<p>The Duke Rape cases (lacrosse team) have brought to the fore the issue of bitter sexism and racism on that campus. I was wondering, therefore, if students have even been considering that information, and, if so, if it has changed anyone's mind about applying there. Or at UNC or any other Southern School for that matter...</p>
<p>LM</p>
<p>I personally think duke has made tremendous strides towards diversifying its class in recent years, and its hardly a bastion of conservatism. However, I think the Lacrosse scandel did bring some negative aspects of Duke to the surface- namely its "jock glorifying culture" that isn't in sync with the amount of diversity on its campus.</p>
<p>Thanks! Do you have personal experience with Duke, that you have so much insight?</p>
<p>I don't really think it'd be fair for anyone to judge Duke as a whole on one incident--that'd be using an isolated occurrence to ignore years of reputable education.</p>
<p><em>post removed to make the OP happy</em></p>
<p>This story was nothing more than a hyped up portal of an incident at an elite school. The same happened to several others – the socially irresponsible media loves stories like this. Remember, this was only one incident, and if anyone changes his or her mind about attending the university based on it, that person probably should not have applied to Duke in the first place.</p>
<p>on the contrary, laxmom, rather than highlighting the "bitter racism and sexism" of duke (which does not exist), this scandal merely highlighted the incompetency and liberal bias of the media. a poor black stripper/ prostitute with drug problems who was allegedly raped by rich, white athletes at an elite university in the south was naturally a field day for writers of such publications as the new york times, newsweek, and time. it was infinitely easy for liberals everywhere to quickly point the finger at the "out of control" duke students and show sympathy towards a (more credible?) african american "exotic dancer"; yet, what do we have now? a couple of negative DNA tests and constantly conflicting stories/ reports from the alleged "victim."</p>
<p>so no, laxmom, i do not think duke's reputation or admissions will change at all next year.</p>
<p>Duke was my "safety" school, back in the days, and I definitely picked it based on the academics, the campus, etc. </p>
<p>In retrospect, however, I think that I glossed over the FACT that it is in the South. Since then, my eldest went to UVa and I have lived in many places around the US, and realize the extent to which the geography does set the tone for a school. So, while the incident standing alone might not change anyone's mind, I would also hope that students would factor in ALL of the information that has resulted, including the subsequent racial and sexist slurs, in making their college decisions. But then that's just the two cents worth of an old person... LOL!</p>
<p>From another old person: </p>
<p>Based on direct personal experience, our family would wholeheartedly agree with pirt8528. And we are darn yankees to boot!</p>
<p>So, people at colleges in the south are rapists?!?!?!?!?</p>
<p>I think poor Black people have other problems about which to worry than being assaulted by college students.</p>
<p>No, doesn't change any views about Duke, but it didn't help my already negative views about lacrosse, a sport that I've really seen bring out the worst in character, or to say it bluntly "the bad-ass" in people.</p>
<p>I don't know what it is, but the sport even sent my gentle giant roommate into rampage mode when off the fields. </p>
<p>I'll stick to ultimate...</p>
<hr>
<p>And pirt8528, I think much of the attention was realy centering around the steaming rivalry the arose between N.C. Central and Duke once this incident hit the fan. Not saying it was my view, but the captured image was neighboring HBCU protests against pre-dominately white conservative university. And Jesse Jackson didn't exactly help or hurt the issue. I'm not really sure who he was representing in this incident.</p>
<p>kk19131, you have obviously fed into the bull$hit. didn't you learn at northwestern that criminal prosecutions revolve around facts? the FACTS of the case are that a black stripper told several different versions of a story that lacked any evidence/ (real) witnesses, or proof, while the alleged rapists told stories coherent with what the rest of the lacrosse team confirmed in separate questionings. the DNA tests (done twice) were repeatedly negative.</p>
<p>so don't worry, black people don't have to worry about being assaulted by college students, at least not these.</p>
<p>Nope, didn't change my mind... well actually it made me sort of want to apply there hahah even though it wasnt on my original list. My HS's brother school usually sends a few guys there (and had several on the lax team) and I've heard nothing but the best things about the guys from that HS that play on the Duke lacrosse team so besides the fact that I've thought they were all innocent from the beginning, I've heard really great things about the guys and other Duke students in general so that has made me more, not less, interested in Duke.</p>
<p>For some reason I don't think "Any Press is Good Press" in this case...hehe</p>
