Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Duke Basketball Report Auction for ATAF

From DBR:

We have a very special auction to announce: four tickets for the UNC game (2/7), all together. The tickets are section 15, row h, seats 6,8,10, 12. These are near center court. There aren’t too many seats which are better than these. On top of everything else, you’ll see the action on the bench. The proceeds of the sale of these tickets will benefit ATAF, the Association for Truth and Fairness, which was spawned out of the criminal investigation of the the Duke men’s lacrosse team. The Duke lacrosse players need to raise $3 million dollars to help defray their legal expenses.

Please bid on these tickets and remember that every dollar you pay for these tickets will help defray the legal expenses of the Duke lacrosse players, which have been $3 million so far.

Even if you don’t bid - and we hope you do, even if it’s just to push the price up higher - you can help out by making an online donation. If everyone who reads DBR contributed just five dollars, we’d help them a lot. There is this unfortunate myth that somehow, this is just an inconvenience to three wealthy families. That’s absurd of course. These families are spending everything they have to defend their children against a prosecutor who has no interest at all in offering them a fair trial.

You can learn more or contribute at TRUTHandFAIRNESS.

Important caveat: you’ll need to to check on whether or not this auction is tax-deductible for you or not.

Sounds like a good idea to me.

57 comments:

Anonymous said...

$3,000,000 is no pocket change.

Readers of this blog should chip in.

Anonymous said...

I think that the group who wins the auction should have a very classy sign ready to hold up for the cameras .

" NO TIME FOR GAMES " comes to mind .

Anonymous said...

$3,000,000 to prove Nifong was lying? Surely this could have been done for less

Anonymous said...

I just donated, not much, but I feel good!

Anonymous said...

I'd like to see this group get more funding than the University over the next 6 months so that the administration will get the message that alumni are outraged that there needs to be a check on the behavior and practices of university officials and professors.

Anonymous said...

Alums should skip the annual donation and give it all to the legal fund. Obviously if the Univ has money enough to waste on paying the gang of 88 and one useless president it doesn't need any more from us. signed law school class of 72

Anonymous said...

to 10:22--okay pal, when your life, you entire life is on the line, skip a few steps. My god, what would you skip.

Anonymous said...

I wish to know where to directly send donations to the Duke players to defray costs of their defense. Please send the information to the following e-mail:

propagandaisnotnews@yahoo.com

I will contribute this week.

Anonymous said...

I have already donated and will again. $10.00 really adds up when multiplied by thousands. This is not chump change.
Thanks to the DBR - terrific gesture and shows what Dukies are really made of.

Anonymous said...

I'm a Duke donor (+/-) 20 years, with a wife who is an alum, as well as a father-in-law and sister-in-law. My eldest applied and was wait-listed (dodged a bullet) and a daughter who is in high school and beginning to consider her options.

I've donated to the fund in lieu of Duke. I wish I could provide more and have some authorship in the effort to both change the leadership and bring accountability or eleminate the class/gender/race studies nonsense.

Anonymous said...

This is a great idea, but I would not have recommended that poeple bid 'just to push the price up higher'.

That is one way to ensure the bidders are either not serious or don't have the funds.

I would suggest bidders bid what they are willing to pay, not more.

Anonymous said...

agreed with previous anonymous: $3 million? I mean, where did the money go? It's not like Nifong had a case to refute. How many hundreds of thousands of dollars per motions does that work out to?

The case hasn't even went to trial, and there isn't much investigating to be done, because nothing happenned. How could $3 mil of legal work be done already? Are they buying space in newspapers at $100,000 a pop?

Anonymous said...

spelling correction above: motions --> motion

Anonymous said...

10:22 AM
"$3,000,000 to prove Nifong was lying? Surely this could have been done for less"

Criminal justice is not your friend. It is a beast with no inherent conscience. If you are falsely accused but the prosecutor wants to take you on as a project, good luck. As Bill Anderson has pointed out, your tormentor has access to the resources of the state. How much cash is in your own bank account? Levying charges that create your permanent criminal record, sliming you through a public trial, and horrors, false imprisonment. Happens every day to ordinary folks.

3 Mil? Irrelevent.

12:05 PM
Try it. You will not be disappointed. It's always a shock.

Anonymous said...

Everyone who demonizes Brodhead should have been here in April—he was the only person anywhere who was remotely defending the presumption of innocence. Brodhead did the best that could be expected. He had black students and loony Durhamites screaming at him whenever he went in public, and it's hard not to take seriously a DA who acts as certain as Nifong did.

Cancelling the season was the right move for safety reasons, EVEN THOUGH the players are completely innocent. Durhamites were picketing and threatening to do drive-bys of Duke student houses, so it's foreseeable that they would do the same thing at a lacrosse game.

