Commentary

Illiterate Electors

There seems to be some confusion. Rape is not spelled with a "c."

Nearly four months after alleged rapist Donta Graham-Preston was tried and convicted by the University in the second of two separate rape trials and two months after his appeals resulted in two upheld convictions, the ASUO Executive has finally decided that publicly condemning a convicted rapist might not be such a bad idea. After a great deal of hesitation, the ASUO Executive--the so-called voice of the University's student population--has decided to send a memo to President Frohnmayer, urging him to support the decision made to suspend Graham-Preston. What is not clear, however, is why it took the ASUO Executive so long to render a decision on such a seemingly clear-cut case.

At first glance, it would appear that the ASUO Executive's stagnant approach to the heightened controversies of the Graham-Preston conviction is a direct result of pure and simple incompetence--something we might even expect. However, given the staggeringly apparent tension which surrounds a large circle of student leaders as well as the University's multicultural elite, it is evident that the Graham-Preston conviction has unearthed a much more complex and all-encompassing level of incompetence.

To this end, two primary motivating factors are to blame for the shoddy, ill-conceived thinking (or lack thereof) adopted by most student leaders regarding the Graham-Preston conviction. First, as one might expect, campus multiculturalists have been quick to pose the question, however unfounded, of whether race was involved in the University's decision to convict Graham-Preston, a black Honors College student. Second, on an even more personal level, it seems that Graham-Preston was close friends with a number of student leaders and multiculturalists, thereby skewing the already disjointed line of thinking by which many of these prominent campus figures are governed. Together, the hopelessly unstable nature of both unfounded claims of racism and personal, overly emotional sentiment has cast a dim shadow over what should be a rather clear-cut instance of University rape and subsequent public condemnation of the rapist.

As one might expect, Graham-Preston's race has allowed University multiculturalists the opportunity to once a gain play the race card. Led by strong public accusations of racism implied by members of the Black Student Union, proponents of racial tension have carefully transformed an incident of rape into an incident of racial persecution.

Most notably, Yvonne Stubbs of the Black Student Union came out in defense of the Graham-Preston within the pages of the Register-Guard, citing race as a major factor in the University decision.

Glen Banfield, former ASUO Vice President and current co-director of the Multicultural Center, declined to comment on the case due to his own internal conflict with journalism. Following suit, MCC Programs Director Jay Breslow also declined to comment. Despite the MCC's suspiciously tight-lipped approach, outside sources have confirmed Banfield's apparent friendship with convicted rapist Graham-Preston, further fueling speculation that the MCC's refusal to take a stand in the defense of the victims is a result of Graham-Preston's brotherly ties to MCC leaders.

"The day that the first article came out in the Emerald, I talked to Glen," said ASUO Multicultural Advocate Robert Wasson. "I know that [Banfield] knew [Graham-Preston], and that they were potentially friends, as a lot of people I've found are. [Banfield] was upset by the findings... I don't know if he agrees with the decisions."

Of all the hopelessly unpredictable angles which have accompanied the Donta Graham-Preston case, the most unlikely is Wassonıs outspoken defense of the victims and his subsequent denial of any racial undertones.

"I don't see race coming into it at all," Wasson said. "This is an issue of a man violating a woman. I don't think race played a role in the woman's decision to bring the case forward, I don't think race played a role for the hearings board to make their decisions, I don't think race played a role in the appeals process."

Wasson goes so far as to respond to individuals who may think race was a determining factor in the Graham-Preston case.

"I would move away from race," Wasson suggested. "I would ask questions [about] rape instead. I might even ask them to erase the race question from their minds, just look at the situation."

"I could see where people would say that they believe the white woman over the black man, and that gets problematic. For me, I don't know why a woman would come forward with these accusations knowing how women are persecuted, how their sex lives are opened up for debate, how everything about their sexuality is questioned--I don't know why a woman would come forward with these accusations unless they were true.

"One of the points I've heard raised by Yvonne [Stubbs] is that both of these women had relationships with Donta, they were both girlfriends of Donta, and that these accusations weren't even made until these relationships were over. Again, I can't see anyone being bitter enough to accuse someone of rape. In this society, that's not an easy thing for a woman to do."

Whether or not Wasson's logic is correct, his emphasis on rape and not race is enlightening to say the least. Moreover, Floyd Prozanski, who served as hearings officer in one of Graham-Preston's hearings, vehemently denies any racially motivated decisions and points to a hearings board comprised of several minorities as chief evidence.

Race issues aside, another widespread complaint has been centered around the notion that Graham-Preston's personal relationships with several student leaders has been a primary cause of the considerable outpouring of support for the convicted rapist. Graham-Preston is apparently close friends with a number of student leaders, including the co-directors of the Multicultural Center, members of the Black Student Union and the Women's Center, and even ASUO Vice President Ben Unger. While Unger refused to comment on the case, embers of various student groups have admitted that personal relationships with the rapist have, in fact, played a major role in the stagnant attitudes of many student leaders.

"I think it's unfortunate that personal feelings are getting involved in this," said Rebecca Pitto, office manager of the Women's Center. "The campus expects offices to take a stand on important issues because if you're saying that you're the voice of students, but aren't saying anything, then that can get you in trouble, as it seems it is right now."

Of course, given their tradition of actually supporting rape victims, the Women's Center should be a downright vilified student group for refusing to take a stand in defense of Graham-Preston's accusers for so long.

"Because people [in the Women's Center] know Donta, it's been kind of confusing, trying to find a common ground between your friend being accused of rape and being an advocate for womens' safety," Pitto said.

According to Pitto, the Women's Center's consensus decision-making process was primarily held up by an unidentified member of the Center who is close friends with Graham-Preston. Moreover, the implication has been made that the ASUO Executive's stagnant approach to the Graham-Preston case as also been a result of this very same brand of internalized sympathy for the rapist.

All in all, our student leaders' refusal to take a swift and convincing stand against convicted rapist Donta Graham-Preston due to personal or racially-motivated issues should be an ominous reminder to us all of the morally bankrupt cluster of individuals who have slipped quietly into positions which inherently claim to represent either entire races or an entire student body. And, while the average student is probably indifferent to student government and multiculturalism in the same way that student leaders and multiculturalists are indifferent to common sense, it stands to reason that campus figures should be held to some form of reasonable standard. In light of recent events, the eight percent of students who are responsible for the election of this year's ASUO Executive should be ashamed.

Ed Madrid, a sophomore majoring in English is Managing Editor of the Oregon Commentator