“I always knew I had been raped”
Thanks for your coverage on the preliminary hearing. [“Woman Faces Her Alleged Rapist…,” Courts & Crime, March 28.] And of course, thanks for noticing my outfit and jewelry, because as we know, that is truly what’s important here! Rhonda Quagliana seems rather obsessed with my outfits, too. For a youngish woman, she should know how appalling it was to ask the length of my skirt the night her client ”allegedly” raped me.
To clarify: I always knew I had been raped, have shouted it from the mountaintops for years, reported it right away to the University, the University Police and was told along with my parents that I could not go to the Charlottesville Police which, shocker, is where it belonged. Of course, the University Police cannot “locate” my statement and report, although I was accompanied to the station by a high-ranking dean.
My life has been defined by this event. The pain, humiliation and degradation have been a lifelong legacy and this is simply the latest chapter, one in which I hope the good people of Charlottesville will support. I noticed you chose to not mention that I was a virgin at the time—would that have been too prejudicial towards the defendant (a.k.a., why would I lose my virginity to a creepy stranger?) . I did not “as a result” of my recent difference of opinion with Mr. Beebe, “decide” to bring charges. I brought charges because it was the right thing to do. Of course Mr. Beebe has a difference of opinion. I suppose that is called a defense.
I also did not “take” my story to the press. After the arrest of Mr. Beebe, my name was accidentally revealed in some instances and some savvy reporters found me the day of Chief Longo’s press conference. As a matter of fact, Paul Merrill of NBC 29 called me at home, I got BlackBerry e-mails while taking my preschooler to the aquarium from Liesel Nowak, news trucks from New York City began to line my driveway and my photograph was splashed all over creation. I decided to cooperate if reporters were going to run with the story. I understand the public’s curiosity. It is my obligation to educate the public about rape. I am not ashamed. I am not on trial. And I am tired of defending myself when I had no choice to be raped, no choice to be followed
for almost a decade, no choice to be located and contacted by Mr. Beebe just so that HE could feel better about himself after
so long.
For those wondering, it has been said I can sue no one. That ship sailed in 1986, as there is a two year statute of limitations on civil damages for this crime. I am here only as a witness for the Commonwealth and a voice for all victims of rape who have been silenced or fear coming forward.
Now, with the allegations in the Duke University scandal, I hope this issue is not fodder for cocktail party conversation, but one that fosters understanding, appropriate outrage and change. I can only talk about what I recall and what I have experienced. If you only knew.
Liz Seccuro
Greenwich, Connecticut
Simple logic
Twice recently your paper has editorialized on my alleged “confused” logic in connection with [Chris] Mathew’s suit against a claimed rape victim by a man who, is it now established, was falsely accused by that alleged victim. [“Bell crafts bill based on rape lawsuit,” February 7 and “Judge rules Matthew lawsuit will proceed,” Courts & Crime News, March 28.] The second time you referenced my “confused” logic was without any new interview so it was presumably based on my previous “confused” logic. Would you be so kind as to allow me this opportunity to try my hand at less confused logic? Here it goes. The rumor that rape is highly underreported—which may or may not be true—would more likely stem from the date rape situation where women are still highly suspect and still have great difficulty getting prosecutions. In contrast, in the stranger rape situation, there is the high risk, particularly in interracial IDs, of picking the wrong guy—and sending him to prison for life where he may himself be raped more than once.
So here is my “logic.” There is no good in “reporting” rape if you report the wrong guy. In fact, to me, that is a net bad to society (including that the real guy is out free). Now, we can either rely on a woman’s identification (especially when she says she is “positive” as we allege in this case) or we cannot. I trust the women in that situation more than I trust police who are zealously pushing for an arrest to hold up until they are truly certain. We allege that was not done here. If we do not hold women to this standard, then their “positive” identifications can never be and ought never to be relied upon for a conviction – a result we really do not want, do we? For that reason do I think we should hold women accountable in that situation. Yes, this logic is not A to B to C, but to me it is logic nonetheless. Thanks for giving me this chance, and can you please toss that horrid picture? I can give you a worse one. Your continued fan,
Deborah Wyatt
Charlottesville, VA
Tax dollars down the drain?
