They rightly announced that they have suspended lacrosse matches until resolution of the charges of rape, kidnapping, robbery and strangulation made by a stripper--an N.C. Central student--who performed at a lacrosse team party. And they properly support the team's right to remain silent and be considered innocent until proven guilty. It even appears team members have cooperated with police more than has been previously acknowledged.
But, as apparently convinced as they are by team members' insistence that they are innocent, they have not faced up to the fact that what happened that night is a reflection of a larger problem at the university that may very well have led to a violent crime.
The racism and sexism that have come to light are horrifying. The night of the party, neighbors heard a student shout at the dancer as she tried to leave, "Thank your grandpa for my cotton shirt." A woman walking past the house that night called 911, unrelated to the alleged assault, complaining that someone had shouted the "n" word at her. Near a vigil over the weekend, someone at a student party taunted women holding candles with "C'mon up, you know you want it, too."
Combine that with the descriptions of routine embarrassments suffered by four black Duke students reported this week by Fiona Morgan (see page 13), and you get a picture of some students who are not afraid to express the most outrageous kind of prejudice.
There have been statements from Brodhead on down about how awful it is if what is alleged is true and how certain behaviors will not be tolerated. But it's not a shock to most that there is out of control drinking and partying and an all too pervasive indignant, privileged and racist attitude among some of the students who share the town of Durham. That is now as much a part of the issue as the alleged rape--and one that the administration is not addressing.
Alleva said Tuesday that, "Unfortunately, they're young men, and sometimes young men made bad decisions, make some bad judgments, and that's what this whole incident's about--making a bad judgment."
He doesn't seem to get that it has become about a lot more than that.
- To create paragraphs in your comment, type <p> at the start of a paragraph and </p> at the end of each paragraph.
- To create bold text, type <b>bolded text</b> (please note the closing tag, </b>).
- To create italicized text, type <i>italicized text</i> (please note the closing tag, </i>).
- Proper web addresses will automatically become links.
Latest in Editorial
-
Strike down the discriminatory driver's licenses
In issuing these pink driver's licenses, emblazoned with the words "no lawful status" (which isn't true), Republicans want to elicit fear from as well as punish North Carolina's undocumented immigrants.
- Mar 6, 2013
-
When nipples are outlawed, only outlaws will have nipples
This is what's way out of hand: A measure like House Bill 34 passes for governance under the new regime.
- Feb 13, 2013
-
A very expensive race in Senate District 18
If Barefoot defeats Berger, the Republicans will have effectively bought a seat, a vote in general for their far-right agenda and specifically for Stam.
- Oct 3, 2012
- More »
More by Kirk Ross
-
Beware the bright shiny objects of the General Assembly
When the mackerel are running, you take a shiny metal spoon with a hook on it and cast it in the water. It's a decent metaphor for the viral interaction of social media and outrageous legislation.
- Apr 17, 2013
-
Unlike Oz, the Legislature is all-powerful
In this state, the Legislature creates not just the game and the rules, but the players themselves.
- Mar 20, 2013
- More »
