I’ve been thinking more about the saying “the cover up is worse than the crime,” that perpetuating a cover up damages an organization and its brand more than the crime itself. But the real reason why the cover up is worse is that protecting a criminal usually means there will be more victims.
The hockey world is in turmoil. A coach for the Chicago Blackhawks allegedly sexually assaulted a 20-year-old player. He reported the crime, but the organization opted essentially to ignore the horrific accusation and instead focus on its playoff run. The top brass at the NHL went along, accepting the Blackhawks assessment, following a minimal investigation. It was just smoke.
With a decade passed, both organizations probably felt they’d gotten away with it. However, the player, Kyle Beach, sued the Blackhawks last summer. Now, both the NHL and specifically the Blackhawks face an existential crisis, with fans deeply angry over the mishandling of the alleged assault. Indeed, the cover up is costing them enormously.
But what’s not often spoken of, amid heated discussions, is the further victim due to the Blackhawks’ and NHL’s delinquency. This coach, after devastating Beach’s life and career, sexually assaulted a 17-year-old at his next job. For that crime he was held accountable and is currently in prison. Had the Blackhawks dealt with Beach’s claims immediately and thoroughly, perhaps this other young, innocent man would never have been molested, would never have had his life derailed.
I try to avoid commenting on the practice of other religious institutions, but I’m reminded of the Catholic Church’s “solution” of moving priests accused of molestation to new parishes. What it meant was a host of new victims, more lives destroyed because an institution feared confronting itself.
Is it any wonder that sexual assault victims hesitate to report? According to RAINN (Rape, Abuse &Incest National Network), about two-thirds of sexual assaults go unreported. With male victims, the percentage is even higher.
Right now, here in Denver, there is a person sitting on the DPS school board who, an independent investigation found, was conducting an inappropriate flirtation with a 17-year-old DPS student. In the case of Tay Anderson there has been public censure, but he still sits on the board, in a position to interact with and influence under-age individuals.
We need to remind ourselves that dereliction of duty now means potential victims in the future.
Shana Goldberg may be reached at shana@ijn.com
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