Campus Culture Defense Didn’t Save Former Vandy Football Players From Rape Conviction

Updated 10:00 pm

Defense attorneys for two former Vanderbilt football players are vowing to appeal the convictions of their clients on charges of rape and sexual assault. They’re also sticking to their argument that campus culture played into a dorm room rape in June of 2013.

Jurors had already seen the cell phone video, and Cory Batey all but admitted on the stand that he did it. He just said he was too drunk to know what was going on. His attorney – Worrick Robinson – stands behind his argument that a campus culture of binge drinking and casual sex led to the incident.

“Cory knows right from wrong,” he said. “But I think the lifestyle, it was just too easy of a flow to get into.”

The attorney for Brandon Vandenburg made a similar defense. The jury didn’t buy it, said deputy district attorney Tom Thurman.

“I don’t know how culture can be blamed on raping, assaulting and urinating on a victim,” Thurman said.

Vanderbilt issued a statement within the hour of the verdict, saying the evidence is “profoundly disturbing and utterly unacceptable” and that the university is continuing efforts to raise awareness about sexual violence on campus.

After a lengthy trial, jurors deliberated just three hours. Both former football players were convicted on all counts of rape and sexual assault. Their attorneys say they could face 15 to 25 years in prison. Their parents broke down in the courtroom, even sobbing as the verdict was read.

Two other players were charged in the incident but have yet to stand trial.