SWMS210: Richmond High Rape Case

Monday, November 9, 2009

Richmond High Rape Case

The Richmond High rape case is disturbing on various different levels. First off, the rape happened during a high school homecoming dance on school property. Why is there not greater enforcement of teens at the school? Reports show that over 20 people were involved in the rape (10 watched and 10 participated) of this 15-year-old high school girl. The girl was beat, stripped, then gang raped, lasting over 2 ½ hours. It is understandable to have parents worry about what extracurricular activities their children get into, knowing that their children are safe at school. But now, do parents have to worry about their kids getting beat and raped on school grounds? Secondly, the victim and the accusers were claimed to have been under the influence of alcohol. So, not only did the actual rape take place on campus, but alcohol was consumed by minors on campus. There has to be better supervision of students at school dances during and after school. In addition, the victim herself was intoxicated to the point where she passed out on a nearby bench. I feel that the school, the boys who raped the girl, and those who watched and didn’t report the situation to the authorities are to blame. There is no excuse for rape, and there is definitely no excuse for a rape done on a high school campus.

1 comment:

Brent ZatermanNovember 9, 2009 at 5:04 PM
I agree that the Richmond High School rape case is disturbing on many levels. One point that was particularly disturbing to me was the fact that the media focused the blame not on the accused, but wrote the incident off as if the the accused were victims of a their economic and geographical positions. Also it is scary to think that over 20 people witnessed the rape taking place yet none of them contacted the authorities. This case reveals gaping moral within our society. The passiveness by the people who witnessed the rape should not have happened as these people had a legitimate chance to protect the girl. We need to make huge step forwards if we wish to rid society of these types of horrible crimes.
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Ericka Swensson-Tsagakis

Email: emswensson@yahoo.com

Office: Shrine Offices

Office Hours: Tuesday 2:30-3:30pm, Wednesday 12:30-1:30pm, and by appointment.

Mailbox: SOS 153, History Dept.

SWMS 210gm SOCIAL ISSUES IN GENDER

Discussion Sections, Fall 2009

Tuesday 4:00-4:50pm VKC105 (34906R)

Tuesday 5:00-5:50pm VKC105(34907R)

Section Website: http://swms210.blogspot.com/

Welcome to the discussion section for SWMS 210gm. Discussion sections will examine and elaborate on the material presented through the lectures and readings. These classes will help us work through difficult concepts and problematize issues. 15% of your overall class grade will be determined by performance and attendance in the discussion section itself. In order to do well in this course you need to be present at every section with the readings in hand, be an active participant, and demonstrate your familiarity with the readings.

Attendance is mandatory – 40% of your grade

Because our meetings are an essential part of this course, attendance is required. Multiple absences and chronic tardiness will negatively affect your grade. Please notify me in ADVANCE if circumstances make it impossible for you to attend a session. Consult the course syllabus for more information on the attendance policy and penalties.

Participation and Blog Assignments - 40% of your grade

Part of your participation grade will depend upon your performance in our discussion blog. Prior to each discussion section, you will be expected to post 2 questions/comments regarding the readings for that week. Your blog post will be due on Monday evening by 9pm. Late posts will not be accepted. I encourage you to use the blog not only as a place to express your ideas but also as a discussion forum by responding to your classmates’ postings. Please email me ASAP so that I can invite you to the blog. Failure to keep current with assignments/postings on the blog will negatively affect your grade.

Group Presentations – 20% of your grade

Each student will be responsible for 2 group presentations which will be approx. 15 minutes in length. We will discuss what is expected of these presentations when I distribute a list of possible topics.

Class Conduct

Cell phone calls, texting, tardiness, inappropriate use of laptops, and other disruptive behavior will not be tolerated and will adversely affect your grade. In addition, I would ask that you remain respectful towards your classmates at all times. The goal of this section is to foster discussion and to create an environment where we all feel comfortable sharing our opinions. So above all, LISTEN and RESPOND appropriately to your classmates.

Students with Disabilities: Any student requiring academic accommodation based on a disability is required to register with Disability Services and Programs (DSP) each semester. A letter of verification for approved accommodations can be obtained by DSP. Please be sure the letter is delivered to us as early in the semester as possible. DSP is located in STU 301 and is open 8:30am-5:00pm Monday through Friday. The phone number for DSP is (213) 740-0776.

* This syllabus is subject to change. I will communicate with you outside of class primarily through email and through the class blog, and it is your responsibility to check your account regularly for pertinent information. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.