In June of 2013, a 21 year old Vanderbilt student was gang raped in a dorm room by four football players. She was an unofficial hostess, one of the pretty girls coaches use to “assist” in player recruiting. She had no memory of the event, but her attackers had filmed and photographed it on their cell phones. They were also caught on security footage carrying her unconscious body into the dorm. The implications of this case affected Tennessee state law regarding public records, caused a Title IX investigation into Vanderbilt University and is emblematic of the continued, insidious rape culture rampant on American college campuses.

Suggested reading: coverage by Tennessean reporter, Stacy Barchenger, Blurred Lines: Rethinking Sex, Power and Consent on Campus by Vanessa Grigoriadis and the long form article by Jessica Luther for Sport Illustrated called A Look at Complex Vanderbilt Rape Case that Left a Community Reeling

Sponsors for this episode: GreenChef.us & Swap.com

I’ll be in New Orleans for CrimeCon this year! It’s June 7-9th. To buy your ticket, use promo code FRIEDCRIME19. I hope to see y’all there!

Written, hosted and produced by Erica Kelley
Original Graphic Art by Coley Horner
Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio
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