It's Time for Justice: Drop the charges vs. Duke lacrosse players

A collegiate fumble
by ALEX LEKAS, Up & Coming Weekly, October 25-31, 2006

David Evans, Collin Finnerty, and Reade Seligmann played the wrong sport at the wrong school. Imagine how much less complicated their lives would have been as, say, on the football team at a school such as ... oh, how about Miami, instead of lacrosse players at Duke. Pardon, ex-lacrosse players. And ex-Duke students, for that matter.

As football players, their university president would have defended them as "young men of great character," ignoring the fact that they had committed crimes on live television. Their president would have been resolute in telling the assembled media, "I will not hang them in the public square; I will not take away their scholarships. It's time for the feeding frenzy to stop."

Duke President Richard Broadhead*, of course, said nothing of the kind, choosing the politically expedient route and throwing the players, their coach, and the entire lacrosse program under the bus as a sacrifice to the gods of racial and gender sensitivity. The three, after all, are white boys who grew up in affluence and were attending a snobby university where they played a preppy sport. It would be difficult to come up with a less sympathetic bunch. They were further tainted by the fact that the allegations of sexual assault came from a black woman. A single mother, to boot, the dominant badge of honor of our time. As the feminists have always told us, no woman would make up a rape allegation. As the race hustlers continue to tell us, pimpin' ain't easy.

The quotes above are from Miami President Donna Shalala, who tried to defend the honor of the football team and the university in the wake of the riot that interrupted the Hurricanes game with Florida International. What she succeeded in engineering was perhaps the best whitewashing job Tom Sawyer's picket fence caper. She defended the one-game suspensions to 12 players as adequate, suspensions that ironically enough meant the Dirty Dozen sat out last week's game against Duke.

The ivory tower of academia remains a living contradiction where pointyheads talk the talk about high-minded ideals but seldom walk the walk. Broadhead tosses away bedrock principles like due process and the presumption of innocence when they become politically inconvenient. Shalala rationalizes criminal behavior that is caught on camera, sanctimoniously refusing to take serious action "for instant restoration of our image or our reputation."

I have news for you, Donna. Miami's image as Thug U dates back to the Jimmy Johnson era in the '80s. The new zero tolerance policy on athletes who fight isn't going to change that. The directive does not make either you or the institution look serious and decisive. It makes you look arbitrary and pretentious, holding the diving and softball teams hostage to the mentality of the football program.

In their respective corners, Evans, Finnerty, and Seligmann must be shaking their heads. Their lives are forever stained by an accusation that looks flimsier by the moment. While the trio's legal case may be strengthened by video showing their accuser dancing within days of the alleged assault, regardless of where they finish college, the whispers and sideward glances will follow them to graduation and beyond. And unlike the Miami 12, their playing days are through.

During his fall convocation speech to incoming Dukies, Broadhead made reference to civil liberties, respect, and civility, tenets that carried some weight in the day when a liberal arts education did not invoke negative connotations. He preached the gospel of inclusion, mutual support, and engagement, leaving out how none of the above had a place during the signature moment of his tenure, a time Broadhead referred to as "a great trouble."

While acknowledging that the episode raised questions about responsible student behavior and acceptable conduct, the Duke President also made clear that it was not his job alone to answer them, calling on students to bring forth any "experience collectively imagining how to define and implement a good society." Presumably, that society does not include the chance to defend one's self and reputation against serious charges; it does not require thinking when knee-jerk, simplistic reactions will suffice; and, it no longer includes institutions of higher learning as places that can be taken seriously.

Like many universities, Miami and Duke both cloak themselves in the principles of highbrow mottos: 'Knowledge and Religion' in Durham, 'Great is the Truth' in Coral Gables. Perhaps another saying is more appropriate for each: 'tough times don't build character, they reveal it.'

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=1147&dept_id=483434&newsid=17375046&PAG=461&rfi=9

* Poor guy can't get his name spelled right half the time.

Mr. Williams also donated money to Nifong.
Ain't that sweet?

The fact that Butch Williams supports Nifong makes me want to throw up. I don't know how he can look himself in the mirror.

I see the dumbing-down of America enthusiasts have a bastion of participants in Durham.

Good grief.

It's disgusting that 34% of whites intend to vote for Liefong. I expected that of blacks because they don't care about innocence, they just want to hang some white boys.

You didn't hear it from me. They are NAACP/Joyner followers solidly entrenched in the racist rat plantation, and will follow marching orders. Not one has revealed an original thought on this case except Coleman.

And being unable to reply in substance JLS surrenders the field.

"It seems to be unfortunate that the man is being judged for a lifetime job on one set of facts,"

This guy's a lawyer? On the basis of this argument "Free Jeffrey Skilling". After all he was in a position of authority and only screwed up big time just once. And while we're at it let's bring back Dan Rather.

Yeah well they hate rich Yankees.

From Durhamwonderland: Baldwin's Significance

Just when the anger subsides, I am reminded of some of the things this University did to these boys and how it should be held to account. For the sake of Duke and Durham, justice must be done here. Brodhead and Peter Woods should resign at a minimum.

I often wonder what would have happened had the prestigious University put all of its efforts into demanding due process, rather than caving to the PC (and dare I say racist?) professors and media.

Don't even get me started on Nifong and Durham LE.

http://www.dukechronicle.com/media/storage/paper884/news/2006/10/26/News/Candidates.For.Da.Reach.Homestretch-2403931.shtml?norewrite200610261022&sourcedomain=www.dukechronicle.com
Candidates for DA reach homestretch
With election near, money, endorsements become focus

Candidates for DA reach homestretch
With election near, money, endorsements become focus

Shreya Rao, The Chronicle, 10/26/06

With fewer than 15 days until the hotly contested district attorney election, Charlotte Woods,
co-chair of The Committee to Elect Steve Monks, spent Tuesday evening in the emergency
room getting some much needed rest, she said.

