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.

72,522 thoughts on “PC Minefield at Duke

  1. คาสิโนออนไลน์

    คาสิโนออนไลน์ ต้องยกให้ E2Bet คาสิโนออนไลน์ เว็บไซต์เดิมพันระดับท็อปของเอเชีย เชื่อถือได้ มั่นคง
    ปลอดภัย เพิ่มประสบการณ์การเล่นที่เหนือกว่าใครต้อง E2Bet คาสิโนออนไลน์ เท่านั้น!

    สมัครเลยตอนนี้ รับสิทธิพิเศษมากมาย

  2. Source URL

    Hey there would you mind sharing which blog platform you’re using?

    I’m planning to start my own blog in the near future but
    I’m having a tough time selecting between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal.
    The reason I ask is because your design seems different then most blogs and I’m looking for something unique.
    P.S Apologies for getting off-topic but I had to ask!

  3. Bokep Tante Erni

    We are a bunch of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community.

    Your webswite offered us with helpful information to work on. You’ve performed an impressive task and our whkle group
    shall be grateful to you.

    my homepage Bokep Tante Erni

  4. Bokep Tante Erni

    We are a bunch of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community.

    Your webswite offered us with helpful information to work on. You’ve performed an impressive task and our whkle group
    shall be grateful to you.

    my homepage Bokep Tante Erni

  5. Bokep Tante Erni

    We are a bunch of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community.

    Your webswite offered us with helpful information to work on. You’ve performed an impressive task and our whkle group
    shall be grateful to you.

    my homepage Bokep Tante Erni

  6. Bokep Tante Erni

    We are a bunch of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community.

    Your webswite offered us with helpful information to work on. You’ve performed an impressive task and our whkle group
    shall be grateful to you.

    my homepage Bokep Tante Erni

  7. explosion proof telephones

    Just want to say your article is as astonishing.
    The clearness to your post is just excellent and that i could assume
    you’re knowledgeable on this subject. Well along with your permission allow
    me to clutch your RSS feed to keep up to date with impending post.
    Thanks a million and please keep up the enjoyable
    work.

  8. U3000

    I got this site from my pal who told me concerning
    this web page and at the moment this time I am visiting this
    web site and reading very informative articles here.

  9. meilleur casino en ligne

    Hello there! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after checking
    through some of the post I realized it’s new to me.
    Anyhow, I’m definitely glad I found it and I’ll be bookmarking and checking back frequently!

  10. davidpajo

    I loved as much as you will receive carried out right here.
    The sketch is attractive, your authored subject matter stylish.
    nonetheless, you command get got an edginess over that you wish
    be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably
    come further formerly again since exactly the same nearly very often inside
    case you shield this hike.

  11. GRATIS VIAGRA

    The primary selling point of Cialis, that it
    is long-lasting and has a one-a-day pill that does not require rigorously timed sex, has
    made the drug well-liked and led to lower prices.

  12. zowin

    I think this is among the most significant info for
    me. And i’m glad reading your article. But should remark on few general things, The web
    site style is great, the articles is really great : D.
    Good job, cheers

  13. Blog Comments

    Ive been meaning to read this and just never received a chance.

    Its an issue that Im very interested in, I
    just started reading and Im glad I did. Youre a fantastic blogger, one of the ideal that
    Ive seen. This weblog unquestionably has some info on subject that I just wasnt aware of.

    Thanks for bringing this things to light.

  14. pink salt trick

    What’s up i am kavin, its my first occasion to commenting anywhere,
    when i read this paragraph i thought i could also create comment
    due to this sensible article.

  15. CurtisNap

    אירוטי לגבר – לפעמים אישה תספק עיסוי אירוטי לגבר אחר. היא בסדר עם וכאב לאחר מכן, כאילו האורגזמה שלה שטפה הכול. לפעמים היא קיבלה עיסוי go to website

  16. прокат теплоход казань

    Ощутите себя капитаном, отправившись в незабываемое плавание!
    К вашим услугам
    прокат по казани реке на теплоходе для захватывающих приключений.

    С нами вы сможете:
    • Окунуться в красоту окружающих видов, путешествуя на
    различных плавсредствах.
    • Отметить важное торжество
    в оригинальной и запоминающейся манере.

    • Провести незабываемый вечер в романтической атмосфере.

    • Весело провести время в кругу дорогих вам людей.

    Наши суда отличаются:
    ✓ Профессиональными экипажами
    с многолетним опытом.
    ✓ Повышенным уровнем комфорта для пассажиров.

    ✓ Обеспечением полной безопасности на протяжении
    всего плавания.
    ✓ Элегантным внешним видом и современным оформлением.

    Выбирайте короткую часовую прогулку или арендуйте судно на целый день!
    Мы также поможем с организацией вашего праздника:
    предоставим услуги фотографа, организуем питание и музыкальное сопровождение.

    Подарите себе и вашим близким яркие впечатления!
    Закажите ваше водное приключение прямо сейчас!

  17. прокат теплоход казань

    Ощутите себя капитаном, отправившись в незабываемое плавание!
    К вашим услугам
    прокат по казани реке на теплоходе для захватывающих приключений.

