# How should a school deal with pantsing? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 28, 2009, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-a-school-deal-with-pantsing/494644 "2009-04-28T17:59:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-a-school-deal-with-pantsing/494644/41 "2009-04-28T19:47:53Z")
It doesn’t sound like your son is an entirely impartial witness. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-a-school-deal-with-pantsing/494644/42 "2009-04-28T19:53:03Z")
Its sexual assault by an adult on a minor. From here its a matter of following the law. When the law gets broken, the school administrators don’t get to decide whether to cover it up or not. The district attorney or whomever gets to decide whether to prosecute. I can’t believe we’d have a zero tolerance policy in place for drugs, alcohol or bringing a pocket knife into school, but we’d have a non zero tolerance policy for sexual assault. If you come to school drunk, the only person you hurt is yourself. And a pocket knife in your pocket isn’t hurting anyone. Maybe zero tolerance policies themselves are wrong, but they are in place for other infractions that are far less hurtful than this. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-a-school-deal-with-pantsing/494644/43 "2009-04-28T19:54:03Z")
> [@KRM](#): > > I won’t go into detail but I will say that he has been in trouble in the past and some kids regard him as a bully, others do not, my son included. In his defense, he has been through more personally than any child deserves. I find this curious. Who considers him a bully - the kids he has bullied? And why do others not consider him one - because they personally ave not been bullied? Or because they think the people who DO consider him a bully deserved what they got, over-reacted, etc? Sorry he has had a rough go so far, but I really wouldn’t give a shit how bad his childhood has been if he made my girls cry. Reminds me of a situation where my kid was suspended in middle school for punching a kid. The kid in question had “behavioral” issues well known to the school. He had been verbally hassling my kid for years, and we had requested that they not be in the same classes. But that would disadvantage the poor darling, wouldn’t it? One day my kid decided he was tired of hearing his mom called a whore (that’s the shortened, cleaned up version), and smacked the shit. When the school called me, I said I wouldn’t contest the suspension, but I wrote the school and the school board a letter informing them that I would not tolerate my kid having to be subjected to this kid’s abuse again, and that they needed to take steps to prevent it or I would take legal action. If nothing else, this kid needs to be put on alert that this is unacceptable behavior. And if he refuses or is unable to restrain himself, then he ought to be removed from the school. ---
**Author:** ![Randy\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee7513/32.png) [@Randy\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randy_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-a-school-deal-with-pantsing/494644/44 "2009-04-28T19:58:39Z")
> [@dangermom](#): > > An 18yo pantsing a 16yo girl is on the spectrum of sexual assault, […] > [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > It’s a sexual assault on a minor. […] > [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Sexual assault goes beyond […] > [@Cheesesteak](#): > > […] charged with a sexual assault that gets them put on the sexual offender registry, […] > [@Enderw24](#): > > […] statutory rape. […] > [@The Second Stone](#): > > Sexual assault etc. Felonies. > [@Dangerosa](#): > > Its sexual assault by an adult on a minor Jeez, everyone’s throwing around such strong language. People, this is **NOT** “sexual assault” or “statutory rape.” It is, at most, simple assault. “Sexual assault” usually means a rape that was missing some element of a traditional rape. Let’s look at an example of a sexual assault statute. > [@](#): > > **Wisconsin Statutes (2005)** > _§ 940.225: Sexual assault_: [ol][li]First degree sexual assault - Class B felony [60-year maximum]… whoever does any of the following is guilty …[list=a][_]Has sexual contact or sexual intercourse with another person without consent and causes pregnancy or great bodily harm to that person. [_]Has sexual contact or sexual intercourse … without consent … by use or threat of use of a dangerous weapon…[/ol] [_]Second degree sexual assault - Class C felony [40 years][list=a][_]Has sexual contact or sexual intercourse with another person without consent of that person by use or threat of force or violence. [_]Has sexual contact or sexual intercourse … without consent … and causes injury … of a sexual or reproductive organ. [_]Has sex … with a person who suffers from a mental illness [which renders that person incapable of consenting][_]…[/list][_]Third degree sexual assault - Class G felony [ten-year maximum]: … has sexual intercourse with a person without the consent of that person.[/list][/li]_§ 948.02: Sexual assault of a child_ - [the cut-off age is 13 for the victim for Class B felonies, and 15 for Class C] If you think the kid here has the same degree of culpability as a man who rapes a woman and causes her great bodily harm, or as a man who rapes a woman at knifepoint, then you need some perspective. Throwing around such charged language is a childish debate tactic, and is an insult to actual victims of sexual assault. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-a-school-deal-with-pantsing/494644/45 "2009-04-28T20:05:16Z")
