what you want to be paying for?
What is the history of that mural? Who made it and why?
@Cargosquid
Use the link. It has been there for a while but the story of it is there.
You’ve got to be kidding. This is a permanent mural at UVa and not just some student art project? Looks like something you might find at the Mustang Ranch in Nevada.
Ha! I think you have a point. I just think this is an on-going mess and inappropriate. I saw on facebook that my aunt Mary is furious over it!
@Cargosquid
http://www.businessinsider.com/mural-on-uvas-campus-appears-to-depict-professors-affair-with-student-2014-11#ixzz3L8UFsrsp
It must have been after 1970.
@Cargosquid
1996
http://news.virginia.edu/content/old-cabell-hall-mural-expands-encompass-lifetime-learning
It only took me 30 seconds on google to verify that the artist was intending to illustrate female struggle and self-discovery rather than to celebrate objectification. I couldn’t care less about the mural and whether it stays up, but let’s not misrepresent why it’s there.
What the artist intends and what people read into the art are two different things. If we are satisfying the artist, then let him put that mural in his living room.
Most artists have their head you know where anyway. I think the mural, at least that part, is out of place and inappropriate.
Art does not have to be uplifting. It speaks uncomfortable even shocking truth about sexual power. Who has the power here? Is it the professor exchanging grades for sex or the coed who was able to get a professor to risk his marriage for sex with her and the wife who will exact a cost for his infidelity? From a guy’s perspective we think women do not appreciate or acknowledge how they use sexual power against the 93% of men while claiming victim because of the actions of less than 1%. The cost of Valentines day is exhibit A. Learning about sexual power is an extra-curricular lesson for all college students.
I have no problem teaching it as such. I am not sure that is the message of the mural, however.
You ask an interesting question, however, about who owns the power. I have seen it work both ways. Men and women both should always be able to just say no. In the case of rape, that right is taken away.
I don’t believe that there are many enclaves in America where a woman feels intimidated against reporting a rape.
If we need a public campaign about the issue, it should be plain and simple, “Report rape. But only if it’s real”.
I think you are being VERY naïve.
Nobody should get to pull a Crystal Magnum or a Lena Dunham, or a Danmell Ndonye.
I saw someone on Meet the Press today claim that women are likely telling the truth about rape accusations, because nobody ever attained “fame or fortune” from a false accusation. WAY OFF BASE. There are false accusations made against athletes on a constant basis.
If they lied about a specific individual, they should go to jail. f you just say “I was raped” and it isn’t true then that is a little different. Deliberately accusing someone specific of that is a heinous crime.
It’s infuriating that Mangum not only didn’t go to jail for her story, but received support from the Al Sharptons of the world even when her story was out of line with known facts. (Imagine that). Ndonye almost got five guys jailed and listed as sex offenders, and no jail time for her.
Which is why I am enjoying watching Lena Dunham squirm.
The laws of this land do, in my opinion, slant towards women and against men. Claiming rape falsely should be a henious thing, punishable with a prison sentence. Not grounds for a book deal. Or a civil rights march.
Claiming false rape should carry a stiff prison sentence. I have no problem with that at all.
We’ve structured the laws of the land as if women are helpless and need protection. Domestic abuse laws – presume the man guilty. Rape accusations – I’ve seen men who didn’t do anything get accused, and then presented with plea bargains that would label them sex offenders. Alimony laws – absurd.
Women have control of their lives, are as capable of earning money as men, can see men prosecuted for rape, and are very certainly able to leave a man who beats them if they want to. Time to bring these laws into convergence with modern life and current reality.
Again, easy for you to say.
Historically, women were the weaker sex. Has that changed? Historically, women were totally unempowered. That was sort of the case from caveman days til WWII. 3/4ths of a century really isn’t a long time to change mores. I know I couldn’t go to the school of my choice or get the job of my choice because I was a female. How does that fit into your scheme of things?
Women are helpless ONLY IF THEY CHOOSE TO BE. Any story in America where the woman gets raped and chooses not to report it is a strange choice that she is making, for reasons that presumably speak badly of her.
You are still a rape victim whether you report or you don’t.
I understand why young women don’t report it.
