<p>Watched the news tonight and saw a lot of angry people in Durham complaining about Duke. Seems like there's a lot of pent-up emotions coming out.</p>
<p>Any current students out there who can say what it's really like?</p>
<p>not like what the national news says it is. We are so sick of the media right now that I don't even want to get into it.</p>
<p>Yeah really man... F entertainment news</p>
<p>And what exactly are these people even protesting?</p>
<p>a) no one has been proven guilty- in fact, quite the opposite so far
b) Duke University has taken very drastic measures towards punishing the entire lacrosse team and ensuring that a proper investigation takes place</p>
<p>Can someone explain this to the people who are blindly in outrage against Duke?</p>
<p>First, Duke's campus probably is somewhat racially divided. However, I would hazard a guess that most college campuses are.</p>
<p>Duke in general, you should remember, is slightly more than 40% non-white. Part of the reason you might see more racial divisions than normal is because they're possible here - if you don't have very many black kids, the few that you have are forced to integrate. When your minority starts getting to be less of a minority, you will begin to see segregative behavior through no fault of anybody's.</p>
<p>I can say that as an Asian American, I have never felt excluded or isolated from any kind of mainstream "white" culture. I go to a black church, and I have never felt uncomfortable there, either. Whether this extends away from overrepresented minorities, I can't say.</p>
<p>Having spoken with a couple national media reporters recently (today, in fact), I can vouch for the fact that they are seeking controversy. They are looking to find headlines that tell us that Duke's student body is more divided than it is. There probably is some truth to it - but you are probably hearing an exaggerated version of the truth.</p>
<p>I would say, primarily, that the first protests came from trying to show outrage over the crime of sexual assault and the demand that those crimes be taken seriously. Some of them were planned in advance as a part of Sexual Assault Prevention Week, and some came into being in response to the allegations. </p>
<p>I think that there is a great deal of anger coming from different difficult relationships between Duke and its community, and internal to Duke itself. As an example, the Trinity Park neighborhood has withstood some outrageous behavior by <em>some</em> of the students living in rental properties as well as many students who - especially early in the semester - go to those places to party and then spill out. To compound matters, the Durham Police have, in my opinion, not done as much as they should in safeguarding the homeowners' rights - to the point that Duke Police have taken over some patrolling duties, even though these houses are off campus and (up until February) were not owned by Duke.</p>
<p>Beyond that, the demographic difference between Durham and Duke - while understandable given the a university generally hopes to attract a national audience (that is, for Duke, closer to, but not exactly, a national demographic) while Durham's population is different from that - causes tensions which I believe the university and community have worked on, but for which there is of course no easy answer.</p>
<p>So, I undestand people gathering to have their voices heard. There is much here to talk about and much here to demand actions over. Organizations such as the NAACP are absolutely correct in remaining vigilant through all this to make sure that the Durham investigation into this specific incident and the Duke investigation into its own issues are conducted thoroughly and in a timely manner.</p>
<p>My hope in all this is that the baseless speculation and hyperbolic pronouncements will go away to make room for the real work that must be done. And so, to get around to OP's question - there are many issues of race and class and gender that exist here; my belief as a 17+ year member of the Duke and Durham communities is that the media has taken delight in expoloiting them for all they are worth at the expense of some bridge-building that could be done, but that through the hard work, passion, and patience of leaders such as Mayor Bell, Chancellor Ammons, and President Brodhead, we (we = Duke, and NCCU, and Durham, and perhaps others) will take the events of March 13th, and all that led up to it, and work together to build something strong and positive from these tragic events.</p>
<p>Well, racial tension exists everywhere. I don't see the matter being particularly bad at Duke. It's just the same as every other place.</p>
<p>I have refrained from commenting about this for awhile but with the recent release of the DNA results, I feel compelled to. I, along with several of my friends who share the same sentiments, are really sick with the way the media has been sensationalizing the situation and exacerbating the tensions that have arisen. As a student here, I can say for the most part that many of the things being portrayed in the media coverage simply aren't credible, let alone representative of the majority of students I've encountered on campus. I must also say that the way Nifong (DA) has handled the case thus far has been completely unprofessional - there are many speculations as to his motives but most clearly, it is probably an attempt to win public sentiment in his upcoming election. I believe that before this incident came up, he had not prosecuted a case for several years. I also had a great conversation with one of my old professors today and have taken a lot from his perspective on not only the incident, but also the culture of education at Duke, beyond, and how we should possibly proceed in the face of these social and community bulwarks. Just a few thoughts, and a few things that have been on my mind (and probably many other students' as well):</p>