I'm a reasonably conservative current student who loves Duke, generally agrees with K.C. Johnson, and agrees that the Group of 88 should apologize. But people who say they're cutting off donations to Duke or won't send their kids here are overreacting. Yes, Karla Holloway is a tenured jerk, but so are Cornel West (Princeton) and Nancy Hopkins (MIT). People like this are everywhere in academia; I still wouldn't change my college choice for anything.

Duke '09

Anonymous said...

12:24 PM Duke 09
"Everyone who demonizes Brodhead should have been here in April—he was the only person anywhere who was remotely defending the presumption of innocence."

I disagree. Watching Provost Peter Lange tells me that someone was not just 'remotely', but agressively defending the presumtion of innocence. Is there a better example that I am missing? Thank you.

Anonymous said...

Will this organization (ATAF) be around after this case is over to protect other ordinary citizens from being railroaded into prison and bankruptcy ?

Anonymous said...

To Duke09

Bully for you.

Now when you grow up, come on back and we will splain to you what this is all about.

Trinity60

Anonymous said...

Duke '09',

Regarding cutting off donations to Duke or refusing to send kids to Duke, you say, "Yes, Karla Holloway is a tenured jerk, but so are Cornel West (Princeton) and Nancy Hopkins (MIT). People like this are everywhere in academia . . .."

Two thoughts:
(1) Princeton and MIT are not in Durham, NC.
(2) More importantly, ya gotta start somewhere, and the iron is hot at Duke.

Anonymous said...

12:33 PM,

You asked, "will this organization (ATAF) be around after this case is over to protect other ordinary citizens from being railroaded into prison and bankruptcy?"

I agree completely with your underlying sentiment. Since we cannot solve all the problems in the world, we should sit on our bohunkuses and not try to solve any problems. Furthermore, we should urge everyone else to do the same. Utopia or Nothing, I say!

Anonymous said...

11:25

"Eliminating class, race, gender nonsense"

Couldn't agree with you more.

Here's the thing: the weakest link in the crap triumeverate you cite is black studies. As you probably know, black studies, like the outrageous affirmative action policies for blacks at Duke, is a form of reparations to blacks. When this "study" program was first established, I don't think anyone realized it would last more than 40 years.

40 years is a long time: white society owes blacks as a group nothing in 2007. If society were to compute the transfer payments to blacks, cost of maintaining BS "diversity" programs, place a "reparations" cost on black-on-white crime--blacks would be the race giving reparations.

Strictly from an academic perspective, black studies is a pseudoconcept and a loser. One look at AAAS's "curriculum" tells you what a joke the department is.

And now that we know that AAAS departments foment antiwhite bigotry--as demonstrated so well in the rape hoax--all the more reason to pull the plug. Its Angry Studies cousins will follow suit.

Roman Polanski

Anonymous said...

Polanski,

Do you believe anything of value can be learned by studying race: looking at the ways that race is understood in this society? Isn't this what "black studies" is supposed to do?

Anonymous said...

thank you Duke '09. I'm sure you have a better perspective on this than most, and I appreciate your comments.

Anonymous said...

"is there any value in studying race?"

Absolutely. Race, and race differences, should be addressed in the following fora:

1. cultural anthropology
2. physical anthropology
3. criminology
4. psychology
5. educational psychology
6. psychometrics
7. philosophy (1 of the great philosophers of race is Michael Levin, a philosophy professor at CUNY)
8. sociology
9. psychopathology

"Black studies" is nothing more than a money and power grab by mediocrities to enable mediocrities like Cornel West and Karla Holloway.

Polanski

Anonymous said...

"He had black students and loony Durhamites screaming at him whenever he went in public, and it's hard not to take seriously a DA who acts as certain as Nifong did."

Maybe he should have taken seriously 46 of his own students who told him nothing happened. Instead he gave into the mob. And the only mob he cared about were the 88 and their ilk.

Anonymous said...

Absolutely. Race, and race differences, should be addressed in the following fora:

1. cultural anthropology
2. physical anthropology
3. criminology
4. psychology
5. educational psychology
6. psychometrics
7. philosophy (1 of the great philosophers of race is Michael Levin, a philosophy professor at CUNY)
8. sociology
9. psychopathology

Isn't it possible that one would want to link these disciplinary studies to develop an inter-disciplinary study of race that is both rigorous and of value to society?

Anonymous said...

Forgot 2 important areas where racial differences is crucial:

1. medicine
2 pharmacology

RP

Anonymous said...

2:04

"isn't it possible to link these race-related studies?"

Of course--but why?

Please compare my list with the types of courses offered in AAAS. Is there 1 course now taught in AAAS that would be a subset of the fora I listed?

A great university should employ and teach the best and the brightest. Black studies programs meet neither of these criteria.

