University of Virginia President Teresa Sullivan has called the now-discredited Rolling Stone story about a brutal gang-rape damaging to the university, its students and to victims of sexual assault.
Sullivan released the statement Sunday night in response to the Columbia Journalism’s review of the RS article.
Sullivan, who cited the now-retracted story as the rationale behind emergency restrictions she placed on fraternities, said the original RS article “did nothing to combat sexual violence, and it damaged serious efforts to address the issue.”
“Irresponsible journalism unjustly damaged the reputations of many innocent individuals and the University of Virginia,” Sullivan said. “Rolling Stone falsely accused some University of Virginia students of heinous, criminal acts and falsely depicted others as indifferent to the suffering of their classmate. The story portrayed University staff members as manipulative and callous toward victims of sexual assault. Such false depictions reinforce the reluctance sexual assault victims already feel about reporting their experience, lest they be doubted or ignored.”
Sullivan first admitted that the RS story was false in late January, two months after she had suspended Greek activities and just weeks after forcing fraternities and sororities to sign new agreements with the university limiting social activity.
Sullivan, in her statement Sunday, made no apology to those fraternity members she treated as guilty without evidence.
