Uproar Over Rape Editorial

Central Connecticut State University Students rallied Thursday in response to an editorial published in the February 7 edition of the campus newspaper, The Recorder.

The article, written by opinion editor John Petroski, was titled "Rape Only Hurts If You Fight It." In what Petroski claims to be a satire of sensational media, the editorial touts rape as a "magical experience" and a blessing to "ugly women."

Editors of The Recorder stated that the opinion piece was meant to be funny and no harm was intended. But students said there was nothing funny about the article. Instead, it reopened the wounds of those who had previously been raped. The students also stated that the article reinforced misogynistic behavior.

The day after the article was published, student protesters marched and carried signs that read "Real Men Don't Rape" and "Take Back The Recorder." They demanded that the college create a safer environment for women and minority groups. They also called for the resignations of Petroski and Editor-in-Chief Mark Rowan.

Rowan posted a written apology on the bulletin board outside The Recorder's office. In it, he stated, "We didn't know the campus community as well as we thought we knew, and because of that that's why we're getting this backlash and we're sorry because of it."

Rowan also stated that the article proved the point they were trying to make about sensational media. "The front page of the paper had a very important story about students losing their Social Security numbers, an issue that affects the entire campus," he said. "But nobody is talking about that. They're only talking about the rape article."

University President Jack Miller walks a fine line. In a statement, he defended Petroski's right to free speech, but condemned the article, calling it a violation of responsible journalism. "Rape is a profound violation of body and spirit, and to make light of this, even in satire, is abhorrent," he said.

John Petroski, a sophomore at Central Connecticut University, issued an apology on Monday. "When I wrote the article, I didn't think that many people would care so deeply about the subject," he told the New Britain Herald.

In a written statement circulated to fellow students, Petroski said he was truly sorry. "I wasn't writing this to try and hurt people though," he said. "I was trying to point out that people don't give a damn about anything in a paper besides something they can rally around. It looks like I succeeded, especially with our front page.

"That doesn't excuse what I did," he continued. "I should have used a much less touchy pseudo-subject to do this with. Like animal rights or something like that ..."

He refused to resign "out of principle" and was subsequently fired.

SOURCES:

"University Op-Ed Piece on Rape Draws Outrage, Protest," The Advocate, February 8, 2007
URL: http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/local/state/hc-08230356.apds.m0802.bc-ct--editfeb08,0,2338521.story?coll=hc-headlines-local-wire

"Words Reopen Scars at CCSU," Courant.com, February 9, 2007
URL: http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-nebccsu0209.artfeb09,0,4411698.story?coll=hc-headlines-local

"Writer Apologizes for Opinion Piece on Rape that Sparked Outrage," Boston.com, February 10, 2007
URL: http://www.boston.com/news/local/connecticut/articles/2007/02/10/writer_apologizes_for_opinion_piece_on_rape_that_sparked_outrage/

"Petroski Suffers His 15 Minutes of Fame," The Herald, February 13, 2007
URL: http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17843139&BRD=1641&PAG=461&dept_id=572386&rfi=6