As the daily version of the blog comes to a close, it seemed appropriate to focus on the better aspects of the case—the people who did not succumb to the rush to judgment atmosphere, who avoided what President Richard Brodhead has termed “ill-judged” and “divisive” actions, and who distinguished themselves for their behavior during the course of the case.
Jim Coleman. The Duke law professor chaired a fair inquiry into the lacrosse team’s behavior—at a time when it’s easy to imagine a less judicial figure yielding to the pressures of the moment and presenting the wholly negative image of the lacrosse players the Group of 88 appeared to believe. Indeed, the Coleman Committee report should have shamed those who blindly accepted the caricatures of the team offered in late March and April 2006. Coleman then pivoted from his work with the lacrosse committee to become the most prominent local critic of Mike Nifong—a voice of moral clarity until Nifong’s ultimate disbarment.
In recent months, Coleman has repeatedly said that people should not view his performance as heroic. He was, he’s noted, only taking the same positions he had supported for years, in cases that attracted little if any notice. But that, of course, is the point: in a case where many abandoned long-held principles for what they perceived as short-term gain, Coleman upheld his ideals, and presented a model of how academics should behave in a crisis.
Lane Williamson. For better or worse, for 2006 and into early 2007, Mike Nifong was the national face of North Carolina justice. Williamson’s extraordinary performance in the Nifong ethics hearing gave the nation a far more positive image of justice in the Tarheel State. Alternatively witty, passionate, and brilliant, Williamson ran an efficient and no-nonsense hearing—one that exposed for the nation the depth of Nifong’s misconduct.
For a sense of Williamson’s rhetorical power, the clip below remains one of the best of the case.
50 comments:
I've often wondered what we could give Kerstin Kimel and the members of her team for their courage and commitment. Just a simple Thank You seem so insufficient but I for one will never forget Coach Kerstin Kimmel and her dedication to the truth and the youngsters at Duke.
Thanks KC for featuring Coach Kimmel is your book and here many times on DIW.
::
GP
It's easy to agree with everything in this piece, with one exception. The early role of the N&O in setting the state for the framing of the lacrosse players is understated.The late March coverage was devastating and influenced the national media. Joe Neff was terrific, on the other hand.
If this is indeed the last of the daily blogs, we're at something of a historic moment.
KC Johnson's tireless efforts not only altered the course of this case, but may well have fundamentally changed the way journalism works. (It isn't every day that a professor of history acquires a dominant moral position over such as the New York Times.)
KC, we salute you.
And each of the people you named can be proud of their actions for the rest of their lives. Like Coleman, they'll never admit it but in their hearts they know it.
I can't help but wonder if Brodhead or any of the others, realize they missed an opportunity to know the honor and pride of having done the right thing in a difficult situation.
Sadly since they seem to have no shame, they'll never know honor.
Another man who distinguished himself in this case,was the incomparable KC Johnson.
Many of us have never met you, KC, and perhaps never will, but your courage and diligence have left an imprint on the lives of all people who have followed this case and who care deeply about the various institutions involved.
I wish you the best, KC, in your next journeys. As many others of your fellows who have practically become addicted to this blog have stated, I do hope that you will continue to bring us periodic updates on this continuing saga whenever your time permits.
Your persistent and intelligent dissection of the complexities of this drama have confronted and challenged me. I pray that you will be rewarded by seeing genuine, positive, and lasting changes at Duke and in Durham.
I am certain that the LAX players will be forever grateful to you.
I wonder if history may not record that this whole sorry mess became the catalyst for deeply needed changes in our legal systems and universities in particular. If that miracle should happen, the heavens will record that you had a major part to play.
Thank you for informing us... and for discomforting us.
Doris Leissing, NC, Duke MSN '70
yes there are always positive influences from americans who are from the melting pot rather the the pc multicultural sewer
POLITICAL CORRECTNESS AS RELIGION
(Part 8 of 3)
Political Correctness is recognized in the latest issue of “Good God Weekly” as one of the ten largest religions in the world. “Correctology,” as devotees call it, shares all of the definitional characteristics of the other major faiths, including a creation theory, sacred words, paid priests and prophets, hearsay-based beliefs, logical fallacies and the absence of a sense of humor about itself. One leading commentator went so far as to claim that Correctology was so indistinguishable from Scientology that they should share one tax exemption. This post refers to another similarity between PC and other major religions: Evangelism.
I. EVANGELISM: TO BE OR NOT TO BE …
Unless a religion is morbidly fascinated with suicide, it must grow. Evangelism is how a religion spreads the “truth” to others so that they can become familiar with the tenets of the faith. The basic precept is that the world is full of heathens and unless missionaries spread their particular brand of gospel, these silly, sometimes naked, heathens will not be converted to the proper faith or realize that their genitals are too significant not to cover up.
