False Accusations of Sexual Assault Skyrocket

I just received this press release from Margaret Valois of SAVE Services

PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Rebecca Stewart

Telephone: 513-479-3335

Email: info@saveservices.org

Surging Public Support for Due Process and the Presumption of Innocence

WASHINGTON / November 13, 2018 – Several non-partisan, national surveys point to widespread public concern about the erosion of the presumption of innocence and due process in our country, the problem of false allegations, and a pressing need to reinvigorate these bedrock principles of fairness in our legal system.

Public concern was first spotlighted in a 2011 SAVE survey that reported 9.7% of persons report they have been falsely accused of sexual assault, domestic violence, or child abuse. One in six of the respondents personally knew someone who said he or she had been falsely accused of domestic violence, child abuse, or sexual assault.¹

A 2013 survey commissioned by the Center for Prosecutor Integrity found that 66.8% of respondents believe the presumption of innocence is becoming lost in our legal system. In addition, 42.8% of persons say prosecutorial misconduct has become widespread.²

A 2017 YouGov poll revealed strong support for the restoration of due process in campus sexual assault cases. The survey queried whether “Students accused of crimes on college campuses should receive the same civil liberties from their colleges that they receive in the court system.” Among the 1,200 persons responding, 65% of Democrats, 77% of Republicans, and 67% of Independents expressed agreement with the statement.³

A poll by Ipsos/NPR found 80% of men and 73% of women believe that those who are accused of sexual harassment should be given the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise. The survey was conducted October 22-23, 2018 with a sample of 1,003 adults.⁴

Much of the shift in public perceptions can be linked to the controversies associated with the #MeToo movement.

Morning Consult recently found 57% of U.S. adults say they are equally worried about men facing false allegations of sexual assault as they are about women facing sexual assault. Overall support for the #MeToo movement has dropped 2% over the last year, the survey found.⁵

A survey conducted by YouGov and the Economist in October revealed 18% of Americans now think false accusations of sexual assault are a bigger problem than attacks that go unreported or unpunished, compared with 13% one year ago. These shifts in public opinion against complainants have been stronger among women than men, the Economist noted.⁶

SAVE has developed a Due Process Statement that urges members of Congress to “speak out in support of Constitutionally rooted due process rights on campus.” Over 285 law professors, scholars, and state lawmakers have signed the Statement. SAVE invites additional state lawmakers to become co-signers. For more information, contact mvalois@saveservices.org .

Writing Centers Do Not Work

I help my student to learn writing and English grammar, which is neglected in New York City K-12 elementary schools and in college.   My students write a page, which I correct; then, I have them rewrite the page.  Often there are more than two dozen corrections.  In making them rewrite the assignment, I refer them to web pages that discuss the grammatical reasons for the error.

The college has a writing center to which the students can take their assignments.  I do not encourage them to use it because they will not learn if someone else makes the corrections. The writing center is like a bicycle center to which people go to learn to ride a bicycle by watching others ride.  It replaces basic skills instruction with administrative therapy.

Higher education replaces math and English skills with therapy and social advocacy.  The students are badly educated but taught to nurse their feelings, to feel wronged, to lash out at others, and to identify supposed oppressors. They view their expensive, dumbed-down college experience as the financial  obligation of their oppressors, who in their view ought to be subjected to violent compulsion at their hands.  Higher education is a narcissists' and totalitarians' training process.

I am trying to figure out whether I should forbid the use of the writing center.  A student, who was unable to make the indicated corrections, just emailed that he would like to go to the writing center and have them rewrite the paper for him and then resubmit it a second time to get a higher grade. This is an episodic example of what education has become: feeling good and avoiding learning.  I can't reject the system, but I have done what I can to do so.

Another student, who took me in 2012, while I was still perfecting my current approach to writing instruction, recently wrote me the following email:

I don't if you remember me. I am a former student. You might recall I cried in your class in 2012. The truth is, I was going through a lot(Manic Depression and all the Jazz), and in retrospect- Your class was the single most important moment in all of my years at college. 

I remember like it was yesterday. You, critiquing all my work. The red ink all over papers. Talks of socialism, freedom, individualism, and self-esteem. During that time I didn't understand it all. I was young, and very naïve. I couldn't even read at a 12th grade level, but I tried my best. You gave me a C+ in that class, and in retrospect that was the most important grade I have ever had. 

The thing is, I have over the course of my years been torn between Capitalism vs Socialism, Individuality vs Collectivism, and having Freewill vs being guided through Determinism. I read, read, and read. I read many books, watched many lectures, and had many debates. It wasn't until I realize during all this debating that all this exploring I was doing and mass confusion was merely making me more aware. Yes, I said it. It was increasing my understanding of the world. Of the polarity which is associated with everything. 