<p>1) I have always despised stereotyping and the use of race/ethnicity as labels. Why do we have to refer to him as the Asian guy, or the white girl, or the black girl? Why can't we refer to people by some other attributes that don't use race as the initial qualifier? Race is something that is hard to talk about - among family and close friends, let alone in a public setting. Along these lines, racial discrimination and prejudice, whether overt or subtle, are also difficult topics to address. No matter how much we deny it, or try to hide it under the rug, these things have been and will seemingly be, always a part of our society. It is too ingrained in human culture not to be. Discrimination/prejudice is not isolated to the Duke community, it exists everywhere diverse humans come together in a societal form of living. The recent incident has brought to the foreground a cultural phenomenon not unique to Duke, as the media seemingly and unequivocally portrays, but a larger social problem that is often ignored because of the intrinsic tensions associated with it. As a minority myself, having experienced discrimination/prejudice in the past, I can attest to the pervasiveness of this problem in society. When these simmering tensions are brought out in the spotlight, with the unrelenting maelstrom of sensationalized media, over-the-line politics, stereotyping, and historical context, we are faced with an incongruity that posits us in a sad state. The media has nailed the door on the coffin shut with its reports about the negatives at Duke and in Durham, negatives which are based largely on stereotypes which are only half-truths at best. They neglect to mention the tremendous good the University and its students do for the community at large (afterschool tutoring, reading programs with neighborhood kids, numerous programs - athletic, scientific, humanistic - that students put on for our neighbors, the attempts the administration has made in creating a closer, safer, and more family-friendly community by investing millions in neighborhood infrastructure. They neglect to mention the wonderful things Durhamites do for us Dukies - from cheering us on at home games, to making sure we don't go hungry at the wee hours of the night when we're cramming for our exam or writing that paper, to partaking in the plethora of student-sponsered/organized events that demand active audiences around. No, those are the things that the media doesn't care about. Those are the stories that make headlines - can you imagine: "Duke and Durham foster better town-gown ties" making head of the NY times? Instead, we are left with a sad state - the reality that has surfaced the past few weeks.</p>
<p>2) While race and discrimination are definitely not unique to Duke, there is no reason why the University should not make it one of its leading objectives. We are known for basketball. We are known for BME and medical research and primary care? Why can't we also be known for the University that can say, when it comes to race - "We're no worse than anyone else" to "we're the leader when it comes to addressing such issues." This is the point my professor made to me today which I totally commend. Even though issues of race, gender, and sexuality are not isolated to Duke, given recent DNA evidence, it is not the time to step down and cast these problems aside like most people would do, like the media will do after its juicy story no longer holds validity for headlines. As a community of educators and learners, Duke should take the first step in openly communicating about such issues which are found on campus and in the world as a whole. I really commend President Brodhead on his wisdom during these past two weeks. He has acted with true grace in trying to foster an environment conducive to both social outcry and the legal precendent, albeit a most difficult line to walk in his shoes.</p>
<p>3) Given the DNA results, I doubt that 3 alleged lacrosse players raped the accuser. There is just too much missing evidence to present an argument that even comes close to rape as the accused as accounted to police. None of her DNA was found in the bathroom where the questionable rape took place. None of the 46 players' DNA was found on her, in her, or even on her broken finger nails collected at the house which she said she broke off when scratching the alleged players. Despite prosecutors saying a condom might have been used, no evidence of latex was found on the accused and furthermore, inconsistencies in one of the early 911 calls, as well as the defense lawyers saying they have time-stamped pictures of the accuser already having the bruises before the alleged rape occurred just amplify the incredulity of the situation. If forcible gang-rape did occur, how could there not be any DNA from the alleged assailants on the accused? Or at the crime scene? Nifong has commented that he will continue the prosecution full throtle, citing that he has prosecuted many successful rape cases before without DNA evidence. Maybe that was before DNA analysis for crime scenes was available. Without credible DNA evidence, the legality of this situation gets reduced to nothing more than my word against your word. Quite frankly, in such a serious allegation, it is not the time to be playing word games.</p>