In fact, 1 of the great "innovations" of race theory is the "idea" that the word "quality" is a hegemonic term.

To quote the great Hannibal Lecter:

Goody goody.

RP

Anonymous said...

The only surprising thing about your racist diatribes is that this time you did not call on Duke to institute a program in Japanese Studies.

Oh, the irony of using the moniker of a child molester who fled the U.S. to escape justice.

Anonymous said...

Carolyn says:

KC, I deserve no thanks for giving money. The coming lawsuit by the lacrosse families against Nifong, the accuser and Duke University will be this millenium's "Brown v. Board of Education". Like "Brown", Reade, Seligmann and Evans are victims of pre-existing prejudices. And as the defiant Group of 88, et al, make clear, those prejudices will NOT change unless they are forced to. Only a painful, expensive lawsuit will do that. I know that, like "Brown", a victory by Reade, Seligmann and Evans will not change the situation. But it will start by holding the wrongdoers to account, legally acknowledging the honor of Reade, Seligmann and Evans, and most of all, exposing the great horror which has existed unchallenged for so long. This is why I contributed.

You see, I have a very young nephew who one day will go to university. If this horror is not stopped now, my nephew will be at its mercy later. And by then the horror will have had an additional decade to worsen. As Nifong, the accuser, the Group of 88, etc. made clear, the horror will not stop itself - it must BE stopped.

Reade, Seligmann and Evans owe me no thanks. For their courage in confronting this horror, I am totally in their debt.

Anonymous said...

The power of the state - Early on Beth Karas of CTV had the nerve to say "Looking at all the defense lawyers and Nifong alone - Like David and Goliath." Why can't Dan Adams put on an honest Court TV show?

Anonymous said...

Legitimate academic disciplines have been studying race, culture, social class, and gender (used to be sex) in a disciplined way for about 100 years. Literature scholars have only recently discovered those concepts, and they have little academic training in them. The unsophisticated way in which many of them use those concepts is embarrassing.

Retired Sociologist

Anonymous said...

Clarification - Want Dan to put it on MSNBC - I know he is not Court TV.

Anonymous said...

2:51

re my "racist diatribes"

a diatribe is a bitter denunciation

a "racist" is so vague a term that I don't know what it means.

So, if you could just be descriptive, as opposed to evaluative, in your language you could communicate why you foung my observation disturbing.

As to your reference to Roman Polanski's ongoing legal problems: I understand that the woman has forgiven him, just as society has forgiven Dr King for his plagiarism.

Take me to the hoop, peanut. Let's see what you're made of.

RP

Anonymous said...

Carolyn

FYI: the three falsely accused men are:

Reade Seligmann
Collin Finnerty
David Evans

RP

Anonymous said...

Carolyn says:

Whoops! RP - thank you so much for correcting me. I was wrong - I put two names for one person (Reade and Seligmann) and no name for another (Finnerty). How stupid.

(I think I just had a 'Crystal Mangum' moment.)

Anonymous said...

I must have missed it but I don't recall MLK being criminally charged with plagiarism.

The fact that the victim may have forgiven Roman Polanski is irrelevant; he was charged by the State of California not by the victim.

Anonymous said...

$100-buck donation- no big deal - a round of golf, a month's loaded cable TV bill, a few bottles of wine -- it doesn't sting -

I hope everyone gives a sincere consideration to contribute - that would likely result in a90% follow-through.

Good luck to all.

Anonymous said...

3:40

I'm a busy person. Do you want to argue--perchance enter into a rational discussion--or play beat the wang?

Love,

Roman

Anonymous said...

RP,

AAAS has courses listed related to literature, history, health, law, education, music, and theater. Are these not legitimate areas to consider "race" as a factor? If not, then why have so many people studied these things? Is it possible that you are closing yourself off to some fascinating interdisciplinary studies because you do not want to hear the kinds of questions that would be asked when Toni Morrison is read alongside Ernest Hemingway? Or when the history, economics, and politics of slavery are all studied together to analyze what different disciplinary positions can bring to bear in an analysis of the topic?

Anonymous said...

4:03

I try not to close myself off to anything. I like a lot of black novelists, popular music, etc. I just don't understand your theory of segregating this material. If you want to study Richard Wright or Ralph Ellison, you can try the English dept. If you like Muddy Waters, Miles Davis, and Louis Armstrong (as I do), get their music. It makes no sense to argue that Muddy Waters should be taught at an elite university. There are a lot of popular artists from all cultures that are in his league--and what do you learn by studying popular music? IMO, not much.

College is expensive, and the students only have so much time to study monumental artists--James Joyce, JS Bach, Leo Tolstoy.

Black studies is a remnant from times past. It's time to put it to sleep.

RP

Mad Hatter said...

