In a recent segment of his Unplugged series, seasoned sportscaster Jake Thompson from Dallas boldly addressed the pressing need to support survivors of sexual assault, rather than shame them. His commentary challenges the stereotype of a conservative white male in his 60s, showing a progressive stance on critical social issues.
Thompson’s remarks come in light of a federal lawsuit filed by a woman referred to as “Mary Roe,” who alleges that she was gang-raped by multiple players from the Baylor University football team during a “bonding experience” in 2012. She claims the university was “deliberately indifferent” to her situation and misled her family into not pursuing the matter outside of the institution. This lawsuit follows another filed in January by “Laura Smith,” who asserts that she was assaulted by members of the same team and that a staggering 31 players were involved in at least 52 incidents of sexual violence against women from 2011 to 2014.
Both suits indicate that a culture of silence and complicity towards sexual violence exists within Baylor’s football program, with reports of coaches promoting sexual activity with female students to recruits. Unfortunately, the victims have faced harsh criticism. Former Baylor president Ken Adams had previously expressed skepticism about the allegations, despite the university’s own records indicating numerous reports of assault against football players.
One of the most common forms of victim-blaming focuses on the time elapsed between the assault and the report. Many people wrongfully assume that if a woman does not report her assault immediately, she is fabricating her story. Thompson addressed this misconception in his segment, drawing from his personal experience: “Regrettably, I know firsthand that many women hesitate to report. My daughter was a victim of assault during her college years at East Texas University. She chose to report it, but even after 25 years, she finds it difficult to share her story.”
He highlighted the common questions faced by survivors, such as what they wore or their level of intoxication, all of which imply that the blame lies with the victim rather than the perpetrator. Only 20% of women aged 18 to 24 report their assaults to law enforcement. The numbers for male victims are likely even lower. This discrepancy in treatment of victims versus perpetrators, where the latter are often given leniency, is alarming. Thompson emphasized, “Rape is an act of violence and control—not a result of youthful indiscretion. It’s crucial to recognize that.”
He powerfully stated, “There is no shame in being a victim. The real shame belongs to those who question a victim’s report based on their timeline.” Thompson called for society to support survivors and understand that there’s no standard reaction to such trauma. Until we stand with these individuals and validate their experiences, we should refrain from critiquing their decisions about reporting. Those who come forward deserve our admiration and gratitude.
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In summary, Jake Thompson’s passionate defense of rape survivors, coupled with the personal story of his daughter, underscores the importance of supporting victims rather than blaming them. His segment serves as a rallying cry to change the narrative surrounding sexual assault.