Students walk past the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity house in Virginia where the alleged rape is said to have occurred. Picture: Jay Paul/Getty Images/AFP. Source: AFP

In late November, the lauded magazine published the real life story of Jackie — a 20-year-old student who claimed to have suffered a brutal gang rape at one of America’s most prestigious universities.

The confession touched a nerve and reverberated around the country with protests held and investigations launched about how such a thing could happen. But shortly after it broke, cracks began to appear.

First, Rolling Stone admitted they failed to corroborate the story, then those named denied key elements of it. Now, it’s descended into a public furore over stereotypes, victim blaming, media ethics and whether the rape really happened at all. Here’s what you need to know:

The fraternity house refuted elements of Jackie’s story. Picture: Jay Paul/Getty Images/AFP Source: AFP

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

The saga started on November 19 when Rolling Stone went to press with a 9000 word account of ‘Jackie’ by journalist Sabrina Rubin Erdely, about a 20-year-old first year student who detailed what she said was a brutal rape by seven men at a fraternity part at the University of Virginia.

MORE: Read the full Rolling Stone article here

The article was a bombshell. It rocked a campus already reeling from the death of an 18-year-old British woman and touched on the hot-button issue of sexual violence and young adults — particularly where alcohol and fraternities are involved. It also portrayed the school as a place where authorities were more concerned with protecting their image than justice for victims.

The school quickly reacted by suspending fraternity and sorority life until January and held meetings with students and teachers. Formal investigations were launched, protests held and classrooms filled with debate.

The issue has touched a nerve in the US where it’s estimated one in five college students are raped. Pictured, cans litter the ground outside the frat house. Picture: Jay Paul/Getty Images/AFP Source: AFP

DOUBTS CREEPING IN

But shortly after it was published, cracks began to appear.

The fraternity, Phi Kappa Psi, rejected her account saying they didn’t even have a party the night the alleged rape is said to have occurred. They also said another element of the story — that Jackie knew one of their members from working at the Fitness Centre — couldn’t be true as none of their members worked at the centre.

The fraternity issued a statement saying: “No ritualised sexual assault is part of our pledging or initiation process. This notion is vile, and we vehemently refute this claim”.

“We continue to be shocked by the allegations and saddened by this story. We have no knowledge of these alleged acts being committed at our house or by our members. Anyone who commits any form of sexual assault, wherever or whenever, should be identified and brought to justice.”

The case has rocked a campus already reeling over the death of another student. Picture: Jay Paul/Getty Images/AFP. Source: AFP

It also emerged that Rolling Stone had never actually contacted the men accused to corroborate Jackie’s version of events. They said this was to honour her request on a sensitive subject, but faced a major backlash for failing to verify allegations before publishing.

Further digging by The Washington Post, which included interviews with Jackie and her friends, found that some thought the details of the incident had changed over time. One friend, Alex Pinkleton, who has survived rape and attempted rape on campus herself told The Post she felt misled on the subject.

“One of my biggest fears with these inconsistencies emerging is that people will be unwilling to believe survivors in the future,” she said.

“However, we need to remember that the majority of survivors who come forward are telling the truth.”

A University of Virginia student looks over postings relating to the rape allegations. Picture: AP Photo/Steve Helber. Source: AP

ROLLING STONE FORCED TO APOLOGISE

The magazine was forced to issue an apology for the story saying: “In the face of new information, there now appear to be discrepancies in Jackie’s account, and we have come to the conclusion that our trust in her was misplaced.”

While editor Will Dana didn’t say what the new information was, he said they had good reason to believe the story was accurate at the time.

“We published the article with the firm belief that it was accurate. Given all of these reports, however, we have come to the conclusion that we were mistaken in honouring Jackie’s request to not contact the alleged assaulters to get their account,” he wrote.

“We were trying to be sensitive to the unfair shame and humiliation many women feel after a sexual assault and now regret the decision to not contact the alleged assaulters to get their account.”

“These mistakes are on Rolling Stone, not on Jackie. We apologise to anyone who was affected by the story and we will continue to investigate the events of that evening.”

A few postings on the door of Peabody Hall over the allegations. Picture: AP Photo/Steve Helber. Source: AP

SO IS IT TRUE?

Jackie herself has stuck by the story, telling The Washington Postshe never asked for the attention.

“What bothers me is that so many people act like it didn’t happen. It’s my life. I have had to live with the fact that it happened — every day for the last two years,” she said.

University of Virginia’s project co-ordinator for sexual misconduct, policy and prevention Emily Renda said she believes the claims as befits her role as an advocate.

“I didn’t and don’t question Jackie’s credibility because that is not my role. Rolling Stone played adjudicator, investigator and advocate — and did a slipshod job at that,” she said.

“We still have to build a culture of support and reporting so that justice can be done right and survivors can find healing. Rolling Stone has run roughshod over years of advocacy, over fairness and justice, and ultimately, over Jackie.”

But others have questioned parts of the account where Jackie says her friends urged her not to go to the police.

“That was unbelievable,” Devon Navon, a first-year student from Los Angeles, said last week. “Anyone I’ve met wouldn’t do that.”

“I couldn’t comprehend that behaviour,” said Grant Fowler, a second-year student from Burke, Virginia. “No one I know would do that. I couldn’t understand how you could care so little about a person you call a friend.”

Protesters changed outside the fraternity over the university’s reaction to the story. Picture: AP Photo/The Daily Progress, Ryan M. Kelly. Source: AP

Others marched along University Avenue in Virginia. Picture: AP Photo/The Daily Progress, Ryan M. Kelly. Source: AP

WHY DOES EVERYONE CARE SO MUCH?

For some, the reason the story gained so much traction is that it struck the nerve of sexual violence at universities which has become a major issue in the US.

The White House has recently launched a national campaign on the issue and estimates one in five college students are raped, with only about 12 per cent reported.

The University of Virginia is also one of 90 schools facing investigation over allegations of sex crimes by the US Education Department.

For others, it highlights a massive failing by Rolling Stone for not checking the story and demonstrates how easy it is to buy into stereotypes. Advocates fear it could undermine years of progress when it comes to treatment of victims.

Since the scandal, the university has said it will address culture, student behaviour and physical safety like lighting, CCTV and training for students as well as response to incidents. University President Teresa A Sullivan said she was “committed to a fearless examination of our culture and practices.” Police are also investigating.

Tommy Reid, right, the president of the University of Virginia’s Inter-Fraternity Council said the story made him “sick to my stomach” Picture: AP Photo/Steve Helber. Source: AP

WHAT’S THE LATEST?

Debate around the story has lit up on social media and perhaps inevitably, things have turned nasty.

Blogger Charles C Johnson revealed the real identity of Jackie and posted photographs after threatening her to come clean over the story.

Three friends referred to in the article have also spoken to The Washington Post saying “it didn’t happen that way at all” and they urged Jackie to go the police after the incident. They also said other claims didn’t add up and the version they heard differed to what was printed in the article.

“If she was acting on the night of September 28, 2012, then she deserves an Oscar,” said one.

The issue is now in the hands of US politicians grappling to find a better way for universities to handle sexual assaults, as reports rose 50 per cent from 2009 to 2012.

While the truth of the story is yet to be known, senators have voiced concerns the whole saga could become a reason not to believe victims when they come forward.

What do you think of the Rolling Stone rape saga? Continue the conversation on Twitter @NewscomauHQ