Finally, easy for you to say. You are aware that women are often the ones who go on trial when a rape case gets to court.
“I understand why young women don’t report it.”
In some cases – NOT ALL, I’M NOT SAYING ALL – they don’t because it wasn’t really a rape. Not every woman who says she was raped was really raped. Ms. Dunham is presumably a perfect example of this.
There aren’t the caveman days anymore Moon. We need laws to protect women – some men stalk and try to ruin lives, and some guys rape women. But, some laws are out of touch with what’s real. The current laws on domestic abuse are nutty IMO. The fact that a woman in the same house as me turns up bruised should hardly be just cause to presume me guilty.
There are plenty of women in this world who use current laws to control men or try to control them. This was one high profile example – http://www.cantstopthebleeding.com/its-like-jason-kidd-married-albert-belle
I don’t disagree. Not all men are rapists and not all bruised women were abused by their spouses.
There are women who don’t report rape because of intimidation, fear, embarrassment, difference in class.
I have already said I think crying rape when there is none should be punished harshly. Its a serious charge and yes, some cry rape to control.
As a man you’re just supposed to grin and bear the inequity of this type of thing, and be careful who you get involved with. But, it’s wrong and it’s kooky.
This world is full of women who are slowly killing their husbands, spending all the money and racking up credit card debt. Taking advantage of his desire to try to make her happy – to fill the void within her with material objects. And then if she turns up with a bruise on the cheek, he’s a monster and she’s a victim? It’s crap. The whole institution of marriage really is, though. It’s antiquated and the deck is stacked against men.
I’m really not saying this because of anything that happened to me. My wife and I have an amicable split. But, the process of a marriage coming apart help me to see more clearly how absurd the current de facto definition of marriage is. If and when the man misbehaves, he’s a bad guy. If the woman does it, it’s just game playing.
One sided. Women have bad issues also. Both genders can make each other miserable.
My advice to every man out there, and every woman – do not get married without a prenuptual agreement. There’s no reason to. The laws of this land have not caught up with the state of relative equality between the sexes. So protect yourself.
What shows less respect for yourself and your future – having sex with an AIDS-infected prostitute? Or marrying someone who ears less than you, without a prenup? They’re the same thing, IMO.
Many people are blinded by love or whatever and don’t think of themselves without that person, until it is too late. I know several people in that position…both genders.
I’d be ten times and angry, and posting ten times as much, if my wife had screwed me over to the degree that state law would have allowed her to.
Both men and women get screwed over daily…and screw each other over.
My husband got screwed over. why? He was male. things are more equitable now than they were 40 years ago. He never got a penny of child support.
I should probably apologize for getting as far off topic as I do. I go from rape to alimony. But I’m trying to illustrate that the problems in our culture aren’t a result of laws needing to be slanted towards women. Most laws are quite slanted towards women at this point. And, those laws do get abused and men do get falsely accused.
How do four guys in New Jersey get taken into custody just because Danmell Ndomye said that they raped her? Think about that.
Do we have a real epidemic of rape in America, currently?
I was watching I think Meet the Press this morning and one panelist said one out of three women gets sexually assaulted in her lifetime. Another said, well that’s an overstatement, that includes an attempt at forced kissing. And the first person was yelling that “THAT IS SEXUAL ASSAULT”! Come on now with this. By that definition I’ve arguably assaulted a few women moving in aggressively for a kiss.
My opinion, a lot of supposed rapes that go unreported in this day and age do so because they weren’t really rapes.
There is a legal definition of rape. Trying to kiss someone isn’t rape. Getting too sexually aggressive with someone is sexual misconduct. Not sure where that fits into the law. Back in the day, you smacked someone’s face. Today that might get you an assault charge.
And if we are going to discuss this honestly and fully we are going to have to factor in women who enjoy and solicit rough sex, women who want men to take charge to some degree and therefore sit passively considering whether to let a man have them or not, and women who are attracted to promiscuous behavior but sometimes regret it afterwards (I’m looking at you, Ms. Dunham).
There are obviously a lot of Kobe Bryant situations in the world where the man thinks it was consensual and the woman doesn’t. Despite trying to get alone with the guy.
