Bad News for Duke

[Lax_Stats]

I'm not for a second saying that these allegations might not in fact be true. However it seems from all the postings that everyone on this board has already convicted the Duke lacrosse team, the neighbors have convicted them, and even the verbiage by the police when talking about the allegations indicates they have already convicted them as well.

Now, consider these facts:

(1)The women were escorts which is just a fancy way of saying they are prostitutes. This already greatly diminishes their credibility since they are admitted criminals engaging in sexual acts for money.

(2)The women claimed they were scared, yet went back into the house after they had already exited the house. This doesn't sound like much fear to me!

(3)Quite often most accusations of this kind result from money issues between the customer and the escort/dancer. There is the possibility that the women didn't receive the money they felt they were entitled to and have concocted these allegations as a form of revenge. As a defense attorney who has had numerous clients both of whom have been customers as well as escorts, i've seen it all and heard pretty much every story and situation. I have even heard of women pulling used condoms from the trash to get a persons DNA.

Again, I am not saying the alleged acts never took place, but I'm not saying they did either! I wasn't there and neither were any of you, so we cant say what did and did not happen. I guess this situation has made it onto this board because it is news, but it certainly doesn't help to have everyone continue to sensationalize a situation they know nothing about except what they have read online or in newspapers. If I crime has in fact taken place, I hope those guilty are appropriately punished... no matter who it might be!

[Sonny]

If I crime has in fact taken place, I hope those guilty are appropriately punished... no matter who it might be!

Agreed.

[Sonny]

The Duke web site also provides this FAQ on the Situation Involving Men's Lacrosse Team:
http://www.dukenews.duke.edu/2006/03/lacrossefaq.html

[Campbell]

Male treatment toward women is horrible these days, especially at the college level. We are way past "boys will be boys"... this is the issue I want to talk about... not who is guilty or who is going to jail.

Listening to some of the songs being played during the summer league games in SoCal was quite eye-opening. There were multiple references to abusive treatment of women and denigrating comments about their sole function in the eyes of the singers. To the guys' credit who were running the event, they did offer to change the music and did in fact do so when more female fans arrived (I told them not to worry about it--on hindsight I probablyshould've gone up and asked them to change it). It did, however, leave me wondering how this type of music colored their own opinions of the women around them. Yes, I know it's called gangsta rap and supposedly reflects views of those in the ghettos, but I can't help but feel that it sends a negative message to the subconscience about the value and worth of women as a whole in our society. Just my opinion on that.

The sad thing is that female rappers often perpetuate these same stereotypes and attitudes in both their own music and their contributions to other artists' songs.

As far as the Duke thing goes, it seems odd that they are focusing all DNA testing solely on the team. Perhaps the woman has ID'd specific players, but it would seem very reasonable that other white males (non-Duke players) would be present at the party and mistaken for Duke players. Innocent or not, news like this is always bad. A lot of people may not follow this story all the way through and will regard Duke Lacrosse and lacrosse players in general in a bad light.

[Danny Hogan]

regardless of guilt or innocence, the games were not cancelled due to MSM or Georgetown. They should be made up or considered forfeits.

It is Duke's fault even if 'pissing off escorts/dancers' was their only bad decision.

[WyoPoke]

Lax_Stats, I'm confused about what in my previous post could possibly be construed as my believing the players are guilty.

I asked a simple question that's all.

Whereas all you've been doing is talking about how we shouldn't talk about it because it gives Duke a black eye and because the women were part of an "escort service" they're instantly discredited and their allegations baseless.

[Lax_Stats]

Oh, well by all means then, let's believe the prostitutes because heaven knows a hooker would never tell a lie, right?!?!

WyoPoke, I refuse to sit in judgement one way or another about something I know very little about and was not a witness to. You would be wise to do the same.

[Lax_Stats]

Well said TSULacrosse! Keep in mind that just because the house was rented by 3 Duke lacrosse players, doesn't mean that any or even all of the other 33 males there were Duke lacrosse players let alone even Duke students!!

[DG]

http://sports.yahoo.com/top/news;_ylt=AkrbHR8MbEYn88aqNbUCx9w5nYcB?slug=ap-dukelacrosse-investigation&prov=ap&type=lgns

Seems like the university is taking the allegations pretty seriously...

[Lax_Stats]

As well they should!

[TexOle]

These are extremely serious allegations against students. Unfortunately it is way too common on all college campuses. If you think this will not happen on your campus then you could not be any more wrong. I remember working with the St. Olaf Board of Regents to write an new policy for when a sexual assault happened at St. Olaf. We proposed hiring an individual who could specialize in sexual issues. This person works in the counseling center and does all types of counseling, but when there is a sexual assault she is the person that gets the first call. Unfortunately, St. Olaf could not hire someone specially trained to treat eating disorders also. Sexual assaults are a major issue on all college campuses, and they are extremely serious. Schools can become the targets of lawsuits. It is obvious someone here was hurt, and Duke along with its lacrosse team is taking this serious. This has made ESPN, and it does not help the lacrosse community.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=2387151

Eventually I think the truth will be exposed, but I would encourage everyone to think about what can be done to prevent this in the future. I am guessing most schools have heard of this story, and I think it is important to discuss with students those not familiar to the sport that this kind of behavior is not condoned by the lacrosse community. I know many schools' administrations will not jump to conclusions about their school's team, but these thoughts will fester.

[KnoxVegas]

So even the roster has been pulled off GoDuke.Com? Bitter.

If I learned anything from the Mike Tyson prison story, it was don't get in the limo at 2am with a known spousal abuser. Each of these young men are entitled to due process, which appears to be underway. We should know in a week more. Until then, stop speculating. It gets you know where.

[Lax_Stats]

Well said KnoxVegas, well said!!!

[Sonny]

After reading lots of the stories and press releases, one thing is crystal clear to me -

(Channelling Perry Mason here...) One side ain't telling the truth!

IMHO, the statement by the Duke team captains was telling.

[laxfan25]

I guess this situation has made it onto this board because it is news, but it certainly doesn't help to have everyone continue to sensationalize a situation they know nothing about except what they have read online or in newspapers. If I crime has in fact taken place, I hope those guilty are appropriately punished... no matter who it might be!

I'm sure Kobe would be happy to have you in his corner. There was no continued sensationalizing there! While you are encouraging people to withhold judgement on the players, you do a pretty good job smearing the potential victims. Let's call it the same both ways. (Never heard THAT on a field. )
Regarding the comment that the dancers were basically hookers, in most cities the people that engage their services are equally culpable. So whoever paid for their services would seem to have equally diminished credibility. On the surface it is a nasty story - the facts will emerge eventually - and the fact that it is a group of lacrosse players is irrelevant IMM.