Duke in the balance
reflective solutions
By: Adam Zell
Issue date: 3/26/08 Section: Columns
Last update: 3/26/08 at 12:34 PM EST
Last update: 3/26/08 at 12:34 PM EST
How should the student body regard the two ongoing lawsuits by the men's lacrosse team? Given that the vast majority of us have been relatively unaffected, should we care? In this column, I will attempt to examine the different sides in this case and how the case will impact Duke going forward.
When judging these lawsuits without regard to their moral worth, Duke students must weigh two competing claims: 1) the damage to the University's prestige as a result of airing our dirty laundry, and 2) the benefit of learning how and when decisions were made, and by whom. This enables the Duke community to hold actors accountable for their misdeeds.
Should this lawsuit go to trial, the threat of our university's damaged reputation should not be taken lightly. Admitting this threat assumes that some administrators acted in a manner embarrassing to the University. Yes, it is possible that the evidence will show that Duke administrators acted admirably, resulting in a possible PR boost for our University. However, given the current facts available, our administrators' secretive attitude regarding this scandal and Duke's previous out-of-court settlements, I find it unlikely that a legal investigation would uncover commendable behavior from our administrators.
If my assessment is correct, then should this case go to trial, any officer acting on behalf of Duke has the potential to stain our reputation. Duke's name will be dragged through the mud in the national media, yet again. This threat must be taken seriously. Humans do judge guilt by association. In an economy where it's hard enough to get a job, Dukies do not want to be competing with a chip on their shoulder.
However, these lawsuits present the wider Duke community with the opportunity to finally get to the bottom of the administration's response to the lacrosse scandal. Without accurate information, the Duke community has been reduced to mere speculation. Some people may claim that those who support the lawsuit only want to dispose of President Richard Brodhead or Board of Trustees Chair Bob Steel. I think that is a grossly unfair claim. I simply want to know if the Duke community has anything to hold them accountable for. Have they done anything wrong? If so, then we can punish them accordingly. But until then, we are left uncertain of the merit of those we are paying to guide our institution.
When judging these lawsuits without regard to their moral worth, Duke students must weigh two competing claims: 1) the damage to the University's prestige as a result of airing our dirty laundry, and 2) the benefit of learning how and when decisions were made, and by whom. This enables the Duke community to hold actors accountable for their misdeeds.
Should this lawsuit go to trial, the threat of our university's damaged reputation should not be taken lightly. Admitting this threat assumes that some administrators acted in a manner embarrassing to the University. Yes, it is possible that the evidence will show that Duke administrators acted admirably, resulting in a possible PR boost for our University. However, given the current facts available, our administrators' secretive attitude regarding this scandal and Duke's previous out-of-court settlements, I find it unlikely that a legal investigation would uncover commendable behavior from our administrators.
If my assessment is correct, then should this case go to trial, any officer acting on behalf of Duke has the potential to stain our reputation. Duke's name will be dragged through the mud in the national media, yet again. This threat must be taken seriously. Humans do judge guilt by association. In an economy where it's hard enough to get a job, Dukies do not want to be competing with a chip on their shoulder.
However, these lawsuits present the wider Duke community with the opportunity to finally get to the bottom of the administration's response to the lacrosse scandal. Without accurate information, the Duke community has been reduced to mere speculation. Some people may claim that those who support the lawsuit only want to dispose of President Richard Brodhead or Board of Trustees Chair Bob Steel. I think that is a grossly unfair claim. I simply want to know if the Duke community has anything to hold them accountable for. Have they done anything wrong? If so, then we can punish them accordingly. But until then, we are left uncertain of the merit of those we are paying to guide our institution.
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 10
Chavez
posted 3/26/08 @ 4:18 PM EST
When you consider the lengths the Admin. is going to in order to avoid having to give testimony as to what its officers did (such as the hiring of Jamie Gorelick--a former deputy Attorney General of the US), you really have to wonder what it is they are so anxious (desperate?) to hide. (Continued…)
Enough of This Already
posted 3/26/08 @ 4:19 PM EST
Adam Zell,
Congratulations on a very fine article.
solitude
posted 3/26/08 @ 6:18 PM EST
When judging these lawsuits without regard to their moral worth, Duke students must weigh two competing claims: ....
If Duke is judging these lawsuits without regard to their moral worth, it is no longer a first or second tier university. (Continued…)
kbp
posted 3/26/08 @ 9:16 PM EST
Thank Adam,
You did a fair job in your short summary here of balancing your article. It was pleasant to read. Unfortunately, I believe you are inaccurate on the matter of how Duke could settle the case. (Continued…)
Duke Family
posted 3/27/08 @ 9:26 AM EST
Fine article.
I do not believe the plaintiffs have settlement in mind.
Only discovery and trial,with Duke admins under oath, will expose the truth.
That is what,I regret to write, Duke fears the most. (Continued…)
George Hanshaw
posted 4/02/08 @ 10:10 PM EST
So far, the administration has paid through the nose to avoid ever being deposed, and having to fess up to their true actions. This has cost the University community hugely, although in honesty the admin may be right in assuming that if they were deposed things would have been even worse. (Continued…)
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