> [@](#): > > What is sexual assault? > Sexual assault and abuse is any type of sexual activity that you do not agree to, including: > > inappropriate touching > vaginal, anal, or oral penetration > sexual intercourse that you say no to > rape > attempted rape > child molestation > > Sexual assault can be verbal, visual, **or anything that forces a person to join in unwanted sexual contact or attention**. Examples of this are voyeurism (when someone watches private sexual acts), exhibitionism (when someone exposes him/herself in public), incest (sexual contact between family members), and sexual harassment. It can happen in different situations, by a stranger in an isolated place, on a date, or in the home by someone you know. > > Rape is a common form of sexual assault. It is committed in many situations — on a date, by a friend or an acquaintance, or when you think you are alone. Educate yourself on “date rape” drugs. They can be slipped into a drink when a victim is not looking. Never leave your drink unattended — no matter where you are. Try to always be aware of your surroundings. Date rape drugs make a person unable to resist assault and can cause memory loss so the victim doesn’t know what happened. [http://www.womenshealth.gov/FAQ/sexual-assault.cfm#1](http://www.womenshealth.gov/FAQ/sexual-assault.cfm#1) Are you saying that its perfectly legal to “pants” someone? If it isn’t, then there might be another word we can use. If it is, it sounds like we just don’t do enough “pantsing” in our society. ---
**Author:** ![Randy\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee7513/32.png) [@Randy\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randy_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-a-school-deal-with-pantsing/494644/46 "2009-04-28T20:17:57Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > [http://www.womenshealth.gov/FAQ/sexual-assault.cfm#1](http://www.womenshealth.gov/FAQ/sexual-assault.cfm#1) > > Are you saying that its perfectly legal to “pants” someone? If it isn’t, then there might be another word we can use. If it is, it sounds like we just don’t do enough “pantsing” in our society. As I said, it is assault. Or, probably battery, if you want to get into particulars. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-a-school-deal-with-pantsing/494644/47 "2009-04-28T20:26:34Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > [http://www.womenshealth.gov/FAQ/sexual-assault.cfm#1](http://www.womenshealth.gov/FAQ/sexual-assault.cfm#1) > > Are you saying that its perfectly legal to “pants” someone? If it isn’t, then there might be another word we can use. If it is, it sounds like we just don’t do enough “pantsing” in our society. By this list, it’s sexual assault to say “Look at Janie’s boobs!” If you don’t mind my saying, lumping that into the same category of crime as a 10 hour gang rape kind of makes the category a bit too broad to be useful. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-a-school-deal-with-pantsing/494644/48 "2009-04-28T20:26:41Z")
If the boy is not sent to prison and made to register as a sex offender, is it likely that he’ll go on to become a serial rapist? Is the girl likely to need decades of therapy over this? ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-a-school-deal-with-pantsing/494644/49 "2009-04-28T20:41:56Z")
Christ! Are you people for real? A high school kid pulled down the pants of another high school kid. This is not a crime and no one would give a shit the next day unless she was wearing crotchless panties. The fact that the most important piece of information, how the girl reacted, is unknown makes this discussion completely pointless. I knew plenty of girls in high school who would have had a fit if someone outside their social circle did that but would have been totally OK with one of their friends doing it in the last few weeks of senior year. This is a one hour detention, no more no less. ---
**Author:** ![sinjin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@sinjin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinjin)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-a-school-deal-with-pantsing/494644/50 "2009-04-28T20:43:41Z")
The girl was crying. Her clothing was forcibly removed by a male 2 years older than herself in front of her classmates. Does anyone seriously think this was not a traumatic event for her. I think the male adult (that’s what he is) should be charged with assault. If he had been caught doing this anywhere but at school he would already have been arrested. Now for the hypotheticals. In this day and age of every kid over the age of 7 carrying a cell phone capable of taking pictures, how long is it going to take for this girl’s photo to be up on the web. Would that change anyone’s mind? ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-a-school-deal-with-pantsing/494644/51 "2009-04-28T20:44:55Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > Its sexual assault by an adult on a minor. From here its a matter of following the law. When the law gets broken, the school administrators don’t get to decide whether to cover it up or not. The district attorney or whomever gets to decide whether to prosecute. Exactly. As a school administrator I would leave it up to the girl and her parents if they want to involve the police and press charges. It’s not really up to the school to decide. The school has the duty to cooperate with the police at that point. If the girl and parent choose not to involve the police then the school can do what it deems fit for the situation. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-a-school-deal-with-pantsing/494644/52 "2009-04-28T20:45:11Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > It doesn’t sound like your son is an entirely impartial witness. He isn’t. He is friends with both parties. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-a-school-deal-with-pantsing/494644/53 "2009-04-28T20:49:15Z")
