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Rape and privilege at Duke University
The bottom line is that, despite all its high-flown rhetoric to the contrary, Duke consistently promotes the creation of a society where its residents have no respect for the law or the consequences of their actions on others, because this respect is never forced upon them. So despite the horror of it, the utter evil and heinousness of the acts they performed, no Duke student or official should be able to pretend that this rape is an aberration of the spirit of this school. Regardless of whether alcohol was involved in the rape (though it was), this is about how Duke creates a fundamental culture of disrespect and disregard of the law. Alcohol is just the medium.
My niece Allison got home from her visit to some upsetting news about her Alma Pater: 46 of the 47 members of the school’s lacrosse team were being investigated for possible involvement in a gang rape of an exotic dancer at a party.
In comments yesterday, Carpundit asked what I meant when I said rape was often considered a property crime committed against men. I emailed him privately to promise I’d answer in some detail, perhaps in a new post. This is not that post. But Allison’s post could be considered part of the class reader. Rich white boys allegedly raping and brutalizing a young African-American woman, who was working her way through college, simply because they had paid for her time — a rather pointed example of what I was getting at. But I’ll say more, more clearly, within the next few days.
And I am glad to see the fine Clarke tradition of anger-fueled rants will not die with me.
Posted by: Chris Clarke
Note: A database glitch in 2008 ate a bunch of archived comments. Don't be offended if yours isn't here, or confused if the conversation seems disjointed. Thanks!
Chris,
For my part, I don’t know a thing about Duke and I don’t give a s***. I do know about the law. If these men assaulted a woman in the manner alleged, then lock them up and melt down the key. Peer pressure and alcohol are no excuse for sex crimes.
There is no excuse for sex crime.
CP
By: By carpundit on 2006 03 28
The typical response of the patriarchy to a woman who is in a sex-related industry being raped is, what, didn’t he pay you enough?
The reasoning goes thus: “We’ve established your profession, now we’re just haggling over the price.”
They’ll claim it’s theft, not rape.
Barf.
By: By JoAnne on 2006 03 29
Carpundit, I hope you don’t think I assumed you’d have anything but that reaction. Sorry if I phrased things badly.
By: By Chris Clarke on 2006 03 29
but I’m sure that even in California Yes even in California where such fine campuses as UCDavis and CalState Chico have had students die from alcohol related behaviors, and yet the administrations continue to ignore the partying and sexual assaults as if “oh that is just college kids being college kids.” Incidents such as these, bring immediate investigations, contentious rhetoric and lots of media attention. Within a month, there will no longer be a story, even on the campuses, and only those impassioned and motivated to protest and complain will being paying attention. Among those that number will dwindle further, eroded by end of semester final exams, or due dates of intense research papers.
We lived in a “sexed-up” culture, and until we as consumers and participants in our society engage these problems in the commons of our communities on a daily basis will there be much change. Imagine for a moment one of these lacrosse players, becomes the father of a teenage male who exhibited chauvanistic callous disregard for his female classmates especially at parties and other social events. What could this father say??
What if he was the father of a teen daughter preparing to go out on a date to a prom and party? What will he be able to say to her, will he be reminded of his own actions and yet restrained from offering advice? Or will he be freakishly over protective and reduce the parameters of acceptable behavior, raising a child that yearns for nothing so much more than getting away asap? Do we continue to pass on these problems, generation to generation without making an effort to say NO, that won’t happen again.
By: By spyder on 2006 03 29
Thanks for the link, Chris: it’s a marvelous piece of work which deserves a wider audience. I’m posting a link at my place, too.
By: By Ancrene Wiseass on 2006 03 30
college sports…such a money machine that these so called “prestigious” schools are of course tryin gto keep things on the DL. kind of goes to show college doesnt make people smart, just like drivers license dont make good drivers
By: By News20 on 2006 04 01
