tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post978846660147392400..comments2024-02-24T05:19:10.949-05:00Comments on Durham-in-Wonderland: The Dowd Suitkcjohnson9http://www.blogger.com/profile/09625813296986996867noreply@blogger.comBlogger173125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-36767190574884344492007-01-06T18:44:00.000-05:002007-01-06T18:44:00.000-05:003:50,
Ohhhhh now I get it...there was "contract b...3:50,<br /><br />Ohhhhh now I get it...there was "contract between the student and the university" that included an appeals process. <br /><br />Thats funny, because Munger, who is part of the appeals process wrote to Dowd:<br />"<i>We are not going to meet. There are no grade appeals. Instructors assign grades and that is all there is to it</i>"<br /><br />How could Munger not know about an appeals process that he was a part of? Thats just not credible. So Mungers response was part of an attempted to deny Dowd's contractual rights. <br /><br />In fact there is no evidency that the PolSci department *ever* sucessfully addressed the problem. Its more like they had to be overridden.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-62172494574750261452007-01-06T16:43:00.000-05:002007-01-06T16:43:00.000-05:00To the earlier commenter: What's a little right-wi...To the earlier commenter: What's a little right-wing wackiness on this board when Duke is full of left-wing wackiness that wants to punish those who disagree. Who are the real totalitarians?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-16794220643285157832007-01-06T15:50:00.000-05:002007-01-06T15:50:00.000-05:00To 1:38 AM:
Since you seem to be having a hard ti...To 1:38 AM:<br /><br />Since you seem to be having a hard time grasping the issues, I will just draw you a picture. All universities have procedures which basically state that if a student receives a grade which he thinks is unfair, he can appeal to the department chair or some other person at the university, the university will conduct a review, and a final decision will be made. This process would be part of the contract between the student and the university. In this case, the professor issued a grade, Dowd thought the grade was unfair, he appealed to Munger, the university conducted a review, and the grade was changed. In other words, proper procedures were followed and the situation was resolved in favor of the student. Thus, no breach of contract, no fraud, no negligence, and certainly no basis for the awarding of punitive damages, which would require Dowd to show that Duke acted with malice. Not only was there no malice, but Duke bent over backwards to make sure Dowd has not damaged by the disputed grade and that he could graduate with his class. Now do you get it?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-45864761225790943482007-01-06T14:50:00.000-05:002007-01-06T14:50:00.000-05:00NOTE TO ALL DUKE FACULTY and ADMINISTRATION:
In c...NOTE TO ALL DUKE FACULTY and ADMINISTRATION:<br /><br />In case you did not already get the memo, please start reviewing your emails with special regard for any that might contain something that might embarrass you or the University (ie negative references or slander against the Duke Lacrosse students, plans to disrupt students' safety and security on campus, interfere with legitimate grades or graduation plans, or unfair presumptions about the case itself). If and when you find one, just hit the DELETE button.<br /><br />Regards,<br />Pres. Richard BrodheadJudithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13144985010119185332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-80117948363988439572007-01-06T10:50:00.000-05:002007-01-06T10:50:00.000-05:00If Duke is "inundated with lawsuits" it is because...If Duke is "inundated with lawsuits" it is because of their actions and the actions of their agents.<br /><br />Fighting them "tooth and nail" means a protracted period of time in which the indefensible action of Curtis will be in the media. And it invites a wider investigation of ongoing unfair grading practices at Duke in discovery to find out what the administration knew about this problem of vigilante justice by some of their faculity. And media interviews with the mother about how she was devastated when she found out that she wasnt going to be able to attend commencement because of a teacher's caprice. Oh and if you are Duke, do you really want Curtis on the stand explaining on CourtTv her theories on 9/11 and how societal structure needs to be re-thought?<br /><br /><br />There is no question of grade grubbing here. Its a complete non-sequitor, so why do you bring it up. <br /><br />The final paper grade was an 'F', which is easy to find out. For instance you could have read the comment at 8:06. Or the lawsuit.