Wednesday, April 02, 2008

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

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

And, again, don't forget: On one of the Yahoo Durham Responds groups, it's Christina Headrick (who now owns the scrapbook store Carolina Memories in Durham- isn't that cute?) who calls the guys who pulled down the posters "cowards" and gives all the lax players' names and hometowns again. She definitely deserves a civil suit herself. (Funny how now she and her husband are the "coward"s, trying to hide from any connection to the case).

Anonymous said...

These guys should sue everyone remotely associated with this case - don't forget Cash and whats her name - Crystal. Wonder how much they will wind up paying in lawyer and court costs. Will bloggers be willing to "fund" the lawsuits or just give advice?

Anonymous said...

I agree with 8:17-either they all step up, show any sense of backbone, and make public their errors-or sue them all. Including N&O. Talk about a wall of silence? How about the wall of silence and obvious guilt. Drag all the gutless before the courts.

Anonymous said...

I've been following this for some time, yet I had no idea the paper published the poster.

I am speechless. Again.

Anonymous said...

Is there any country in the world other than the United States in which Crystal Mangum could get caught doing what she did and get an unconditional free pass? America used to be the land of the free; now it's the land of the plea.

Anonymous said...

It is a five hundred dollar fine for a false rape claim, not jail for life. Nifong choose to push this to the extreme. Any one know of a plea that Crystal got? Three law suits and none of these guys sued her - they still can inject her in a law suit - why don't they? I will still be an America Firster.

Anonymous said...

You can get life in prison if you offer false testimony in a case like this. What planet are you living on, kid?

Anonymous said...

Where?????? Not in North Carolina - she made a false allegation, not testimony under oath.

Anonymous said...

Also, she has prior convictions-- would this be her third felony conviction? That would make her a habitual felon, right? (Any N. Carolina lawyers in the house?)

Anonymous said...

well done 10:56, you saved some time. can you or anyone id the cops brow beating elmo, feds need to be there big time