Dear Mass Media,

The Psychology Club hosted a discussion of male survivors of sexual assault. Did I read this correctly? It only took 6 years for this discussion to present itself. I welcome this discussion and hope it will generate constructive dialogue within the UMB constituency (i.e., students, faculty, administration and staff).

This discussion should have taken place in 2002 when a good friend and fellow classmate was sexually assaulted and sexually harassed by the then student trustee. He was a victim to this heinous offense that the UMB Administration chose to ignore. It swept it under the rug and excommunicated him from the UMB community. While the investigation was conducted, [the accused] was still allowed to attend classes and continue with her duties as the student trustee.

I sincerely hope this discussion will educate not only the students and faculty, but also the UMB Administration. Perhaps then, the UMB Administration may send a formal apology to the male student who was victimized by this disgracefully and grossly offensive act of sexual assault. I’m cognizant that will be highly unlikely, but it would be a step in the right direction.

-Stone Laraway

(Re: “Bridging the Gap”, 3/3/08) Good article. It does happen to be about my brother. I remember the day that Coach Calhoun came to our home in Pittsburgh. It was a happy and sad day. Keith is my big brother, and after the excitement was over, it became clear that he would be leaving Pittsburgh and heading off to a strange land called Boston in the mid 70’s.

The good news is that we all survived, and have remained close as a family. All have been active in sports like the example Keith set, and in addition to the Chancellor, his siblings include two law school graduates, an engineer for a major car company, and a saleman-turned-preacher.

I, like Keith, completed my graduate work at Boston College (JD 90). I was a head volleyball coach for about three years at Bridgewater State College. I played softball at Washington Park and USVBA Volleyball with a team out of the Cambridge Y. I also coached girl’s basketball via the Roxbury Prevention Program when I lived and worked in Boston for over 10 years.

Now, all of our children are active in sports, and they are high achievers when it comes to academics as well. So I definitely agree that athletics can open doors, and prepare you for life. Like my brother, I could go on and on. God Bless. Thank you for your article

-Kimberly Motley-Phillips