4 ex-Vandy players indicted for rape

espn ^ | 8-9-13 | n/a

[FlJoePa]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Four former Vanderbilt football players have been indicted on five counts of aggravated rape each of an unconscious 21-year-old student at a campus dormitory in June.

Safety Cory Batey, 19 of Nashville, Tenn.; defensive back Brandon Banks, 19, of Brandywine, Md.; receiver Jaborian "Tip" McKenzie, 19, of Woodville, Miss.; and tight end Brandon Vandenburg, 20, of Indio, Calif. also have been charged with two counts of aggravated sexual battery for an incident tipped to campus officials by surveillance video. Vandenburg also is charged with one count of tampering with evidence and one count of unlawful photography.

While the players were indicted Friday, the district attorney general pointed out that the investigation isn't over yet.

"Although four people are being charged at this time, the investigation is still on-going into the actions of other individuals and the role(s) they may have played in this incident," District Attorney General Torry Johnson said in a statement.

Vanderbilt dismissed the players June 29 and barred them from the campus pending the investigation. Vice chancellor Beth Fortune said Friday that their first thoughts are for the victim, a Vanderbilt student, and that the university will continue to offer her all of its services and support.

[Utilizer]

Probably mooselimb, if I had to guess. Then again, they might all have been.

[FlJoePa]

4th guy was a JuCo transfer from the College of the Desert in CA. #1 ranked JuCo TE in the country last year and #10 overall JuCo prospect.

While Vanderbilt Football has always had a pretty good academic record, not so much lately. New coach. Lots of fan expectations in that conference.

[Iron Munro]

Clockwise from top left:

Tip McKenzie, Brandon Banks, Brandon Vandenburg and Cory Batey

[Revolting cat!]

Pity. Such academic scholars.

[null and void]

If she was drunk and passed out it wasn’t really rape-rape was it? </WHOOPI!!!>

[DoughtyOne]

IMO, the rape is the heightening matter. The program is secondary.

[DoughtyOne]

LOL, so I’m supposed to phone in to check out what couldn’t be stated clearly in the headline. Is that about it?

LOL

[DoughtyOne]

This is a story with national implications. Believe it or not, it’s not just a story in Tennessee. I don’t follow college sports all that closely, but I do have a rather broad interest base. I’ve never even heard the term Vandy before.

If I haven’t, I can assure you that many people in this nation haven’t. I believe the name Vanderbilt should have been used in the title.

It may be picky, but I’m allowed to be picky. ;^)

[chiefqc]

They could have been proud sons of ——— Oh never mind.

[DoughtyOne]

Thanks for the comments. The ‘Yo dude’ line was rather humorous.

[DoughtyOne]

Some nitpicking and general ruminations (a bit off the beaten path, maybe, but) :

Okay, lets go...

(1) How did the surveillance camera see what was taking place inside a dorm room? The authorities were looking for something else, and just “accidentally” discovered an alleged rape?

That's a fair question.  I guess you live in the dorm room with the camera by choice.  I'm not a big fan of this.  We're allowing too many cameras to be placed just about everywhere these days.

(Given the recent concerns about a Big Brother state, that explanation sounds chilling.”Yeah, we weren’t looking for YOU; so we didn’t have a warrant; but we just happened to notice something suspicious while we were lawfully looking for something else...”)

No, I think you've got a point.  I'm not wishing these guys could get away with something they shouldn't have, particularly of this nature, but the cameras should have been addressed at the time when they went in, or when the year started, or some time other than now when it's too late.  I'm sure they'll still try to address it now, but when a crime of this nature is involved, it's going to make it very difficult to win an objection. We'll see.  I may be wrong.

(2) Whenever I read that the media has a policy not to name rape victims, I have to ask why it names the accused before they are convicted. I’m assuming these guys are guilty; but too many names get wrecked by media frenzy (think Duke lacrosse).

The naming of guy's names is important for several reasons.

You believe it is unfair to the guys.  What if the guys weren't named, and the trial was run relatively quietly, and these guys were railroaded because of that?  It seems to me there is something to be gained by naming them.  The victim isn't named, because she has already been violated.  Would it be proper to name the woman who was abused in this manner, so everyone in the community would know she had been sexually abused in this manner.  That seems like a double hit on her.  She then has to walk down the street somewhat shamed for what she endured.  She will be thinking everyone knows, and are whispering about her.  That would be pretty tough after enduring the abuse in the first place.

How would it be if she were named, and then set upon by fans, students, alumi...?

I do think there is some inequity in this.  I don't honestly know what the answer to it.

You may have a good suggestion.

[Paleo Conservative]

This is a story with national implications. Believe it or not, it’s not just a story in Tennessee. I don’t follow college sports all that closely, but I do have a rather broad interest base. I’ve never even heard the term Vandy before.

If I haven’t, I can assure you that many people in this nation haven’t. I believe the name Vanderbilt should have been used in the title.

It may be picky, but I’m allowed to be picky. ;^)

Perhaps if it were published by a serious journalistic organization. ESPN is a cable sports network that has morphed into an integrated sports "news" operation with a website and several cable channels and radio networks. They assume that they are writing for sports fans and jocks.

[cherry]

"Having that sex after 3 others have left their mess is the act of a sick animal."

it's repulsive to me....

think about how even long time married folks bathe and shower etc before intimacy....

[stockpirate]

My money says she was a white woman and the perps are all black.....BTW majority of rapes against white women invovling multiple attackers are done by blacks, DOJ stats.

[Travis McGee]

[Right Wing Assault]

Can’t be too many people named “Jaborian.”

[DoughtyOne]

That’s a very good point. Thanks for making it.

[Coldwater Creek]

And, then there is “Ole Miss”. No one, including outsiders ever says, University of Mississippi,

[DoughtyOne]

You really do need to understand the fact that much of our nation isn’t glued to the weekend college sports games.

Unlike Vandy, I have heard of Old Miss. I’d still be guessing if I were to pick the college it stands for.

For clarity’s sake, just list the college name if the story is about a serious crime. If it’s being reported on a sports network, then of course use the ‘Old Miss’ title. Your audience will more than likely know exactly what you’re talking about.

[Iron Munro]

If she was drunk and passed out it wasn’t really rape-rape was it?
WHOOPI!!!

Remember NOW and their "Bill Clinton Doctrine"?

You get one free shot at every female (if your name is Bill Clinton).