When I was in law school, criminal law 101 is a mandatory class. During that class you learn about the various criminal laws which because we live in a society that requires crimes to be enshrined in law, so that the public is on notice, because ideally, in this society, if it is not expressly prohibited, it is permitted.
To that end, we had a section which included learning the elements of rape. During that class I asked whether if in the context of a rape the alleged victim was a prostitute and the accused had paid her money, which she accepted, that the acceptance of the money could be evidence that she consented to the sexual conduct in defense of his acts and in defense of the accusation of rape.
A day or so later I was called into the Dean's office. Apparently several female students had come to him, in series, to accuse me of being insensitive that my questions were innappropriat, asking the Dean to punish me. They also accused me of "looking happy" when I asked the question.
I assume now that their heart was telling them anyone accused of rape must be guilty, a concept anathema to our presummed innocent standard.
I wasn't punished, but I remember now about 16-17 years ago, sitting in that office feeling incredibly alone, scared, and uncertain whether I was about to be expelled. The Dean was compassionate but felt obligated to signal that he took the accusations seriously and brought me in.
In any case, this is speech in the context of literally trying to learn the law.
#freespeech #gfy
