Rolling stone fallout.m4a

Charlottesville Police suspended their investigation into sexual assault claims that provoked turmoil at the University of Virginia last fall, but the story is still prompting debate among journalists, lawyers and victims of rape who think more needs to be done. Hawes Spencer has that story. Q-SIG 2:34 
 When Rolling Stone came out with its article last fall, author Sabrina Rubin Erdely told Slate magazine that she stood by her source – a woman she called Jackie. "I found her to be very credible. I put her story through the ringer to the extent that I could. I spoke to virtually all of her friends...." 

But reporter Erik Wemple, whose colleagues at the Washington Post cast doubt on the Rolling Stone story, still can't believe it was published. 

"It was an allegation of extreme criminality, extreme wrongdoing, extreme inhumanity. Yet they couldn't do anything really to check it out." 

And UVA alumni, like Tim O'Rourke, are still angry.

"It was pretty clear that this awful thing was made up, was an elaborate hoax. I just had the sensation of this is the whole Duke lacrosse experience all over again.”

O'Rourke says he was less troubled by what may have been the statements of a disturbed young woman than by professors who called for the end of Greek life and a university president who banned December’s social activities at all fraternities and sororities.

"The awful rush for judgment by people in the faculty and administration who know better really was what got under my skin. There's a lot more for UVA to do, starting with some apologies." 

And UVA law professor Robert Turner recommends that the fraternity profiled in Rolling Stone sue the magazine. 

1750”I would say, ‘Do file suit, and I would be shocked if Rolling Stone doesn’t immediately say, ‘Will you accept this amount or this amount?’” But Charlottesville lawyer Lloyd Snook thinks legal action could backfire. 

"The other allegations made going back 30 years or more of rapes and sexual assaults that have occurred at that fraternity would suddenly all become front-page news. I'm not sure they want that." 

Lawmakers are also trying to figure out if there are better ways to deal with allegations of rape at universities. Liz Seccuro, who says she was assaulted at Phi Kappa Psi in 1984, hopes to see such cases handled in court rather than on campus. 

220 "I think we are a nation turning toward the proper adjudication of these crimes where they belong: with the police, and the DAs, and juries." 

One other event seems likely to prompt further discussion. The Columbia Journalism Review was asked by Rolling Stone to review the magazine’s reporting and editing procedures. That report is expected on April 8th. This is Hawes Spencer

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