<p>I tihnk its worth looking at the Duke Class of 2010, which got their acceptance letters a few weeks after the allegations and made their college decisions in the middle of the worst part of the middle onslaught. According to DukeChronicle.com, the students toured the campus and were making their decisions in the middle of news vans and reporters shoving mics in kids faces, and a bus explodred too (unrelated).</p>
<p>The class of 2010 for Duke was still the most selective out of all past years, their SAT scores are the highest out of past years (I think median is 1455 of enrolling, 1475 of accepted, compared to 1445 and 1465 a year ago). However, the yield rate went down 2 percent and they had to draw off almost a 100 of the waitlist.</p>
<p>I think the worst part of the scandal is over, now that evidence has made the team seem rather innocent and the media loses interest when you can't sensationalize a story.</p>
<p>On that note, I do think it has made reporting on alleged crimes by students at elite colleges more popular - I think the story of the Harvard football player who allegedly abused his girlfriend got more attention as it came near the end of the popularity of the Duke Lax story.</p>
<p>^Thank you for putting those stats, I had predicted a drop in the yield (doesn't take a genius to) which is why I think its rank on USNews will drop and so will indirectly harm Duke (USNews is very influential). I wouldn't have changed my mind if I had applied but I can imagine some small percentage of people would.</p>
<p>Seriously, I am over the whole Duke scandal. Sure I was glued to the news for the first five days, but I haven't thought of it since.</p>
<p>However, this reply is in response to your question on whether the scandal has changed anyone's mind about applying to a Southern school? HUH? Oh wait thats right...because the South is full of white, elite racists who take every opportunity to take advantage of black females(?!). I'm honestly disgusted and insulted. I would bet that most of the ignorant comments about Southern schools, and the South in general, are made by people who have never stepped foot on land below the Mason-Dixie line.</p>
<p>Is there racism in the South? Yes. Is there racism everywhere else in this nation? Yes. Is the racism in the South worse than in the North? Absolutely not. </p>
<p>So...for anyone who is considering going to school in the South but is worried about the stereotypes (racism, ignorance, whatever else there might be), I beg you to disregard them. The South is not full of a bunch of bigots. Just because someone has a Southern accent does not mean he or she is unintelligent. </p>
<p>laxmom07, this post is not completely directed towards you. I have just become fed up with some of the things I have been reading about the South on this board, and I wanted a few minutes to rant.</p>
<p>"Duke Has Most Selective Admissions Year on Record</p>
<p>The percentage of students accepting admission in the incoming class dipped slightly but fell within the usual range of 40 to 44 percent, despite men's lacrosse team incident."</p>
<p>thank you stf, for being a voice of reason to people in the northeast/west who consider themselves "free thinking" and "open minded" liberals, yet immediately stereotype the South (everything about it) in a negative way. i don't want to point any fingers; there are of course many northerners who are educated enough to realize that the South is not as it was pre-civil war; but, sadly, there are many who do.</p>
<p>
[quote]
In retrospect, however, I think that I glossed over the FACT that it is in the South. Since then, my eldest went to UVa and I have lived in many places around the US, and realize the extent to which the geography does set the tone for a school. So, while the incident standing alone might not change anyone's mind, I would also hope that students would factor in ALL of the information that has resulted, including the subsequent racial and sexist slurs, in making their college decisions.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Wait, what?</p>
<p>These Duke lacross players raped a woman because they were in the South? What about the fact that they are priviledged, wealthy, white kids who probably hardly ever hear the word "no"? What about the fact that they are worshipped as althetes around the school and probably have girls swooning over them and tripping over themselves to sleep with them at parties? Not to mention the fact that college students come from all over the country, all over the world, not just the location of the school--those boys could have just as easily come from Alaska or California or New York or Wyoming or even China. And all that is assuming they even raped her--I personally call BS on her part. None of her story has been proven, she's accused this before, and there is a lot of evidence suggesting that she made the whole thing up. Honestly I feel a lot worse for the lacrosse players than I do for her because I think she's a liar that the media choose to sympathize with because it made for a good story. "LOOK AT THE BAD RICH PEOPLE AND THE SAD LITTLE POOR PERSON!" Give me a break, it's not always that simple.</p>
<p>Besides, if there are any stereotypes about attending school in the South, I think they're good stereotypes. Boys holding doors for girls and dressing up to go to football games and sweet tea being offered as a drink in the cafeteria...I find it all charming and fun.</p>