i tried. i swear i tried.

i know i said i wouldn't do this anymore, but when i walked past that neatly-stacked pile of byu-idaho's "student-run" newspaper, the scroll, last week i couldn't help myself.

old habits die hard, right?

anydangway, the front page of the newspaper had the following headline: "Rexburg Rapes Revealed as Underreported". the article was surprisingly well-written and informative! but then the author included this lovely statement from the rexburg police captain: "Police Captain Randy Lewis believes that rapes are actually over-reported, because women feel ashamed after having consensual sex".

can you believe that?? and this was stated right after a nurse in rexburg who is specially-trained to help rape victims said that there are more rapes that occur in this city than we may think.

reading that statement from a man who is in charge of protecting this city made me feel sick to my stomach.

as if it couldn't get any worse, reading a letter to the editor that was published in the scroll this week in response to the article made me feel even more upset. the subject line says "Rape article poorly placed" and here it is for all fifteen of you to read:

"I have been disappointed with the Scroll on a number of issues lately, but the choice of last week's front page story evokes only one adjective: distasteful.

I really would like to know who thought an article about rape would make a great headline.

I know there are unfavorable things that need to be reported, but I think the front page could have been reserved for something for inspiring, or at least positive.

I understand an article such as this one might give girls who have been wronged more courage to stand up for themselves. I wonder, though, if the article might send a different message to deviant young men.

I know we all agreed to live by the honor code, and I am impressed by most of the students I know.

I think there are still those (of both genders) who might go astray given the chance.

To that faction of male students, I think the article seems to say, 'Rape cases are underreported in Rexburg, so you have a pretty good chance of getting away with something you know you shouldn't do.'

This statement might upset some, but I wonder whether anybody had the same concern when they picked up the Scroll on Tuesday."

you best believe i'm writing a letter to the editor about this.

sorry, homework. you're going to be put on the back burner tonight.

stay tuned for my response.