tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post3319761044476853745..comments2024-02-24T05:19:10.949-05:00Comments on Durham-in-Wonderland: Apologia for a Disasterkcjohnson9http://www.blogger.com/profile/09625813296986996867noreply@blogger.comBlogger116125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-62716406620445433842007-06-06T09:27:00.000-04:002007-06-06T09:27:00.000-04:00For those who might have skimmed only KC's and rea...For those who might have skimmed only KC's and readers' comments, I commend to you the original op ed from Prof Davidson. To read -- at this late -- such a long, carefully-written, and utterly mistaken published statement by a senior member of the Duke faculty and administration (*) is simply dumbfounding. <BR/><BR/>If, as someone said, CGM "came right out of KKK Central Casting as their black dream woman," then Davidson's op ed provides eloquent testimony that key members of the Duke faculty were part of the "lacrosse case" problem in spring, 2006, and, unfortunately, remain part of a larger problem today. <BR/><BR/>(*) "Cathy N. Davidson is the Ruth F. DeVarney Professor of English and Vice Provost for Interdisciplinary Studies. As Vice Provost, she provides leadership in promoting interdisciplinary exchange across the University's nine schools, has oversight of approximately sixty interdisciplinary research centers and institutes, and works to promote innovative research and teaching across disciplinary bounds. In addition to working with faculty to create new programs, she has restructured the processes by which all of Duke's interdisciplinary research units are created, approved, managed, and reviewed in order to ensure greater accountability. She has also worked to find creative and flexible administrative structures that promote interdisciplinarity throughout the University." <BR/><BR/>##Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-54263920245980714762007-01-14T23:27:00.000-05:002007-01-14T23:27:00.000-05:00Quote:
When the whole world thought that white LAX...Quote:<br /><b>When the whole world thought that white LAX players had committed a horrible, apparently racially motivated assault, I don't think it was inappropriate for the faculty to reach out to minority students on campus with reassurances that the faculty was listening to their concerns. </b><br /><br />The "whole world" never thought that white LAX players... <br /><br />Maybe in your world, but certainly not in mine. I remarked to friends that something was amiss with the story the first time I heard it reported on the news here in North Carolina. And a number of my friends and family members had the same reaction.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-73135694103973179312007-01-06T14:45:00.000-05:002007-01-06T14:45:00.000-05:00All you blog hooligans come on by and pick up a bl...All you blog hooligans come on by and pick up a <a href="http://carnalreason.org/2007/01/06/im-just-a-blog-hooligan/">blog hooligan graphic</a>.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-22870381676605302392007-01-06T10:19:00.000-05:002007-01-06T10:19:00.000-05:00Why is an English professor leading a pack of cult...Why is an English professor leading a pack of cultural Marxist wolves in perpetuating a fraud and deliberating stirring up strife to support a radical agenda? This reveals a far deeper problem at Duke University -- the English Department is fraudulent to the core and utterly lacking in academic seriousness and an embarrassment to any serious student of English and American literature (of which there are fewer every day.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-72291338851310401462007-01-06T08:51:00.000-05:002007-01-06T08:51:00.000-05:00A Manifesto for the Humanities in a Technological ...A Manifesto for the Humanities in a Technological Age<br />By CATHY N. DAVIDSON and DAVID THEO GOLDBERG<br /><br />* Diversity is important. The humanities have been the principal (and for the most part the principled) site of diversity and diversification in the academy, both demographically and INTELLECTUALLY.<br /><br />Just what does itellectual diversity mean? People of widely diverse intelect? Are we to assume therefore that it is noble to praise the inclusion of idiots in higher learning and academia; and, that the humanities have been leaders of this endeavor? That's not a hard sell.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-11615787991250761632007-01-06T02:57:00.000-05:002007-01-06T02:57:00.000-05:00cedarford,
what you said is absurd about hispanic...cedarford,<br /><br />what you said is absurd about hispanics and blacks thinking it was another tawana from the first week. the news and observer poll showed the hispanic voters had the same percentages as the black voters supporting nifong. In the actual election, the hispanic voters followed the black pattern, which gave 95%+ of votes to nifong. why the hell did they vote for nifong if they beleived it was a hoax at that time? the answer is they did not think it was a hoax and that is why they voted for Nifong and many still do support him. You don't know what youa re talking about.