Students at a major University were accused of a serious crime. Immediately, the school administrators appeared to assume the guilt of the students. This is disturbing because the parents want at least some peace of mind that the University will at least try to give helpful legal counsel if the students need it. At the very least, the parents don't want the University acting as an agent of the District Attorney or the police. Faculty members, who should have known better, signed a letter which was improperly accusative of the accused, and the University tolerated "wanted" posters of the accused that were posted in public, on the campus. The District Attorney used a rubber stamp Grand Jury, to which he provided little information while excluding exculpatory information, and then proceeded to file charges anyway and made public statements which inflamed the community against the students. The media cooperated and also inflamed the people against the students. The community surrounding the University was hostile to the students. Race hustling black "leaders" made their usual appearance to whip up hate against the accused. Violent black activists were allowed on campus and in the court room where threats were made to the accused. Finally it was learned that there was no reliable evidence to indict the students and the story of the victim changed repeatedly. Further it was learned that the District Attorney and the head of the lab (Meehan) where evidence was examined agreed to withhold information which was favorable to the accused students. (The surrounding community, meanwhile, elected the DA, ostensibly because it was pleased with his actions.) After the testimony of Meehan, and after 8 months, the DA finally had the victim interviewed, and the story changed yet again. The DA dropped the rape charge, but kept other charges intact.
The conclusion being made by parents who might be considering a University in North Carolina as a choice for a University might be that it is a "third world" state, where white people are hated, and justice can quickly become a matter of "lynch mob" proportions. Their son or daughter has little legal protection against a vengeful DA, the University will assume their guilt, and the surrounding communities will pressure the DA for a conviction if the accused are white, regardless of the evidence. Statements will be made in public to the effect that they deserve to be convicted because of past "injustices" to blacks. One conclusion is that those who are caught up in the justice system of North Carolina are up against a horrifying ordeal, and it is a system not in agreement with reasonable standards of justice that people expect in this nation. The Alumni of Duke and other North Carolina Universities had to be stunned and ashamed, and parents could only ask:
WHO IN THE HELL IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WANTS TO SEND THEIR SON OR DAUGHTER TO A UNIVERSITY IN A STATE LIKE THAT!!!!
I'm kinda anxious to hear.
I agree; and I am here.
There needs to be some MAJOR revamping, starting with recording the Grand Jury testimony.
I wonder if the Grand jurors can be questioned at any point about what they were or were not told.
Why don't THEY come forward. Too embarassed, I guess.
Your 104 : Dead-on accurate assessment. In my reply 83, I speculated on the likelihood of violence against the players at the hands of an angry "citizen" who just wanted to see a white guy sent to prison regardless of guilt. (As you and I both mentioned, there is a sentiment among many in the black citizenry of Durham for convicting the students simply to 'right past injustices') Can you imagine how much angrier such people are now that the rape charge has been dropped-and how enraged they'll become if all charges are dismissed? It is patently obvious that the university will not and cannot protect these students. They are insane if they return to Duke.
Sums it up beautifully.