Georgetown Prep is taking a beating with this Kanvanugh scandal...does it deserve it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:nP. I agree that behavior was unfortunately not uncommon in the ‘80s among jerks who correctly thought they could get away with it back then. But I’ve never seen yearbook pages like that from the 80s. I thought that was appalling and indicated the school was well aware of, and at least implicitly condoned, this awful behavior.
Public, private, Catholic, secular—is never seen anything like those yearbook pages.

Catholic here. I am going to get flamed but this is a church that elevated and promoted to positions of authority men that actively covered up and enabled and in some cases participated in the sexual abuse of children. Am I surprised that given that there are Catholic schools that allowed a debauched culture and graduates to include misogynistic comments and quotes in their year books. No. No I am not. Years ago a priest my family knew well who really tried to live the life of a true Christian commented on how priests got promoted in the church and it was not through good deeds of helping the poor. It was an old boys club in the traditional sense so no one should be surprised that that culture was part of Georgetown Prep then.

I will also say that lots of men have public faces for the world. Think Rob Porter or Matt Lauer. I thought I knew my brother-in-law until I learned he was abusing my sister. He denied it and continued to deny it even after confessing on a recording. Men learned of his confession and many remained friends with him because hey, he didn't hit and rape them. He works in finance and is friends with Judges and doctors who easily look the other way. That is America. After it happened in my family I found out that it had happened to all these people I knew but they didn't like to talk about it. We joined a really crowded club we didn't want to join but at least it is full of courageous and kind survivors. Staistically it is likely that at least one if not more of the members on the Senate Judiciary Committee have sexually harassed or abused a woman in their lifetime. Teddy Kennedy was on the Committee and we all know he was guilty of it at one point in his life. Orrin Hatch was his good buddy and clearly looked the other way for him. Birds of a feather flock together and men who treat and view women as less stick together.

If Kavenaugh really wants to set an example for his daughters and the girls he coaches? He should say I have nothing to hide. I'll talk to the FBI and she can talk to the FBI and then we can have a vote. That's not what he's doing and little girls across America are learning not to come forward and tell your story because people will turn themselves inside out with worry and compassion for the accused and none for the victim. I guess it is a good lesson for them to learn b/c it is a sure bet that they will at least be sexually harassed in their lifetime, 1 in 4 will be a victim of domestic abuse, and 1 in 5 will be raped. They should know that when that happens the odds are there will be men like Chuck Grassley, Orrin Hatch, Bob Corker, etc. and women like Susan Collins who joined the men's club who will bully them into staying silent or telling their story in a way that protects the feelings of the man involved.

[Anonymous]

Whoa!!! OP back here.

I didn't expect all of this, however, I appreciate all of the feedback regarding the school and in general. I think I focused on GP because I have several co-workers who send their sons there and they appear to be wonderful young men. We are an African American family and my co-workers have often commented on the diversity. Of course with my DS being 8 years away I haven't done a deep dive in researching the school, I was mostly going on my coworkers' experience. DD's school mingles a bit with GP and also has a positive opinion on the boys she has met.

I definitely plan to consider and investigate other schools when the time comes, but I was just hoping I could use GP as my target. Kind of "keep your eye on the ball" mindset.

[Anonymous]

Yes, the reputation is accurate.

[Anonymous]

The truth matters. I believe that all alleged victims have a right to be heard. I also believe that if an accusation has been made, the alleged victim has a responsibility to lay out the facts if accusing someone. Sexual assault allegations are fraught with pain, seemingly always.

While I absolutely understand that women suffer today - and have for centuries- from a power imbalance with men, the readiness of so many to believe Dr Ford without question also makes me nervous.

While statistically it is rare for false reports, I remember vividly how so many in our country decided that the Duke lacrosse team had raped a woman. I heard pundits rage that entitled, privileged young men who played the sport were evil, the school became divided, racial tensions were stoked, and the prosecutor eventually lost his job when it turned out that the accuser made it up.

