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	Toughen Laws on Reporting Abuse Post and Courier November 19, 2011 http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2011/nov/19/toughen-laws-on-reporting-abuse/ Some people do the right thing because it is the right thing to do. Some do the right thing only when the law requires it. So if we hope to address the insidious problem of child sexual abuse -- like incidents involving Louis "Skip" ReVille at The Citadel and elsewhere -- South Carolina law must be strengthened. Rep. Peter McCoy, R-Charleston, a former assistant solicitor, has prefiled a bill that would do that. It would require anyone who is aware of child abuse or neglect -- or who has information indicating it may happen -- to report it to authorities. Only certain people fall under the mandate prescribed by the current law: They include teachers, principals and medical professionals. There is no reason that college officials should get a pass on protecting children. "The pain and fear the victims have, in many cases, is known by others who are simply unfamiliar with what to do," Mr. McCoy said. "My legislation makes it very clear: If you know, you must report and give a potential victim the strength they need." In the devastating ReVille case, he is accused of molesting five boys, and officials expect more charges to come. Mr. ReVille, while a camp counselor at The Citadel in 2002, allegedly lured campers into his room where they watched pornographic movies and masturbated. Five years later when one of the teens notified the school, Citadel officials failed to inform the police. That should be enough impetus for the Legislature to adopt Mr. McCoy's bill immediately upon recovening. Gov. Nikki Haley has also expressed serious concern about what happened at The Citadel. Eighteen other states have laws that mandate child sexual abuse reporting. On the national front, Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., has called for an investigation "to ascertain what if any laws were broken or need to be modified." And U.S. Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., top-ranking Democrat on the House Education Committee, wants a hearing to determine if changes are needed in federal laws. Sadly, it isn't just the uninformed who have failed our children by looking the other way or covering up child sexual abuse. High-ranking college officials, for example, know better, or they certainly should. Even at The Citadel, which prides itself on its code of honor, leaders opted not to report Mr. ReVille to authorities who could have dealt with him four years ago. If we can't count on people to act on behalf of children simply because doing so is the right thing to do, then the right thing is to pass a law making them do it.
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