OPINION:
I knew Yeardley Love when I was at the University of Virginia (“UVa. athlete charged with murder,” Nation, Tuesday) and was connected to her through the school’s athletic community. I plan on attending community services that hopefully will be held and support her teammates during their post-season play.
The issue of domestic violence has been largely ignored by the University of Virginia community, and I am hoping this atrocity will bring to light a major problem at the university (and on many other college campuses). The university is regarded as one of the foremost academic institutions in the country - one that prides itself on its unique honor system and moral compass. I am incredibly proud to call myself an alumna, but these days, I am ashamed to say I am a former Virginia athlete.
The school has often kept issues of domestic violence within the athletic community quiet. I know of female athletes at the school who have been victims of assault and were told to seek counseling in private because that was the best thing for the school, the victim’s family and the victim herself. Meanwhile, the perpetrator faced very little, if any, punishment.
Stories of abusive athletes are by no means new. Publicizing Yeardley’s terrible story at a school like Virginia might bring the issue greater attention so more will be done to end it at athletic programs. Female Virginia athlete friends of mine and I took the path of least resistance when we were told to do so.
I know of several male athletes who were asked to leave their teams over the years because of domestic violence. The reason given to the public for their departure was that it was in the best interest of the athlete at that time to seek another team and school. Only those on the inside had any idea of what really had happened. I knew of a few other athletes who quietly had been accused of perpetrating similar crimes - but were not asked to leave. They continued to be praised for their athletic prowess, suffered no punitive action, and at least one was told by his coach that the coach hoped the accusation “doesn’t affect your game.”
I am in the midst of getting in touch with former teammates and friends from Virginia so that the very painful, shocking and unforgettable loss of Yeardley will not pass by quietly but will instead possibly save others from the years of silent hurt that I, my friends and other athletes have had to endure. I hope this horrible incident encourages the University of Virginia athletic community live by the same honorable standards by which the greater university community lives.
LAURA CHRISTINE LAMMERS
University of Virginia (2008)
Washington
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