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-21805941440753887532007-01-06T03:27:00.000-05:002007-01-06T03:27:00.000-05:00Sorry, but I keep forgetting how you blog hooligan...Sorry, but I keep forgetting how you blog hooligans are; you only like to look at one side of a case: the lax side. Some points to consider:<br /><br />1.please note that the final paper grade is not included in the info given the media. Only the first two papers grades, which are c's are included. What was the final grade?<br /><br />2.the student missed a month of classes but apparently did not have an offical university excuse which would have erased these absences<br /><br />3.Duke, like all almost IVY colleges changed the grade whether there was an error or not; this is known as grade grubbing and wealthy students often comlain and then have their grade changed. it is a part of their priviledges that other people do not get.<br /><br />4.the student will have to prove he was damaged and there do not seem to be many damages since he graduated anyway. this is about revenge on the Duke 88<br /><br />5.Duke should fight this tooth and nail so they will be innudated with lawsuits from the lax team.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-29667890164691838492007-01-06T01:38:00.000-05:002007-01-06T01:38:00.000-05:00"The bottom line: there are no damages, and Duke d..."The bottom line: there are no damages, and Duke did not do anything wrong."<br /><br />Snort. <br /><br />Their agent defandant Curtis acted with malice in damaging Dowd. Their agent Munger representing the university appeal process appears to have not taken reasonable care to discover an elementary calculation error thus damaging Dowd. <br /><br />How do you think a jury is going to react to Curtis' statements that include Dowd? <br /><br />Why would Zeszotarski file the case if it is so un-winable? Or are you saying that there will be a recovery but there "shouldnt" be?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-37434070802745191592007-01-06T00:18:00.000-05:002007-01-06T00:18:00.000-05:00The bottom line: there are no damages, and Duke di...The bottom line: there are no damages, and Duke did not do anything wrong.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-67259884388747755042007-01-05T23:26:00.000-05:002007-01-05T23:26:00.000-05:00If you are the other LAX student who was F'ed by C...If you are the other LAX student who was F'ed by Curtis do you sue now or wait until Dowd is done and then go collect your money? <br /><br />More publicity means more pressure on Duke, but then you'd actually have to pay out to your lawyer. Hmmmm.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-73049522282423604512007-01-05T23:13:00.000-05:002007-01-05T23:13:00.000-05:00Now that Curtis is in trouble and has implicated D...Now that Curtis is in trouble and has implicated Duke (not that Duke didn't implicate itself in other ways) with her behavior as detailed in the suit, I wonder if Duke will dump Curtis as fast as they dumped the boys when their indictments came down?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-92895778370983772007-01-05T22:41:00.000-05:002007-01-05T22:41:00.000-05:00She is teaching a course this spring. Hopefully t...She is teaching a course this spring. Hopefully there will be much publicity about her grading habits next week so that any who can will drop her course asap. I can't think of a better message to her than an empty room when she shows up for her first class.Dukex4https://www.blogger.com/profile/00465640862549819265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-11754535403945915652007-01-05T22:38:00.000-05:002007-01-05T22:38:00.000-05:00Well I guess it much ado about nothing for you bec...Well I guess it much ado about nothing for you because you arent effected. <br /><br />But Dowd's whole family expected the kid to be gradulating from a great school. They had probably told everyone in the neighborhood. He had obviously put in a lot of work and had a 3.4GPA. He had earned a graduation ceremony that his whole family could take part in. To have that threatened by the FRAUD of Professor Kim is reprehensible. <br /><br />You dont think Dowd should have been concerned that he would have to turn down a job offer, make arrangements to spend another semester in Durham, and repay the university for something he was being defrauded out of? What if he lost deposits on an appartment in New York? Can you feel any concern then for the results of Kim's prank?<br /><br /><br />Why is it ever acceptable for Munger to send someone an 'eat shit' response like <br />"We are not going to meet. There are no grade appeals. Instructors assign grades and that is all there is to it".<br /><br />Go reread points 20, 22 and 32 in the complaint. It is obvious to me that Curtis and Munger and the Political Science department did nothing to help resolve the complaint and that this sudden finding of Johns Hopkins credits was an attempt by the administration to get around the recalcitrant department. <br /><br />And I'd really have to see how it can take two months to identify a "calculation error". I mean these are the soft sciences but there are only 4 equally weighted numbers involved. If Dowd hadn't kept after them it seems unlikely that the University would ever have figured out how to average them. <br /><br />Its pretty obvious at this point there was malice involved.