postandcourier.com
Much is still unknown regarding the troubling accusations that Louis "Chip" ReVille engaged in sexual misconduct with young boys under his care. But one thing is crystal clear:
Schools have a moral responsibility to report sexual abuse complaints to law enforcement -- regardless of whether victims want them to. If the perpetrator isn't stopped, he can continue preying on others, a la Mr. ReVille after he left The Citadel.
And because of that continuing threat, schools should not stop at recent complaints. They should report earlier complaints as well -- complaints from years ago that they hoped never to revisit.
The Citadel wisely reported the most recent allegation to law enforcement Monday. It is on behalf of someone who attended camp in the mid-1980s. There are no details -- including whether a complaint was made to the school at the time of the alleged incident.
But one of Mr. ReVille's victims did complain to The Citadel in 2007, and The Citadel did its own investigation. Police were not alerted. Lawyers have filed a lawsuit against Pineville Preparatory School where they say Mr. ReVille continued abusing children. And he is in jail, charged with molesting nine boys in Mount Pleasant after The Citadel's failure to report him.
Another recently filed lawsuit would take the issue beyond moral responsibility. The suit, against The Citadel where some incidents involving Mr. ReVille allegedly took place, seeks a court mandate requiring the military college to report all child sexual abuse complaints or face contempt charges.
John Rosa, president of The Citadel, has apologized for the school's handling of the complaint in 2007 and said, "We should have done more."
Many infer from his statement that Mr. Rosa has resolved to report any future incidents, whether required by law or not. The public would welcome hearing him say so, and seeing such a policy instituted.
Indeed, it would be good to see such a policy in all schools and colleges. The Citadel isn't the only place where such complaints have gone unreported. Eddie Fischer molested more than 40 boys during his teaching career in the Lowcountry.
And we shouldn't worry about young children only. When college students complain of being abused, police need to know.
State Rep. Chip Limehouse has said any allegation of potential sexual misconduct should be reported to police. School officials would do well to heed his advice, and to show their sincerity by handing over complaints from years before as well. A 1980s perpetrator could be molesting children today.
Schools have a moral responsibility to report sexual abuse complaints to law enforcement -- regardless of whether victims want them to. If the perpetrator isn't stopped, he can continue preying on others, a la Mr. ReVille after he left The Citadel.
And because of that continuing threat, schools should not stop at recent complaints. They should report earlier complaints as well -- complaints from years ago that they hoped never to revisit.
The Citadel wisely reported the most recent allegation to law enforcement Monday. It is on behalf of someone who attended camp in the mid-1980s. There are no details -- including whether a complaint was made to the school at the time of the alleged incident.
But one of Mr. ReVille's victims did complain to The Citadel in 2007, and The Citadel did its own investigation. Police were not alerted. Lawyers have filed a lawsuit against Pineville Preparatory School where they say Mr. ReVille continued abusing children. And he is in jail, charged with molesting nine boys in Mount Pleasant after The Citadel's failure to report him.
Another recently filed lawsuit would take the issue beyond moral responsibility. The suit, against The Citadel where some incidents involving Mr. ReVille allegedly took place, seeks a court mandate requiring the military college to report all child sexual abuse complaints or face contempt charges.
John Rosa, president of The Citadel, has apologized for the school's handling of the complaint in 2007 and said, "We should have done more."
Many infer from his statement that Mr. Rosa has resolved to report any future incidents, whether required by law or not. The public would welcome hearing him say so, and seeing such a policy instituted.
Indeed, it would be good to see such a policy in all schools and colleges. The Citadel isn't the only place where such complaints have gone unreported. Eddie Fischer molested more than 40 boys during his teaching career in the Lowcountry.
And we shouldn't worry about young children only. When college students complain of being abused, police need to know.
State Rep. Chip Limehouse has said any allegation of potential sexual misconduct should be reported to police. School officials would do well to heed his advice, and to show their sincerity by handing over complaints from years before as well. A 1980s perpetrator could be molesting children today.