The PC nation was especially mesmerized by all the wonderful, even magical, images flashing over their television screens during the early days of the Nifong scandal. Before this, Correctologists had only read about public lynchings, and those stories seemed so frightening, violent and shocking and had caused so much horrible devastation, fear and anger that, stupidly, they had never realized it could be such wonderful entertainment.
Until they tried it themselves. What an opportunity for a big-tent revival! Finally, a grand stage upon which to preach their religion. Every one of the Correctologists’ Four Deadly Sins was implicated:
1. Whiteness;
2. Richness;
3. Maleness; and
4. Helmeted-ness.
Additionally, this particular evangelical movement allowed the religion’s proponents to capitalize on Correctology’s Original Sin - White Guilt. Their message was a simple one: “We were right, now join us, we know you want to assuage your guilty feelings.”
II. SPREAD THE WORD TO THE MASSES
Such powerful evangelists as Lubiano, Weigman, Chafe and Holloway had, up to this point, been able to reach only the pre-converted or the easily convertible. The students who came to their catechisms 101 were already at least half-steeped in the basics of Angry Studies. This, then, became their Elmer Gantry moment, during which they could capture the attention of a mass audience.
III. THE MECHANICS OF EVANGELISM
Early Christian missionaries had to instill a great fear in the people to whom they proselytized. The fear was that of burning in Hell. Forever. Many heathens undoubtedly questioned whether this was hyperbole, but figured they had nothing to lose getting on the good side of what seemed to be an easily pissed-off God. This same calculation is used to benefit Correctology. It is just easier and safer for modern heathens to mumble the mumbo-jumbo of Correctology and avoid the potential harmful consequences.
[NOTE: This post contains the opinions of the author only and should not be attributed to any rational person]
______________________
Will a later post include Ed Bradley, Liestoppers, Elmo, Sgt. John Shelton, TalkLeft, John in North Carolina, LaShawn Barber, Bill Anderson, Johnsville and the first major character in Chapter One of "Until Proven Innocent"?
______________________
K.C. Johnson > The Beatles (You do the rest of the math, I'm not going there.). MOO! Gregory
Kerstin Kimel. It would have been easy for Kimel to adopt the “holier-than-thou” approach so common on the Duke campus in spring 2006. Instead, in the weeks after Mike Pressler’s firing, she functioned as de facto coach/counselor to the men’s team as well as her own. It would be impossible to overstate her significance in helping the players get through the difficult April and May 2006. For her efforts, Kimel saw her own team viciously smeared by the national press after they wore armbands sympathizing with their fellow students who were targeted by Nifong. To date, no columnist who attacked the women’s team has offered even a half-hearted apology.
=======================
Perhaps the biggest injustice aside from the mens lacrosse team itself.
Can somebody chase down the articles that so nastily attcked this coach and her team? I'd like to see some pressure applied to these columnists.
And why have none of the so called "womens rights" advocate types made a fuss about this team?
Indeed, I hope my daughters have the character of this coach and her team.
Can anybody help find these articles??
Ever the optimist, KC, you chose to end on a positive note. There were indeed good people associated with the Nifong/Mangum Hoax.
KC, you have been absolutely amazing. Have a wonderful exchange period in Israel. Our loss is Israel's gain. Somehow, I sense another great book forthcoming (and when you put a book on your CV, you actually write it and have it printed).
Any chance of at least a weekly update of your experiences in Israel? It won't be the same as DIW but I'm sure it would give those of us here a deeper understanding of the situation in Israel.
Thanks again for everything.
Thank you, K.C., for the most enlightening "classroom" I've ever been in. You have reminded me of all the good that can come from an educator who cares about both his subject and his students. May your year in Tel Aviv be everything you hope for.
"Gentlemen, it has been an honor to share the field of battle with you."
TexasMom
How we should pay for college
This is a simple site that equates how inefficient cable billing is and points out how it could be.
This example does not include the more useless CBS, ABC, NBC, PBS, etc stations and deals only with cable.
Where's Adam Smith when you need him?
Those that don't want to pay for football don't, yet they don't receive any revenue either. That would enable the "serious" students who desire to major in AAAs to do so in an unencumbered position.
Academia has become like that bridge to no where in Alaska. Collective payment for useless studies will eventually end because the academy can't sustain itself otherwise.
Either academia reforms or new models emerge that deliver high quality education.
UPI a HBO movie. Hope they use real clips of Woods bad mouthing the players.
HBO grabs Duke Rape Case
The closing segment of Ken Burn's War film aired last night.
One of the Vets, when asked if he still thinks about the War made a profound comment regarding what would be called closure.
He thinks about the War every day.
He thinks about those that didn't come home.
He thinks about the horrors that only those that saw and lived through could possilby ever understand.
