Neil Heinen is the editorial director of WISC-TV in Madison. I have little idea of his politics; we’ve never met.
I do know, however, that his station’s position on how universities should address allegations of sexual assault is better – ethically and practically – than the approach that UW-Whitewater has adopted.
Heinen is entirely right: no matter how disturbing the allegations, the only ethical response is to support a thorough, impartial, independent inquiry.
By contrast, when a graduate of UW-Whitewater spoke in a television interview – following the filing of a multi-page complaint with the U.S. Department of Education for the mishandling of her sexual assault complaint to the school – Dr. Telfer had the ability or inclination only to issue a dull, prepared statement.
Nothing about the victim, nothing about supporting inquiries concerning years of escalating assault numbers at UW-Whitewater, but instead an administrator’s certainty that students should feel safe.
Whitewater’s political culture is littered with others of this ilk. One cannot imagine a single official in the city – not from the university, not from the school district, not from the city administration – saying anything like what editorial director Heinen said, about a university that he and his station so obviously support.
In fact, Heinen says what he says, undoubtedly, because he does support UW-Madison, and each and every individual attending that school.
Locally, one cannot be a ‘Whitewater Advocate’ while simultaneously ignoring the very ills that afflict Whitewater.
See, also, the It’s On Us Campaign and Not Alone, a site with resources of support for those who have experienced sexual assault .