A big thank you to KC and all serious bloggers at Durham in Wonderland for keeping the Duke Hoax front and center online. Out- of-towners like myself rely on you for pertinent info on this continually evolving travesty of justice.

I have donated, a modest sum, from Orange County CA, to the ATAF. Hopefully, this fiasco will soon be over and Reade, Dave and Collin will be able to get on with their lives.

Anonymous said...

1:19pm Roman Polanski

You are a dirtbag racist who spends all your time with your head up the asses of other people.
Someone to be pitied and shunned.
RACIST PIG.

Anonymous said...

Roman Polanski is a real turd's ass.
That being the lower end of a turd.
The smelliest part.
Touched in the head and a RACIST PIG.

Anonymous said...

4:37

Wahneema, now now!

RP

Unknown said...

K.C., can you report (to the extent possible) on the types of resources the players have relied upon to defend themselves? Given the significant amounts they have spent, it is quite likely they have relied on resources other than the North Carolina law firms directly involved in the case. These firms no doubt have hired experts, other lawyers and investigators to assist in the defense. As an attorney, that's apparent from just reading the several substantive defense motions.

It is also clear from the appeal for money that the parents of the players have been unable to foot the entire cost of defense. I think it would be important to highlight the significant costs any person might need to incur to respond to the power of the state in even a non-capital case.

This power disparity is particularly tragic when, in this case (like many others), the evidence made public to date strongly supports the inference that the players are innocent.

Absent the resources the players have been able to marshall directly or through appeal to others, they could easily have ended up clients of the Innocence Project years from now. It is equally tragic that most criminal defendants lack adequate means or a network of relationships that would allow them to properly defend themselves. It would take little effort to document the fact that the resources the state devotes to public defenders are woefully inadequate.

Anonymous said...

re Angry Studies

There is a wonderful, sensible post on this topic, which I assure you I did not write, on aggrieved studies.

It's at 2:47 on KC's S Miller thread.

RP

Anonymous said...

4:46 re cost of a good defense

Well said. I think it's a joke that there was a postponement. Really, what is there to "review"?

The longer this travesty is extended, the larger the legal bills for the 3 families.

The only upside I can see in the delay is if the new prosecutors can dvise a way to charge our favorite prostitute, Miss Precious.

RP

Anonymous said...

Any chance the State of North Carolina can get reparations for the tremendous vulgarity that this phony prosecution is?

What are the total costs of this witch hunt? Anyone able to ballpark this for me?

Law Student

M. Simon said...

RP,

Gershwin was a popular composer.

In fact almost all the renowned composers were popular in their day.

There is a LOT of popular music that will be considered classical in anothter 100 years.

One way to tell? The music of the 60s is wildly popular among the 18-25s these days. Why? WEll, they don't make music like that any more.

When is the last time you heard a song about a James Joyce novel?

Anonymous said...

Simon

You're absolutely correct. The word "popular" has as much credibility as "racist". Certainly Shakespeare was a popular playwright in his time, and the Marlowes of his era would remind him of his status.

George Gershwin was a wonderful, minor composer. To get an idea of the artistic pecking order of the time, Google "George Gershwin + Igor Stravinsky."

We could cynically call this "the battle of the Jews," but the reality is that Gershwin always knew that he was totally inferior to Stravinsky.

Simon, distinctions must be made. That's just the way it is. I know of no credible critics that would argue that Gershwin was in the same league as Stravinsky.

RP

Anonymous said...

Three questions:

1. KC, have you or do you receive any money or other things of value from this organization?

2. What are the tax consequences for the boys? If the money is given to them to defray legal costs do they have to report it as income? If the money is given directly to attorneys, does the tax consequences to the boys or their families change?

3. Is the 3 million just for legal fees or does that cover costs associated with media relations which is the other goal of the organization.

Anonymous said...

Carolyn says:

People, in regards to the current discussion over how racial, sexual politics, etc. have twisted the arts and humanities in universities (and especially Duke), I strongly recommend Roger Kimball's excellent book "Rape of the Masters: How Political Correctness Sabotages Art".

Excellent read!

Anonymous said...

Well, they are still humming George Gershwin today - not so much Slavansky.

Anonymous said...

KC All I did was mention a hundred year old water pipe and you deleted me - Look at this stuff at 4:41 and 4:37 .

Anonymous said...

Donated. Thanks for the link, Prof.

Anonymous said...

8:01 "Rape of the Masters", I agree and have mentioned it here before. Note that Peter Wood, a Duke revisionist professor is mentioned in the chapter regarding Winslow Homer's "The Gulf Stream". Essentially he manufactures some race pap...is spite of Homer's own description that it is about ...the Gulf Stream without any mention of the man on the skiff. $45,000 a year in tuition will indoctrinate your children to this nonsense.