He closed by saying that he felt he had a MORAL OBLIGATION to NOT forget.
This gentleman had thirty years of nigthmares every evening which finally abated with prayer and the realization his hate was destructive.
He realized the Japanese were not thinking of him as he was thinking of them.
This Vet, I believe, was the one who had survived the Bataan death march, seen many of his friends brutally tortured and killed, been reported as dead, yet survived and returned home on the same day as his brother.
He cried when he came shipped-in under the Golden Gate bridege and kissed the ground when he came off the gang-plank. (How many Duke professors would do that?)
We need not hate those that abetted AND CONTINUE TO ABET this horrific hoax.
It would however be immoral to ever forget and not strive to remove those abettors from positions of trust and power in order to ensure something like this never happens again.
Regardless of race or gender or class.
Read Liestoppers,
The HS got hold of a Police timeline for the Hoax case. They police met with the FA and it never appeared in discovery or any of their notes. The detectives then met with the mayor to discuss moving the case along quickly. Two days later the rigged line up occurred.
Durham should just write a big check. I hope they fight it, no telling what the players lawyers will discover.
" one of their two major registration drives suppressed by a Duke official"
More detail please?
Yet another item Brodhead left out of his "apology."
You missed one ("There is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance."):
Arlie Petters
He appears to me to be a man who was genuinely trying to do the right thing, made a mistake, recognized it, and corrected it. Which may make him the only member of the Duke faculty who's actually learned anything in the last year and a half.
And I imagine the rest of the 88's rage against his apostasy must be far more intense than anything they feel about those who stayed out of the fray from day one. Facing up to that takes stones.
KC
I wish you had not forgotten the provost at Duke, Peter Lange.
Roger Duke '71 says: Not having the daily blog will be worse than Anita Bryant not having her orange juice; it has truly been a ray of sunshine illuminating this whole affair.
Early on, I wrote a letter of thanks to Coach Kimel and asked that she post it where the members of the Duke Womens Lacrosse team would be able to share in receiving my appreciation.
Coach Kimel is a true hero of this story.
Roper
I would also add ALL the blog hooligans who kept these expressions of truth alive in this case. ALL of those mentioned by KC surely read, and contributed to, the major blogs for information, ideas, opinions and truth.
KC, thanks for everything. You're the greatest. --Bob Hyde, Duke '67
The Coleman Committee ostensibly consisted of more than just Professor Coleman. Do we know who else served on that committee?
Can someone provide a link to Arlie Petters' apology or regretful remarks? I totally missed it. When and how did it happen?
KC,
The video was powerful. Thanks for posting.
Ralph @ 7:17 AM --
"More detail please?"
In UPI, KC described a situation where the Lax players were trying to register voters in front of the football stadium before a game in the fall of 2006. Their goal was to have each player register at least 15 people.
A Duke (not Durham) cop told them they couldn't do that and if they didn't stop he would force them to leave. The team left the premises on their own. I seem to recall that a small number returned and (while maintaining a lower profile) did what they could to register people.
If there's another instance that KC is referring to, then I don't have any idea what that is.
_______________
KC, I've been following the blog since the end of last year and also went back and read many of the posts from earlier to fill in the holes. It is a memorable piece of work that will provide a wealth of information for future historians that will be researching this case (and many will). Kudos to you and Stuart Taylor for UPI. It connected all the dots that encompassed the frame-up.
The best to you in Israel.
KC wrote
"The Duke law professor [Coleman] chaired a fair inquiry into the lacrosse team’s behavior."
How about a university-sponsored inquiry into the G88's behavior? Why do the innocent (lacrosse players) get put through a proctology exam, but the guilty (G88 et al.) get heaped with academic prizes?
Duke Prof
Truly historical. For generations to come this case will be discussed. It is the bedrock of what this country is founded on. Good did eventually triumph over evil. What I still don't understand is how Duke can really think that all those professors of the Duke 88 who were caught in the act of racism, and their agenda driven politics should still be on the payroll teaching impressionable young men and women hate, and disregard for the constitution and civil liberties and rights. The Board of Trustees obviously think money is more important than values, integrity and honesty. With the recent information that the Mayor met with the DPD prior to the rigged lineup and this information was never divulged to the Attorney General or the courts makes the Mayor look like an accomplice to the misdeeds of the DPD. Why would so many officers risk their pensions unless they had orders from high up to do so. They mayor of Durham should be investigated. Durham better settle soon and offer more than the $30 million as it looks like the can of worms has just been opened.
As the blog comes to a close, instead of closing down why not have Guest Bloggers? I, for one, would like to see more Michael J. Gaynor. After all, he did have info on the unreported DNA as early as June, 2006. Also, Bill Anderson would be able to contribute, as well as Stuart Taylor from time to time. And you can still contribute as time allows. Just a thought.