    С нами вы сможете:
    • Окунуться в красоту окружающих видов, путешествуя на
    различных плавсредствах.
    • Отметить важное торжество
    в оригинальной и запоминающейся манере.

    • Провести незабываемый вечер в романтической атмосфере.

    • Весело провести время в кругу дорогих вам людей.

    Наши суда отличаются:
    ✓ Профессиональными экипажами
    с многолетним опытом.
    ✓ Повышенным уровнем комфорта для пассажиров.

    ✓ Обеспечением полной безопасности на протяжении
    всего плавания.
    ✓ Элегантным внешним видом и современным оформлением.

    Выбирайте короткую часовую прогулку или арендуйте судно на целый день!
    Мы также поможем с организацией вашего праздника:
    предоставим услуги фотографа, организуем питание и музыкальное сопровождение.

    Подарите себе и вашим близким яркие впечатления!
    Закажите ваше водное приключение прямо сейчас!

  18. cfood tay ninh

    Hmm is anyone else experiencing problems with the pictures
    on this blog loading? I’m trying to figure out if its a problem on my end or
    if it’s the blog. Any feed-back would be greatly appreciated.
    https://cfood.vn cfood.vn

  19. celinetoto

    After I originally left a comment I appear to have clicked on the -Notify
    me when new comments are added- checkbox and now every
    time a comment is added I receive four emails with the
    same comment. There has to be an easy method you can remove me
    from that service? Thanks!

  20. seo as a service

    Excellent beat ! I wish to apprentice while you amend your web site,
    how can i subscribe for a blog web site? The account helped me a acceptable deal.
    I had been a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered bright clear concept

  21. Buy cheap private proxies

    I’m really impressed together with your writing talents as neatly
    as with the layout in your weblog. Is this a paid subject or did you modify it yourself?
    Anyway stay up the nice high quality writing, it is rare to
    see a nice weblog like this one today..

  22. pink salt trick

    My developer is trying to persuade me to move to .net from PHP.
    I have always disliked the idea because of the
    expenses. But he’s tryiong none the less. I’ve been using Movable-type on a variety of websites
    for about a year and am anxious about switching
    to another platform. I have heard good things about blogengine.net.

    Is there a way I can transfer all my wordpress posts into it?

    Any help would be really appreciated!

  23. яхта казань аренда

    Ощутите себя капитаном, отправившись в незабываемое
    плавание! К вашим услугам
    прокат теплоход в казань для захватывающих приключений.

    С нами у вас есть возможность:
    • Окунуться в красоту окружающих видов, путешествуя
    на различных плавсредствах.

    • Отпраздновать знаменательное событие
    в необычной обстановке.
    • Провести незабываемый вечер в
    романтической атмосфере.
    • Собраться с близкими друзьями для веселого время провождения.

    Наши суда выделяются:
    ✓ Профессиональными экипажами с
    многолетним опытом.
    ✓ Повышенным уровнем комфорта для пассажиров.

    ✓ Обеспечением полной безопасности на протяжении всего плавания.

    ✓ Привлекательным внешним видом и
    стильным дизайном.
    Выбирайте короткую часовую прогулку или арендуйте судно на целый день!
    Мы также поможем с организацией вашего
    праздника: предоставим услуги фотографа, организуем питание и
    музыкальное сопровождение.
    Подарите себе и вашим близким яркие
    впечатления! Закажите ваше водное приключение прямо сейчас!

  24. яхта казань аренда

    Ощутите себя капитаном, отправившись в незабываемое
    плавание! К вашим услугам
    прокат теплоход в казань для захватывающих приключений.

    С нами у вас есть возможность:
    • Окунуться в красоту окружающих видов, путешествуя
    на различных плавсредствах.

    • Отпраздновать знаменательное событие
    в необычной обстановке.
    • Провести незабываемый вечер в
    романтической атмосфере.
    • Собраться с близкими друзьями для веселого время провождения.

    Наши суда выделяются:
    ✓ Профессиональными экипажами с
    многолетним опытом.
    ✓ Повышенным уровнем комфорта для пассажиров.

    ✓ Обеспечением полной безопасности на протяжении всего плавания.

    ✓ Привлекательным внешним видом и
    стильным дизайном.
    Выбирайте короткую часовую прогулку или арендуйте судно на целый день!
    Мы также поможем с организацией вашего
    праздника: предоставим услуги фотографа, организуем питание и
    музыкальное сопровождение.
    Подарите себе и вашим близким яркие
    впечатления! Закажите ваше водное приключение прямо сейчас!

  25. яхта казань аренда

    Ощутите себя капитаном, отправившись в незабываемое
    плавание! К вашим услугам
    прокат теплоход в казань для захватывающих приключений.

    С нами у вас есть возможность:
    • Окунуться в красоту окружающих видов, путешествуя
    на различных плавсредствах.

    • Отпраздновать знаменательное событие
    в необычной обстановке.
    • Провести незабываемый вечер в
    романтической атмосфере.
    • Собраться с близкими друзьями для веселого время провождения.