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-50570789970430133722007-01-06T01:21:00.000-05:002007-01-06T01:21:00.000-05:00Thank you for covering this case so doggedly and e...Thank you for covering this case so doggedly and exposing the now obvious miscarriage of justice that has been occuring and the reprehensible actions of the assorted accuser sympathizers who are ideologically motivated.<br /><br />What I don't comprehend is how you can possibly support Obama, as you mentioned as a credentials estblishing aside to counter one of the professors point, when he is clearly a conventional leftist exactly like the sort you are so ably making mincemeat of on your blog.<br /><br /><br />Thank you for great work here.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-21309114149416332007-01-06T01:15:00.000-05:002007-01-06T01:15:00.000-05:00Brooklyn College: Professor Robert KC Johnson. Duk...Brooklyn College: Professor Robert KC Johnson. Duke: Cathy Davidson. Who would you rather have teaching your daughter or son?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-57723982433169326922007-01-05T23:40:00.000-05:002007-01-05T23:40:00.000-05:00Obama? How can someone who demands such attention...Obama? How can someone who demands such attention to detail go out on a limb on a candidate with such an absence of same?<br /><br />That is not in keeping with your sensible style heretofore on this blog.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-8004301511745437502007-01-05T19:26:00.000-05:002007-01-05T19:26:00.000-05:00Windbag,
Your discussion of power is very impor...Windbag,<br /> Your discussion of power is very important. In fact, the misunderstanding of who has and uses power in this case has badly confused many people, including Prof. Davidson. Really nothing trumps the power of the state, which is why Mr. Nifong is so dangerous. The accuser has also enjoyed an extraordinary level of power by virtue of her sex, race, and accusations. The perceived power of the players--intellect, athletic ability, wealth, good looks--paradoxically robbed them of almost ANY power. But truth, if revealed, in a free society is the most powerful force of all. <br /><br />Much appreciation for the letter from the Engineering student, too.<br /><br />ObserverAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-2263279608842321112007-01-05T19:03:00.000-05:002007-01-05T19:03:00.000-05:00Good Christ, Johnson...Barack Obama?
And here I w...Good Christ, Johnson...Barack Obama?<br /><br />And here I was thinking you were a serious individual.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-5116670611713559762007-01-05T18:44:00.000-05:002007-01-05T18:44:00.000-05:00The fundamental intellectual problem with Davidson...The fundamental intellectual problem with Davidson's letter (aside from the gratuitous insults about hooligan right wing bloggers and the sleazy behavior of the lax team) is that the power dynamic clear favored the accuser in this case.<br /><br />Whatever "power" the lax players had, it was not sufficient to compel the strippers to appear at the party, to stay at the party or to perform at the party. The stippers showed up on their own, left early and hardly performed. <br /><br />Further, and more importantly, the accuser has used and continues to use the power of the state of NC to press two remaining allegations even after admitting that the first one was false. How much power is that?<br /><br />Add to this, the protesters, the msm and the group of 88 clearly sided with the accuser. the lax players had no power over any of these people. nor did they have the "power" to avoid failing grades or stop the administrative suspension.<br /><br />She also deliberately avoids the discussion of political power in Durham. This town is run by minorities and Mike Nifong won reelection by pandering to this group. What "power" did the players exert of the city of Durham? None. They don't have any.<br /><br />Finally, I must address the "racist response" that always rears its ugly head when someone criticizes the left. Listen, the left frames the issue as "white power structure" and "white privilege" and "these white lax players did this" and when the responses are framed in the same general terms, they cry racism. Even KC and Prof. Anderson have fallen prey to this. When the issue is framed as general as the left frames it, one must consider whether there is a difference based on race. I submit that there is. Blacks are the only minority group that cannot or will not assimilate. Whether its cultural, biological or the result of extremely faulty leadership that benefits greatly from the race issue, I express no opinion. However, that is what needs to be addressed. <br /><br />Davidson is right that they represent a disproportionate number of poor people. She belives the reason is white racism, I believe it is some other pathology that affects black people - whether cultural, political or whatever. So, when the issue is framed broadly, it will be answered broadly. But if its racist to answer the attack by the left, its racist for the left to make the argument in such general terms.<br /><br />So, please Prof Davidson, explain this power dynamic a little further. As far as I can tell, it has been stacked in favor of the accuser.