Quote Of The Day

"History changes when people realize there is an alternative to blind obedience."

-Stephen Kinzer, 2003.

By Any Other Name...

It looks like everyone who has jumped on the Duke Men's lacrosse team over the past few weeks owes them something of an apology. Turns out no one on the team raped the woman who accused them of doing so. The DNA evidence that came back today was negative; no DNA on her body matched any of the players who were at the party. Surprised? I'm not.

But I am satisfied that everyone in that smug lynch mob (that's right, I said it, LYNCH MOB) who accused those kids of rape without a shred of evidence now has to eat their words. Everyone who staked out their house, harassed them on campus, wrote columns proclaiming their guilt by gender, race and class was wrong. Prosecuting Attorney Mike Nifong argued before results came back that the DNA would be crucial to his case. It looks like the lynch mob showed up without any rope.

Dr. Houston Baker, an English Professor at Duke University, wrote an open letter arguing that the lacrosse team ought to be disbanded and referred to the players as privileged white male athletes. Take the "Alas" blog, who's author, "Ampersand" had this to say regarding the allegations. I quote:

"Are all men like this? God no. But too many are - too many for it to be called abnormal. Cultural masculinity is a sickness that can turn men into monsters, and men in college sports are exposed to more of this virulent stuff than anyone. Do I excuse these rapists? No, of course not - they are responsible for what they've done, and I fervently hope they rot behind bars." (complete article here): http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2006/03/29/duke-rape-case-round-up/

I'm embarrassed for Dr. Baker and "Ampresand." Seriously. I think they should write a critique on self-righteous presumption of guilt based on people's race, class and gender in light of these events. Deanna Zandt borrowed the above quote on Alternet in her accusatory rant, and even two Wake Forest sociology professors, Earl Smith and Angela Hattery, joined the pile on, stating that the allegations "fit a pattern." I see a pattern here too; one quite different from my colleagues I'm afraid.

The website that has served as the clearinghouse for information on the matter: http://justice4twosisters.blogspot.com/, which takes the overt position that "This site serves as a watchdog, information hub, and activism vehicle to ensure this young woman receives the justice she deserves. (It is our position both women were victims of a hate crime.)" had no posts in response to the news that DNA evidence showed "this young woman" is a liar. In fact, all posts regarding the case (of which there were many up until this recent news) were oddly missing. I wonder how much longer the site will be up.

In the meantime, Mike Pressler, the Duke Lacrosse coach for 16 seasons has been fired, and the team's season cancelled. If you want to condemn them for hiring two women to strip at a party, fine, but this is hardly illegal. I would argue it's the people who shell good money out for strippers who are exploited, not the strippers themselves, but I digress. If you want to call the player whose email diatribe after the party was overtly misogynist and kind of creepy a bad person then fine, but I have a bigger problem with the fact that his private correspondence was leaked to the press in the first place. I'm pretty sure we've all sent obnoxious emails in our life, but that doesn't mean we're all rapists.

I doubt the same groups of people who staked out these players' houses, harassed their families, convicted them in the court of public opinion without a shred of evidence will be lining up to apologize to these kids. I do, however, hope the backlash against their ill-informed, dare I say hopeful accusers is swift and terrible. I expect Mike Pressler will get his job back. I expect that Duke lacrosse will be able to resume its season and kick much ass. I sure as hell wouldn't want to play them after this. I expect that Duke University, who has appointed five independent commissions to look into the matter, redirect those inquiries to find out how everyone involved could have so brazenly assumed these young men were guilty precisely because of their race, class, gender and athleticism.

In sum, racism, gender discrimination, and class prejudice are ugly in every form they take. We do well as a society to abide by these beliefs.

**Correction: When I originally posted this, the website Justice 4 Two Sisters was down; it has since been updated and the archives put back online. The website, like this story, doesn't appear to be going anywhere anytime soon. 4/13/06**