Race Interaction at DUKE

<p>rightwing, I hope that you are admitted to Duke - it seems perfect for you. Banana, read my post again to try to discern what the point is....</p>

<p>I read it too, I also don't get what the point of you posting that was.</p>

<p>Well what I see is a blatant insult to the school and the posters on this board. Was that your point?</p>

<p>MSMDAD: Thank you! I would LOVE to go to Duke! Best of luck to your daughter!</p>

<p>Saying that Duke is bad school because of one (possible) rape, is like saying all white people should fear black people because of a slightly average crime rate. It's stereotyping, and it's wrong. period. whether it's a group of people or a college, judging something based on isolated events is unfair.. </p>

<p>Thanks for wishing me luck!</p>

<p>Nope! Try again.</p>

<p>No, the point was that in an article this week in a Research Triangle newspaper, some black women Duke students and alum said that they have experienced lots of racism as part of the racial interaction at Duke. This point seems very clear from the article.</p>

<p>This isn't meant as an insult to Duke. It's simply posting what some people have said. </p>

<p>. Is what those women said representative of how all URMs view the racial interaction? I have no idea. As I have mentioned several times, during my visit to Duke with my h.s. son last year, I had a very pleasant time (I am black). </p>

<p>I do suggest, however, that instead of going by the views of anonymous people on message boards, the OP should do his/her own research by contacting Duke students directly, and should also make sure to get the views of students of color.</p>

<p>You are very welcome! Nice analogy - demonstrates your level of discourse.</p>

<p>You didn't mean for it to be insulting? With all due respect, it certainly came out that way. What else are we supposed to make of the implication that, based on our posts, you don't want your daughter to go to our school?</p>

<p>EDIT: Northstarmom, just for clarification, none of my posts in this thread have been directed at you. Not sure if any came across that way.</p>

<p>Hmmm...maybe you're a Carolina fan, MSMDAD? (I hope not lol) :rolleyes:</p>

<p>Wow. I'm beginning to feel sorry that I even began this thread. I think everyone should speak a little more respectfully to MSMDAD and Northstarmom, seeing as how they are adults. I was admitted to UChicago and Amherst today, and I've been trying to weigh my options. I have gotten into contact with many student (white, black, asian, hispanic) at Duke, and their decisions are split as well. I think perhaps if there is this much questioning involved, Duke is not the school for me.</p>

<p>Northstarmom I respect that you are just trying to help out this student who is trying to figure out race relations at Duke, and I'm glad you acknowledge that any student quoted in a story does not necessarily represent the opinions of an entire minority group at a university. Just like I didn't mean to portray that my experience with race interaction here speaks for all white people.</p>

<p>It seems like reporters have gone to protests to get the opinions of minorities on this issue. In doing so, they are obviously going to be interviewing minorities who aren't exactly pleased with race relations, like the young women in the story you posted. But there are minorities who have not attended the protests (like my ex for example, with whom I talked about all this today) who might have something very different to tell you, it's just that they're not at the protests, not visible to reporters, not interviewed.</p>

<p>"While I definitely think that the team members' guilt of rape should not be presumed in the absence of a trial, I am concerned that apparently there were longterm problems with the team ranging from documented legal charges related to alcohol and other problems to students saying the team was known for shouting out sexist and racist comments to passersby. "</p>

<p>That isn't saying "talk to students at Duke to get an unbiased perspective"</p>

<p>"Frankly, I think it's rather presumptuous for a white person to think that he can speak to whether there's racism on campus. There's every evidence from the research that white people tend not to be aware of racism because they are in the majority and most of the time it doesn't touch them. "</p>

<p>Tough time saying what you really mean?</p>

<p>"So to get the most unbiased viewpoints, you probably should connect with them by going through the campus organizations for people of color,"</p>

<p>That is the most contradictory statement I believe I have ever heard. Is the NAACP unbiased? HELL no they aren't. </p>

