Principal Equals Police? Who Knew?

This incredible idiocy is likely to make my head explode before I reach the end, but I will try to muscle though it.

The administrators (former administrators?) at the center of the Mifflin High School sexual assault case are taking great pains to.... pass the buck.

The 16-year-old special education student reported to the principal that she had been hit and forced to give oral sex to two boys. According to Suzie Retterer-Helfrich , one of the assistant principals, neither she nor the other two assistant principals called police because:

"Our investigation was very thorough," Retterer-Helfrich says. “Nobody mishandled the situation.”

"No one, absolutely no one that day believes there was personal injury or an assault situation,” is how Retterer-Helfrich says the school administration assessed the report.

...Administrators did gather evidence and start an investigation, she says. But according to her, they believed it was a "sexual misconduct" incident: in other words, consensual.

“Police are not called when there’s supposition of sexual misconduct. That's a disciplinary action," explained Retterer-Helfrich.

Okay - first of all, Ms. Retterer-Helfrech, it is not up to you to determine whether or not a crime has been committed. It is certainly not for you to decide that someone who reports she was hit and forced to give oral sex to two boys was actually engaging in consensual sex. I think, Ms. R-H, you must be confusing yourself with the POLICE! It is police who conduct investigations and gather evidence to determine whether or not a crime has been committed. And, it is during their investigation - or later, in court, with actual attorneys and everything, where it will be decided whether or not the incident was "consensual."

Oh - and SO sorry this has been hard for you,

"I hope that it hasn't ruined my career,” she adds. "This has been quite an ordeal. It's not over. It's not over."

I'm just sure the poor girl's troubles pale in comparison to the "ordeal" you are going through.

And then, there's Regina Crenshaw, the principal who was fired. She gave a news conference today. It's here, but you'll need to scroll down a couple of stories to get to the video (that's all there is at this point). She is extremely worried that her reputation may be at stake and desperately wants people to know she's a deeply committed religious woman.

You know, Ms. Crenshaw, I could care less whether you are Christian, Buddist, Halle Bop-ist, or whether you worship at the feet of Quatzecoatl, the great flying serpent. How in the world does that have any bearing on your deplorable, irresponsible, STUPID decision to not call the police - or even the girl's father?

I'm really hoping the other two assistant principals can just keep their mouths shut. You know. Show some appropriate humility for how badly they screwed up. Hopefully not be so damned concerned about appearances.

Ohhh, and perhaps, maybe they can be more concerned with the girl and what she went through, rather than whining and complaining about how horrible this has been for the administrators and their reputations.


My head is, surprisingly, still intact. Just in case anyone was wondering.