Rape packs an unusual wallop. Last week's report of rape in Craig Hall had exactly this effect. Many on campus wanted to know who did it and under what circumstances. One student wrote to the Kaimin and all but accused the paper of covering up the story. The media are not burying or covering up sexual assault crime.
Critics claim newspapers headline the salacious and bury the complex.
Some have said that crime reporting emphasizes violent criminal acts as isolated episodes. Reporting this way provides only enough information to incite fear and make the events seem insurmountable. Newspapers are more likely to give too much play to sex crimes as opposed to not enough. In the case of the man accused of rape in Craig Hall, it turns out he is innocent. The victim recanted, became the accused and the man became the new victim.