From the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence

Notes for Press Calls re the UVA sexual assault and the story in Rolling Stone
Trauma Response:
Cite Becky Campbell's research re: traumatic memories and difficulties remembering
facts--she may well not have known who was a member of the frat. Sexual assault stories can
hold up to fact-checking but survivors' stories cannot be judged on specific facts relating to
some details given the nature of traumatic memories.
Additionally, when it comes to trauma survivors, we often see that there may be some
lack of clarity of the details or temporary amnesia related to the events. If this girl got the date
wrong, then sure, they can say that. The artifact of rape culture is that the fraternity said, "we
didn't have a party that night and that was enough to warrant a retraction of her account.
RSs Retraction Reasoning:
Interviewing perpetrators isn't common practice, especially given the survivor didn't name
a perpetrator. She named the fraternity. It is possible she was assaulted in that house by
someone who isn't in that fraternity.
We are struggling with why the account of the alleged perpetrators (without any clear
change in the evidence provided to RS) would warrant a retraction of the account of the
victim.

Any fact-checking issues by RS cannot be blamed on the survivor.

Rape culture/the epidemic of SV:

Regardless of how this one story pans out, the epidemic nature of sexual assault cannot be
underrated.
Considering clear examples such as sexual abuse in churches, in the military, on
campuses, in prisons, we cannot get sidetracked by aberrations born out of fact-checking
errors, survivor memory difficulties, or other problems.
Because they know they most likely will not be believed, rape survivors often do not
come forward. And, also, because they often blame themselves for what happened (I shouldn't
have gone to that party, shouldn't have flirted with him, shouldn't have worn that dress, etc.)
they often do not come forward. When they do come forward, the majority of rapes go
unprosecuted.
Statement to the general public:
We urge the general public to stay focused on our collective responsibility to address sexual
assault and not fall into rape culture myths that deny the pervasiveness of this problem when we all
know someone whose life has been irrevocably affected by this deeply entrenched societal problem.

 We also urge people to remember that the woman featured in the RS story is NOT the only
person to come forward with rape allegations against this fraternity AND is certainly not the only
allegation ever waged against the school.
Monika Johnson Hostler
NC Coalition Against Sexual Assault
Executive Director
811 Spring Forest, Suite 900
Raleigh, NC 27609
919-871-1015 (p)
919-871-5895 (f)
www.nccasa.org
monika@nccasa.org