Act 'Cash'es in on morals
Campus Times
October 2, 1998
If David Cash had reported Jeremy Strohmeyer, Sherrice Iverson might
be alive today. Any morally responsible human being would feel the need
to report a crime, although, unfortunately, not all human beings have ethical
standards.
Because of those individuals alone, Wednesday, Sept. 9, Democratic Rep.
Nick Lampson proposed a bill named the Sherrice Iverson Act in which states
receiving funds under section 106 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment
Act must "have in effect a State law providing for a criminal penalty
on an individual who fails to report witnessing another individual engaging
in sexual abuse of a child."
Strohmeyer sexually assaulted and murdered 7-year-old Iverson in a Nevada
casino hotel rest room stall. Strohmeyer's best friend, Cash, witnessed
Strohmeyer kidnapping Iverson. Cash followed them into the rest room, peered
over the toilet stall and saw Strohmeyer restrain Iverson with one hand
and muffle her screams with the other. Cash attempted to stop his friend,
gave up and walked out of the rest room. Depending on who tells the story,
Cash may or may not have seen much more.
The point is, Cash admitted to having witnessed part of this attack
and did nothing more than ask his friend to stop. Cash could have prevented
this tragic death by informing someone of authority. Strohmeyer will receive
a mild punishment and Cash got off scot free. Cash's reply: "I just
worry about myself first. I'm not going to lose sleep over somebody else's
problems." Cash also told "60 Minutes" on Sunday night, "I
don't feel there is much I could have done differently."
Cash is now attending the University of California, Berkeley, with nothing
but a bad name and demonstrators urging the administration to expel him.
But they cannot do anything about it because it is not against the law in
Nevada, nor California, to fail to report or stop a crime.
Hopefully, Cash would have no chance of survival at the University of
La Verne, where morals and good character are considered necessary assets.
Students at Berkeley are outraged and do not want Cash associated with their
school. Who can blame them? Unfortunately, nothing can be done at this point.
The Sherrice Iverson Act should be passed by Congress and enforced so people
with little social responsibility are forced to use good judgement.
