Using independent reviewers, thernteam had the more ambiguous 256rncases checked out. The team also examinedrnpolice files from two major citiesrnfor data from nonmilitary sources. Bothrnstudies validated the 27 percent falsernallegation rate. In fact, the rate for therntwo sample cities was even higher. Furtherrncorroboration occurred in a 1991/92rnsurvey of seven Washington, D.C., arearnjurisdictions. Using F.B.I, standards,rninvestigators found that of 1,842 rapernreports 439, or 24 percent, could not bernsubstantiated.rnF.B.I, standards themselves may producernunrealistically small numbers, thernsource of many statements that “only”rnnine percent of rape accusations are falsernor unfounded. Warren Farrell, whornchecked into the F.B.I.’s procedures, reportsrnthat the Bureau “knows the numberrnof women who reported they werernraped, but not whether the rapist wasrnfound guilty or innocent. In 47 percentrnof the cases, the alleged rapist has notrneven been identified or found, or if hernhas been found, there was insufficientrnevidence to arrest him. The remainingrn53 percent were arrested, but the F.B.I,rndoesn’t receive data as to whether theyrnwere eventually found guilty or innocent.rnIn brief, as far as the F.B.I, knows, thernpercentage of false accusations overallrncould be anywhere from zero to 100 percent.”rnEven so, the feminist belief that rapernaccusers never lie continues to shapernpopular perceptions and governmentrnpolicy. Alan Dershowitz, one of thernwomen’s movement’s most devotedrnfriends, has nevertheless challenged thernbelief, making a point that should, outsidernof the ideological hardcore, win generalrnagreement. “We simply must findrnout the truth about this vexing phenomenon,”rnhe said. “Too many zealotsrnhave too much of a stake in minimizingrn—or even denying—the problem ofrnfalse rape reports.” Dershowitz shouldrnknow something about zealotry fromrnpersonal experience. When he suggestedrnin class that some rape accusationsrnmight be false, a group of feminist studentsrnthreatened him with a charge ofrn”hostile environment” sexual harassment.rn-Frank ZepezauerrnOBITER DICTA: Look for Chroniclesrnat the following bookstores in Colorado:rnBoulder Book Store, 1107 PearlrnStreet in Boulder; Lakewood Newsland,rn660IB W. Colfax Avenue in Lakewood;rnSouthwest Newsland, 5066 S. WadsworthrnBoulevard in Littleton; and MediarnPlay, Citadel Crossing Shopping Centerrnin Colorado Springs.rnWe would like to announce that thisrnyear’s John Randolph Club meeting, onrn”The American Identity,” will be heldrnfrom October 21 to 23 at the CrystalrnCity Marriott, 1999 Jefferson DavisrnHighway, in Arlington, Virginia 22202-rn3564. The Crystal City Marriott is locatedrnnear Washington National Airportrndirectly atop the Crystal City Metro station.rnHotel rooms (for which John RandolphrnClub attendees are entitled to arnspecial rate of $85, single or double) mayrnbe reserved before September 30 by callingrnMarriott’s toll-free number, (800)rn228-9290. Reservations for the conferencernitself should be made with BurtrnBlumert of the Center for LibertarianrnStudies; Crown Building; 875 MahlerrnRoad, Suite 150; Burlingame, CA 94010;rntelephone (415) 692-8456. The registrationrnfee is $250 (annual dues included),rnbut early birds who get their checksrnto Mr. Blumert by September 30 payrnonly $225. For more information, pleasernsee the advertisement on page 11.rnFinally, the Center of North AmericanrnStudies at the University of Alcala dernHenares has issued a call for articles onrnany aspect of American Studies—^literature,rnhistory, anthropology, economics,rnpolitics, popular culture, etc.—for itsrnSpanish Journal of North AmericanrnStudies, REDEN {Revista Espanola dernEstudios Norteamericanos). Manuscripts,rnin either Spanish or English, may be sentrnto Jose Antonio Curpegui; Centro dernEstudios Norteamericanos; Universidadrnde Alcala de Henares; c/o Libreros, 13;rn28801 Alcala de Henares, Madrid, Spain.rnrnRoses For the National Galleryrn(Dedicated to Douglas W. Reynolds)rnby Harold McCurdyrnPamela Harrison to J. Carter Brown:rn”Here’s a gift of some roses by Vincent van Gogh.rnHe got not a sou for them, but Christie’s might knockrnAt a proper auction the man’s canvas downrnFor a cool 50 million and not cause a shockrnTo the uprightest Cato in town. For what would a Senator carernWhat happened to Vincent at Aries or Auvers?rn”The roses are white, new-fallen-snow-white. No blood or sexrnDisturbs the cool green of the leaves in the squat yellow pot.rnHung in the East Wing they’d attract quite a lotrnOf favorable attention from those one respects—rnPeople who have taste, and money, and plenty of schlock,rnAs was never the case with Vincent van Cogh,”rn8/CHRONICLESrnrnrn