Unconstitutional Charges

Some Neanderthal politicians in Richmond are trying to keep Virginia's anti-same sex laws on the books through legislative sleights of hand, but none will pass muster with the clear equal rights standard established by the Supreme Court. In this context, it remains to be seen if the choice of the specific charges brought against Marino was based on some political or ideological motive by Prince William prosecutors.

We share and are keenly attuned to the heartfelt grief that has swept over the entire Falls Church community over the arrest last week on charges of sexual involvement with a minor against one of the school system's most esteemed and cherished teachers. While the charge of "indecent liberties with a minor" is serious, guilt or innocence of Mr. Marino will be discerned through the impending court fight. In the meantime, he has the presumption of innocence until proven otherwise.

But not only does this presumption of innocence apply to Mr. Marino, so does much more. Almost everyone familiar with what's gone on at George Mason High School over the past decade knows that Mr. Marino was clearly among the premier "impact" instructors of the institution's entire history. Having covered events and lives of students at this high school over the entire decade of Mr. Marino's involvement there, this newspaper is fully aware of the universal appreciation all the students held for him: Not just the drama students, but all the students who were beneficiaries of his attentive, caring, kind and laughter-filled personality and skill. Under Mr. Marino, for example, there was no hint of the common adolescent cultural antipathy separating drama "types" from jocks. On the contrary, Mr. Marino successfully persuaded many a jock to play leading roles in his beloved plays and musicals.

We are truly concerned about whatever lasting harm was allegedly perpetrated on the under-aged former student in question. But beyond that, we care greatly for the enduring harm to hundreds if not thousands of students, current and future, caused not so much by any trauma associated with the particular charges (most students are more resilient and capable of coping with human fallibility than they're often given credit for), as by prospect of the students' potential loss of access to Mr. Marino's enormous talents.