Duquesne University Officials Unhappy With John Grisham

Posted on February 2, 2009

Duquesne University officials are very unhappy with bestselling author John Grisham. Grisham's new book, The Associate, mentions a fictional gang rape that happened on the Duquesne University campus in Pittsburgh and officials are worried that it sullies the university's reputation.

Duquesne University spokeswoman Rose Ravasio said in a statement, "As would any institution, we think it's unfortunate that he chose to use our name and associate it with a fictional incident of this nature."

Grisham said in an email to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: "It was not my intent or desire to embarrass Duquesne University or make anyone there feel uncomfortable. This is a fictional story that takes place off the campus."

The gang rape is actually based on a real rape incident that happened at the University of Virginia. A former student admitted in 2005 that he raped someone twenty years ago. No doubt the University of Virginia officials are thrilled that he didn't mention their school.