[Law is not justice but process]

"In reality, most college students have little or no connection (unless in a community service way) with the communities in which they live."

I agree that Duke exists in isolation from Durham. I was a student or instructor at Duke for 11 years. From 1987 to 1998, I lived right off campus in the grad student slums. Dukies went to Chapel Hill for a night out, or partied on campus. They (and I) were generally afraid to wander east of Markham.

That is DEFINITELY not true at other universities I have been affiliated with. At Clemson the University and the town are one. The same at Chapel Hill, Athens, even N.C. State to some extent. Georgia Tech in Atlanta has more ties to the community than Duke. Duke is an extreme example of the ivory tower. Nothing about how Duke handled this case surprises me. They have always been willfully blind tot he hijinks that happen on campus until something makes the University look bad. That is the only time they will act.

Duke could have handled this well. They could have said from the outset that the suspension of the season was for the admitted stripper party. Instead they left the definite impression the suspension was the result of an as-of-yet unproven allegation of rape. The fact is, they probably would have done nothing had they found out about the stripper party through other channels. They only acted because it was in the press. Shoot, worse things happen in Krysiewskiville while students are waiting for basketball tickets. As long as there are no reporters there, no harm no foul.

Typical Duke.

[Neverforget01]

I found this very enlightening. I was at a loss as to how Nifong could get elected. Forgive me if this has been posted before, but it's worth a listen imo.

JuanWilliams

[Dukie07]

Perhaps because my college situation was the same as Duke's, I made an assumption. I went to Stanford, and we had much the same relationship with East Palo Alto that Duke has with Durham. It is my understanding from friends that the Yale/New Haven situation is the same.

I agree that there is a serious drinking problem at Duke - but from what I hear and read, it is a problem that affects colleges/universities across the nation.

I do agree with your assessment of what would have happened had there been no "cry of rape."