Jon Krakauer's newest effort addresses a misunderstood public issue, date rape, using the University of Montana and the city and county or Missoula as an example.

Missoula's apparent disregard of rape accusations, especially those involving the University of Montana football team led to an investigation by the United States Department of Justice. In a five year period over 300 rape cases were submitted for investigation to the County attorney, and only .029% resulted in convictions.

Krakauer examines several factors and stereotypes. The first would be the mythology of rape. Most rapes, especially date rapes, go unreported, probably because the victim is afraid of the hell she will be put through during the process. The mythology involves the belief that most victims had consensual sex, then later changed their minds for whatever reason. Krakauer is especially critical of the Missoula County Attorney, Fred Valkenburg, and his assistant, Kirsten Pabst, who seemed to embrace the above stereotype. The Department of Justice developed a protocol for the police, the University and the County to be followed when confronted with a rape victim. They were to be treated with respect. Fred Valkenburg considered this protocol a federal infringement and refused to cooperate.

Krakauer concentrates on two cases the Beau Donaldson/Allison Hueguet case and the Jordan Johnson and Cecilia Washburn episode. Both were University of Montana quarterbacks. Johnson was the star of the team. Hueguet was raped while sleeping on the couch. To compound the issue, Donaldson was a childhood friend. Washburn contributed to the stereotype by telling Johnson at one point that she wanted to have sex with him. She insisted, however, that she told him she didn't want to several times during the incident.

During the Johnson trial the prosecution brought in a expert witness, David Lisak, a Massachusetts clinical psychologist and expert on rape and its associated trauma. The defense derided this “liberal” intruder and his testimony, implying that he had little respect for the western zeitgeist. Krakauer makes a valid point when he insists that prosecutors are held to a higher standard than the defense where truth is concerned.

Over 80% of girls who are raped refuse to report the crime. Lisak insisted that many blame themselves for what happened. Others don't want to ruin the lives of their attackers. Date rape is an epidemic in this country. Women aren't treated with as much respect as a suspect in a B&E case. But the Department of Justice can have an impact, as it did in Missoula.

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