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-90698158858298146492007-01-05T22:24:00.000-05:002007-01-05T22:24:00.000-05:0011:17 Well yeah - although, I believe it is a fron...11:17 Well yeah - although, I believe it is a front door effort.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-38980636073520607442007-01-05T22:05:00.000-05:002007-01-05T22:05:00.000-05:00This ten year "visiting Professor" should be easy ...This ten year "visiting Professor" should be easy to get rid of at Duke. What the problem is - duke has a lack of will to clean house.The Adm corrected the grade without firing this gal immediately is shameful. Go get them Kyle.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-71327823108928095792007-01-05T21:13:00.000-05:002007-01-05T21:13:00.000-05:00To 7:43 PM:
I would definitely support a poll of ...To 7:43 PM:<br /><br />I would definitely support a poll of the alumni on this issue and have no doubt that the alumni would conclude it is not in the best interests of Duke to eliminate these departments once it is explained to them that every top university in the country has departments in these areas. We could also ask whether the alumni of Duke want to eliminate all leftist professors and all departments which are not acceptable to the lunatic right wing fringe. I do not think your side will come out too well on that one.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-55901289403891900712007-01-05T21:07:00.000-05:002007-01-05T21:07:00.000-05:00To 9:00 PM:
If you are going to make these kinds ...To 9:00 PM:<br /><br />If you are going to make these kinds of negative statements about Duke, you really should try to get your facts straight. Duke did not drag the kid through the hedge backwards until July. The complaint in the case states that Professor Michael Munger, who as chair of the political science department apparently had jurisdiction over appeals regarding grades, did send the message you quote in your comment, but that he quickly reversed course the next day. Duke then determined that Dowd was entitled to an additional credit for work he had done at Johns Hopkins and that he could graduate on time. The administrative review of the grade lasted until July, at which point the grade was changed. By then, Dowd was already off to his job in NYC which was not affected by any of this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-91112216395800798522007-01-05T21:01:00.000-05:002007-01-05T21:01:00.000-05:00To 6:47 PM:
Dowd did not spend weeks or months fr...To 6:47 PM:<br /><br />Dowd did not spend weeks or months frantically trying to find a way to graduate. The complaint in his lawsuit against Duke states that when Curtis gave him the F, he was worried, but that Duke quickly concluded that he had enough credits from his first two years at Johns Hopkins (he had transferred to Duke at the end of his sophomore year) to graduate on time with his class at Duke. The administrative review of the grade apparently lasted about six weeks, and in July, the grade was changed. In the meantime, Dowd had moved on to his job in NYC which was not affected by the dispute about the grade. This lawsuit really is much ado about nothing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-5946179500314792002007-01-05T21:00:00.000-05:002007-01-05T21:00:00.000-05:00Yeah no one is saying that Duke should be legally ...Yeah no one is saying that Duke should be legally liable for the statements. But screw the legal liability- they have a responsibility to stop their employees from creating a hostile environment for their customers. <br /><br />Check out the lawsuit:<br />http://abclocal.go.com/images/wtvd/pdf/dukecivillawsuit.pdf<br />it is really quite disgusting if accurate. Dowd is forced to contact his family a week before graduation to tell them to cancel their trip down. And when he inquires what happened to give him an F in a course he had a C in the administration replies "We are not going to meet. There are no grade appeals. Instructors assign grades and that is all there is to it".<br /><br />Basically they drag a tution paying student through the hedge backwards until July trying to fix the malicious actions of their agent. <br /><br />Tell me this doesnt need fixing....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-6046172247180975332007-01-05T20:45:00.000-05:002007-01-05T20:45:00.000-05:00I am not a lawyer. So someone should confirm this....I am not a lawyer. So someone should confirm this. BUT what a college teacher says is not generally subject to censorship by a university: academic freedom, you know. Nor is a teacher's statement a statement by the university. I suspect Duke has at least a legally cognizable privilege that protects it institutionally from statements made by teachers. That of course does not protect teachers individually.