EDITORIAL: Open letter to Marshall University
Courtney Hessler | The Herald-Dispatch
Joseph Chase Hardin, 22, appears in Cabell Circuit Judge Gregory Howard’s courtroom Wednesday, June 12, in Huntington.
We are disappointed in you, Marshall University. Joseph Chase Hardin should have never been allowed to remain a student on campus after he raped another student in 2016. After sexually assaulting two more students in fall 2018, Hardin was finally expelled from the university this month. We cannot help but wonder why you let him stay. We also wonder that if he had been expelled in 2016, would those other two rapes have occurred?
You should feel guilty, Marshall University. As students at Marshall, we certainly feel ashamed. Hardin’s vicious story has made national and even international news. That is not the kind of press we like to see, and again, we may not have seen Marshall make any negative headlines if Hardin had only been expelled sooner.
Your female students deserve protection, Marshall University. They should not have to leave campus against their wishes because their rapists are allowed to remain. You want sons and daughters of Marshall, yet you do not keep your daughters safe. But you guarded Hardin and kept him safe. Safe enough to where he was able to rape again. If this doesn’t keep potential sons and daughters from attending our university, we do not know what will.
Yes, it has been two weeks since your decision to expel Hardin, and you may want to move on, but we have not forgotten, nor have we forgiven. Hardin may be expelled, but how many more like him may feel like their actions have no consequences? Look at the message this has created: rape one student, and it’s okay. She’ll move away and you can continue your behavior but try not to get caught. Then we will have to expel you. It brings to mind the expression of ‘fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.’
Does this letter sound harsh, Marshall University? It is the truth, and as journalists, we know that the truth can hurt. But we cannot imagine the pain of Hardin’s victims; that pain is greater than the shame of letting a rapist be allowed to remain a student. That pain is greater than ourselves and our personal feelings. If we do not learn from our mistakes, and trust us, you have made a mistake, then we can never improve. Let’s all strive to do better.
But if it is up to us to protect our students, especially our female students, then we will gladly offer our help. After all, we are a family, and families should look out for one another.
We will not allow the Chase Hardin situation to repeat itself.
What to do if you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted:
Do not blame yourself.
Contact MUPD.
Go to the hospital.
Do not blame yourself.
Speak up.
Find your support system.
Do not blame yourself.
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Melissa Lucado • Jun 27, 2019 at 10:36 pm
This is not the only one. This was repeated the next year. After a rape was reported and a restraining order granted for a year mind you the perpetrator was allowed to remain on campus. He stalked the victim repeatedly it was reported over and over again MUPD nor Marshall did anything. She also left campus out of fear. This is how rape victims are treated at Marshall. Lisa Martin and Deborah Hart said it was her fault because she was wearing shorts. Well i wear a bikini to the beach does that mean i should be raped. No means no! They need to start by replacing these people starting with Gilbert and these 2 as well and the corrupt MUPD chief. These poor girls God have mercy on all them!
Keith Gonzales • Jun 27, 2019 at 9:55 am
Thank you so much for this POWERFUL letter. well written and cutting to say the least. As the grandfather of the 2016 victim this letter sums up our families thoughts, feelings, concerning Hardin and the failure by Marshall University to protect her. This letter has been long over due! When my granddaughter was looking at universities to attend, Marshall was her dream school. She applied to Marshall and when she received her acceptance letter she stopped looking at any other university and was so excited. We all know what happened next. Thankfully my granddaughter is in a much better place now, stronger than ever. I pray that moving forward a victim of any assault can come forward and receive fair and just treatment and not become the villain, whether at Marshall or any where else the assault takes place.
Thank you again for the letter. My granddaughter and the latest victims will not be SILENCED! Their voices will be heard and hopefully change will happen.
Thank you,
Lori Hughart • Jun 27, 2019 at 7:29 am
Yes. shame on you. Why did you let him stay after the first rape? Two more lives are devastated because you let him stay.
Rebecca Mollohan • Jun 27, 2019 at 6:08 am
Shame, shame, shame on you Marshall! As a mother of a female student and a former student myself, I am appalled! “We are Marshall” my foot! Who is protecting our “daughters”?
Marilyn McClure • Jun 26, 2019 at 6:34 pm
Well reasoned and well written editorial. Thank you for speaking out clearly and forcefully. I hope the administration will finally figure out more ways to deal with these things other than setting the goal as merely to sweep them under the rug, as has been done for years.
David Swint • Jun 26, 2019 at 6:32 pm
I am a former editor, writer and photographer for The Parthenon, and I truly love seeing my old paper taking a bold stance and issuing a worthy challenge. We did it back in the late 1980’s/early 1990’s, and it was right then. It’s more than right now. Stay bold. Stay strong. Give voice to those who need it most. Make the accountable take responsibility for what they have done. See things through. And record and share everything so we can know all of the good, bad and indifferent. Everything counts. Especially today.