PC Minefield at Duke

MinefieldThose of us who live in Durham, NC, seldom experience the glow of the national spotlight. We have become accustomed to seeing references to the Research Triangle area in the sports pages, but apparently not much else happens here that is worthy of notice by the rest of the country. Maybe that is what has led to the disequilibrium around here, especially among the usually confident voices of the university set who now find a bit of difficulty in hitting their marks and saying their lines in the case of the recent rape accusations against members of the Duke University lacrosse team.

Perhaps people have also been put off balance by the complex convergence of factors required to put Durham in the news. Attracting national attention has required a story combining the popular theme of sports and something else newsworthy–or prurient–enough to attract the notice of the national press. In this case it was that a young African American woman is the accuser and the accused are generally privileged white college athletes who have become rather notorious in the area for their rowdiness and run-ins with the law.

That by itself would make the story a local news item; a few more features have made it national news. The fact that these particular events occurred at Duke University, the Princeton of the South, didn’t hurt their newsworthiness. Besides its status as a powerhouse in both mens and womens basketball, it is also the “safety school” of many a well heeled northeastern high schooler. Thus, many people have heard of Duke, and they relate to it in various ways. It also didn’t hurt to add the convergence of the esoteric and the exotic–the esoteric sport of lacrosse and the titillating world of “exotic dance” inhabited by the accuser.

If all you knew where the broad outlines of the case, this would be a slam dunk, PC-wise. The accuser is a black woman of modest means, and the accused are members of a privileged group, many of whom are white graduates of prestigious prep schools. The typical response to this convergence of gender, race and, class is pre-scripted; the sides are already drawn; it is so simple. Of course you choose the side of the woman, the side of the less fortunate, and the side of the African American, obviously.

Unfortunately in this case, that puts you on the side of a single mother of two who has taken to stripping as a way to meet her financial needs. One must resist the temptation to judge, however, and there is always her status as student at a local university to dwell upon. Still, you have to be a little unsettled that the young lady was already too impaired to perform when she arrived at the crowded little house near Duke’s east campus. Even as you rail against the injustice of a system that forces Black women into early motherhood and exploitation, aren’t you a little concerned at some of her choices and the way they may have affected her children’s lives?

Steering clear of that uncomfortable fact, one can focus on her career in “exotic dance.” Perhaps we then suppose that in her mind, anyway, she had been employed to educate the young men of the lacrosse team in aspects of dance not already familiar to them, something “exotic,” something, perhaps, from the Mongolian steppe, performed in modest but sturdy garb–a costume woven from yak fleece, perhaps. Then things just went horribly, horribly wrong.

I simply didn’t realize the Duke’s lacrosse team’s degree of erudition. Pooling their resources, gathering up hundreds of dollars in the interest of broadening their understanding of world cultures–admirable group of young men, eh?

No, I don’t believe that either. I don’t think we can explain the lacrosse team’s interest in dance by the fact that Durham is the site of the American Dance Festival. And I think most of us are aware that these dancers are paid the first few hundred to walk through the door; the real money comes from what goes on after that.

This story has so many angles, however, so many approaches, that the news hounds could not stay away. When one can write a story to suit any one of a number of disparate audiences, it becomes a gold mine for writers. This being America, the elemental issue of injustice has served as a theme for many a member of the scribbling class. Hand-wringing and indignation have been applied with nearly equal measure.

The real enlightenment we might derive from a situation such as this comes from the peek it allows us to take into the current sociocultural situation in which we find ourselves. We see it in the necessity for mainstream journalists to write the story in a way that will offend as few people as possible. We see it in the implicit trust so many people have put in the words of the accuser. We see it in the righteousness of the District Attorney–and the fact that he is running for re-election at the moment.

Yep, this one has something for everyone, all right. Joe Sixpack weighs in right beside the college president, and it all sounds about the same–well, except that Joe Sixpack might know more about living in Animal House and what “exotic dancers” really do.

Postscript: This recent news story could not have been very welcome:

(April 6, from http://www.wral.com/news/8513890/detail.html?rss=ral&psp=news

According to a 2002 police report, the woman, currently a 27-year-old student at North Carolina Central University, gave a taxi driver a lap dance at a Durham strip club. Subsequently, according to the report, she stole the man’s car and led deputies on a high-speed chase that ended in Wake County. Apparently, the deputy thought the chase was over when the woman turned down a dead-end road near Brier Creek, but instead she tried to run over him, according to the police report. Additional information notes that her blood-alcohol level registered at more than twice the legal limit.

76,231 thoughts on “PC Minefield at Duke

  1. Lanceskete

    Первая помощь детям https://firstaidkids.ru правила оказания при травмах, ожогах, удушье и других ситуациях. Пошаговые инструкции, советы врачей и полезная информация для родителей.

  2. Lanceskete

    Первая помощь детям https://firstaidkids.ru правила оказания при травмах, ожогах, удушье и других ситуациях. Пошаговые инструкции, советы врачей и полезная информация для родителей.

  3. Juniorskare

    https://messiahoiqt417.almoheet-travel.com/the-national-countertop-ranking-2025-why-this-award-is-the-industrys-gold-standard

    Did you know that in the latest ranking, only 2,043 companies earned a spot in the Top Countertop Contractors Ranking out of over ten thousand evaluated? That’s because at we only recognize excellence.

    Our ranking is unbiased, kept current, and built on 21+ criteria. These include reviews from Google, Yelp, and other platforms, pricing, communication, and craftsmanship. On top of that, we conduct thousands of phone calls and over two thousand estimate requests through our mystery shopper program.
    The result is a benchmark that benefits both property owners and installation companies. Homeowners get a reliable way to choose contractors, while listed companies gain prestige, digital exposure, and even more inquiries.

