Name: Anonymous 2007-02-10 1:24
Controversy was widespread at a nearby college Thursday as students rallied for the resignation of a newspaper editor who authored a piece glorifying rape, calling it a "magical experience that benefits society as a whole."
The Recorder, the campus newspaper of Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) in New Britain, published the piece "Rape Only Hurts If You Fight It," which was written by Opinion Editor John Petroski.
"We are more than aware that we overstepped our boundaries and made a mistake," said The Recorder's Editor-in-Chief Mark Rowan. "In a lapse of judgment, we allowed a satirical article that does not represent the newspaper, and most importantly, the university."
Petroski's article cites examples from ancient Roman history in defense of rape, saying that it was a "tremendous help to society."
"Where would the Romans be, after all, if it weren't for the rape of Lucretia � If it weren't for that event, the world might have never had the Roman Republic for the pristine example of a flawless government," the article read.
The piece goes on to extol rape's benefits to "ugly women" and prison inmates, saying that it helps unattractive women know the "joys of intercourse with a man who isn't drunk," and that it helps ease prisoners' boredom.
The Progressive Student Alliance (PSA), a CCSU student group, held a rally Thursday in outrage to the publication of the article.
Offended students have also protested Petroski's controversial satire by vandalizing the area outside of the newspaper's office and stealing property.
"Their rally was laughable," Rowan said. "They're uneducated about freedom of speech and unorganized - they're not channeling their anger in an appropriate manner. We've had to call the police several times today."
Rowan said that the protestors, which also included women's rights and gay and lesbian rights groups, had called for his and Petroski's resignation. At this time neither has agreed to resign.
The Recorder, the campus newspaper of Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) in New Britain, published the piece "Rape Only Hurts If You Fight It," which was written by Opinion Editor John Petroski.
"We are more than aware that we overstepped our boundaries and made a mistake," said The Recorder's Editor-in-Chief Mark Rowan. "In a lapse of judgment, we allowed a satirical article that does not represent the newspaper, and most importantly, the university."
Petroski's article cites examples from ancient Roman history in defense of rape, saying that it was a "tremendous help to society."
"Where would the Romans be, after all, if it weren't for the rape of Lucretia � If it weren't for that event, the world might have never had the Roman Republic for the pristine example of a flawless government," the article read.
The piece goes on to extol rape's benefits to "ugly women" and prison inmates, saying that it helps unattractive women know the "joys of intercourse with a man who isn't drunk," and that it helps ease prisoners' boredom.
The Progressive Student Alliance (PSA), a CCSU student group, held a rally Thursday in outrage to the publication of the article.
Offended students have also protested Petroski's controversial satire by vandalizing the area outside of the newspaper's office and stealing property.
"Their rally was laughable," Rowan said. "They're uneducated about freedom of speech and unorganized - they're not channeling their anger in an appropriate manner. We've had to call the police several times today."
Rowan said that the protestors, which also included women's rights and gay and lesbian rights groups, had called for his and Petroski's resignation. At this time neither has agreed to resign.