University of Virginia Library

Weekend Rapes

I would like to comment on the
two articles in the November 19
issue concerning the attacks on
dates of U. Va. students this weekend.
In both cases these girls were
abandoned by their dates. One student
chose a bottle and the other
chose his fraternity. Since there are
many more drunks in this school
than there are rush chairmen, the
abandonment of girls for alcohol is
much more serious. It has never
made sense to me why a student
will ask a girl to travel up to several
hundred miles for a weekend and
then do his best to make an ass of
himself. Since he is the one who
asked her to come I think he has a
responsibility to give her some
sober attention. Abandoning her to
his own selfish desires is not only
rude but, as we saw, dangerous. It
should be remembered that in a
state where rape can be a capital
crime killing possibly the only witness
may have more advantages
than drawbacks. Secondly, in some
states pregnancy by rape is not
sufficient reason for an abortion.
Incidents such as these become
inevitable where "gentlemen" not
worthy of the title cannot practice
self-control. Two lives may have
been ruined this weekend. Put that
in your hip flask.

These remarks are directed to
Mr. Hayes. How do you propose
that a hostess determine the condition
of a girl's date? Very few could
give reliable blood tests. Even if a
fellow passed some sort of test in
the house, you could not be sure he
would not flop on his face in front
of some church after drinking the
rest of his private stock. In an
atmosphere where delirium is
equated to fun it is time to put the
responsibility where it belongs.
These people must learn self-control.