<p>4) Lastly, I'd like to comment on the sentiments expressed by angry Durham residents who accused players of rape before the legal process got time to sort things out more clearly. Those in such a predicament should really feel foolish at this time. No legal/gov. system is perfect, yet none has worked better in human history than the one of the States in insuring due process before the law. Coupled with the unrelenting media, some residents, unhappy with the way the administration has handled community affairs with them in the past or resentful of Duke itself for whatever reason, acted on the recent national spotlight to bring up issues of class, race, and politics which quite honestly from a student perspective, have really been blown out of proportion relative to what the main focus of the incident should have been. They've essentially exploited the current tensions to bring up deep-seated resentments they've held with Duke at some point or another and have cast the incident into one teeming with red herrings. Agian, I speak only of a few situations I've experienced, definitely not indicative of Durhamites as a whole, for as I said before, most of us are just trying to do the right thing during a time like this. Although I don't feel they owe Duke an apology, as some of my friends apparently do, I do feel that this should come as a warning to us, a members of a larger society, to think before we act, to have patience in light that our judicial system demands us to for the sake of liberty and equality. I would want the same for myself if I were cast into such a predicament. I assume you would as well. I cannot bear to think about how much pain and suffering this incident has caused 47 innocent men whose careers as athletes, students, and a team have been irreparably scarred.</p>
<p>Wow this has been a long post, and its quite late, sorry for any incoherencies that might have been posted.</p>
<p>Whoops lol, big typo: corrected below</p>
<p>Those AREN'T the stories that make headlines - can you imagine: "Duke and Durham foster better town-gown ties" making head of the NY times? Instead, we are left with a sad state - the reality that has surfaced the past few weeks.</p>
<p>lee,
That is a wonderful post. I wish you would post it (maybe cut and paste?) under the Parent Cafe thread about the alleged incident. It is good to hear the perspective of a Duke student! There are other student posters on there that share your sentiments.</p>
<p>"Why can't we also be known for the University that can say, when it comes to race - "We're no worse than anyone else" to "we're the leader when it comes to addressing such issues." This is the point my professor made to me today which I totally commend."</p>
<p>I've had similar conversations about this. Ten, twelve years ago 60 Minutes did a piece on self-segregation at colleges that centered on Duke. They mentioned in the piece that while self-seg was evident at most schools, and they had approached a number of prominent East Coast universities for their story, Duke was the only place where students and the administration were willing to talk to them about it. They commended the school for that. A couple of times. Still, of course, what sticks is Duke: The school with a self-segregation issue. </p>
<p>Anyway, yeah, I'd be really proud to see Duke as a leader in addressing the issues. I hope we're brave enough. Because, unfortunately, in public perception, it's tantamount to saying we ARE worse than everyone else.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I would say, primarily, that the first protests came from trying to show outrage over the crime of sexual assault and the demand that those crimes be taken seriously. Some of them were planned in advance as a part of Sexual Assault Prevention Week, and some came into being in response to the allegations.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Just a quick clarification...I'm a member of SHARP, and I was really involved in planning/executing all of the SAPW events. The only thing we planned as part of our week that even remotely resembled a "protest" was Take Back The Night-- a rally/march/speakout about Sexual Assault that occurs on numerous college campuses (not just Duke) every single year, and had been scheduled for that week since last year. Before the march began, we made a point of announcing to everyone present that this was not IN ANY WAY related to the lax events, and it was in no way a protest of the lax controversy, the administration, the lax team, or anything else of that sort. No other protests, etc. were part of our week.</p>
<p>For what it's worth, the Journal of Blacks in Higher Education rated Duke as the best in the country in regards to opportunities for African Americans.</p>
<p>In the end, I think this particular incident has less to do with white or black, Duke or Durham, athlete or non athlete and more to do with late night, off-campus and alcohol. That is always an explosive mix.</p>
<p>But it has laid bare a rift between the town and the campus that seems to be long-standing.</p>
<p>This was fabulous on everybodies part. Isn't that what we are going to college for to get the introspection, this questioning of what is perceived and what is fictionalized. This is what the media should be- frank discussion with all sides of the issue. I know that is not what is happening. I for the record would like to even the playing field, and would be interested in the Durhamites perspective in this, as well put together train of thought as above, even if conflicting. Media always goes for sensationalism and not to the benefit of it's audience either. Caters to the people who spend time watching mindless reality TV. This is an example both of how far we may not have come since segregationist times (take that as a loose stretch as an example) and how far we have actually come also. There now can be these frank discussions. I agree with Joemama - this has more to do with late-night off campus and alcohol. I also agree with the above that this is a long simmering rift. I really think that has been played out way too much in the media for this to be a fair situation now for anyone. Note that they don't seem to be giving the dancers college as much play on TV. I will however add that the lax players were guilty of making some bad choices and rape or not that has to be a penalty (albeit lesser one if innocent.) She also made bad choices too but if it isn't true well she will definitely bear the brunt for a long time. I wish they would stop playing it out in the media and keep the investigation where it belongs to make it the real deal. That means Nifong and the defense.</p>