Absurd is definitely the key word here. This is a hype piece? Let's find out! Hint: Isn't it strange how the author didn't want to reach out to the victim least she harm him more?
I will address each point in turn chronologically. TLDR; Educate yourself people! FUCK!
First off: the mother. Everything seems to be going fine until that fateful phone call with her mother.(See how I can villainize with so little effort?) Real talk tho, that woman pushed it during the phone call. I can see why, I would also be protective of my little girl who just got out of a bad thing.
Second: A chance to speak. When Becky first accused him of assault during their Monday meeting James could have not only apologize, but also offered to talk to her again about the matter when he wasn't feeling "terrible". There was a lot of ambiguity around what Becky was saying and what James was thinking she was saying.
>>"Becky then asked James whether he knew something was wrong. James replied that he indeed suspected something was amiss, thinking she was referring to the status of their relationship. But she was evidently asking whether he knew something was wrong with touching her that way—and thus she took his response as a kind of confession."
Maybe here would have been a nice time to have the other side of the story....
Next: Other chances. Instead of clearing the air, making sure Becky was ok, talking to the drama teacher(this chance would have given him a nice paper trail too), etc; James
"did his best to avoid Becky for the rest of the semester, and went out of his away to avoid making eye contact, or being too close to her in class." Sidebar: That's what someone who wanted to be my friend would do.>> James told her he understood, and asked whether they could still be friends.
Next: The point. Here is another place Becky's version might have lent some clarity. After avoid all contact with her, they cross paths at (the most awkward of all places) the gym. Not wanting to make it _more awkward_ >>... he "pointed at her in a friendly way." "That's a universal gesture right?" he said. "Like, hey there? I just kind of pointed at her and gave her a smile and then rushed out of the building."
Next: EDUCATE YOURSELF PEOPLE. fuck! James receives the notice from of the Title IX investigation, sat through math class, then went home and lay down. A google of what his rights were, what he signed off on being a student there, how to proceed in general really...nope. In the uni's [policy](https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000385/SVSH) they are mandated to educate students about these matters, so there would have even been prior opportunity to ready himself.
Next: His parents. These parents also didn't react well here. Both jumped fast to believing their son was a pervert. Maybe they didn't know how to use google?
Next: The lawyer. Sounds sketch right.off.the.bat. telling>> him, "If everything goes south on us, don't kill yourself." This is a professional?
Next: EDUCATE YOURSELF PEOPLE. He is right >> you can't just say, 'I don't know, there should be some sort of investigation process,'" says James. "You'd get crucified for that."
But does he go to the class? Learn how to bring up the subject politley? Nope. Note: This might also have led to another chance to clear things up.
I don't understand why the lawyer was brought into the picture at all. James was not paying for the investigation, no criminal investigation was made, the only issue was that it took some time for the uni to drop the issue.
Finally: Reason.com. This is not a journal of repute.
https://www.sitejabber.com/reviews/reason.com
https://www.reddit.com/r/skeptic/comments/47mtdk/how_reasona...
https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Reason_Foundation