I can never forget what happened with Robert Hobbs. I’ll never forget Donald Hanson’s claret-coloured room with the huge bed and the telly in it (since there was only one other telly there, located in the mud room near the kitchen and the proctor’s apartment.)

And since my family life was non-existent I was definitely an malleable individual. I, too, was sexually assaulted there on a daily basis. The worst incidents would happen when there was ‘open weekends’, when most of the other students left and we were stuck at 19 Lambert Drive, or, if we were really ‘good’, trips to Quakerbridge Mall. The supervision was even more lax during those periods and for years I have intentionally blocked the memories of those moments.

Now I am trying to come to terms with it. I’ve been recently diagnosed with laryngeal dystonia, which has taken away my singing ability, and part of the recovery is to remove all stress from my life. So I now have opened this can of worms.

I would love to hear from you and others during that time. I don’t want to mention their names publicly, but would be more than willing to discuss it further if you would like.

Cordially, Gary W Brubaker

I come to this post late, while researching a documentary on the subject of healing from childhood sexual abuse.

Read it, the associated article and comments with empathy, sadness, and hope.

Am certain you must have heard of attorney Jeffrey R. Anderson’s efforts to litigate under the RICO statutes, the most interesting legal approach to the RNC’s long-standing institutionalization of pedophilia.

Didn’t think it would be possible to admire you any more than I already did, but there you have it.

Having high-profile, successful people step forward with their stories is important. It makes the burden easier to carry for others, and it shows in a practical way that though such a past will always -color- you to some degree, it doesn’t need to -define- you.

I trust the New Jersey Supreme Court to do the right thing and overturn the lower court decision.

My father was a music teacher at a time when no one would stand up and say, “What you’re doing is wrong and we’re going to do something about it.” The schools would simply offer a blind eye in return for a resignation. We moved a lot when I was a kid and I didn’t figure it out until I was in my 30’s.

Several years ago, I had the opportunity to confront him about it all as he lay in a hospital bed recovering from a car accident that left him a paraplegic. His response was neither indignant denial or an admission of guilt, merely one of questioning what I had just said to him. He begged me to go into counseling with him, told me he would do anything to “fix this.” Textbook perpetrator talk.

How can anyone give us the years back, fix us so that we don’t live with the horror every night?

Professor Lessig and Mr. Hardwicke, you are heroes and brave men in my book. Thank you.

I am confused: its as if when persons are in danger, society is increasingly accepting an amber alert system of publicity to provide saftey. When a child is lost, everyone knows everywhere. No details, no reasons, just pure data in a very well networked wide world media blanket.

In your case, it is to place the spot light upon a problem that occured a long time ago to achieve some justice, and to examine the state rules of non for profit organizations and accountability.

The media seems to have a consciousness of its own, reacting as persons hear, read and listen to the case. I don’t know the consequences of this over the next 200 years: how will such a media shape the world we live in.

The method of a case that is unfolding reminds me of the OJ trial: I guess I am getting at the media and the law as a generalization, and how laws will evolve as we negotiate privacy and publicity: others may have similar cases, and may not want to experience the publicity, can they control the amout of data about themselves if the case becomes large? will it be a choice?