Stop Calling Brock Turner A Swimmer. He's A Rapist. | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
News

Don't Call Brock Turner A 'Former Swimmer,' Call Him A Rapist, Which He'll Always Be

Recent LA Times headline portrays rapist, Brock Turner, as a "former Stanford Swimmer," and we have some feelings about it.

334
https://twitter.com/latimes/status/1022123145128554496
Instagram

Brock Turner's attorney is trying to get his client's conviction overturned, and appealed the People v. Turner case to a state appellate court in San Jose, California last week.

In March 2016, Turner was convicted of three felony charges including assault with intent to commit rape of an intoxicated/unconscious person, penetration of an intoxicated person and penetration of an unconscious person.

But the abundance of headlines and ledes still depicting Turner as the victim are disturbing. The Los Angeles Times and ABC News are gaining attention on Twitter for referring to Turner as a "former Stanford swimmer" instead of a rapist. The lede on ABCnews.com is especially troubling, describing him as "a former Stanford University swimmer found guilty of sexually assaulting an unconscious and intoxicated woman in 2015."

Call me crazy, but someone who was found guilty of sexually assaulting an unconscious and intoxicated woman is a disgusting, and deplorable rapist far before he is a former student-athlete at a prestigious school.

And now, after serving only three months of his ridiculous six-month sentence, his attorney wants to claim that Turner only wanted "fully-clothed sexual outercourse" and never intended rape.

Yeah, even the three-judge panel was confused.

"I absolutely don't understand what you are talking about," Justice Franklin Elia told Eric Multhaup, Turner's lawyer.

Neither do we. Twitter is clapping back as always at this attempted argument.

"Usually, when a college guy seeks "outercourse," he doesn't drag a woman behind a dumpster, strip her naked, rape her, and flee," said Holly Figueroa O'Reilly on Twitter.

"Dear Brock Turner's Attorney, "Outercourse" is not a thing, stop mocking the consequences of rape. Sincerely, all of the women, everywhere," said Andrea Junker.

Brock Turner getting off easy is not only demeaning to his victim and rape victims everywhere, but it sends a dangerous message to young men just like him. We can't combat rape culture if the offenders in the public eye do not face the proper consequences. If Brock Turner gets to walk free, it sends the message that anyone who commits the same offense against women will make excuses and get off just as simply as he did.

Sexual assault and rape survivors have to carry the weight of what their attacker has done to them for the rest of their lives. So when are we going to start making the attacker suffer, too?

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Christmas Tree
History.com

Now that Halloween is over, it's time to focus on the Holiday Season. Don't get me wrong, I think Thanksgiving is great and can't wait for it, but nothing gives me greater joy than watching Freeform's 25 Days of Christmas, lighting peppermint scented candles, decking the halls, and baking gingerbread cookies. So while we approach the greatest time of the year, let's watch the 15 best Christmas movies of all time.

Keep Reading...Show less
6 Signs You Are An English Major

There are various stereotypes about college students, most of which revolve around the concept of your major. Unfortunately, we often let stereotypes precede our own judgments, and we take what information is immediately available to us rather than forming our own opinions after considerable reflection. If I got a dollar for every time my friends have made a joke about my major I could pay my tuition. One stereotype on campus is the sensitive, overly critical and rigid English major. Here are six telltale signs you are one of them.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

27 Things 'The Office' Has Taught Us

"The Office" is a mockumentary based on everyday office life featuring love triangles, silly pranks and everything in between. It can get pretty crazy for just an average day at the office.

2543
the office
http://www.ssninsider.com/

When you were little, your parents probably told you television makes your brain rot so you wouldn't watch it for twelve straight hours. However, I feel we can learn some pretty valuable stuff from television shows. "The Office," while a comedy, has some pretty teachable moments thrown in there. You may not know how to react in a situation where a co-worker does something crazy (like put your office supplies in jello) but thanks to "The Office," now you'll have an idea how to behave ifsomething like that should happen.

Here are just a few of the things that religious Office watchers can expect to learn.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

10 Signs You’re A Pre-Med Student

Ah, pre-med: home of the dead at heart.

1579
Grey's Anatomy
TV Guide

Being pre-med is quite a journey. It’s not easy juggling school work, extracurricular activities, volunteering, shadowing, research, and MCAT prep all at the same time. Ever heard of “pain is temporary, but GPA is forever?” Pre-meds don’t just embody that motto; we live and breathe it. Here are 10 symptoms you’re down with the pre-med student syndrome.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

High School And College Sucked All Of The Fun Out Of Reading

Books were always about understanding for me, about learning the way someone else sees, about connection.

1170
High School And College Sucked All Of The Fun Out Of Reading

I keep making this joke whenever the idea of books is brought up: "God, I wish I knew how to read." It runs parallel to another stupid phrase, as I watch my friends struggle through their calculus classes late at night in our floor lounge: "I hope this is the year that I learn to count." They're both truly idiotic expressions, but, when I consider the former, I sometimes wonder if there's some truth to it.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments