As someone deeply involved in the occurrences from the night of Nov. 13, 2000 which Ms. Hoppenjans researched (Rape: Do policies protect all?” Feb. 6), I feel that I can shed some much-needed light on the situation. As such, I feel I can offer a more informed perspective than an outside party who only read the medical files and assumed to hold a full grasp of an extremely complicated situation. I have no desire to be petty or vengeful towards the author or “Leslie.” In fact, this is a memory I have spent the past two years trying to forget. In that time, I have learned that people deal with problems in their lives in very different manners; some accept responsibility for their poor decisions, and some find a way to get out of them. Although I would like to pass last week’s article off as a piece of misinformed journalism, I feel compelled to clarify a few facts that were so carelessly misrepresented.

The article points out that Leslie “wondered if something had been slipped into (her drink),” although nothing showed up in the tests. The simple fact that this statement was included in the article implies, despite a complete lack of evidence, that this irrational speculation was believed. However, I spent a great amount of time with Leslie that evening and I assert that she was physically alert and verbally coherent throughout the entire night. I find it hard to believe that a drugged individual would be capable of carrying on an intelligent, rational conversation with a completely sober individual.

The article states that Leslie declined the offer for a settlement because she was not “in it for the money.” A settlement was verbally agreed upon. The people I was in contact with regarding the status of the situation had told me the hearing might not be held at all. However, the Wake Forest judicial system informed all parties involved that the hearing would be held regardless because the university felt it had a responsibility to remove the men if the allegations were found to be true. In defense of the institution, I would like to note that if Wake Forest was actually so concerned with “itself and its image rather than justice,” as was blatantly stated in the article, why would the school not have allowed the ordeal to end at that point? And more importantly, as a woman, I have to question what kind of rape victim would agree to take a monetary payment as sufficient recompense.

Though Leslie states she had never been offered a BIA member advocate, she did have an adult victim’s advocate, which one could argue could have been even more beneficial. Furthermore, I was present during the hearing and I can say that Leslie seemed very comfortable representing herself. When I was questioned during the hearing, Leslie asked me several manipulative questions in an attempt to make blatantly untrue statements about me and my treatment towards her. In addition to this, she fabricated situations between her and I in order to damage my credibility and increase sympathy towards herself. If her case was actually valid, why would she have to lie when she spoke to me? Prior to the hearing, Leslie had looked me in the eye and told me she could hardly remember anything about the evening because it was so traumatizing for her. Despite this inability to recall the sequence of events, she managed to write an eight-page statement regarding her memories.

I feel it is significant that this grand tell-all statement was written after she admitted to me that she had been given the four men’s statements to read. I am not familiar on criminal proceedings, but considering they were not allowed to read her statement, I find that extremely unjust. The men’s accounts could be used as a source for her statement, with manipulations to fit her version of the story.

There are countless other insights that I can add to this story to prove that the greatest injustice was not done to Leslie, but rather to the men, in particular the two men who still remain at Wake and are now being forced to relive this horrible situation all over again. They were proven innocent of sexual assault once, but are now being put on trial again.

I have left out many very intimate details regarding this situation. I do not have any desire to slander Leslie, despite her very obvious attempt to cause harm to many other people through her previous allegations and now bringing up this untruthful situation all over again. That night did great damage to many people, myself included. Despite my desire to forget the extensive lengths of immorality some people are willing to reach, I cannot, in good conscience, allow innocent people and their families to suffer because I was afraid to drudge up old memories. To many, this article might seem like a heartless testimonial from an anti-feminist bitch. To those who are skeptical about my perspective and motivation for writing this article, I will only say this is the second-hardest thing I have ever done, following only the moment I had to admit to myself that I did not believe her. I felt like I was abandoning all women by not trusting Leslie’s account. However, I now believe that it is she who has done the greatest wrong here. To quote Leslie herself, “Rape is a desecration of the human body.” I believe that her untrue allegations take away from every woman who has ever suffered from this truly atrocious crime of rape. My condolences are sent out to everyone else whose experience is belittled from these false allegations.

Heather Schmidt is a junior health and exercise science major.