More recently, a woman made up an allegation to a reporter for Rolling Stone magazine about a sexual assault at UVA that never happened. Again, huge blame. A falsely accused fraternity had vandalism and horrific false judgment leveled at them. Administration was dragged through the mud. And it made it all the more difficult for assault victims to feel comfortable coming forward.

I am sickened by the Access Hollywood tape of Trump, just as much as I was by those that castigated Bill Clinton’s victims, including Gloria Steinem. I am alarmed that in recent months, politicians simply don’t seem to care about truth anymore. It’s a win at all costs mindset. Hypocrisy is across the policical spectrum. And the elephant in the room is that the fear / anticipation is palpable that this judge may swing Roe v Wade.

I am an independent, pro-choice, fiscally conservative, socially liberal voter. I don’t belong to a political tribe. I have a son and a daughter and today’s climate scares me- for both of them.

I imagine that GP’s yearbook is different now than in the 80s. At least, I hope so. That’s really what should matter when judging a school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Those year book page comments were like that at STA Albans too

I was in high school at this exact same time and those sort of yearbook statements would not be accepted in my public school. And rightfully so.



I am a born and raised practicing Catholic whose child attended a local catholic before going independent. Maybe Prep is not the same school it was back then, yet it seems he and Judge were not anomalies, and if you spend anytime at places like Columbia Country Club, among the Catholic families you’ll see seveal amazing Prep students and their families around. Yet you’ll also see a few Prep boys that act very similar to the jerky Prep caricature that we’ve all heard about for years.

[Anonymous]

Well, the application imbalance in favor of Gonzaga will increase again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those year book page comments were like that at STA Albans too

Most high schools from that era, public or private, have similar comments in them.

Speculative. Not STA at least.

Stop trying to bring everybody else down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Live in Bethesda with neighbor whose kid went to Holton Arms. Two years ago she told me that she tried to prevent her daughter from socializing with boys from Georgetown Prep and Landon. Said she was worried about parties and drinking culture at the schools.

Only thing else I know about Georgetown Prep is that I had a neighbor who from moved from Virginia to a couple blocks away to send his two boys there for high school and then sold their house and moved back to Virginia when their younger boy went to college. They were the only people in our area with Romney 2012 signs and they were bigger than the normal yard signs.

It's annectdata, but putting it out there for anyone interested.

Romney, by all accounts, is a highly honorable and impeccably behaved man, so what is your point?

I just thought to provide the only pieces of actual information that I know about the school that is not speculative. It could be relevant to some or not relevant to others. But it's just information, its all that I know and I purposely did not attempt to either characterize this information or try to draw any inferences about it. You can feel free to do with it what you wish.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Frankly, I think Holton is going to come out looking worse.

Why?

Because they leapt forth to proclaim the accuser- their alum- as a hero, without bothering to check the facts first

I don't think they have proclaimed her a hero. They have supported her in speaking out.

My Holton girls attended a assembly about this and it was focused on standing up for yourself.

I thoroughly support Holtons response.

What if Ford is lying and made the whole thing up - or, at least greatly exaggerated the truth as she remembered it? (Likely, IMO.) Do you still support "standing up for yourself?" In other words, be an opportunist and take advantage of a chance to advance yourself, no matter to whom else you may do harm?

A lot of us knew her from when she grew up here - the odds of her being a random opportunist (for what exactly? Harassment and vitriol? ) are pretty low in most people’s opinion.

And just as many know Brett Kavanaugh and say glowing things about him.

That’s good to know. I would hope that if he was wild as a teen that he would own up to it and apologize and say that he regrets it but that he’s a different person now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whether or not Kavanaugh attempted to rape her is hardly even relevant. Judge's own words celebrating the debauchery that went on at GP should be enough to give any parent pause.

Exactly. We know what went on there because his good friend Mike Judge wrote about it, a lot. Just ignoring the allegation, the fact that has joked and celebrated that time in his life saying flippantly that "What happens at Georgetown Prep stays at Georgetown Prep and it's better that way" demonstrates enough about his mentality about his past behavior (ignoring the allegation) and that of his close circle of friends (as documented by Mike Judge) that it makes me question this guys ethical and moral compass. At least George W Bush and Obama had the wherewithal when discussing their youthful indiscretions to acknowledge the wrongness for the behavior and note that they have redeemed themselves. Compare Kavanaugh and the difference should be worrisome for anyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Frankly, I think Holton is going to come out looking worse.

