Sexual Assault, Journalism and the Law

Late last month, Rolling Stone magazine published a 9000-word story alleging a gang rape at the University of Virginia's Phi Kappa Psi house. Campus administrators suspended fraternities and began an investigation. Then the Washington Post began asking questions — discovering that three crucial witnesses had never been interviewed by Rolling Stone and that the alleged victim herself has told different stories. Rolling Stone magazine first blamed the victim when it learned of the errors. Now it's confessed to bad reporting and worse editing. The incident dramatizes the challenge of getting the story right when it comes to sexual assault on campus. Some say college officials are failing to deal with an epidemic of violence against women. Others say they're trampling on the rights of accused men. Should criminal charges be turned over to the police and government prosecutors?