    The Top 500 Awards spotlight categories like Veteran Companies, Emerging Leaders, and Value Leaders. Winning one of these honors means a company has achieved elite credibility in the industry.

    If you’re searching for a countertop contractor—or your company wants to earn recognition—this site is where quality meets growth.

  4. CotaxRit

    Ищете идеальные цветы для признания в чувствах? В салоне «Флорион» вы найдете букеты для любимой на любой вкус: от нежных пастельных до ярких эффектных композиций в коробках, корзинах и шляпных коробках. Свежесть, профессиональная сборка и оперативная доставка по Москве гарантированы. Выбирайте готовые варианты или закажите индивидуальный дизайн по предпочтениям адресата. Перейдите на страницу https://www.florion.ru/catalog/cvety-lyubimoy и оформите заказ за минуту.

  5. Divuqyacere

    ООО «РамРем» — ваш надежный сервис в Раменском и окрестностях. Ремонтируем бытовую технику, электро- и бензоинструмент, компьютеры и ноутбуки, смартфоны, оргтехнику, кофемашины, музыкальную технику, электротранспорт. Устанавливаем видеонаблюдение, есть услуга «муж на час». Собственный склад запчастей, быстрые сроки — часто в день обращения. Работаем ежедневно 8:00–20:00. Оставьте заявку на https://xn--80akubqc.xn--p1ai/ и получите персональную консультацию.

  6. seoenalo

    SEO Pyramid 10000 Backlinks
    External links of your site on community platforms, blocks, comments.

    The 3-step backlinking method

    Step 1 – Standard external links.

    Stage 2 – Links via 301 redirects from top-tier sites with PageRank PR 9–10, for example –

    Phase 3 – Listing on SEO analysis platforms –

    The key benefit of analyzer sites is that they highlight the Google search engine a site map, which is essential!

    Explanation for Stage 3 – only the homepage of the site is submitted to analyzers, internal pages aren’t accepted.

    I complete all three stages step by step, resulting in 10K–20K backlinks from the full process.

    This backlink strategy is the best approach.

    Demonstration of submission on analyzer sites via a .txt document.

  7. Juniorskare

    https://eduardoeyoh909.cavandoragh.org/behind-the-scenes-18720-hours-of-work-that-power-the-national-countertop-rankings

    Did you know that in the latest ranking, only just a fraction companies earned a spot in the Top Countertop Contractors Ranking out of thousands evaluated? That’s because at we don’t just accept anyone.

    Our ranking is unbiased, kept current, and built on more than 20 criteria. These include feedback from Google, Yelp, and other platforms, quotes, communication, and project quality. On top of that, we conduct 5,000+ phone calls and over two thousand estimate requests through our mystery shopper program.
    The result is a benchmark that benefits both homeowners and fabricators. Homeowners get a safe way to choose contractors, while listed companies gain recognition, online authority, and even direct client leads.

    The Top 500 Awards spotlight categories like Best Old Contractors, Best Young Companies, and Budget-Friendly Pros. Winning one of these honors means a company has achieved rare credibility in the industry.

    If you’re ready to hire a countertop contractor—or your company wants to earn recognition—this site is where quality meets growth.

  8. Juniorskare

    https://brooksjrsr891.raidersfanteamshop.com/5-red-flags-to-watch-out-for-when-hiring-a-countertop-company

    Did you know that in 2025, only around 2,000 companies earned a spot in the Top Countertop Contractors Ranking out of thousands evaluated? That’s because at we don’t just accept anyone.

    Our ranking is transparent, constantly refreshed, and built on 21+ criteria. These include ratings from Google, Yelp, and other platforms, quotes, communication, and craftsmanship. On top of that, we conduct countless phone calls and over two thousand estimate requests through our mystery shopper program.
    The result is a standard that benefits both clients and fabricators. Homeowners get a proven way to choose contractors, while listed companies gain prestige, digital exposure, and even more inquiries.

    The Top 500 Awards spotlight categories like Best Old Contractors, Best Young Companies, and Most Affordable Contractors. Winning one of these honors means a company has achieved elite credibility in the industry.

    If you’re searching for a countertop contractor—or your company wants to earn recognition—this site is where trust meets visibility.

  9. hiopmassagesite.com

    May I simply just say what a relief to uncover an individual who
    really knows what they’re talking about over the internet.
    You certainly know how to bring an issue to light
    and make it important. A lot more people should look at this and understand this side of your story.
    It’s surprising you aren’t more popular because
    you definitely possess the gift.

  10. Lazrzgv

    Заказать диплом об образовании!
    Мы предлагаем дипломы любой профессии по невысоким ценам— ukr-diplom.ru

  11. Lazrgkc

    Заказать диплом об образовании!
    Мы изготавливаем дипломы любой профессии по разумным тарифам— korolev-progym.ru

  12. pelisflix

    En ❤️ PELISFLIX ❤️ puedes ver o mirar películas y
    series gratis online en pelisflix, pelisflix2 en Español, Latino y Subtitulado.

    PELISFLIX 2 es para todos los gustos.

  13. click here

    Appreciating the time and energy you put into
    your blog and detailed information you present.
    It’s nice to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same unwanted
    rehashed information. Fantastic read! I’ve saved
    your site and I’m adding your RSS feeds to my Google account.

  14. Willis

    500 free spins no deposit united states, top canadian casinos in axis and free poker no deposit uk, or roxy things to do at cherokee casino, Willis,
    united states

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *