April 2, 2006 The News-Observer publishes the “Vigilante” poster

Two years ago today the News-Observer published the "Vigilante" Poster with the following article. It was at a point in the Hoax/Frame when DA Nifong and the DPD knew they had no case. They had been told that there would be no DNA matching any lacrosse player with the body and clothing swabs taken from the false accuser.

Incident imperils Duke's image
Lacrosse case ups town-gown tension

It should have been another triumphant spring at Duke University, with the women's basketball team in the Final Four and the most competitive admissions pool on record.
But as acceptance letters went out last week to more than 3,000 prospective freshmen, the university faced an unimaginable March madness. A gang-rape investigation of the men's lacrosse team sank Duke into a tawdry mess that made national headlines and played over and over in the 24-hour news cycle.

The situation has exposed serious issues of race, gender and class division. And it's dealt a devastating setback to the university's often fragile relationship with its hometown.

The players and their attorneys have strongly denied the allegations, and no criminal charges have been filed.

Now, while waiting for DNA results that may or may not identify suspects, people wonder how the university's reputation will bounce back and how the Duke-Durham bond can be repaired.

"It tears me up to think it's come to this," said Sylvia Kerckhoff, a former Durham mayor.

Many Duke alumni are hurt and angry about what they say has, so far, been a disgraceful episode for the university.

"Those guys have really ticked me off and embarrassed me," said Donald Van Dyke of Raleigh, who played lacrosse at Duke and graduated in 1978. "I wore that jersey, and they're wearing it now."

Malbert Smith and his wife, Alisa, of Chapel Hill, both went to Duke and have a daughter there now. "Duke has always been very dear to me," he said. "I'm an Iron Duke. In my work, I travel all over the country and people know how I feel about Duke. They're calling me up now, asking me what in the world is going on here."

The story seemed to get worse with each new detail.

A black woman working her way through school at N.C. Central University reported March 14 that she was raped by three white men at a party attended by the mostly white Duke lacrosse team. She worked for an escort service and was hired to dance at a house in the Trinity Park area -- the epicenter of a long struggle between Duke and Durham over students' wild partying and rude behavior.

Duke officials said they knew of the incident within 24 hours and encouraged players to speak fully and truthfully with authorities. DNA tests were ordered for 46 lacrosse players after police said they didn't fully cooperate. The players lined up March 23 at the police lab, pulling jackets and sweatshirts over their faces.

Neighbors were outraged; several hundred flocked to the house at 610 N. Buchanan Blvd. for a candlelight vigil in support of the woman. The same night, some lacrosse players were boisterously drinking at Charlie's Neighborhood Bar & Grille, a nearby bar on Ninth Street, Duke graduate Jill Hopman said.

But that wasn't all. The night of the party, a neighbor said he had heard ugly racial remarks. And police received a call from a woman who said someone directed a racial slur at her in front of the house that night.

Students and residents complained that too much time passed before the university took action or voiced concern. On March 25, after players admitted that the party included strippers and underage drinking, the Duke athletics director canceled two lacrosse games.

Then, three days after the Saturday game was canceled, Duke President Richard Brodhead halted all lacrosse games until the situation is sufficiently resolved. He was careful to point out that the university must wait for the police investigation to be completed.

And he reassured people that, in the end, Duke will preserve its good name by how it deals with the crisis.... NewsObserver

Well, it's looks like they got one thing right, Duke's good name was determined by how they handled the crisis.

See John In Carolina's Article on the Vigilante & Wanted Posters