<p>Telling the OP to go to only cultural organizations in order to get a real feeling for race interaction on campus... is like...
asking Kanye West who he feels would make the best president, and voting off of what he tells you.</p>

<p>Aw, Accionar</p>

<p>Accionara - Don't feel bad about starting the thread; this is just a touchy subject right now. Feel free to PM me...I can answer any specific questions you have in detail, or give you my observations on racial interaction at Duke.</p>

<p>True, Warblers. Accionara, I hope that you also know that this week has been mass chaos at Duke. A lot of people are focusing on the lax thing here on CC, and things understandably tend to get a bit passionate. If anything, the whole incident has sparked a lot of dialogue about race relations on campus. And in response to the events, the administration is likely to eventually start some new programs to address race relations (There are already a lot in place - We have a whole Center for Race Relations).</p>

<p>MSMDAD - did we ever really expect otherwise?</p>

<p>Accionar</p>

<p>Agreed...</p>

<p>And why is this a sensitive issue for those of us at Duke? We love our school. Right now, and unjustly so, stereotypes are being molded by the media - we aren't all racists, rapists, and uncaring students. This all seems so foreign - it's not who we are....so to be judged as such is very painful. Until 3 students are convicted, it's the Duke Men's Lacrosse Team. Until they acknowledge what took place, it's Duke University. Thus, for the actions of a few - more than a few if you count the terrible racist slurs uttered by other teammates - we all must bear the brunt of media scrutiny and "i told you so" duke hater posts. </p>

<p>Why do we respond defensively? Because it's terribly frustrating. We detest racism and rape, but support our legal tradition, that one is innocent until proven guilty. It is difficult to be torn between two things that I personally have grown up knowing - two things that I hold very dear. Regardless of the DNA evidence, one thing is for sure. It is up for all of us at Duke to send a message to NCCU and Durham that Duke Men's Lacrosse is not Duke University. We may share a desire to win and the word "Duke" in our title, but our paths diverge from there on out. So I apologize if any posts were overly heated - but that's likely why they were.</p>

<p>Your post was so heartfelt and beautiful. Thanks. That is what I wish that I could say about Duke and the many, many Duke students that I have known.</p>

<p>lex~I agree with candace. And Warblers, banana, DukeEng and alexatduke~you have all been patient, knowledgable and articulate with your posts. Our son LOVES Duke, has had no problem interacting with any students of all the different backgrounds, race, creed and interests. He has said the experiences he has had in the classroom, at sports events, tenting, community service and other activities are fantastic--hasn't noticed any problem of people not interacting well with all of the people he has met doing all of those things. With rare exception he has found everyone at Duke to be bright, engaged and good people. </p>

<p>Accionara~you have brought up an issue that is important to you, and I would ditto the suggestion that you come visit Duke and make a determination about what kind of fit it would be for you!! I wish you much luck and happiness with your college decision!!</p>

<p>northstarmom~you have taken every opportunity possible to bash Duke. You must be exhausted from the effort. Until you can walk in a Duke student's shoes, or a Duke parent's shoes, you cannot make the blanket statements of opinion about this university. We have taken every opportunity to visit and observe at Duke. We have met administrators, faculty and students and we have been thrilled with our conversations, our observations of many activities (classroom, religious, social and others) and the people we have met. Our S could not be happier.</p>

<p>We have a D at another university, in the northeast. The town/gown relations are not much better. Like Duke, they are extremely active in community service and programs to better the community relations. The neighbors complain about students in off-campus housing there, too. And it's a much wealthier area than Durham. I have never been a university community that loves having students in off-campus housing in their neighborhoods--even dating back 100 years ago when I was at a university in the midwest. </p>

<p>Was the alleged crime horrible and despicable--yes. Are we supposed to find these young men guilty on CC or in the media--no. We have a judicial system of due process of the law--please do not interfere with that and trash the reputation of an entire university just because it serves your agenda--whatever that might be.</p>