Bottom line, no means no. I think there are a lot of instances where the woman doesn’t say no, but retroactively wishes she did.
I guess I am just glad I don’t have to sort out all the various codes. Being married has its benefits.
If you read about this story, it’s interesting. This girl, who is so evil, had a fine reputation in life and her story of rape would have been likely believed at face value. But for the videotape.
http://www.cotwa.info/p/lambs-to-slaughter-hofstra-false-rape.html
If the police had to invent a witness to build a rape case around, they probably would have constructed Danmell Ndonye.
“The girl was genius-like. She wanted to be a physicist,” said a neighbor. “She’s quiet — she doesn’t say two words. She’s a nice, innocent, well-bred, shy girl.”
Another neighbor said her granddaughter used to play with Ndonye when they were children. “This kid is brilliant, scary brilliant. I think she wanted to pursue medicine. This child would read The New York Times when she was 3. I mean, she is a prodigy,” she said. “This child has such an intact mother and father. It’s a devout family — structured.”
She was the model witness. The only problem was, her claim was a lie.
Perhaps young men should start insisting on a video record of any sexual activity …
Speaking about sexual assault in this society and not being able to get someone to listen seriously, read this one from Bridgeport, CT.
http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Hospital-rape-case-widens-5940881.php.
If the link doesn’t work go to Ctpost.com for 8 December 2014 “Hospital Rape Case Widens.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/u-va-students-challenge-rolling-stone-account-of-attack/2014/12/10/ef345e42-7feb-11e4-81fd-8c4814dfa9d7_story.html?
You can only shake your head in disgust.
Disgust isn’t what got me. It seems that Jackie isn’t real truthful and the RS reporter is simply a liar. The real telling part is that her friends weren’t interviewed. I don’t expect suspects to be interviewed. Only an idiot accused of rape would willingly talk to the press. But her friends should have been interviewed and the reporter should have not misrepresented what was said.
I am ready to go with two sick puppies at this point. Jackie and the reporter. Jackie might have been traumatized. She will be even more traumatized when she is thrown out of UVA for an honor code violation.
Back when I attended the Women’s College of the University of Virginia, we were told that there were no shades of gray. You were either honorable or you weren’t and that your word was an extension of your being. If you lied, you weren’t honorable. If you cheated or stole, you weren’t honorable. You were gone. You were judged, using the honor system, by your peers.
I would hope that UVA still had the honor code in place. Back in those days you could set your belongings down, come back later and everything was still there. I never had a key to my room until my senior year. I only had one thing stolen, ever. A record album. Maybe someone borrowed it and forgot to mention it or return it.
The Greeks needed a shake up. They need to decide how they are going to ensure everyone’s safety. This was a wake up call–probably long overdue.
If I wanted to do a major crackdown, I would start with the underage binge drinking. I would be the most hated person in Charlottesville but I would be saving lives, either immediately or in the future.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/u-va-students-challenge-rolling-stone-account-of-attack/2014/12/10/ef345e42-7fcb-11e4-81fd-8c4814dfa9d7_story.html
So … she’s a crazy ***** who makes up stories for attention.
There’s no evidence that anything “traumatic” ever happened to her. It is likely that she was born crazy, and is something of a virus loose on this world.
This is a teachable moment. Not about sexual assaults on campus. About psycho women and what some of them are capable of.
This stuff is real. In my own limited experiences I’ve known (not intimiately) women who invented rape or molestation stories, who invented boyfriends, who invented stories to b a victim so as to gain attention and sympathy from others. It happens.
I went to summer school one year with a girl named Elsie who wrote love letters to her dog.
However, I believe its attitudes like yours that make people not report rape or other sexual misconduct. I don’t know what’s wrong with her. Her friends do feel that something happened to her. They are just not sure what.
So who is there to sue? It doesn’t sound like the people involved who are wrongly accused even exist.
What does Mr. Gotnews have to say about all this?
In your defense, Rick, I am losing patience with Jackie. If she is all hoax and fraud, she has done a tremendous disservice to women (and yes, men) who are sexually assaulted. Rape is very real as is non consensual sexual misconduct. Many of us are statistics who can testify to that fact.