<br /><br />WINDBAGAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-74107110360377582692007-01-05T18:27:00.000-05:002007-01-05T18:27:00.000-05:00Davidson is clearly a world class idiot. Single m...Davidson is clearly a world class idiot. Single mom stipping for her tuition? What planet is Davidson on? Power issues? What utter drivel. Davidson has no sense of right and wrong. This is a power issue, alright, and the wrong people have power- Davidson needs to grow up. Right and wrong not black and white. Utter crap.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-10749332321609653332007-01-05T18:22:00.000-05:002007-01-05T18:22:00.000-05:00As a former liberal, this statement by Barney Fran...As a former liberal, this statement by Barney Frank is from the same school of thought the Gang of 88 espouses:<br /><br />Re Katrina...<br /><br />"The policy, I think, is ethnic cleansing by inaction. …" <br /><br />I'll prolly be banned for this, but I am starting to think liberalism is a disease.<br /><br />Oh, and I am a Canadian who lives in Canada.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-79948152158469764972007-01-05T18:18:00.000-05:002007-01-05T18:18:00.000-05:00Steven (4:59) Very nice response - thank you.Steven (4:59) Very nice response - thank you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-4953086101797154102007-01-05T17:54:00.000-05:002007-01-05T17:54:00.000-05:00Imagine how Ruth DeVarney and her family feel abou...Imagine how Ruth DeVarney and her family feel about having her name attached to this "scholar". I would think that anyone would be much more wary about endowing a chair with their name after seeing this example.Dukex4https://www.blogger.com/profile/00465640862549819265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-59344065483844303102007-01-05T17:47:00.000-05:002007-01-05T17:47:00.000-05:00A Manifesto for the Humanities in a Technological ...A Manifesto for the Humanities in a Technological Age<br />By CATHY N. DAVIDSON and DAVID THEO GOLDBERG<br /><br />* Diversity is important. The humanities have been the principal (and for the most part the principled) site of diversity and diversification in the academy, both demographically and intellectually. <br /><br />Wait...Ms. Davidson advocates for increasing intellectual diversity in elite university settings? And then castigates engineering and hard science departments for being behind the humanities in implementing such diversity?<br /><br />That's just what I want--stupid people working on infrastructure design and scientific and medical research.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-11657636872341972122007-01-05T17:42:00.000-05:002007-01-05T17:42:00.000-05:00Bravo to 12:39 and 12:52 anonymous posters. And T...Bravo to 12:39 and 12:52 anonymous posters. And Texas Mom--bravo to you too!<br /><br />I call myself a feminist and just detest the damage that women like Ms. Davidson and her ivory tower ilk do to serious, responsible, talented women who refuse to assume the victim mantle to rationalize away any consequences of poor behavior in females.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-47804481148532180692007-01-05T17:08:00.000-05:002007-01-05T17:08:00.000-05:00Maybe Nifong is really the mother of all right win...Maybe Nifong is really the mother of all right wing hooligans. After all, he has singlehandedly exposed the Group of 88 for who they are. Mindless PC robots. They've done to themselves what the right wing could never do. All thanks to Nifong.<br />They're choking on quicksand.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-74179007130558417522007-01-05T16:59:00.000-05:002007-01-05T16:59:00.000-05:00Here's a letter that I recently wrote to Dr. David...Here's a letter that I recently wrote to Dr. Davidson:<br /><br />Dr. Davidson,<br /><br /><br />I am a 3rd year Electrical Engineering Ph.D. student at Duke who has been actively following the Duke Lacrosse case since last March. I recently read the article that you wrote in the News and Observer in which you defended the stance that you and many of your colleagues took towards the situation last Spring. I have not written anyone regarding this case up until this point, but many parts of your article were too concerning to forget about without writing to you about them --- the fact that you are a Duke professor amplified my concern. Just to give you a small amount of background on myself and how I loosely relate to this situation, I am a Caucasian male and am engaged to an African-American female. Certainly, racial issues in America today are very important to me, and I have as much concern for them as I'm sure you do. Though we share such similar concerns, I must express my disappointment towards your use of this Duke Lacrosse case to try to bring racial issues to the national spotlight. I believe that this is causing much more harm than good to race relations, especially since it has no true place in this case. Below are quotes from your article, followed by my thoughts and concerns:<br /><br />"Many black students at Duke disappeared into humiliation and rage as the lacrosse players were being elevated to the status of martyrs, innocent victims of reverse racism."<br /><br /><br />When were these men elevated to the status of innocent victims in those first few weeks/months? The national media crucified them, and fueled by the blatantly-inflammatory and misleading statements by the DA Mike Nifong, they were most definitely dubbed as guilty unless proven innocent. I find this rewriting of history (for all of Durham to read, in a popular local newspaper) as highly irresponsible and damaging.