University of Michigan should be ashamed of its handling of child porn case
(This letter to the editor has been revised to remove statements that presumed guilt on the part of the accused.)
A University of Michigan pediatric resident has been charged with meeting his sexual needs by viewing child pornography on a hospital computer in the Pediatric Emergency Department.
That U-M officials can only see their handling of this incident as a blot on the university's reputation (Cf. Pescoviz "a painful moment in our history") or a gap in administrative directives (Cf. Fitzgerald "the procedures are at fault here, not the people") is unconscionable. Thank God for regents candidate Bernstein, who speaks the truth: "There was an interest in protecting the institution ahead of other interests." Like the safety of vulnerable children perhaps?
The Michigan Child Protection Laws are clear that suspected child abuse and exploitation activities are to be reported to the Police/Child Protective Services. Nowhere does it say that a lawyer is needed to report suspected perpetrators (God help us!) Many brave people without U-M degrees have done it.
Child victims in pornography are not paid actors. They are being exploited and suffering against their wills. They are someone's children. They will never be the same. They are at the mercy of their perpetrators and complicit adults. Their only hope is that frightened, confused and/or indifferent witnesses who may need to be forced, will do the right thing.
'KNOWLEDGE IS POWER" Indeed!!! Shame on the Victors! Hail to the survivors and their protectors!
Pam and Marvin Novetsky
Ann Arbor
Comments
Tony Dearing
Sat, Feb 18, 2012 : 8:18 p.m.
This letter has been revised to remove statements that presumed guilt on the part of the accused.
Tony Dearing
Mon, Feb 20, 2012 : 3:56 p.m.
I addressed this as soon as it came to my attention. I apologize to you and to our readers that this occurred. We are taking steps to prevent it from occurring again.
nvragain
Sat, Feb 18, 2012 : 8:30 p.m.
Tony, way to revise something 6 hours after the fact. I deserve, along with all other readers, an apology for not only this delay, but that you have published something that is in violation of your own guidelines.
Goober
Sat, Feb 18, 2012 : 7:50 p.m.
No one at the UofM will ever admit that they have done anything wrong - even if terminated in the end. Their egos are too big to admit fault. The Board of Regents should have sufficient facts now to at least place several on administrative leave, but even this has not happened. We shall soon find out if and when the outside investigation is complete and communicated to the public.
trespass
Sat, Feb 18, 2012 : 5 p.m.
The Board of Regents needs some members who have qualifications other than being lawyers and businessmen. We need a few people who have the experience to know how a university works, that understand research, the quality of teaching, what money is actually spent for and where it is wasted, etc. Bernstein seems like a nice guy but he is another rich lawyer. Weiser is a rich businessman who has raised a lot of money for the Republican party, and Horning was a controversial Regent when he served before. More of the same. Restore the faculty's role in governance at UM and stop discriminating against veterans in financial aid. Visit <a href="http://www.professorkauffmanforregent.com" rel='nofollow'>www.professorkauffmanforregent.com</a>
Sallyxyz
Sat, Feb 18, 2012 : 4:16 p.m.
Thank you for a well-written opinion piece, and for calling out the UM's cover up. "There was an interest in protecting the institution ahead of other interests." Exactly. Sounds like Penn State.
diane
Sat, Feb 18, 2012 : 3:04 p.m.
I too found this opinion piece to be offensive and overboard. It should definitely be removed.
nvragain
Sat, Feb 18, 2012 : 2:45 p.m.
Please remove this opinion piece, it speculates that this person is in fact guilty of a crime that he has only been charged with. Furthermore the writers seem to speculate that he was doing other things in front of the computer. I guess you can write whatever you please so long as it is a letter to the editor. If you create guidelines, please apply them fairly to all posters, not just those who you may disagree with.
vaseline
Sat, Feb 18, 2012 : 2:22 p.m.
How does this not violate the aa.com conversation guidelines?
Ron Granger
Sat, Feb 18, 2012 : 2:21 p.m.
Large corporations do not feel shame.
anonymous
Sat, Feb 18, 2012 : 2:19 p.m.
Thank you for expressing the sadness and tragedy of the situation in such an articulate manner. We get so caught up in pointing fingers and assigning blame ,rather than getting to the heart of the matter. These children are victims of unspeakable atrocities. And after the dust finally clears ,and the the truth comes out, and people are fired, and procedures changed, the victimized children will still be carrying the impact of this
trespass
Sat, Feb 18, 2012 : 1:43 p.m.
The fact that President Coleman could go before the faculty senate's executive committee on December 5 and tell them that a Penn State scandal could never happen here and not tell them about this case in inexcusable. She is the one who perpetuates this culture of secrecy and never admitting mistakes. If the President at Penn State was responsible enough to get fired, what do you think should happen to President Coleman.