Defense attorney Mike Cavalluzzi and former FBI profiler Jim Clemente weigh in on the University of Virginia rape case and the decision by officials to suspend fraternities on campus after an article appeared in Rolling Stone alleging a series of horrific gang rapes of multiple women at one of the fraternities.
Addressing the statistic that rape on college campuses has increased 50 percent in recent years, Clemente said those figures can be somewhat misleading. “I don’t think 50 percent more people are raping these days, I think people are talking about it more, and that’s why we’re hearing a 50 percent increase in those stats.
“In this case, the allegations are that the fraternity itself was using the gang rape as a pledge test – if you can’t rape this girl, then you’re not getting in,” Clemente said. “That, to me, is disgusting, it’s horrific, and if that was actually part of that fraternity, that fraternity should be shut down forever, at every school, it shouldn’t exist.”
Cavalluzzi said while he realizes that the circumstances are very different, he believes the rape described as occurring on the UVA campus is similar to the allegations being made against entertainment icon Bill Cosby. “I think they both involve a sense of entitlement in terms of the rapists. Individuals who truly believe that they have some sort of right or privilege, are in a position of power, and are able to do this, these kinds of acts with impunity.”
He also points out that those involved in the college rape were very reluctant to report anything about the crime because they were afraid they would no longer be able to get into frat parties. “This is the mindset of what is happening on campuses, that there is this hiearchy at places like UVA that seems to be very in place – where when there are extremely wealthy, privileged kids going there – that they can do whatever they want.”
Watch the full episode to also hear the panel discuss the increasing allegations of rape by multiple women against beloved comedian Bill Cosby and dig deep into the Ferguson grand jury testimony after the panel decided not to indict police officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of Michael Brown.
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