"Liberal Education" spoke with two higher education policy experts on what they expect and hope for from the Biden administration. Viviann Anguiano is an associate director for postsecondary education at the Center for American Progress. Eric R. Felix is an assistant professor at San Diego State University, specializing in higher…

Lauds the efforts of those involved in the international conference on child sexual abuse, citing a dearth of information and conflicting opinions in the field. The author supports his contention of lack of consensus by discussing reactions to Michael Jackson's child sexual abuse litigation by mental health professionals. (JPS)

States that concerns about the consensus statement of the international conference on child sexual abuse need to be directed at interpretation of the statement rather than at the statement itself. This is particularly true in view of the likely effects the statement will have on legal proceedings. (JPS)

Presents a critique of the preceding article. The article does not delve into the more technical aspects of proving and disproving the sexual abuse of children; however, it sets a feminist political context for the continuing public debate over child abuse. Theories for the current epidemic of child abuse are set forth. (JPS)

Critiques the consensus statement of an international conference on child abuse. Criticism includes lack of true interdisciplinary representation at the conference, lack of acknowledgement of the possible trauma of multiple interviews for children, and lack of a more comprehensive statement on medical examinations. (JPS)

Challenges some of the assertions made in a consensus statement by an international conference on child sexual abuse. The statement does not adequately address children who will not talk because of adult-protective behaviors and the difficulty of disclosure. (JPS)

The consensus statement of the international conference on child sexual abuse effectively supports the premise that there are truly significant areas of solid professional agreement; however, without the participation of judges, lawyers, sexual abuse survivors, or children, it is not surprising that consensus was reached. (JPS)

The statement's principle medical research recommendations address the need for a longitudinal study of the healing of anogenital injuries and for the expansion and refinement of the understanding of normal anogenital anatomy. Four areas for additional medical research are described: uniform terminology, patient triage, sexually transmitted…

Although some therapists may be uncomfortable with retaliatory feelings toward child molesters and sex offenders, in the law enforcement field it is considered a normal, healthy, and sane reaction. And although empathy may be necessary to treat the offender, professional feelings can and should be separated from personal ones. (JPS)

Discusses child sex abuse cases from a prosecutor's view with particular emphasis on the Little Rascals Day Care Center case (Edenton, NC). The author addresses issues that can lead to a successful prosecution, such as pretrial preparation and having witnesses approach the jury with clear, concise statements. (JPS)

Discusses reasons that the Little Rascals Day Care Center case (Edenton, NC) was successfully prosecuted, including picking witnesses to testify according to their verbal ability, challenging the judge's decision to try the defendants together, and keeping victims' parents informed. One prosecutor developed a "court school" to familiarize child…

Discusses potential reasons for successful prosecutions in the Little Rascals Day Care Center case (Edenton, NC), most notably how little time elapsed between the testimony of the children and the decision of the jury. Other cases around the country have not been successfully prosecuted, perhaps because of the victim testimony timing. (JPS)

Professionalism when dealing with sex offenders requires recognition of both sadistic and humanistic feelings, and management of the impact such feelings have on patient care. Multidisciplinary teams can protect against inappropriate actions resulting from positive or negative feelings toward clients or patients. (JPS)

The clinician and the sexually acting-out client each come to the therapeutic relationship as sensitive, sexual beings. Although therapists are vulnerable to negative countertransference feelings, they are also vulnerable to positive ones. Therapists should not censor or compartmentalize their thoughts and report only those perceived to be…

Examines the Little Rascals Day Care Center case (Edenton, NC) from the viewpoint of a therapist who worked with some of the children involved. The role of therapist is a difficult one in these cases as the definition of a therapist is stretched to include that of evidence-gatherer, and patient confidentiality is compromised. (JPS)