Never an excuse for sexual violence

Re: “What happened in high school should stay there,” Lakritz, Sept. 26.

To be crystal clear, Naomi Lakritz believes that if a man commits sexual assault between the ages of 15 and 20, that action should not affect his job prospects when he’s 53.

Lakritz believes high school and college are some sort of academic version of an alcohol soaked, sexual assaulting romp in Las Vegas, “What happens in prep school stays in prep school.” I wonder, would Ms. Lakritz feel this way if it were her daughter who had been held down, mouth covered, music up to cover her screams, and clothes pulled down? Would she counsel her child, “Honey, boys will be boys, it’s not sexual assault until you’re 30.”

The fact that women such as Lakritz continue to excuse assault and perhaps even rape as boyish behaviour demonstrates why so few women report these crimes. Shame on you, Naomi. Sarah Stelfox, Calgary