<br /><br />Now falsifying grades is not something protected by academic freedom. If Duke corrected this, I doubt it is liable: I presume no agent of the university is or was authorized to falsify grades so the agent was not acting within the scope of her authority.<br /><br />I am not saying this to exculpate Duke, which I believe acted quite shabbily. But (and perhaps one of the lawyers will correct me if I am wrong) Duke is not institutionally responsible for most of the nonsense said and written by members of its faculty, who did so independently. Of course, that these low-lifes were granted tenure by Duke is probably good reason not to send your kids there or make donationsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-42122036589736383762007-01-05T19:43:00.000-05:002007-01-05T19:43:00.000-05:00"Do those who love Duke really think it is in the ..."Do those who love Duke really think it is in the best interests of Duke to eliminate entire departments like African American Studies and Women's Studies"<br /><br />Yes- would you support a poll of the alumni on this?<br /><br />Do those who love Duke really feel that its best to try to whitewash soemthing that has just been exposed to the whole country? Face it- the fat is already in the fire and it is time for a real response. If not for some equity for a tution paying student then for public relations value.<br /><br />It is precisely the attitude of Prof Kim described in the course description as thinking that "social arrangements [need to be]radically re-worked to respond to the crisis before us" (posted 8:18) that allows the 88 to lash out without grounds or probity against any social group that they see fit.<br /><br />I cant believe that anyone thinks its health for that attitude to persist. Its just a matter of time before they subject Duke to more disrepute.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-23227788858867307522007-01-05T18:47:00.000-05:002007-01-05T18:47:00.000-05:00I'm sorry, this professor should be fired.
Not fo...I'm sorry, this professor should be fired.<br /><br />Not for teaching a radical feminist agenda, but for obviously discriminating against a student.<br /><br />Her changing rationale for why she gave him an F on his paper in the first place is highly suspicious, as is Duke suddenly uncovering an error in how his grade was computed. Either the professor knew exactly how the grade was computed and was able to explain why he got an F, or not. The idea that an error in calculation was made is claptrap, especially since it took Duke several weeks? months to uncover this 'error' all the while the poor kid was frantically trying to find a way to graduate.<br /><br />Disgraceful.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-30693175154970230892007-01-05T18:22:00.000-05:002007-01-05T18:22:00.000-05:00Alright, this blog's coding must be cutting off st...Alright, this blog's coding must be cutting off strings of text at a certain length. Third try, this time broken in half:<br /><br />http://img183.imageshack.us/<br />my.php?image=webcadv2mq0.jpgAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-24702892335385274412007-01-05T18:19:00.000-05:002007-01-05T18:19:00.000-05:00Check that - the URL for the shirts is here:
http...Check that - the URL for the shirts is here:<br /><br />http://img183.imageshack.us/my.php?image=webcadv2mq0.jpgAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-19156451110521267292007-01-05T18:16:00.000-05:002007-01-05T18:16:00.000-05:00Fellow blog connoisseurs -
Stick it to Duke's bac...Fellow blog connoisseurs -<br /><br />Stick it to Duke's backstabbing administration in style with these t-shirts:<br /><br />http://img183.imageshack.us/my.php?image=webcadv2mq0.jpg<br /><br />Sized S-2XL. $12 apiece. I'll even throw in a free "Duke Lacrosse 2006 / Innocent! #6, #13, #45" blue bracelet. Shoot me an email at duketees@gmail.com if you're interested - I'll ship some out to you immediately!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-47965451715998646262007-01-05T18:03:00.000-05:002007-01-05T18:03:00.000-05:00Another great example of the right wing wackiness ...Another great example of the right wing wackiness on this board is the comment by M. Simon at 12:38 AM which states that the Dowd case is "just one battle in a WAR against Duke and the communist academy." Again, what does this have to do with obtaining justice for the three accused LAX players? Does anyone think that this guy loves Duke or that he has the best interests of Duke at heart? Does any member of the Duke community reading this blog think that the trustees of Duke should make a decision about retaining or firing Brodhead based upon advice received from this guy?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com