Posted on 01/16/2007 9:19:41 PM PST by freespirited
Dozens of Duke professors have posted "an open letter to the Duke community" on the Web, explaining an ad last spring that has been widely criticized as a condemnation of lacrosse players.
The new letter, signed by 87 faculty and posted at www.concerneddukefaculty.org, refuses to apologize for the ad and reiterates concerns about issues of race and sexual violence on the Duke campus. It says the so-called "Group of 88" ad _ published in the university student newspaper The Chronicle last April _ has been grossly misinterpreted. That ad has been a subject of heated debate on blogs and its signers have received angry and sometimes racist e-mails.
"The ad has been read as a comment on the alleged rape, the team party, or the specific students accused," the letter said. "Worse, it has been read as rendering a judgment in the case....We reject all attempts to try the case outside the courts, and stand firmly by the principle of the presumption of innocence."
The letter was signed by "concerned faculty," many of whom endorsed the original ad. The ad, entitled, "What Does a Social Disaster Sound Like?" included anonymous statements by students talking about racism and sexism on the campus. The ad also thanked "protesters making collective noise."
The letter this week has backed off that a bit, saying, "We do not endorse every demonstration that took place at the time."
William Chafe, a history professor who signed both the ad and the letter, said the bloggers' interpretation of the ad has become the version people accepted. And that's wrong, he said. "We're trying to set the record straight and clarify that we never claimed the lacrosse players were guilty," Chafe said.
No matter what happens with the lacrosse sexual assault case, the letter said, issues of race and sexual violence still exist on campus and should be addressed.
The "Group of 88" has been portrayed as politically correct, left-wing professors who rushed to assume lacrosse players were guilty of rape. The professors have been harshly criticized as the sexual assault case unraveled.
The rhetoric has been heated on the Duke campus, where President Richard Brodhead has called for a restoration of the "fabric of mutual respect." Two weeks ago, a group of economics professors signed a letter saying they supported lacrosse players and all student athletes, and expressing regret that Duke professors were viewed as prejudiced against some students.
That prompted an online petition signed by more than 450 Duke alumni and Duke supporters, standing behind the economics professors. Many of the petition signers targeted their anger at the "Group of 88."
In the online letter, concerned faculty say they won't apologize despite the fury.
"There have been public calls to the authors to retract the ad or apologize for it, as well as calls for action against them and attacks on their character," the letter said. "We reject all of these. We think the ad's authors were right to give voice to the students quoted, whose suffering is real. We also acknowledge the pain that has been generated by what we believe is a misperception that the authors of the ad prejudged the rape case."
Three words: "Fake but accurate".
Oh, by the way, there are several job openings at the Duke University Endowment Office....
one of the job requirements is the abiliy to handle double-talk....
Absolutely right; I live 10 miles from a big ten university in Pennsylvania, and left's attitude and the back door deals make the place sickening - I do my best never to go there anymore. Now you know what my tag line is all about.
Now that the players have been declared innocent can they sue all these professors in a civil suit for slander?
I guess they can try, but I suspect they would sue Duke first.
I don’t like lawsuits in general, but I hope they sue someone’s a$$ off.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Sorry about this ping. I didn’t realize how old the thread was. I think I pinged you to the newer one.
Thanks—saw that one too.
All right, it’s still early in the morning for me and my marxist-to-English dictionary in my head isn’t functioning right now. But if I paraphrase the gist of this “open” letter, these esteemed members of the faculty seem to be saying:
“Well, however the rape case turned out WE know that there are some serious issues that black students have to suffer through at Duke every day and we’re more concerned about them than these players. Neener neener neener.”
Is that the sum of it?
The rhetoric has been heated on the Duke campus, where President Richard Brodhead has called for a restoration of the "fabric of mutual respect."
What a limp-wristed piece of milque toast.
Thug Duke professors get angry at being challenged, ping.
Personally, I think Nifong ran with the case for two reasons:
1. Of course to get re-elected.
2. He knew he had the liberal elete at Duke on his side.
Liars. They LOVED every radical hateful word or action that was ever taken or said against these innocent young men.
That is a statement of fact that clearly implies one or more of the Duke LAX players raped her. More than sufficient grounds for a defamation suit, in my (NON-LEGAL) opinion. Any legal eagles want to comment?
The Jesse Jackson article on the Chicago site is unbelievable. It looks like an article that he wrote if the case went to trial and the District Attorney won. Aren’t we all tired of these race whores!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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