UCSB's Criminal Culture

February 26, 2007

It was painful to read Mark Batalla’s column singing the praises of Chancellor Yang.  Apparently, Mark’s need to seek approval from authority figures knows no bounds.  On the other hand, in the alternative, Mark may be an unpaid PR flak for the Yangster.  In any event, it was pure emetic. 

While Mark and anyone else can sing the praises of anyone they like, the truth about Yang is that he is very good at one thing: making sure that the UCSB image remains Teflon covered.   Review any issue related to UCSB/IV problems and you come to the same conclusion about how slippery Yang is. 

Mark crows about Yang’s “help” on the Cedarwood housing issue.  Yang did nothing to solve the Cedarwood problem.  More importantly, he did nothing to solve the underlying issues that created the problem – issues that are largely the direct result of UCSB’s growth.  Putting a few bucks into a fund for the tenants isn’t a solution – it is a copout.  If the Chancellor wants to really solve some problems, he needs to start taking the lead (publicly) on some of the more important issues facing UCSB.   One of the issues that thedarksideofucsb.com continually addresses is sexual assault.  How Yang and the administration of UCSB handle this issue is important. 

Let’s look at the current rape case against Eric Frimpong.  As the number of victims increased to two this week, what will Yang and his merry band of reality denial denizens do to protect other women?  The answer is: NOTHING! 

While the District Attorney will work hard to bring the case to a just conclusion, UCSB, as a community, will do everything in its power to help Mr. Frimpong finish school, help him beat the rap (or at least significantly diminish the criminal consequences), and, most shocking of all, they will attack the victims.  The administration may not do it overtly, but it will happen, and they will take no action to exclude a serial rapist from the university.   We already have a few vile emails (apparently from some of Frimpong’s pals) about how he is being framed, set-up, and how the girls in questions were “asking for it.”   Nice, real nice.  

It is important to notice that the second victim (who apparently was raped prior to the initial rape charges) only came forward after the first one filed charges.  Clearly there is a reason why this new victim delayed coming forward.  My guess is that she was afraid of what would happen to her.  She was afraid to go public about the assault because she knew she would be attacked.  My guess is that there are other victims as well.

Here is what will happen in this case: 

UCSB will not expel or suspend him. He will remain in school and be a continuing threat – not only to other women but also to the victims who must testify.  He and his friends will make it tough on the victims.

From the usual suspects (AKA the activists) we will hear wailing, weeping, and gashing of teeth.  They will spew the follow clichés: 

• He is being railroaded
• It’s a rush to judgment
• His personal life shouldn’t affect his academic career (this is one of my    favorites, it is also known as the Bill Clinton excuse).
• He is the victim of racism. 
• He made some bad choices but has accepted responsibility and wants to move on.  (This is one of Yang’s favorite excuses.) 
• He should get off because this kind of thing could ruin his career.
• Etc, etc, ad nauseum.  

UCSB staffers will write letters to the judge and the prosecutor, in support of this “fine young man” who is “capable of contributing” much to society and that it would be “wrong to punish him beyond what he has already gone through.”  They will extol his athletic contributions as if that somehow mitigates his alleged sexual assaults.  You can just hear it: “He comes from a poor background; he wants to live the American dream, yadda, yadda, yadda.”  By the way, how was a UCSB student able to post $100,000 bail?  

UCSB will prove once again that it does not protect its students from criminals.  In fact, it looks the other way.  It does not want to take action for fear that any action will highlight the extent of the problems at UCSB.  It is more interested in keeping its funhouse party image.

How about it, Yang; are you willing to prove me wrong?

Oh, of course, Frimpong is innocent until proven guilty and we need to protect his rights and, well … you get the idea. However, while we are doing all that, let’s protect the rest of the students (well, at least the females) from further attacks.  Throw the guy out of school and ban him from all UCSB property and events.  And for those of you who will write in and whine about confidentially laws, UCSB doesn’t have to disclose anything, just take the appropriate action.  The whole campus and community will know about any action taken because the pressure groups will scream at the top of their lungs.  

For those of you who will whine that he has not been convicted yet, sorry, that won’t fly.  When someone is a serious threat, one must take action.  Even the UCSB student code allows the school to take action before a conviction if there is a continuing threat.  The Code of Student Conduct that governs the conduct of UCSB students clearly states when the administration should act.  It reads, in part:

 "General Standards of Conduct (SW, 101.00)

1. Non-Academic Conduct

Students are expected to comply with all local, state, and federal laws.

The Regents of the University of California have delegated authority to the Chancellors to implement processes for the administration of discipline on the campuses. The procedures to be followed at UCSB are outlined below."

Section C states:

"In instances when the health and safety of the individual or members of the University community are involved, the campus disciplinary process will be implemented immediately upon notification of the charges."

If UCSB doesn’t act, could one conclude that UCSB does not see serial rapists as a threat to the “health and safety” of other students?  Perhaps UCSB views serial rape as a mere extension of the out-of-control party scene.  You know, just a regular party guy who made some “poor choices.”

UCSB should actively protect the victims and create an environment were young women are not afraid to report rape. To date, it has not.