    Наши суда выделяются:
    ✓ Профессиональными экипажами с
    многолетним опытом.
    ✓ Повышенным уровнем комфорта для пассажиров.

    ✓ Обеспечением полной безопасности на протяжении всего плавания.

    ✓ Привлекательным внешним видом и
    стильным дизайном.
    Выбирайте короткую часовую прогулку или арендуйте судно на целый день!
    Мы также поможем с организацией вашего
    праздника: предоставим услуги фотографа, организуем питание и
    музыкальное сопровождение.
    Подарите себе и вашим близким яркие
    впечатления! Закажите ваше водное приключение прямо сейчас!

  26. Онлайн казино Bollywood

    Игровой бизнес продолжает развиваться с каждым годом, привлекая миллионы пользователей по всему миру.
    Цифровые игры становятся не только способом провести время, но и реальным источником дополнительных денег.

    Современный предпринимательство в сфере игр предлагает множество возможностей как для игроков, так и для инвесторов.

    Видеоигры всё чаще становятся частью стратегии получения прибыли — от создания собственных платформ до участия в турнирах с денежными призами.
    Вложения в игровую индустрию могут стать выгодным источником стабильного дохода.

    Особенно популярны сегодня виртуальные игровые площадки, где сочетаются азарт, навыки и
    возможность выиграть существенные
    призы.

    Благодаря развитию технологий,
    игровое предпринимательство становится доступным даже новичкам.
    От простого участия в интернет-турнирах до запуска своего проекта — варианты заработка с каждым днём становятся всё разнообразнее.
    Главное — правильно выбрать
    направление и следить за трендами в мире онлайн-развлечений.

  27. digi 995

    Hi there, this weekend is nice designed for me,
    because this moment i am reading this impressive informative piece of writing here
    at my home.

  28. phim cap 3

    Investors return to neutral positions on US dollar assets, says Waldron

    *

    US-China trade truce boosts stocks, dollar

    *

    Tariffs impact M&A activity, causing deal pauses,
    Waldron notes

    By Saeed Azhar and Megan Davies

    NEW YORK, May 14 (Reuters) – Goldman Sachs President John Waldron said a recent lightening up of U.S.
    dollar assets by investors had shown them returning to more
    neutral positions on the currency, rather than a wholesale “run for the gates.”

    Financial markets have witnessed a roller-coaster
    ride in the initial few months of the Trump administration as its
    April 2 move to increase tariffs on trading partners prompted some investors
    to move away from American assets. The White House has since made progress on tariff deals.

    Waldron said that some investors “that were owning 10%, 20%, 30% more U.S. dollars in U.S. assets than they would otherwise be holding” had gone back
    to a more neutral position.

    Waldron said investors had been optimistic about the
    U.S. outperforming the rest of the world. “Everybody, for the most part, had some expression of overweight U.S.,” he said.

    But after the tariff announcement, clients had been active repositioning portfolios
    in currencies, Waldron said.

    “The lightening up (of dollar holdings) we’ve seen (since April 2) is more the excess coming out, not a wholesale run for the gates,” Waldron told Reuters in an interview.

    “Is there a sense that the volatility of U.S. policymaking is higher, and therefore we should be reducing our holdings? We haven’t seen that yet.”

    Waldron, 55, was added to Goldman’s board of directors earlier
    this year, a few weeks after he was given a retention bonus, cementing his
    position as a potential successor to CEO David Solomon.

    TRUCE

    The recent truce in the U.S.-China trade war has since set off a relief
    rally in stocks and propelled the dollar higher with the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq recovering losses since April 2 – or “Liberation Day” –
    when President Donald Trump announced sweeping reciprocal tariffs.

    “The market is — I’d call it relatively benign in the context of what was going on,” Waldron said.

    Waldron said that there was demand from investors for access to Chinese
    equities and fixed income products, and said
    that American firms were able to operate in China despite challenges.

    “I wouldn’t overstate the challenges between the two governments in terms of our ability to operate,” said Waldron. “We can operate. The American firms are operating.”

    Waldron said most companies are trying to figure out how to
    navigate the impact of relatively higher tariffs from a cost standpoint.

    “How much of this are we going to … pass through on price? How much of this are we going to push back on our suppliers? Who’s going to bear the brunt of these tariffs? And the answer is it will be shared,”
    he said.

    He said the tariff moves have also affected mergers and acquisitions,
    halting fresh dealmaking.

    “If you were working on an M&A transaction, you were getting started on it or you were getting into it, you’re probably pausing it,”
    he said. “If you were at the five-yard line and you were getting close to announcing it and it’s not overly impacted by tariffs, you’re probably going to go ahead and do it, and we’ve seen both.”

    Goldman Sachs is advising Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison,
    sources previously told Reuters. The firm is
    selling most of the $22.8 billion ports business to
    U.S. firm BlackRock, including assets it holds along the Panama
    Canal.

    The number of M&A contracts announced across the world – an indicator of global economic health – fell
    in April to the lowest level in more than 20 years, according to data compiled by Dealogic for Reuters.

    (Reporting by Saeed Azhar and Megan Davies; Editing by Sandra Maler)

Leave a Reply

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