"I've been putting in 120-hour weeks," Woods said, adding that she is suffering from carpal
tunnel syndrome from posting too many campaign signs.

In the Nov. 7 election, District Attorney Mike Nifong faces County Commissioner Lewis Cheek
and Steve Monks, chair of the Durham County Republican Party and an official write-in candidate.

To date, Woods estimates that Monks' campaign has raised close to $20,000, all of which has
been collected from private donors.

"We don't have the big money the old boys have," she said, noting that all members of the
Monks campaign team are volunteers.

Woods speculated, however, that "individual wealthy Republicans" may help boost campaign
funding, allowing Monks to advertise on television and radio in the future as well.

Cheek, who said he would decline the office if he collected the most votes, is not campaigning
but will continue to make public appearances to encourage voters to "do what they think is right."

"Voters need to reach decisions for themselves," he said. "Let that be reflected in the way they vote."

Though Cheek said he is not affiliated with the group, he noted that Recall Nifong-Vote Cheek
has been organizing events and advertisements to endorse his candidacy.

Nevertheless, Cheek said he plans on voting for himself come election day. Cheek added that
because the write-in candidate's name appears nowhere on the ballot, Monks is at a severe disadvantage.

"Our number-one focus is getting out the name," Woods said. "We've got to educate [voters] as to
who Steve Monks is, why he's running and how you get him elected."

Woods said Monks has been advertising in newspapers and speaking to community members
at various events, including local churches.

Representatives from Nifong's campaign office were unavailable for comment.

Michael Gillespie, acting chair of the Department of Political Science and director of the
Gerst Program in Political, Economic and Humanistic Studies, said money alone may
not be the most important factor in predicting the outcome of the election.

"Durham elections are typically decided by endorsements," he said.

Gillespie added that it was significant that the Durham Committee on the Affairs
of Black People endorsed Nifong.

"The general goal of local campaigns is to get the core constituency out," he said.
"If most students go out and vote, it will make a big difference because usually they don't."

Though some students said they have not had time to consider the positions of the candidates,
they plan to do more research before they vote.

Others noted the strong presence of anti-Nifong campaigning.

"Everything is anti-Nifong," said junior Dan Vincent, pointing to wristbands supporting the
lacrosse team worn by many students and anti-Nifong Facebook groups.

* Vote at the one-stop stations now, and you don't have to wait in line on election Tuesday.

""I've been putting in 120-hour weeks," Woods said, adding that she is suffering from carpal
tunnel syndrome from posting too many campaign signs."
Now that's funny. I can't see any reason for Monks to continue on unless he is actually trying to help Nifong.

The anti-Liefong people should go take the Monks signs down, or put one next to it stating that a vote for Monks is a vote for Liefong.

Mmmm...mightfindone of Willie Drewery's many, many ads for dancers in the back of the Indy.

God knows, he has has them all over the country.

When I said transferring was a type of "cut and run" policy, I was not referring to mounting an army and marching into Durham but, of course, you knew that. What I meant was that staying at the school and fighting for change instead of making it someone else's problem is a lot more courageous in my book than transferring.
I still don't think you get it when it comes to today's colleges. Not everyone wants to or is suited to go to Hillsdale. My children were not. Duke is a fine university with exceptional faculty and 88 exceptions. Do you think I'm happy about my alma mater still employing Ward Churchill? Hardly! But would it solve the problem if all the students left CU? Hardly! All that does is punish the remaining faculty, the students and the employees of the school.
LB is right, also , in that there are lines around the block to go to a school like Duke. the year my son was excepted they took about 2100 out of about 26,000 applications. We could take our ball and go home, yes, but what on earth good would that do? It reminds me of the people who state here on FR regularly that they aren't going to vote because the Republicans haven't been doing x or y. Great! so you want Democrats then? It sounds strong to "stand on principle" but often it's just pointless.

LB, are you attending Professor KC Johnson's talk tonight at the Bryan Center?

October 26, 2006
ACLU at Duke panel tonight
Posted at 10:06 PM by Jon Ham

I attended the panel sponsored by ACLU at Duke tonight at the Bryan Center. Prof. K.C. Johnson was brilliant, as expected. Man, that is one smart guy. Can he defend the lacrosse players if it comes to trial? He’d do a great job. Larry Holt of the Durham Human Relations Commission was also on the panel, as was the impressive Stephen Miller, executive director of the Duke Conservative Union. I also got to meet blogger John in Carolina, and spoke with Prof. Steven Baldwin, who wrote that great letter to the Duke Chronicle two days ago.

I was going to blog at length about the evening but with the World Series on one channel and the Hurricanes on another, I just haven’t been able to gather my thoughts. Let me just say that the guy who took it on the chin, other than Durham DA Mike Nifong, of course, was Duke President Richard Brodhead. I didn’t hear a kind word for the man all night. Oh, wait. Yeah, I did. The ACLU moderator said he heard Brodhead urge a hate-filled crowd last-spring to withhold their judgement on the lacrosse team. Boy, that’s leadership. More tomorrow.

http://triangle.johnlocke.org/blog/

It will be up to the Duke academicians to take a stance. It will not come from the administration. That is the cleaner way. As spokespersons, in a sense, for Duke, they will provide the public face of Duke; a face that Duke cannot present formally without jeopardizing other Duke (necessary) allegiances. Right, wrong or indifferent, that is JMHO. Politics: neither pure nor simple.