What is your opinon on the "Senior Salute" rape case?

My opinion: a horrible practice that has gone on for years has finally come to light.

How can one have an opinion if one doesn’t have access to the facts? (Oh wait, this is America in the 21st century.)

You have as many of the facts open to you as the jury does.

Really not since we are seeing the complete testimony as they are.

I have been following it somewhat by reading the New York Times and watching analysis on the news shows. It seems like it will be tough to get a conviction since there are all sorts of emails and texts that both contradict and back up what each side is saying.

Also, what @zenvelo said.

What bothers me is there is some focus on the “flirting” that went on during the year, winking at each other and stuff. I don’t get what that has to do with rape. Flirting is what teenagers DO.

I do agree with @zenvelo also that the whole culture around sex at the school needs to be examined.

I bet many boarding schools have all sorts of weird and probably illegal rituals and traditions that few outside of the schools know about. Insular worlds, lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.

Both the victim and accusers testimony of the events that night contradict each others versions. But both admit they got ‘intimate’ with kissing and she not only allowed him to remove her pants and underwear, she admits she lifted her hips to assist in the removal.

Shes says she said no to sex at least 3 times. He said after he got out a condom he had a change of heart about the sex part and “cooled” down to just light kissing. The next day emails are exchanged on how great a time they had and how exciting each other was. She went to the school nurse and told the nurse that the sex was consensual. He brags to all his friends that he scored the salute and high fives all around. His DNA is found inside her panties.

I saw parts of his testimony this morning and I am no body language expert but IMHO he was lying through his teeth. That said I would not want to be on that jury and have to vote guilty or not guilty with what I have read and seen so far.

@Cruiser so all of what you wrote above is what the rapist said? That she “assisted” him in that way in taking off her underwear? And that they exchanged emails? Or these known facts or agreed upon by both parties?

The accuser testified already.

So did the victim.

@Dutchess_III She the victim testified to this fact and I believe the accused confirmed he did remove her pants with her assistance and permission. I just followed the links in your links to see/hear these statements.

Both sides of the story sound a little fishy but hers sounds fishier.

The accuser is the victim.

I agree with @kritiper – very fishy.

But why would a 15 year old girl accuse someone of raping her if he didn’t? Especially since they were friends?

Well, the jury has decided.

Acquitted of Felony rape; guilty of misdemeanor sexual assault.

Wow. I’m just torn…....

This excerpt kind of makes me sick, though “The prosecution argued Labrie had coerced his victim into the situation in the first place as part of the “senior salute,” an annual sex contest where St. Paul’s senior boys compete to bed underclass girls. The defense claimed the encounter was consensual and that girls at the school considered it an honor to participate in the tradition.”

If that isn’t a load of shit I don’t know what is. Why would any girl consider it an “honor” to have sex with some guy she could have had sex with at any point during her time at the school?

Update: “Labrie was convicted of four misdemeanor counts: three sex assault counts and one count of endangering the welfare of a child. He was also convicted of a felony charge of using a computer to lure a minor for sexual contact,” the AP now reports, “He faces up to a year in jail for the misdemeanors and 3 ½ to 7 years for the felony.”

@Dutchess_III I remember hearing some years ago about girls giving blow jobs on school busses so I take nothing for granted.

@janbb, doesn’t mean it happened, especially if the claim came from a guy. Even if it did happen, were those girls “honored” to give blow jobs?

My point was, if a girl is otherwise discriminating and not prone to promiscuity why would she suddenly be “honored” if a guy wanted to have sex with them? In High School, girls are pressured to have sex on an almost daily basis.

I think that “honor” bologna is another bit of guy ego making things up.

@Dutchess_III It was the parents talking about it – in shock.

I think the “honored” part is being chosen by a senior boy. In a sick culture, I could see that playing out.

Not saying I condone any of this.

Oh, yeah. I heard stuff like that too in school.

Maybe it was a different time, but I know that when I was in High School I can’t even begin to imagine feeling “honored” to be tapped to have sex with some guy. Girls just don’t go around wishing they could get laid like guys do. I mean, how many times have you heard guys say, “I got lucky!” vs how many times girls have said, “I got lucky!” There isn’t any “luck” involved when it comes to women having sex. Girls can have sex with pretty much who ever they want.

And again, I think it’s male ego imagining some girl feeling “honored.”

It will be interesting to see what his sentence is.

I am reminded of the Preppy Murder case in the 1980’s. The young, handsome preppy murderer ended up in a life of crime after doing time for the murder. It will also be interesting to see “Mr. Senior Salute Rapist” in the future, how he ends up and whether his affluent connections save him in the long run.