Truth and Reconciliation
Commission, South Africa, 1996.

Last year two alleged sexual assaults by athletes at one of the dorms at Marquette University went unreported to police by Marquette officials. Everyone admits not reporting these alleged attacks were a violation of State and Federal laws by Marquette. When the allegation were finally reported the District Attorney, although admitting Marquette broke the State Law, he decided not to prosecute the university. A Federal investigation is still in process.

The Athletic Director of Marquette took the fall for the coaches and administrators that knew about the alleged attacks. Yesterday when a new Athletic Director was appointed he and the new President of the University went out of their way to say that “from this point forward” Marquette would follow all State and Federal laws involving reporting alleged sexual assaults. The fact they both used the words “from this point forward” struck me.

When the sexual abuse scandal hit the Catholic Church in the 90’s the Bishops made similar statements that this type of behavior would not be tolerated “from this point forward”. However, when it came to what happened and what they knew about sins of the past there was not much transparency. They were saying, in fact, “from this point forward” we will report allegations of sexual abuse and not cover it up.

Many countries where there have been atrocities in the past try to say “from this point forward”, they will be no more, but fail, unlike South Africa, to make known and transparent the crimes of the past.

The problem with this philosophy of “from this point forward” is that humans have great memories and unless the past is recognized, forgiveness and justice become hard. Forgiveness by the victim is easier when the perpetrator recognizes the wrong. Transparency of past violations and wrongs are necessary to move forward and honestly and effectively say “from this point forward.”

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