AU date rape column angers students

American University students are demanding that the campus newspaper fire one of its columnists and issue an apology after publishing a column Monday that called date rape "an incoherent concept."

The column in The Eagle newspaper was written by Alex Knepper, 20, a sophomore political science major. Knepper wrote that a woman who attends a fraternity party, drinks more than five glasses of alcohol and follows a guy to his room is indicating that she is willing to have sex and should not "cry date rape" the next morning.

Knepper, who is openly gay, often writes on topics that infuriate students and hopes to someday be a political commentator. In an interview Monday he said that "real rape," which occurs when a stranger "thrusts sex into a non-sexual situation," is a heinous crime and rapists should be severely punished.

Not surprisingly, the column has already received more than 175 comments and several letters to the editor. Early Monday morning an unknown person or persons collected hundreds of copies of the paper from around campus and piled them in front of the student newspaper office, under a sign reading: "No room for rape apologists."

"I have a fun time stirring the pot," Knepper said in an interview Monday. "I don't mind being hated for my views."

Knepper and his editors are standing behind the column. Editor in chief Jen Calantone said she decided to publish the column because it would "foster an interesting discussion." The Eagle, which publishes twice a week, plans to print numerous letters to the editor and rebuttals to the column in its Thursday paper. Editors are also in the process of organizing a Thursday night forum so students can ask questions and share their opinions.

Calantone also wrote a letter to readers, which was posted on the newspaper's Web site Monday afternoon.

By publishing this piece, we were not trying to display our tacit support of Knepper's views. However, as journalists, we are not in the business of censorship. As an editor, I would not feel right to fire or censor a writer who has offended people, because I believe that he has raised questions that warrant discussion.

Many students say they were appalled by the column and the newspaper's decision to publish it.

"This column promotes the culture of blaming the victim and excusing rape. That sort of speech has no business in the student paper," said Drew Franklin, a senior audio production major who is helping to organize a protest of the column. "The publication itself crossed a line."

Sarah Brown, director of the university's Women's Initiative, wrote in a letter to the editor that it was "irresponsible and shameful" for the The Eagle to publish the column.

As students and as human beings, we have the right to attend a party without being sexually assaulted. We are entitled to wear what we choose to, to have a drink, or to move to a new space with an acquaintance without fearing for our security. We are the only ones who can decide with whom and when we will have sex -- passionate and spontaneous consensual sex. If you don't feel that you gave consent, you have the right to feel violated. You also have the right to talk to someone about what was done to you, even if you don't want to report it to AU or the police or go to counseling.

About 50 students -- including Knepper, Eagle editors and sexual assault survivors -- gathered Monday evening to discuss the column. Some students live-tweeted the event and discussion broke out on Twitter.

@meghanlsweeney Eagle Editors: didn't think piece would have such an impact on commmunity. Meant to do more good than harm Oops. Eagle fail.

@Tehmeg I love Alex Knepper

@jcwalkwithus I have seen people cry today. I have heard stories of rape and sexual assult. I have seen people relive trauma. I do not love Alex Knepper.

On Tuesday a group of students plan to deliver a list of demands to The Eagle staff, asking that editors fire Knepper and publish an apology, among other things. Franklin said they will also distribute fliers, put up signs, stencil the slogan "No room for rape apologists, Take back the Eagle" around campus.

