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Headline was incorrect, inappropriate

To the editor:

I’m writing in response to a front page article from today’s paper for which I can’t even bring myself to repeat the headline. The first sentence clearly states the article is in regards to three first degree counts of felony level criminal sexual conduct with a child under the age of 13. That is not sex. It is rape. Sexual assault is about power and control, not sex. Children can not consent to sex, period. The headline used for this is highly inappropriate, inaccurate, and revictimizing to the survivor. My heart goes out to the survivor, anyone close to this case, or any sexual assault victim/survivor, who saw today’s headline. I am asking The Journal to issue a correction and apology for the verbiage chosen for this article, and to commit to doing better going forward. I hid the paper from my own children as to not give them any indication that sexual assault of children under age 13 even remotely resembles what sex is. Sexual assault is serious and the words chosen to describe it matter.

Ali Gibbs

New Ulm

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