Duke lax lawsuit.....

[Jolly Roger]

Duke president sorry for lack of support to lacrosse players

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=3042067

DURHAM, N.C. -- Duke University President Richard Brodhead apologized Saturday for not better supporting the men's lacrosse players falsely accused in last year's highly publicized rape scandal.

Brodhead, speaking at the university's law school, said he regretted Duke's "failure to reach out" in a "time of extraordinary peril" after a woman accused three players of raping her at a March 2006 party thrown by the team.

"Given the complexities of this case, getting the communication right would never have been easy," Brodhead said. "But the fact is that we did not get it right, causing the families to feel abandoned when they were most in need of support. This was a mistake. I take responsibility for it and I apologize for it."

More at ESPN.com

[StrykerFSU]

Seems pretty easy to me given that the players communicated their innocence directly to Brodhead and you are innocent until proven guilty in this country. Brodhead allowed himself to be bullied by the media, the PC crowd, and the race mongers and now is trying to cover himself.

Brodhead is unfit for his job.

[TexOle]

If you are innocent until proven guilty then why do people keep bringing up the OJ Simpson murder trial. I thought he was found innocent, but most people still think he is guilty.

I seem to remember that Pressler was asked to deal with multiple issues concerning the lacrosse team and violations. It is also important to note that there was alcohol present at a party with students not of legal drinking age. I cannot say there was underage drinking for certain, but it is a strong possibility. There were also likely other school conduct violations. I think President Brodhead did what he felt was best for Duke University. Unfortunately he was placed in a bad position where a comment in support of the students could have caused serious problems between Duke and their alumni, the city of Durham, and the general public. He has to make sure his school continues to receive the support needed. I know Presidents who have taken the fall for what was a good decision for their school. At least one President is willing to apologize for his statements and actions.

I do feel bad for the team and the player accused. I can only imagine the problems they will face when applying for a job.

[StrykerFSU]

Tex, have you read either of the books detailing the scandal and President Brodhead's less than honorable conduct concerning his students?

[LaxRef]

If you are innocent until proven guilty then why do people keep bringing up the OJ Simpson murder trial. I thought he was found innocent, but most people still think he is guilty.

He was proven guilty. The jury was just too stupid to understand that, and he wasn't found guilty by the jury. From http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v4 ... a_BX1.html :

DNA evidence in "Who Shot Mr. Burns" correctly identifies the assailant as a member of the Simpson family (Maggie, the baby, as it turned out). There were alternative endings, but to accept them would have meant ignoring "the Simpson DNA evidence". "And that," a narrator informs the audience with a nervous laugh "would be downright nutty".

Plus he was found guilty in a civil trial.

And, I get really sick of saying this, but you are not innocent until proven guilty, you are presumed innocent. You're either guilty or you're not, and the verdict doesn't change that.

[semilaxed]

My friends that went to Duke told me that for the most part the student body stood behind the lacrosse team and didn't really believe the charges. My friend's said that all the people that turned away from the team were the faculty and administration that were under pressure from the local community.

I want to know why there was no action taken against the professor that was rallying, and producing fliers against the lax players. Wouldn't it be in the school's interest for them to be found innocent. If you worked for a company where people were believed to be committing crimes and you went out and protested against your own company wouldn't you be fired? I mean a professor that is willing to turn on her own students that quick with out thought to due process is unfit to teach at a school at the level of Duke.

[Adam G]

I mean a professor that is willing to turn on her own students that quick with out thought to due process is unfit to teach at a school at the level of Duke.

A professor willing to do that is unfit to teach at any university, not just Duke.

[Sonny]

I want to know why there was no action taken against the professor that was rallying, and producing fliers against the lax players. Wouldn't it be in the school's interest for them to be found innocent. If you worked for a company where people were believed to be committing crimes and you went out and protested against your own company wouldn't you be fired? I mean a professor that is willing to turn on her own students that quick with out thought to due process is unfit to teach at a school at the level of Duke.

Professor? Singular? Try Professors... Try the "Gang of 88." Here is the LINK.

[Sonny]

Breaking News on a new Federal Lawsuit for the three players against Nifong and the City of Durham....

http://www.collegelax.us/news/?p=5818