I’m female, age 24. This would upset me, if it happened. Especially at that age. > [@Odesio](#): > > I see a big problem with this. What if she’s pressured by her peers to keep police involvement at a minimum? “C’mon, don’t be a bitch. You’ll ruin his life over something stupid.” > > Odesio Also, I can totally see something like this happening. At my old high school anyway. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-a-school-deal-with-pantsing/494644/54 "2009-04-28T20:49:54Z")
> [@sinjin](#): > > The girl was crying. And as we all know, getting a teenage girl to cry takes considerable effort. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-a-school-deal-with-pantsing/494644/55 "2009-04-28T20:49:57Z")
> [@sinjin](#): > > I think the male adult (that’s what he is) should be charged with assault. If he had been caught doing this anywhere but at school he would already have been arrested. Exactly right. Why do people think that because it happened on school property, that somehow makes it nothing more than juvenile hijinks? I’m not saying that he should be charged as a rapist. However, some manner of legal recourse is needed. Call the police. In all likelihood, they would do nothing more than give him a stern reprimand and strike the fear of the law into this fella. [QUOTE=tdn] Is the girl likely to need decades of therapy over this? [/QUOTE] Decades? Probably not. I don’t think that means he should get off lightly, though. It’s time to strike fear into the fella’s heart. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-a-school-deal-with-pantsing/494644/56 "2009-04-28T20:54:36Z")
> [@JThunder](#): > > I don’t think that means he should get off lightly, though. It’s time to strike fear into the fella’s heart. I’d be good with that. And a week’s suspension on top of that. I’m going to go out on a limb here and suggest that 1) the girl is probably over this already, and b) the boy realizes what a dumb thing he did. Maybe I’m wrong, but that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. ---
**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-a-school-deal-with-pantsing/494644/57 "2009-04-28T20:54:44Z")
Is it a private school or a public school? If it’s private- Give the kid a week of suspension, maybe plea bargain it down to in-school suspensions and leave it to the family of the girl if they want to pursue it further, to take it outside of school. Oh those kids… If it’s a public school, throw the book at him for assault and sexual harassment and call the cops. People who pants people should not be admitted to College. Hell, the community college will probably take him. He needs to learn his actions have consequences and that Life is NOT fair. Justice likes to keeps it’s robes ON, thank you very much. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-a-school-deal-with-pantsing/494644/58 "2009-04-28T21:02:01Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > Christ! Are you people for real? > > A high school kid pulled down the pants of another high school kid. This is not a crime and no one would give a shit the next day unless she was wearing crotchless panties. The fact that the most important piece of information, how the girl reacted, is unknown makes this discussion completely pointless. I knew plenty of girls in high school who would have had a fit if someone outside their social circle did that but would have been totally OK with one of their friends doing it in the last few weeks of senior year. > > This is a one hour detention, no more no less. You are obviously wrong that “no one would give a shit about it” since several people on this thread would give a shit about it. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-a-school-deal-with-pantsing/494644/59 "2009-04-28T21:09:56Z")
> [@Ro0sh](#): > > Is it a private school or a public school? > If it’s private- Give the kid a week of suspension, maybe plea bargain it down to in-school suspensions and leave it to the family of the girl if they want to pursue it further, to take it outside of school. Oh those kids… > If it’s a public school, throw the book at him for assault and sexual harassment and call the cops. People who pants people should not be admitted to College. Hell, the community college will probably take him. He needs to learn his actions have consequences and that Life is NOT fair. Justice likes to keeps it’s robes ON, thank you very much. Why should that matter? ---
**Author:** ![sinjin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@sinjin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinjin)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-a-school-deal-with-pantsing/494644/60 "2009-04-28T21:12:16Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > And as we all know, getting a teenage girl to cry takes considerable effort. 😉 Just so you know, when I was 16 a “friend” tried to do this to me. Another true friend stopped it. I cried. I have never, ever cried in public before or since. Not even when I broke my arm or jazzed up my leg so bad the entire lower part of my pants leg was soaked in blood. I might be a teensy bit prejudiced here so would excuse myself from any jury that might occur due to this situation. 🙂 Probably TMI. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-a-school-deal-with-pantsing/494644.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-a-school-deal-with-pantsing/494644.md?page=4)