Spring Break
They Found 88 Problems, and the Dancer Was Just One
By: Steve Veres
Issue date: 3/8/07 Section: Features
Last update: 3/23/07 at 2:33 PM EST
Last update: 3/23/07 at 2:33 PM EST
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This is the story of professors who tried to listen to their students and sparked a shouting match that overpowered any original statement.
This is the story of how an 832-word advertisement in a student newspaper sparked thousands of vitriolic, misogynist and racist e-mails and became a national media spectacle.
This is the story of how faculty received phone calls in the middle of the night, endured mail fraud and overcame death threats for speaking out.
Many view the "Group of 88"--as the signatories were eventually dubbed by bloggers--as a symbol of the community prejudging the lacrosse team. Of the out-of-touch ideals of academia. Of hate.
They have been accused of damaging the very same campus culture they intended to address, of forcing President Richard Brodhead to cancel the remaining games of the lacrosse season, of spurring District Attorney Mike Nifong to indict.
How did it reach this point?
"When you take a political stance, this is what happens sometimes-people resist that," says Diane Nelson, associate professor of cultural anthropology. "None of us want pity."
"I, for one, did not think through all of the unintended consequences, nor did I believe almost a year later it would be dissected in the Chronicle of Higher Education and the subject of such acrimony," says Lee Baker, another associate professor of cultural of anthropology and chair of the Arts and Sciences Council.
"The underlying issues about heavy drinking, the partying culture, the attitudes toward women and the racial divisions on campus and between the University and many people in the town, are by no means unique to Duke," Professor of Philosophy David Wong says. "But they raise questions as to who we are as a university community."
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 64
lynp
posted 3/10/07 @ 5:02 PM EST
I do not believe for one second that the 88 received hateful, etc emails and phone calls. They are lying. The best defense has always been a good offense. (Continued…)
Clapton
posted 3/10/07 @ 5:12 PM EST
We, the critics of the 88, are turning up the volume in a moment when some of the most vulnerable among us are being asked to quiet down. To those who have sent e-mails to the 88, criticized them in public, and exposed their lack of academic qualifications, thank you for making your voices heard and for not waiting. (Continued…)
Gary Packwood
posted 3/10/07 @ 6:09 PM EST
Oh, what a tangled web we weave, When first we practise to deceive.
Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832)
James Brown
posted 3/10/07 @ 6:21 PM EST
The Duke 3 are STILL under indictment for crimes for which they could be jailed for 30 years. There parents have easily spent one million each - money they don't have. (Continued…)
Clapton
posted 3/10/07 @ 7:49 PM EST
"No-one is really talking about how to keep the 88 themselves central to this conversation, how to keep their (in)humanity before us..."
Lest we forget. (Continued…)
SeaDragon
posted 3/10/07 @ 7:54 PM EST
"I haven't heard any professors from the infamous Group of 88 calling for the dismissal of all charges.
"Until that happens I have nothing but disdain for those professors. (Continued…)
Ann Jandlnn
posted 3/10/07 @ 9:05 PM EST
To Nelson: What are you talking about? Whose voice are you speaking for? Your own students that were charged with rape, kidnapping, and sexual offense were the only students that really needed your help. (Continued…)
sara
posted 3/10/07 @ 9:17 PM EST
The 88ers are right! There is racism on the campus and it is in power. It gathered up a mob of professors to condemn a rape that did not happen and condemn the accused by their race, sex and presumed class stereotypes. (Continued…)
SeaDragon
posted 3/10/07 @ 9:33 PM EST
Another question about Duke's support for its students: was somebody helping the frame-up by illegally using the Duke email system?
Early on, somebody sent a phony email saying a player was about to confess (the player whose email account was used was in class at the time and didn't send the email);
Somebody 'tipped' the DPD to the McFadyen quip from 'American Psycho'. (Continued…)
SAVANT
posted 3/10/07 @ 9:58 PM EST
A year later and they are still the victims and still on the attack.
These people are proof that there is some sort of learning disabilty linked to identity politics. (Continued…)
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