“However, I believe its attitudes like yours that make people not report rape or other sexual misconduct”
I really doubt that. I’m quite comfortable in what I said. I’m not interested in presuming every woman that’s off her rocker – as this woman is, as Wolve’s link demonstrates – was ever really a victim.
I had a relative who almost accepted a plea bargain as a sex offender, because a girl in the family accused him of groping her. The girl told four different stories about what had happened, had been trying for years to get men to go off alone with her (including me – alarm bells went off hard), had been caught having imaginary conversations on the phone about older men having affairs with her. The family didn’t interrogate her at all about what happened, the police took their cue from the dysfunctional family and he went to trial. I forced the issue and got my wife to testify about the girl’s behavior. His lawyer told me that if it wasn’t for me he’d be in a jail or at a minimum a registered sex offender. I’m quite comfortable with anything I said above. When a woman says she was raped – or a child molested for that matter – it may, or may not have happened.
When “Jackie” says she was raped by numerous men but can’t or won’t point to any real rapist, I’m quite sure she’s lying, and that, in colloquial terms, the ***** is crazy.
I am glad you saved your relative. There are wackos out there for sure. I just think most people are not.
Last year some young man was released from prison because of false accusations from a neighbor to cover her own misbehavior. It sickens me. However, the jury is out on what Jackie’s real story is. We will find out. She is way to visible for this to be swept under the rug.
I’m sure that Jackie’s motivation was the same as my young relative’s. She was excited and happy with the attention she received from both sides of her family. The day of the trial she was beaming and happieer than I’d ever seen her. She was getting the attention that she craved.
At least Jackie didn’t actually accuse any innocent person of rape. Next to Donyell Ndome, she’s a saint.
The teachable moment here is that regarding these many unreported rapes that activists talk about and try to quantify, a lot of them go unreported because THEY DIDN’T ACTUALLY HAPPEN.
Then there are a lot of incidents that involve copious amounts of alchohol or other substances that could arguably be rape, or not, that don’t get reported.
Are we a nation full of frat boys raping women in gang-bangs, which culminate in exhorting a nerd to rape a woman with a bottle? Or Lacrosse teams raping strippers at will? No.
As a person who narrowly escaped date rape, I will tell you why I didn’t report it. 1. It’s embarrassing 2. I thought my parents would have torn me up over it. I was drinking and at the drive in. I was 19. 3. I didn’t want to go through all sorts of interrogation.
I think, looking back, I had a moral obligation to report him. It wasn’t his fault it wasn’t a rape. I just fought well. (thanks to having brothers) For all I know he was killed in Vietnam. On the other hand, he might have come back and become the local rapist. He was a loner. Most of the officer marines at Quantico in those days traveled more in packs.
So how do we know about unreported rape? (especially if it didn’t happen)
However, there is an appetite to believe that we are. Given that appetite, and the lack of real stories produced to fill that appetite, I assume that real stories about gang rapes are hard to come by. At least in mainstream American culture – Latin American gangs have their stories, and Asian gangs too. Since covering those rapes would cast shade on undocumented immigrants, and that issue has been politicized to the point that liberals can’t see straight on it, there’s no hunger to publish those stories.
Now on the other side of the coin, the idea of unreported rapes and real predators – Moon, how about a thread on Bill Cosby? That was one sick twisted m***erf***er. Here’s the latest woman to come forward – http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2014/12/bill-cosby-beverly-johnson-story
The psychoanalysis of who this guy really was, and how he got away with it, will outlive us all.
I have avoided leading the pack on Bill Crosby for several reasons. 1.. He was always someone I respected. He was like the black grandfather I never had. 2. I am in denial. How come this didn’t come out back when it would have been advantageous to paint a dim picture of Cosby? 3. He innocent until proven guilty.
Basically I am very conflicted over it. Why don’t you lead a discussion on the open thread. I fully admit I am just not emotionally ready to deal with it.
Moon, I assume that is he had raped you, you would have reported it.
Is there some Federal or State law that we want to change? I just don’t see that the US is creating a climate other than wanting to prosecute and incarcerate rapists.