Breaking News and Surgery: or…this is a delicate piece

Trigger warning: This story involves the abuse of an infant. Read with caution…and so far, just so you know, the emotional response has usually been a delayed reaction – so do not be surprised, should you decide to read, if 12 hours after reading the story, you respond. 

During the American Civil War countless soldiers in both the North and South died not because of a gunshot wound per se but because of the ensuing infection that set in following lack of sterile instruments and general hygiene, overwhelmed doctors, and lack of equipment. In today’s world, while surgeons certainly continue to use terrifying instruments, they pay a little more attention to detail and work more with the philosophy, “I can cut more later if I need to…can’t undo an incision” as opposed to…like…”eh. Let’s just amputate.”

I am trying to walk a line the line of the surgeon in today’s world. A scalpel needs to make contact with a Body (how’s that for a Christian metaphor?), but I’m trying to do so with precision of lasers as opposed to an ax. You, I suppose, get to assess my success.

….

On February 3, a source sent me a link to a disturbingly horrific story in which an SLCC student brutally abused his seven week son. I read the story, wiped away tears, and didn’t think I would discuss it on this platform because I had no reason to believe the SLCC administration knew anything about the situation. Over and over I have read, heard, and interacted with people who have experienced horrific instances of abuse in silence, secrecy, and shame. Intentionally, the abuse took place behind firmly closed doors and the victim was sufficiently isolated so nobody could hear the muffled cries.

Until…of course…my source investigated the story further…which, in turn, led me to investigate further. So. Here are the facts…which I am happy to update as the story develops:

…. …. ….

In roughly August/September of 2015 two students were doing routine maintenance work in the apartment of the individual mentioned in the River Front Times article. They heard a baby crying. They went to investigate and found a baby girl in a crib, crying alone in the dark. When she realized she was no longer alone, she stopped crying. The maintenance “crew” were unsure of what actions to take: the parents did not seem to be in the apartment or around it. They interpreted the baby’s actions as cries of fear or loneliness since their presence seemed to comfort her. They left the apartment – and the baby – as they found it and reported the incident to their immediate supervisor.

I talked to this individual – a person I knew from my time at the college. Initially, we simply exchanged pleasantries, but eventually I had to ask him if he knew anything about the baby left alone in the apartment during the fall semester of 2015. His words to me were these: “Can’t say anything about that.”

After this point, I spoke with one of the two “crew” members who discovered the baby alone. Another individual witnessed our conversation and actually functioned as a means of introduction since we had never spoken prior to this point. He confirmed the details of the story to me, reiterating all the details my initial source gave me. He continued, “After talking to my immediate supervisor, I was directed to take the situation to [the Director of Excellence]. I told her and she told me to talk to the Dean of Students,” he paused and then continued. “I didn’t follow up with any of it because I assumed they would take care of it. It wasn’t until the story came out in the RiverFront Times that I asked [my source] what to do and he told me to call the police. So I did. I couldn’t find a way to verify that they reported it…or didn’t report…or anything…so I still don’t know what the school has done.” He asked to be notified of anything I come up with and gave me his email; I promised him I would keep him updated.

At this point, I thanked him for his courage in notifying the police, recognizing that he could get some flack for this course of action.

My husband was waiting for me to in our car with our toddler who was sleeping and dreaming….presumably of pizza.  We asked a friend to watch him in the car while we both made our way to the Dean of Students. Again, we began the conversation with pleasantries and smiles, and then cut to the chase: “Do you know about the baby left in the apartment by the same person covered in the RiverFront Times article in August/September of last year?” Her words to us, verbatim: “The proper people were notified.” And, as if the magical gong had sounded, we ended with pleasantries and conversation.

… …. ….

And, at this point, we turn to the diagnostics team in the hospital to assess what – if anything – warrants a surgery at all.

The problem with Dean of Student’s words are these:

1. It doesn’t answer the question asked – but it does indirectly affirm her knowledge of the incident;
2. It doesn’t define “proper people”. Here “proper people” could mean her immediate supervisor, the Abuse Hotline, the Trustees or the Board, the police, a church’s counseling service, or…really…anyone. It is just concrete enough to indicate the school took care of the issue without actually explaining how or why or when or to whom….the vagueness causes one to question truthiness.

