Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
RICHMOND, Virginia (AP) — The chairman of the University of Virginia's board ripped into Rolling Stone magazine Friday for unfairly tarnishing the school's image with what was most likely an inaccurate piece about a gang rape at a fraternity house on campus.
Rector George K. Martin gave his most expansive comments since doubt was cast on a Rolling Stone article that described a culture of sexual violence hiding in plain sight at the prestigious university. The article, published last month, set off an intense debate about sexual violence, alcohol, fraternities, and — after Rolling Stone acknowledged faults — journalism ethics.
"Like a neighborhood thrown into chaos by drive-by violence, our tight knit community has experienced the full fury of drive-by journalism in the 21st century," Martin said in his opening remarks. "Our great university's reputation has been unfairly tarnished."
The article described in graphic detail an alleged gang rape at a fraternity house on campus. Its publication set off a frenzy of recriminations at the school, one of the top public universities in the country. U.Va. suspended fraternity activities until January, the Board of Visitors appointed an independent investigator to look into the allegations and the university handed the case over to the local police.
But problems with the story became apparent after publication. Many of the students described in the article have since said the magazine's account is misleading and wrong. The magazine has apologized for what it calls discrepancies.
Martin pledged that the campus would not respond in anger, but would continue to work on sex assault prevention efforts and try to learn from the experience. He said Rolling Stone's "catastrophic failure of professionalism" should "teach us to be less quick to judge."
U. Va is known, among other reasons, for having been founded by Thomas Jefferson, the principal author of America's Declaration of Independence and the country's third president.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
