http://www.thedurhamnews.com/101/story/32650.html
Published: Feb 03, 2007 12:30 AM
Modified: Feb 03, 2007 04:12 AM
Citizens speak out on state of Durham
Activists, power brokers and residents voice opinions ahead of mayor's address
Stanley B. Chambers Jr., Staff Writer
Mayor Bill Bell will give the annual State of the City address on Monday, a speech that usually touts Durham's achievements. In 2006, he focused primarily on violent crime within the city, which continues to be a problem although homicides are down.
This year's speech may have a few negative overtones, too, because some events will be hard to overlook: the city's image suffered in the aftermath of the Duke lacrosse controversy; a fire at the city's yard waste dump burned for 13 days, causing respiratory problems for neighbors and headaches for top city administrators; and finally, lead-test results of the city's drinking water failed to meet federal health standards. On the bright side, downtown revitalization is bringing new life and improved streets; more homes are being built across the city and old tobacco factories are being converted into homes, retail and office space.
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http://www.lincolntribune.com/modules/news...hp?storyid=5904
Jumping the Gun on Campus, Again
Date 2007/2/3 5:15:07 | Topic: Opinion
by John Hood
RALEIGH ? Here we go again.
It?s not been a year since the emergence of the now-infamous Duke University lacrosse case, when a woman alleged that a group of players at a party sexually assaulted her in a bathroom. Because the woman was black, a stripper, a N.C. Central University student, and of modest means, while the players were rich white kids, the story immediately went national. Other women reported rapes that month. Other women were reportedly raped in Durham last year. But because of race, sex, and class, the allegations at Duke attracted disproportionate attention. And activists, media commentators, and others immediately jumped to the conclusion that the allegations were well founded, despite the fact that they had little evidence to work with in the public domain (as it turned out, there was scant and contradictory evidence in private, too).
The point is, while some urged caution and patience, there was undisputedly a rush to judgment on the sexual-assault allegations ? a rush to judgment that has seriously damaged the credibility of prominent news outlets, columnists, commentators, and legal ?experts.? Perhaps the most-damaged institution is Duke itself. A large segment of the faculty didn?t just jump the gun. They turned their ideological blunderbusses on the supposed link between the supposed crime and a host of social ills, caring little who or what took collateral damage.
Although some leaders and commentators are trying admirably to avoid it, the process appears to be repeating itself just down I-40 in Greensboro, where five Guilford College football players now face charges of having beaten up three Palestinian students, one visiting from N.C. State. Caution? Patience? A due regard for truth and the reputation of young men whom the legal system must treat as innocent until proven guilty?
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