This is public. It needs to be.

[commieprincess]

Duke lacrosse team suspended after allegations of gang rape. Most of the team was apparently at the party; however, no one has come forward about what happened. This happened over spring break, but the story only became public late last week. All but one of the players have been DNA tested, and the Duke President has suspended the team while the

Comments

[danisse]

Like you, I have a lot of conflicting feelings on this. But anger is foremost -- at the members of the team for creating a situation where something so horrible could even be alleged. And I'm having a hard time believing that something didn't happen. At this point, all I can hope for is that the case will be resolved as quickly and as fairly as possible. I think the university has done all it can so far. The bigger part of me hopes that some of them will be found guilty (and that they are guilty), only because if no one is punished, it will lead to more tensions and the perception of a cover-up. But I hate that something like this is even associated my school, though not really shocked.

[commieprincess]

And I'm having a hard time believing that something didn't happen. At this point, all I can hope for is that the case will be resolved as quickly and as fairly as possible. I think the university has done all it can so far.

I agree. The fact that there's DNA testing seems to indicate that there's at least some physical evidence. I think the best thing that Duke can do is let the investigation continue.

I'm not shocked at the allegations; I really wish I were.

[counsel]

I hate that I keep seeing both sides of every issue here. It makes me wonder what law school's done to me.

That is what law school does - it teaches to look at an issue for all sides and evaluate that issues from all perspectives. From what you say, it sounds like you are going to be a good lawyer. You have to be able to predict what the other side is going to do in order to be successful for your side.

What a freakin' mess. As for publishing names, that is pretty common when there are suspects over 16 and whose names are public record to begin with. That is interesting about the DNA testing, though.

[gemsweater]

The only guy who wasn't DNA tested was black -- the woman who was raped is certain the men who attacked her are white.

Fortunately I am not in law school, so I don't see the other side. There were almost fifty guys at the party, and obviously they all aren't guilty of rape. But the moment racial slurs were said, the non-guilty should have spoken up and said something. They didn't.

[counsel]

I meant it was interesting that the whole team was tested - the article I read did not mention anything about a warrant for DNA. I was wondering, sort of incoherently, if they voluntarily submitted to a DNA test. I knew that the one player was not tested due to his race.

[gemsweater]

Hm, I'm not sure about the DNA. On Alas, a Blog it sounded like the there had been compelled to submit, but that might not have meant a warrant -- it could have been pressure from the university (get tested or you're off the team for good. Of course, they've all been suspended, anyway, so...)

[onlooker]

Wow, this is terrible.

[mandalaya]

I feel very sad about this whole thing

[commieprincess]

I would say that I hope she's lying - I do wish it never happened - but it would do so much to undermine other women's credibility with authorities and the media in such circumstances that I can't quite wish it. Ugh to the whole situation.

I completely agree. With this, and with everything else you said. Apparently about 15 members of the team had arrests on their record already -- mostly alcohol offenses. I've been reading some of the Duke coverage of it, too, and there are a lot of undergrads saying the team was already notorious for not treating women well. (dukeobservr, I think, is where I got most of that from.) It sounds like something like this was inevitable. It's just a horrible situation all around. I hope the Durham police are incredibly careful with the invesigation, for the sake of the woman and the entire town.

[commieprincess]

Sorry, I got that link wrong. It's dukeobsrvr. There's some pretty ignorant statements there, too, but people are saying interesting things about the team as a whole.

[mandalaya]

It's in the NYTimes now too.

[pastahero]

For proof is the worst possible scenario, look at what sport the jocks played: lacrosse. Probably the whitest sport possible. One black guy on a team of 47?! What a disaster.

[commieprincess]

Yeah. I saw the school athletic director (I think) on the news last night, and he said race had never been an issue on the team. My cynical inner voice said, "Let's ask the *one* black guy about that."