… … … …

The problem with ambiguity is that SLCC is fresh out of credibility. I feel decently confident we have all been in the situation where an adolescent gives us a general feeling of uneasiness: perhaps they weren’t home on time, money seems to missing, neighbors complain of alcohol containers in their trash, they weren’t where they said they would be when they said they’d be there….fill in the blank.

Most of us don’t enjoy being manipulated; most of us don’t enjoy vague political statements meant to soothe constituents rather than give us actual answers. Most of us don’t appreciate car salesmen whose livelihood has turned into both an addiction and identity.

It is possible SLCC did do everything they were supposed to do. It is possible they did not.

… …. …

But the problem is more than “Somebody could have done more good than they chose to do” (which, incidentally, Jesus described as sin). The problem is actually Brandon Milburn.

Ignorance in general is not acceptable for people in leadership or with a certain amount of responsibility. For example, the moment I get into Odalette, our car, and begin driving, I have assumed responsibility for knowing. If a cop pulls me over and says, “Did you know you were going 70 in a 60 mph zone” pleading ignorance will not automatically get me off the hook. I could be legitimately convinced the speed limit was 70 and genuinely not know it was 60. The responsibility to know is on my shoulders because I put the key in the ignition and accepted responsibility for my driving habits.

When an individual accepts a position – president of a college, dean of students, academic dean – whatever, they are accepting responsibility for knowing. This means figuring out policies – because without them…they’re open to a lawsuit and if they don’t follow them…they’re open to a lawsuit. This means knowing what a mandated reporter is, educating students on what a mandated reporter is, and then actually doing the mandated reporting is a requirement – after all, a doctor isn’t going to get a board certification without some understanding of HIPPA laws.

But ok. We’re all human. We all make mistakes. Sometimes we just don’t know.

But not after a crisis of Brandon Milburn proportions.

Churches completely unaffiliated with Brandon and with FCCF implemented new security measures; church plants now focus on security in ways they didn’t prior to Brandon; youth groups have different rules in place; parents are altering their parenting decisions and changing life styles. People are trying to learn from this crisis on a personal level and on a corporate level. 

If SLCC saw red flags waving and did nothing…I can conclude they learned nothing from Brandon Milburn.

If SLCC saw red flags waving and did what they had to do to save face…I have to question whether or not they learned anything from Brandon Milburn.

… … …. ….

You see, I’ve seen…in multiple places and multiple contexts that Christian organizations – educational and otherwise – really like to flipflop on whether they’re more Christian or more of a Non-profit/business. I have observed a trend: they do whatever is convenient.

Of course I have examples….

“You got pregnant before you were married…You should probably repent. Publicly.” (Church discipline/theology issue)

“Ah, you don’t like the hiring decision we made? Well, we’re a business…”

“Girls cannot wear leggings as pants.”
(Church discipline/theology issue)

“This is the policy we have in place for attendance…unless….”
(Business model)

“You may not drink or consume alcohol as a student of SLCC. This includes breaks….and…incidentally, may or may not be dated on the Lifestyle Agreement you are required to sign”
(Church discipline/theology issue)

“A minimum GPA of ____ is required to be in good standing”
(Business model)

“Homosexuality is strictly forbidden.”
(Church discipline/theology)

…I think you get the point.

… …. ….

If you are strictly a business, unwed pregnancy shouldn’t be a big deal. Neither should anything related to the LGBTQ community. Neither should my comfort level in leggings.

IF those things are an issue…than as an organization, my friends, you are functioning as both “Christian” and “Business.” Denial is…dumb.

Which brings us back to this incident: an infant – a 7 week old infant – was dropped down a flight of stairs….after the same perpetrator allegedly left his daughter alone in the apartment.

We need answers. Not a car salesman. Not a politician. Not smiles and pleasantries.

• What was done?
• By whom?
• When?

And…it seems relevant to add…this father seemed to be in need of pastoral care. (After my husband heard about some of the events surrounding the birth of this child, my husband needed pastoral care.) What kind of emotional support was he getting? Again, this is a pastoral question…but given the fact that the mission statement of SLCC is to prepare students…for ministry…it seems a relevant one.