I can't say I agree with you on everything. But I do want to formally thank you for "putting the battery in my back" as is often said.You are an amazing teacher, and at one point my arch enemy. I hated how you made me dislike Obamanomics, and found vested interest in Billionaire tycoons like Elon Musk and Peter Thiel.

Thanks for your inspiration!

Your former student,

By 2012 I had already discarded the twin assumptions in higher education: (1) the educator's job isn't to teach writing and other basic skills, and (2)  we should replace basic skills with administrative therapy.

Left Wing Democrats' Hate Speech Toward Mitchell Langbert's Blog II

I was surprised at the characterization of my remarks about males' sexual exploration as being part of their maturation process as hate speech.  True, I dislike Democrats, but most Democrats dislike me, so I never thought of political speech as hate speech.  

There has been an interesting evolution of  the Democratic Party's authoritarianism.  Democrats increasingly engage in hate speech while they increasingly advocate speech restrictions on those toward whom they express hate.   

Having made a crack about the accusations against Judge Kavanaugh, I received two hundred hate emails.  A number of these involved violent threats, amounting to misdemeanor harassment.  Under New York State law,  second degree aggravated harassment occurs when someone attempts to communicate with another person with the intention of causing alarm or annoyance.   

Having objected to my sense and the object of my humor, which ran afoul of the Democratic Party mob, several hundred Democrats engaged in hate speech and misdemeanor aggravated harassment. Here is a sampling. 

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From: Yo Sup [WhiteCanary89@hotmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, October 02, 2018 10:58 PM
To: Mitchell Langbert
Subject: Hello

You'e a scumbag. Kill yourself.

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From: Carole D [cornflakecarole@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, October 04, 2018 9:34 AM
To: Mitchell Langbert
Subject: 

Sir, I relish the thought of a gang of boys becoming men at your assholes expense. History will pull back your lizard skin and your pathetic attempt at being relevant will be exposed as nothing more than a losers fame grab. Brooklyn College though heeheehee. Damn shame about the car accident that did that to your face BUT otherwise you deserve what is surely coming your way. Your pointless and so you try to get attention with divisive chatter. Sad little nobody that never had an original thought in his bipolar and dandruff encrusted greasy head. You don't have to spread your message of terror for young girls honeybuns, they get it, everyday they get it. Sorry women find you so repulsive you had to rape to become a man. You sick little boy. Sorry momma neve

__________________________________________________________________

 From: nothink78 [nothink78@gmail.com]

Sent: Wednesday, October 03, 2018 12:15 AM

To: Mitchell Langbert

Subject: Thank you!

Thank you for advocating for sexual assault by high school boys against high school girls! When I think of my daughter being assaulted by some piece of shit
that thinks like you, I feel like a true American! I can’t wait to visit your campus
 and shove a glass coke bottle up your ass while kicking your fucking teeth in. Have a nice day you sad excuse of a human being.

________________________________________________________________

From: Emily Batista [emilydbatista47@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, October 10, 2018 1:35 AM
To: Mitchell Langbert
Subject: 

You disgusting asshole

________________________________________

From: Gordon Brogan [180turn@gmail.com]

Sent: Thursday, October 04, 2018 8:25 PM

To: Mitchell Langbert

Subject: Hey

Dude...

My sincere condolences.

I’m very sorry about your sad tiny penis.

It is no wonder you bitterly resent women. Those you’ve likely Rohypnol-ed into bed likely laughed themselves to tears after gaining consciousness when you threatened them with it.

Also, you have all the wit, intelligence, and charisma of a fecal impaction.

You have nothing that women want.

On behalf of real men who aren’t fugly douchebag incel losers like you are: dual blazing middle fingers.

__________________________________________

From: David Miller [dhaymil2@gmail.com]

Sent: Thursday, October 04, 2018 12:11 PM

To: Mitchell Langbert

Subject: comments

You are a complete and total asshole.

You have no business instructing students in anything.

__________________________________________

From: mccnkvn@yahoo.com [mccnkvn@yahoo.com]
Sent: Thursday, October 04, 2018 8:40 AM
To: Mitchell Langbert
Subject: Expert witness?

Decided to retire as an expert as well no doubt? Enjoy your retirement. 

Kevin M. McCain

Attorney at Law

kmccain@trimaclaw.com

2003 McCain Parkway, Ste. 419

Pelham, Alabama 35124

Phone: 205-332-1367

Fax: 205-533-6154

Toll Free 1-800-257-6031

trimaclaw.com

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From: Liz P [liz4pc@hotmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, October 04, 2018 12:27 AM
To: Mitchell Langbert
Subject: Your a cave man

After reading an article on your rite of passage of young men. You are a #loser.  

Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE smartphone

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From: Maureen Saccio [maureensaccio@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, October 03, 2018 10:30 PM
To: Mitchell Langbert
Subject: 

You sick disgusting animal.  Who raised you? Certainly not a woman.  Shame on you.  But of course,  another white trash twumpie is amongst us.  Listen here asshole,  the women of this great nation are taking over.  And all you angry white trash men can go back to your mobile homes and shut the door behind you.  Go hide back under the rock you crawled out from under simpleton 

From: David Burns [dburns22152@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, October 03, 2018 3:42 AM
To: Mitchell Langbert
Subject: 

Your head is full of spiders and mayonnaise.  

I hope you get fired, you repulsive dipshit.

_______________________________________________________________________

From: Anne Lopes, Provost and Senior Vice President [provost@brooklyn.cuny.edu]

Sent: Wednesday, October 03, 2018 7:59 AM

To: Mitchell Langbert

Subject: An Important Message From Provost Anne Lopes

View this email in your browser

Brooklyn College, 2900 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11210, Tel: 718.951.5671 | Fax: 718.951.4872

From Anne Lopes, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

To the Brooklyn College Community,

It has come to our attention that a Brooklyn College faculty member blogged a gender-biased and homophobic post that advocates sexual assault last week. I view the post as offensive, obviously abhorrent, and contravening the fundamental values and practices of our community. However, the First Amendment to the United States Constitution protects even speech that many experience as offensive, such as the faculty member's post. I understand that in response to the speech students have organized a protest that will take place on the East Quad on Thursday during common hours.

________________________________________

From: Brian Russell [brianrussell0@gmail.com]

Sent: Wednesday, October 03, 2018 12:14 AM

To: Mitchell Langbert

Subject: Asshole

You are a misogynist asshole. Enjoy you’re firing, you sexist prick.

Brian Russell

646.275.7796

Sent from my iPhone

Left-Wing Hate Speech Toward Mitchell Langbert's Blog I

I have previously discussed the decline in campus civility in light of increasing left-wing hate, intolerance, calls for censorship and repeal of the First Amendment.  The bizarre combination of millennials' often-violent protest against others and their often-self-pitying anxiety about their own feelings has been discussed by Lukianoff and Haidt in their recent book Coddling of the American Mind.   

Many millennials lack writing, mathematical, and linear thinking skills. Most lack civics and history education. Few have read the classics of the liberal tradition--Locke, Montesquieu, Hume, Smith, Mill.   As a result, a majority is unfamiliar with the origins of the First Amendment, the history of speech codes in early modernity, or of the use of speech codes by Joseph McCarthy and Alexander Mitchell Palmer. As well, they often lack an understanding of how the US government works and what the Constitution says.  The same may be said of American journalists, who are increasingly a dumbed-down, irrelevant brood. 

Two radical Brooklyn College student-journalists, Jasmine Peralta and Danielle Kogan, recently wrote a piece in one of the campus news outlets in which they present a fellow student's opinions about my remarks but do not present my response. Peralta and Kogan quote a fellow radical student, whom they identify merely as Club Coordinator of the Puerto Rican Alliance Rivera, at length. 

Rivera says:  

I feel that any professor who makes anyone else feel threatened is a threat to me because I, as a student leader have to represent the members of my organization and of the organizations that I stand by in solidarity.

Rivera doesn't consider that his calls for censorship may make those who disagree feel threatened.  The young radical goes on to express the curious opinion--prevalent among campus diversity officers, campus administrators, and the fake-news media--that since the college campus is all inclusive, views with which the hate-filled campus lynch mob disagrees should be excluded. 

Rivera continues:

It’s supposed to be a campus that’s all-inclusive. It’s one of the most diverse campuses in the nation….for a professor to make statements about those types of students that alludes to sexual assault implies that all men are rapist and make sexual assault victims feel totally unsafe here on the Brooklyn College campus is unacceptable. 

 As I have previously blogged, the concept of hate speech is vacuous. Indeed, the left frequently engages in hate speech, and Jasmine Peralta, Danielle Kogan, and Club Coordinator of the Puerto Rican Alliance Rivera are not exceptions. Rivera is filled with hate. He or she wishes to exclude anyone who disagrees with his or her definition of hate speech, and he or she will pull no punches in expressing this opinion.  Peralta and Kogan agree, and they will not hesitate to write one-sided articles to prove it.

Peralta, Kogan, and Rivera apparently have not read the Constitution, the case law that has evolved concerning the First Amendment on campus, or any of the works of liberalism that led to the Lockean consensus that has, until the millennial generation and the concomitant dumbing down of American journalism, been America's common ground.  Indeed, they seem to be aware that law concerning the Constitution evolves through a stare decisis process, or that there are courts that adjudicate questions of this kind.