<br /><br />I also ask....whose fault is it that some black Duke students would "disappear into humiliation and rage" over such a situation (in which race fundamentally was not an issue)? Was it the lacrosse players' fault? Was it my fault as a fellow Duke student, whose student body is supposedly running rampant with racists? Personally, I interpret their emphasis on the fact that this stripper was black and the lacrosse players were white as racist in itself. Two quotes from the poster that you encouraged last Spring were, "This is not a different experience for us here at Duke University. We go to class with racist classmates, we go to gym with people who are racists....It’s part of the experience." and "Being a big, black man, it’s hard to walk anywhere at night, and not have a campus police car slowly drive by me." I ask you......are these legitimate, responsible quotes, and quotes to be encouraged? The 1st quote is highly inflammatory and potentially racist in itself. Yes, there are racists everywhere --- white racists, black racists, latino racists, asian racists etc. However, what percentage of Duke students are significantly racist? And is the author of this quote not to be deemed as bigoted for making such a generalizing quote? I find the 2nd quote to be highly paranoid and inwardly-racist --- I would appreciate a poll of the black male Duke students to see just how many of them feel this way --- with such a poll, we could determine whether it truly is a common thought, or whether the author of this quote just needs counseling. My main point is that the humiliation and rage touched upon by such quotes, in response to the duke lacrosse case, hold no real weight and certainly have no true connection to the duke lacrosse situation. These people, with your support, are merely using the coincidental circumstances of different skin tones in this case to bring forth their own personal concerns and issues towards society and I ask you, whose fault is that, and should it be encouraged and actively linked to this case? It is damaging to link such issues to a clear travesty of a case as this one (a clear false accusation of the highest magnitude).<br /><br /><br />"A team of distinguished athletes at an elite and highly respected university hired two local women to strip at a house filled with men (including those underage) who had been drinking too much. That's sleazy, to say the least. That those women were women of color underscores the appalling power dynamics of the situation."<br /><br />This woman could have easily worked at Subway or Texas Roadhouse Grill or Walmart or even someplace on her campus at NC Central. She chose to be a member of an "escort service", which, I must emphasize, is much sleazier than just stripping (3 unidentified men's semen other than her boyfriend's were found inside her from the DNA tests --- who is the sleazy one?). She actively chose this --- the easy-cash and immoral way out --- and I guarantee you that there are plenty of impoverished young mothers out there (in Durham and elsewhere), even student mothers at that, who choose more difficult, yet much more moral and respectable ways to provide for themselves and their families. There is absolutely no reason to feel the least bit sorry for this woman, the false-accuser, and in no way is she a victim of society --- she has brought all of this upon herself by her own actions. The only victimization that may have occurred with her was later on, if she really did attempt to drop the case and if Nifong refused to allow this. Even if this happened, however, she was the one who brought this situation upon herself, three young men, and the entire Duke and Durham community, so the full blame rests as much on her shoulders as it does on Nifong's (if not more-so).<br /><br />Additionally, and more importantly, the color of this woman's skin has absolutely no place in this situation. None whatsoever. I am very disappointed that you (and other members of the Duke faculty and student body, members of Durham, high-influence members of the African American community such as Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, figureheads in the mainstream media, and most notably, a corrupt and politically-devious DA) would choose to bring such a meaningless part of this situation to the forefront. All it does is damage and hinder the healing of racial tensions in America. These strippers could easily have been white or any other ethnicity, and the same false-accusation could have developed. The fact that this woman was black and her victims of false-accusation were white is purely coincidental, and academics such as yourself who use this situation as an example of white-against-black racism (or the result of historical racism that keeps African Americans impoverished) are responsible for further unnecessary racial divisions and tensions. This particular aspect of your article, and the infamous poster that you pledged support for last Spring, is most concerning to me and I am seriously disappointed that you (and those previously mentioned) are still actively trying to apply it to this case.<br /><br /><br />"And we live in a situation where a group of white athletes at a prominent university can get drunk and call out for a stripper the way they would a pizza."