UConn TV station apologizes for rape sketch parody

STORRS, Conn. (AP/WTNH) - A student-run television station at the University of Connecticut has apologized for airing a video sketch that parodies a female student using a campus phone to report an attempted rape.

The clip that ran as part of UCTV's entertainment programming shows the phone malfunctioning and calling the woman offensive names. It has sparked protests on campus with some student groups saying it mocks sexual assault.

“I don’t want to say it was funny,” said UConn student Dan White, “but it was for a second, but they took it way too far. Halfway through it got old and then it was disgusting.”

“You know, I’m not going to lie, I thought it was a little bit funny in some aspects,” said UConn student Carlos Gomez, “but rape is such a serious issue, that rape implies so much, that they should have known the repercussions that were going to come from it.”

The backlash from the campus was so great and swift that the television station pulled the video and put up a lengthy statement on the front of their website which says, in part:

“We apologize for any frustration or harm the respective video clip has caused and all of us here at UCTV have learned from this event.”

“I think they took it a little too far,” said UConn student Sean Moyer, “and rape is a serious subject. It should not have been taken lightly.”

Wednesday night approximately 100 students packed into the women’s center on campus for a meeting between the UConn television station and the women’s center.

“Seeing it was a traumatic and shocking experience,” said Clorasteen Wilson. “And I was mostly shocked that it was produced by people at UConn.”

The management of the UConn television station didn’t want to speak with the media, but did say they would work with the women’s center to make sure guidelines are put in place so that this doesn’t happen again.

“If there was a person who was sexually assaulted or raped and that was on their tv, on UConn television it is really upsetting,” said Wilson. “I’m sure it was really traumatic for people.”