The Boston Globe’s coverage of the sexual abuse endured by Harvard’s Lynn Jennings at the hands of her trainer while she was still a teenager growing up in Harvard is shocking.
The abuse of minors and young adults in sports seems a never-ending story, but as the Press has reported this week, the enforcement of Title IX and later enactment of Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017 have provided today’s athletes with avenues of support that simply weren’t available in the 1970s, when Jennings felt she had no recourse but to keep the abuse to herself.
It’s encouraging to see that policies and procedures, however unevenly applied, are in place to support any student in the Harvard school district who is threatened or a victim of sexual abuse, harrassment, or other misconduct by an adult or teammate. With a national organization, the U.S. Center for SafeSport, empowered by Congress to investigate allegations of abuse free of meddling by the U.S. Olympic Committee or its member organizations, athletes now have a powerful ally to deter and sanction potential abusers.
Still, for a teenager, especially a minor, or even an adult to confront a powerful abuser requires exceptional courage of the kind demonstrated by Lynn Jennings. Perhaps her courage can inspire others. But in the end, our kids need to know that the adults in their lives are ready to listen to them, believe them, and fully support them.
