Posted on 10/01/2006 1:40:53 AM PDT by abb
must read...
http://friendsofdukeuniversity.blogspot.com/2006/05/letters-from-friends-2.html#c115980977683699993
Good stuff. Thanks, abb.
I think the treatment of Elmostafa has to be the lowest, dirtiest thing Nifong and Gottlieb have done with the exception of the actual prosecution of the 3 boys.
How long is Nifong going to get away with this crap? I guess as long as the judges and the system there allow it to. Is there any word from the defense lately?
Napoleon type.
Nothing new that I have seen. I'm anxious to see if my letter to the Justice Department will cause any commotion...
It's standard procedure with prosecutors.
It may be standard in NC, but it isn't generally standard. I worked in a large county prosecutor's office for 32 years, and I never saw anything remotely close to this occur.
It would be better if it had been written by a Duke student or somebody from voter registration. Excellent letter, though.
If one never wants their children to be exposed to anything that is not perfect, then they had better keep them locked up.... forever. In life, you take the bad with the good - and there is plenty of good at Duke. As with anything, it's a learning situation. To be honest, I sincerely doubt most of the students are aware of or could care less about this (the non-voter registration incident). They are too busy getting an education. And quite frankly, they are smart enough to know that this is a blip in their history. Somebody doesn't let you register to vote in one place, you go to another. Simple. Any student who wants to vote in Durham will. Someone who is only registering because the booth is at the stadium and it's easy will likely not make it to the polling place anyway. (JMHO) Now, does it seem outrageous that this happened. Yes. But it's not the end of the world. Take a lesson. Move on. My student will come out of Duke earning 6 figures with a 3 billion $/year company. That's why we go to Duke, honestly; not to vote.
I agree the primary reason someone goes to Duke is for the education. That's why we all go to college. What's going on with the lacrosse situation is in the background for most students but I don't think that means they shouldn't care at all. One of the reasons Nifong seems to be going forward with this prosecution is because the defendants are Duke students - with "rich daddies". That's pretty disturbing. If this were happening at my school I'd be interested.
Beyond that, the DPD seems to have a departmental policy in effect to treat Duke students differently and more harshly than others. That wouldn't sit well with me either.
I am suspect there are students who are interested. How much of their personal time they are willing to devote to making change happen? Who knows. Particularly when this is a localized problem. During my college days, the Vietnam War was the cause celebre. Daily protests, administrative tribunals, you name it. But that was an event that was going to follow us beyond college. Quite frankly, this won't follow the majority of the Duke students. Do I think it's right for them to turn a blind eye to what's happening? No. But I can understand it. That is why it is imperative for those of us who have the time and desire to keep this case in the forefront do so. I can understand that you, as a law student, would have an interest in this case. It does perplex me that we have not heard more from Duke Law.
I meant to say: "I suspect that there are Duke students who are interested."
My next cause celebre is to add an "Edit" function to this board! :)
I'm surprised we haven't heard more from the law students too. The faculty, except for James Coleman, seems to be MIA too. Erwin Chemerinsky, who used to be at my alma mater and has never been shy about standing up for civil liberties, has developed laryngitis or something.
Generally students just like to do their work, socialize and blow off steam. That's what I did and I can understand that. I would hope they occasionally think about this situation though. You can learn alot when the "real world" intrudes upon college life.
"I'm surprised we haven't heard more from the law students too"
Especially after Darryl Hunt spoke to the incoming class of 2007.
I guess the lesson didn't take.
(For that matter, where is Darryl Hunt, and why is he silent?)
I agree. The silence of the law faculty and law students is disturbing. Has the rot of political correctness taken such a deep hold that they are reluctant to even speak up for their fellow alums.
mark
Perhaps they fear DPD and don't want to make matters worse for Duke students.... a sad commentary, but not one out of the realm of possibility. After all, fear is how Nifong operates. Perhaps they feel the best course of action for the time being is to try to get rid of the asshat (can I say that?) under the radar. Then, if that doesn't work, more overt actions may become necessary.
I hope you are right, but methinks that the Duke Administration and Faculty support Nifong, and delight in the ruination of white males, in greater numbers than you think. The stories I heard were unbelievable -- including one from a neighbor (also an alum) at a conference last spring that the public affairs officer at the law school stating that he told a prospective student that he could not guarantee their daughter's safety from other Duke students. The only time we will hear from the faculty is if the students are convicted, and you will hear the sound of gloating.
The fundamental disconnect is when COach K stated that Duke was in the "kid business." Few faculty share that view. Most do not view their mission as the education of young men and women, but rather activism and prestige among the professoriate. How many faculty members do you think rank teaching their students as one of their 5 or so principle functions? Brodhead's attitude is based upon students being expendable and a burden to his primary missions, which is fundraising and placating way-too-influential faculty.
I love Duke, but this situation gets no better until we get a new President and Administration dedicated to educating students and weeding out narcissistic faculty.
" Perhaps they feel the best course of action for the time being is to try to get rid of the asshat (can I say that?) under the radar. Then, if that doesn't work, more overt actions may become necessary."
Don't they read about the '60s? Believe me, being silent and acting like a victim doesn't help. And there are ways of getting the Admin and the town to sit up and take notice.
A few simple pointers :
Wear T-shirts with a message to class and around the campus. That's a good non-violent protest. (How about one that says, "They're innocent! Don't keep silent!") Even one person in a class wearing that, gets attention.
Wear the wristbands.
A couple of dozen students at the court house getting in the face of the cameras and press, and demanding to know why the coverage is so biased and anti-student, and anti-defense,
etc., will help. Flyers should be prepared already with a list of when and where the press has failed in its duty to report the news, and with URLS where they can find the truth; even reprints from Liestoppers. Make yourselves part of the story. (i.e., "The whole world is watching!" Let them know you'll be reporting on their news reports, watching for bias and errors.)
I wonder what Dave Evans' advise would be to those on the DUKE campus who are unconcerned about voting and the affect it may or may not have on their 6 figure salaries at billion dollar companies.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.