Columnist names “the accuser” here. NYPOST:
“Her name is Crystal Gail Mangum. Let her name be the new Mudd.”
Does Crystal deserve further shielding? No rape happened so rape shield wouldn’t be in effect, would it?
WHERE DO THESE KIDS GO TO GET THEIR REPUTATIONS BACK?
WHO WILL PAY THEIR LEGAL BILLS?
WHO WILL FIRE THOSE LEGAL “EXPERTS” WHO PERPETRATED THIS CHARADE?
Do you think the Seattle students who will be attending the White Privilege Conference will confront the facts of this case and reconsider? The only unprotected class of people any more are heterosexual white men. In this case their professors, administration, law enforcement, fellow students–and the media threw them under the bus. I don’t know how they’ll reanimate the lives of these three young men, but I hope they and their parents will make those responsible pay dearly for their hell over the past year.
Here’s just some of the fallout with excerpts from newspaper stories:
The team’s season was cancelled:
In the uproar over the allegations, Duke canceled the rest of the team’s 2006 season, the lacrosse coach resigned under fire, and a schism opened up on the faculty between those who supported the athletes and those who accused them of getting away with loutish frat-boy behavior for too long.
The lacrosse coach was summarily fired:
“Two days after this happened, I knew what the truth was. When you say you believe in somebody, when you say you believe the truth, you stand by them,” said former Duke lacrosse coach Mike Pressler, now lacrosse coach at Bryant University in Smithfield, R.I.
Three young men fought for their freedom against phonied up charges:
Colin Finnerty: “It’s been a very long and emotional year for me and all of us … knowing I had the truth on my side was really the most comforting thing,” Finnerty said. “Today’s that day we’ve all been waiting for … the truth finally did prevail, as everyone said it would.”
Reade Seligman:“The Duke lacrosse case shows has shown society has lost sight of the most fundamental principles of our justice system,” Seligmann said, referring to the concept of innocent until proven guilty. He also lashed out at the media for its “hurtful words” and “outrageous lies. Truth is the best vindication against slander,” Seligmann said, quoting Abraham Lincoln.
Dave Evans: “My family and I can sleep at night knowing I did everything I was supposed to do. I never lied … and I can walk with my head held high and I can sleep at night knowing I couldn’t have done anything else to prove my innocence.”
Evans has graduated while Finnerty and Seligmann, after temporary suspensions, have been invited back to Duke. Finnerty’s father told The Associated Press this week that the last year has been “horrific” for his son, who has been doing volunteer work. He is unlikely to return.
Not that I care that much but the media take a hit: The case had lots of hot-button issues — sex, race, class, sports, an elite university. When it broke, a swarm of reporters and television trucks rushed to Durham and made the city the dateline for a string of sweeping stories about class, race and culture. The players and accuser were viewed less as individuals than as avatars of competing political and cultural agendas.
Here’s the rest of the story about the media in Editor and Publisher.
