In the Oct. 17 Post article, “Onlooker details alleged Court Street rape,” freshman Vance Blanc admitted to photographing a sexual encounter, which was possibly a rape, and distributing it on the Internet.
The actions Mr. Blanc took with regard to this incident are a disgrace and appear to violate the Code of Conduct of Ohio University, specifically Code A4 which states:
Mental or Bodily Harm to Others - Conduct that causes harm or has the potential to harm another. Conduct covered by this offense includes but is not limited to: taking any reckless, but not accidental, action from which mental or bodily harm could result to another person and any act which demeans, degrades, or disgraces any person.
It is clear that his actions violate both in this section of the Code of Conduct. In taking the pornographic photographs and posting them online his actions were reckless, deliberate and degrading to the female that was featured in them, regardless of whether she was sexually assaulted or not.
Blanc’s intentions were clearly not in her best interests. He didn’t take the photographs with the intent of turning them over to the police; he took them so he could put them on the Internet. His actions were cruel and with malice, despite claims he made in the aforementioned article stating otherwise.
I sincerely hope that Vance Blanc is investigated by Ohio University for violations of the Code of Conduct and reprimanded appropriately. Last week I contacted the Office of the President and made my thoughts on this matter known. I encourage others (students, faculty, alums) to do the same.
Keith McVay is a 1998 Ohio University alumnus.