There seems to be some confusion over the monumental cost of the kitchen renovation at UVA’s Carr’s Hill (President Casteen’s residence). [“New UVA raises not good enough,” UVA News, March 14.] Evidently no one seemed to want to do any actual investigation. The cost of the kitchen was $419,722.33. This price tag includes labor, closing in the back screen porch and turning a coat closet on first floor in to a bathroom. Carol Wood says the cost was “about” half of the original $600K that was first reported. $419K is more than half and less than $600K. She also said no State monies were used for this project. Except that UVA employees were used for this project and the last time I checked, they got paid by the State. All of us in the community, faculty, retirees, staff and students expect the University to be good stewards of all monies—State, gift, and capital campaign dollars. I wonder where the money did come from for this project? Did someone make a big donation to spruce up Carr’s Hill?
I take issue with the fact that UVA struggles to pay a decent living wage, jacks up parking rates to its employees, leaves an entire department out at the hospi tal in a rush to give a raise in the night and weekend differential pay (the medical center said they have no money to give the transportation workers a raise in their differential).
Did they really have to spend $419K for a kitchen? $100K alone for a countertop?
I think someone should really sit down in Madison Hall and get the priorities straight. The employees at UVA should be the absolute first priority.
Jan Cornell, President
Staff Union at the University of Virginia
Unwilling to back Schilling
In your article “Council candidates come out swinging” [Government News, March 28], you noted that the Republican can-didate Rob Schilling’s signs avoid party affiliation. I wonder why that is? Perhaps he wants to distance himself from his party’s national leaders who are disgraced by scandal and demoralized by low approval ratings.
Charlottesville voters should not be fooled by his “Common Sense Lead-ership” tagline. While on council, Mr. Schilling has not been a leader. Instead he has consistently voted against funding for agencies that make Charlottesville a more healthy, safe and equitable community. Just a few examples of Schilling’s “No” votes include: Voted against funding for the Sexual Assault Resource Agency and for the Shelter for Help in Emergencies (4/15/03, 4/13/04, 4/12/05); Voted “No” for funding for the C’ville Police Dept. (4/15/03, 4/13/04, 4/12/05); and Voted against funding for the African American Heritage Festival (4/15/03, 4/13/04, 4/12/05).
I want City Councilors with a positive vision for Charlottesville. That is why I’ll be voting for Julian Taliaferro and Dave Norris on May 2nd. Both have a long track record of making positive things happen in this community.
As the executive director of PACEM (People and Congregations Engaged in Ministry), Dave Norris provides shelter and meals to homeless men, women and children during the cold winter months. He also has experience working on local boards and coalitions for affordable housing, education, social justice and environmental sustainability.
Julian Taliaferro has ample management experience and a 34-year track record to prove it as Charlottesville’s fire chief. He was honored this year by our General Assembly for being an “exemplary fire chief,” and for serving as a “model of leadership for all aspiring fire/rescue officers.”
It is imperative that we have strong leaders on city council who will strive to create a more prosperous and enjoyable city for all of Charlottesville’s residents.
Catherine Manzo
Charlottesville, VA
Telling details
I read the book by Professor Steve Rhoades. [“The ‘natural’ order of things,” March 14.] On one page, he described male athletes sitting out a game as “riding the bench,” yet described female athletes as “sitting on the bench.” His ideology is a splinter in his eye.
Margaret Shank
Charlottesville, VA
CORRECTIONS:
In the April edition of ABODE, published last week, we misspelled the name of a local greenhouse. Correctly spelled, it is Eltzroth & Thompson Greenhouses.
Due to an editing error, a decision by Judge Susan Whitlock in the case of the alleged plot by Albemarle County students to bomb two local schools [“Gag order issued for teen bomber case,” Courts & Crime News, April 4] was mischaracterized. Judge Whitlock did not issue a gag order, though she did instruct parties to the case to refrain from talking about it.
Also, student activist Brian Bills informs us that the Young Liberals of Central Virginia [“CHS student co-chairs City Council campaign,” Government News, April 4] made 26,000 phone calls on behalf of Tim Kaine. The number was reported incorrectly.