http://www.heraldsun.com/opinion/hsletters/
wo reasons why Nifong should drop rape case
Two reasons why District Attorney Mike Nifong should drop the case against the Duke lacrosse players: 1) They may be libertines and stupid for putting themselves in such a compromising position, but they are clearly not guilty of rape and/or assault; and 2) The heavy criticism he continues to receive over his intransigence will give other DAs pause when actual victims make similar accusations.
Two reasons why he won't: 1) He forlornly hopes that by some miracle he'll get a guilty verdict and thus save face; 2) By dragging it out to its inevitable conclusion he wreaks both debilitating and financial havoc upon the accused and their families. Terrible thing, being labeled a sex offender. Innocent or guilty, you're pretty much toast.
David Highlands
St. Petersburg, Fla.
November 20, 2006
Here I am
In response to Dock Terrell's question, [Letters, Nov. 13], this neo-con is down on her knees praying that the Duke lacrosse players receive a fair trial and that our courageous young soldiers did not die in vain.
Paula Mann
Durham
November 20, 2006
Read the record
In response to Laura Blasberg's Nov. 12 letter, the following is an excerpt from Blasberg's personal profile posted at her employer's, a New York law firm, Web site:
"Blasberg's a director of Take Back the News, a charitable organization that confronts the misrepresentation and under representation of sexual assault in mainstream media with the goal of improving both the quantity and quality of media coverage of sexual assault."
Perhaps Blasberg should read all of MSM's (mainstream media's) coverage on the Duke lacrosse case. She will find that the quantity and quality of the reporting in support of the alleged victim in this case has been immense. For months, both local and national media were falling all over each other to report on the alleged atrocities perpetrated upon the alleged victim, completely disregarding the accused's. Only after scientific and medical evidence, witness statements, police reports and the accuser's own varying statements were made public, did MSM begin to question and report on the veracity of this case.
One of the many ironies in this case is that the prosecution, not the defense, seems to be resorting to smoke and mirrors since evidence hoped for didn't materialize.
BETH BREWER
Durham
November 20, 2006
Off-East complaints see sharp drop
With Duke's purchase of 12 houses, Trinity Park residents find life quieter
Victoria Ward, The Chronicle, 11/20/06
Since the University bought 12 houses in Trinity Park, residents have reported fewer student-caused disturbances.
Instead of calling to complain about Duke students hosting loud parties, this year, Trinity Park neighbors are socializing with them.
At the beginning of the semester, senior Max Milliken and his housemates hosted a barbeque to meet their Trinity Park neighbors.
Milliken lives in one of the 12 houses purchased for $3.7 million by the University last February. According to an official statement released last year, the properties were bought in order to curb off-campus partying and improve relations between students and Trinity Park residents.
"The complaints for off campus have gone down dramatically," said Sara-Jane Raines, Duke University Police Department administrative services executive officer.
In addition to purchasing the notorious party houses, the University has done more educational programming with students living off-campus, Raines said.
Administrators have also heard fewer complaints from neighbors who call or e-mail various offices, said John Burness, senior vice president for public affairs and government relations.
"Especially in light of last year's issues, students have gone out of their way to be nicer to neighbors," Burness said.
Of the 12 properties, four are still being rented by students who had signed leases before the purchase, said Jeff Potter, Trinity '76 and Law '79, the University's director of real estate administration. Although the house formerly owned by members of the 2005-2006 men's lacrosse team is not up for sale, three houses have been sold, two are under contract and two are still on the market.
The purchase of the houses has contributed to the decrease in off-campus partying, but the biggest factor for the smaller number of off-campus citations has been students' fears of being cited by Alcohol Law Enforcement, said Stephen Bryan, associate dean of students and director of judicial affairs.
"In essence, I think that students are being more responsible in their actions off-campus, staying on campus more or engaging in other activities," he said. "Last year's 194 citations by ALE really chilled them and put the fear of God in them."
Milliken and Adam Rothenberg, a senior who also lives in one of the Trinity Park properties, both signed their leases during their sophomore year. Although they were worried about tense student-neighbor relations, both said they have had positive experiences.
"The neighbors on our street have been very cooperative," Milliken said. "Whenever we are planning to have people over, we tell them, so none of them have ever called the police. The last thing you want as a senior is to have charges pressed against you."
Rothenberg said his house has not received any complaints this year.
"There has been a limited amount of interaction, but they're cordial and we are the same," he said. "We've tried to be respectful by not letting people outside making noise."
Some Trinity Park residents said they have noticed a decrease in student partying since last year.
Lisa Rist, whose home is in front of three of the purchased houses, said students have been much quieter this year.
"[Partying] used to be sporadically very loud and disruptive," she said. "I certainly would not say it was all the time, but when it was really loud, it was often on a weeknight at 2 o'clock or 2:30 in the morning."
Lee Ann Tilley also said she and other Trinity Park residents have been pleased by the difference in partying this year.
"It's so quiet this year," she said. "The guys that have moved around the corner from me are so nice. We just haven't heard a peep out of them."
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