When 'Rape' Isn't Rape

To the Editors of The Crimson:

"Forcible rape.' It takes a while to get used to that phrase," writes Ghita Schwartz (October 16). "What's rape when it isn't forcible? There's statutory rape, there's acquaintance rape, there's male rape, but rape is always `forcible."

Pardon me, but a lot of high school sweethearts would take exception. "Statutory rape" is a label applied to any sexual intercourse--consensual or not--with a woman under 18. Any man who had a sexually active relationship at this age is a statutory rapist. (Yes, that includes even magical moonlit nights after the junior prom.)

To equate all teenage sex with forcible rape isn't feminist, but Falwellian. Schwartz should be more careful. Andrew Sabl '90