Why?

Because they leapt forth to proclaim the accuser- their alum- as a hero, without bothering to check the facts first

I don't think they have proclaimed her a hero. They have supported her in speaking out.

My Holton girls attended a assembly about this and it was focused on standing up for yourself.

I thoroughly support Holtons response.

What if Ford is lying and made the whole thing up - or, at least greatly exaggerated the truth as she remembered it? (Likely, IMO.) Do you still support "standing up for yourself?" In other words, be an opportunist and take advantage of a chance to advance yourself, no matter to whom else you may do harm?

A lot of us knew her from when she grew up here - the odds of her being a random opportunist (for what exactly? Harassment and vitriol? ) are pretty low in most people’s opinion.

And just as many know Brett Kavanaugh and say glowing things about him.

That’s good to know. I would hope that if he was wild as a teen that he would own up to it and apologize and say that he regrets it but that he’s a different person now.

The emails shared with the Senate suggest that Kavanaugh's "wildness" continued well into his 30's.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:According to the Holton letter and many postings in this board, the partying culture still exists. It’s the attitude that (1) that doesn’t happen at our magical school and (2) if it does, it’s so much worse at Landon, NCS, Bullis, fill-in-name-of-any-school-not-the-we-pay-for. Yes, it happened at your school in the ‘80s and it happens now.

I have friends with sons at Prep now. By all accounts, it is a demanding school that also works hard to develop honorable young men. They do restrict partying and socializing. For example, while some privates have freshmen dances, the Prep boys are not allowed to attend as freshmen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a new Prep parent, I am saddened by all the negative comments and blanket statements about the school and students that imply that every single boy who attends is somehow a rapist, a criminal, an elitist, a snob, entitled, a drunk, etc. These are incredibly hard working, decent young men who are being dragged into a political sh**show not of their own doing. It is a complete distraction for them (just waiting for the news crews to be parked outside of campus any second now) and it is completely unfair that people are saying such horrible things about them. They had nothing to do with an incident that (may or may not have) happened 30+ years ago.

But you aren’t saddened by sexual assault? Perpetuating the problem. GP is to blame for what happens to it, you should be upset with how they are handling it, with how they allowed their reputation to be tarnished. This is of their own doing, and the boys that are there now that aren’t part of this culture don’t deserve it, but the school should be protecting them, handling it properly.

Holton has press trying to get in too...

I am missing the point here. How is Prep handling this? I have no idea. What is the issue?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My husband went there and now our son goes there. DH said the culture has changed dramatically. Kavanaugh went there 36 years ago for gods sake.

This is not true. My friend's son graduated from Prep recently and she was appalled by what went on there. The stuff those boys got away with. Maybe they just have a better way of hiding it now.

So...what went on so recently?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Frankly, I think Holton is going to come out looking worse.

Why?

Because they leapt forth to proclaim the accuser- their alum- as a hero, without bothering to check the facts first

I don't think they have proclaimed her a hero. They have supported her in speaking out.

My Holton girls attended a assembly about this and it was focused on standing up for yourself.

I thoroughly support Holtons response.

What if Ford is lying and made the whole thing up - or, at least greatly exaggerated the truth as she remembered it? (Likely, IMO.) Do you still support "standing up for yourself?" In other words, be an opportunist and take advantage of a chance to advance yourself, no matter to whom else you may do harm?

That is such a stretch. I was skeptical at first too. ...but then I saw the video of him talking about Prep, learned about the other guy who was with him, and read his yearbook page. The references to heavy drinking, inebriation, and sexual misconduct are all there to read. There is a culture of heavy drinking among some in the Irish Catholic community. I believe Kavanaugh doesn’t remember but that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. The issue is that so many men in their 50s and 40s grew up with this behavior seen as normal.