<br /><br />Why white? Why put "white" there? We live in a world where any white, black, latino, asian.....any person of any ethnic background....can call up and order a stripper (or escort service), can go and buy a lewd magazine, or can go to an XXX movie theatre or bar. "White" has nothing to do with it. "Athlete" has nothing to do with it. "Privilege"/power/wealth has nothing to do with it. The poorest of the poor can access these services as easily as the richest of the rich. By focusing on the fact that these men are "white" and "privileged athletes", you (and those who have put forth similar claims) are yourselves being bigoted, from a certain point of view.<br /><br /><br />"On the other hand, most of my e-mail comes from right-wing "blog hooligans." These hateful, ranting and sometimes even threatening folks don't care about Duke or the lacrosse players. Their aim is to make academics and liberals look ridiculous and uncaring. They deliberately misrepresent the faculty and manipulate the feelings of those who care about the lacrosse players in order to foster their own demagogic political agenda. They contribute to the problem, not to the solution."<br /><br /><br />When I read this paragraph, I was amazed at how easily (and fittingly) it could be flipped around. Here is what I mean: "These harmful and sometimes even racist professors, media figures, and race-relation figureheads don't truly care about Duke or the lacrosse players or even for the supposed victim. They deliberately misrepresent the facts and manipulate the feelings of those who truly care about equality, truth, justice, and harmonious race relations in order to foster their own demagogic political agenda and give themselves national attention (much like Nifong's political agenda). They contribute to the problem, not to the solution, even though they are convinced in their own way that they are helping their cause (racial and feminist equality)."<br /><br />Just as this false-accuser and this rogue DA have significantly damaged future true rape victims, you are, in fact, actively damaging the healing of historical racial injustices and are making a subtle mockery of all the true racist occurrences that happen in America each day. I fully recognize and respect that you have studied these areas a great deal --- far more than I have. In light of these concerns that I have from reading your statements, though, and asa person just as concerned about race relations as you, I feel obligated to ask for/suggest the following......Pick and choose your battles, Dr. Davidson. Focus on those racial and feminist situations that truly warrant consideration and national concern. Rushing to judgment and latching on to sensational media stories such as this to actively bring such important issues to the forefront will only serve to damage and set back the cause(s) that you are, for the most part but not presently, nobly fighting for.<br /><br />Thank you for taking my concerns into consideration. I look forward to any future correspondence that we may have.Saxman717https://www.blogger.com/profile/03129422814831409129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-61895426938965364582007-01-05T16:19:00.001-05:002007-01-05T16:19:00.001-05:00ELMOSTAFA
WHERE WERE YOU WHITE LADY WHEN THIS MAN...ELMOSTAFA<br /><br />WHERE WERE YOU WHITE LADY WHEN THIS MAN OF COLOR WAS PERSECUTED?<br /><br />ELMOSTAFA<br /><br />WHERE WERE YOU RIGHT-MINDED, CIVIL-RIGHTS CONCERNED FACULTY WHEN THIS MAN OF COLOR WAS PERSECUTED?<br /><br />ELMOSTAFA<br /><br />WHERE WERE YOU MEDIA SOB SISTERS WHEN THIS MAN OF COLOR WAS PERSECUTED?<br /><br />ELMOSTAFA<br /><br />WHERE IS MENTION OF THIS MAN OF COLOR IN THE EDITORIAL?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-64913572984601911892007-01-05T16:19:00.000-05:002007-01-05T16:19:00.000-05:00As someone who was a student during the time in qu...As someone who was a student during the time in question, I can say her claim that "The insults, at that time, were rampant," is an outright lie. She is doing the same thing she was at the time she signed the statement, denigrating the students to advance her own agenda. It's really disgusting.pantapon rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05385581881103684416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-13449820192170834902007-01-05T16:17:00.000-05:002007-01-05T16:17:00.000-05:00That Davidson piece is just another attempt to mit...That Davidson piece is just another attempt to mitigate civil damages. <br /><br />Unlike the other 88, she’s actually an officer of the school – bringing liability right to management.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-76952283502506080902007-01-05T16:09:00.000-05:002007-01-05T16:09:00.000-05:00I see Alex R is on FODU - liestoppers must have ch...I see Alex R is on FODU - liestoppers must have chased him off. What a clown - thats what you get for $42.000.00 a year. It is not his place to comment on the personal lives of Duke students.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-21150798623964503892007-01-05T15:36:00.000-05:002007-01-05T15:36:00.000-05:00I thought the letter from Prof. Davidson was great...I thought the letter from Prof. Davidson was great. We need more people like her.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com