DG
KC,
You have truly changed my life. I will never look at the world the same way as before DIW. My eyes are open to things I never saw, and I will change the way I live and the way I raise my children because of you. Godspeed.
Raleigh Mom
An absolutely beautiful way to bring the daily postings to a close. And a fond bon voyage to our most honorable and beloved professor and friend who so skillfully and diligently illuminated the case details for us, the world, and posterity and who played such a pivotal role himself in the slow miracle we have witnessed over the past 18 months. Your understanding and timing throughout have been impeccable...indeed it seems providence prepared you precisely for "just such a time as this." (Esther 4:14--BA and Mac will like this)
If you are not familiar with the work of Karen Armstrong, another historian I very much admire, you might want to pick up a few of her books for your trip--"The Battle for God," "A History of God," "Jerusalem, One City, Three Faiths," and, only after you have read some of her scholarly work, "The Spiral Staircase," the story of her own spiritual journey.
Thank you for being our reasoned guide on this topsy-turvy odyssey down the rabbit hole where bizarre events set in motion at many levels by varying degrees of sheer dishonesty carried such far reaching implications for the citizens of this country (three in particular) and our collective responsibility to ensure "liberty and justice for all."
To KC Johnson and all those here in the peanut gallery, peace, grace, and blessings upon your house.
Observer
No justice, no peace 6:51 said...
...The closing segment of Ken Burn's War film aired last night.
::
Let me chime in here and offer support for your comments about Ken Burn's film ...The War.
This film along with KC's book would be the perfect gift for a family. Think Christmas or a Birthday.
http://www.pbs.org/thewar/
Burn's film is the only comprehensive study I have ever seen about WW II and like UPI, it opened my eyes to realities I should have already known about.
I highly recommend.
::
GP
K.C.: I still cannot figure out how you had the energy to hold down a full time job and accomplish what you did with both DIW and UPI (not to mention the speaking appearance). Whatever was your energy source, thank you for what you did. Those of us who have followed DIW, read UPI and listened to you speak have much to thank you for.
C. Thomas Kunz
Durham and New York
It seems like we may have forgotten the people who were most involved in this mess. What about the behavior of the 3 falsely accused men and their teammates who were savaged in the media?
The incredible restraint and the grace with which they handled the lies and smear campaign directed against them was truly remarkable.
Of course KC's work spreading the truth and exposing hypocrisy was incredible as well.
KC
You have demonstrated that one person of integrity can defeat overwhelming destructive forces.
Thank you.
DAA
Hmmmm.
@ KC
I want to thank you for your role in this national disgrace of our justice system. I seriously believe that, without you and the other bloggers, this case would've ended up precisely as Nifong had hoped.
A springboard into elective office and life in prison for 3 innocent young men.
Well done sir!
Gary Packwood says:
Burn's film is the only comprehensive study I have ever seen about WW II and like UPI, it opened my eyes to realities I should have already known about.
I think that the overriding message KC has conveyed is that you must look at these things from both (all) sides before making any judgment. While I have not seen Burn's film, I strongly suspect it explores the American point of view. One would do well to read something like Lost Victories to provide a different PoV.
I hope this blog is copied to a CD and sold, or otherwise made available, perhaps in conjunction with UPI. High schools, colleges, law schools, journalism programs and news organizations around the country would benefit from reading UPI and following the blog. In a time when cynicism, sarcasm, political correctness and apathy are so prevalent, DIW and UPI are examples of how important thougtfulness and critical thinking are, and of how one person joined by others many of whom are listed above can make a significant contribution to the community by thinking and writing clearly. Readers of this blog and of UPI have learned a great deal. I hope that the same opportunity will be available to others in the future, something that can happen if this blog and UPI are packaged together and turned into teaching materials that will be widely available. My hat is off to all the people listed above who kept their heads and did the right thing under extraordinary circumstances at no small risk of incurring the crowd's wrath. Thanks to Stuart Taylor, co-author of UPI. For my money Stuart has been the best writer in the country on legal affairs for a long time. And as for KC, wow!! How you did this, why you did this, what impact did this have on your life?.....these are questions that are part of a story that as far as I know has yet to be told. There is much to be learned from your story. I hope DIW will stay on line for a while to allow time for people to copy it. Many thanks KC for terrific reporting and moderating.
I think Bob Harris deserves a hat tip as well.
"This isn't about Duke," Nifong said. "This isn't about Duke at all."
"No," Harris said. "It's about honesty. You're not honest."
Thanks for your dedication and honesty, KC. As a Duke alum, some of your posts felt like a trip to the dentist - but at least now I have better, cleaner teeth.
Duke84
Many "who blindly accepted the carictures of the team" put forth in the media were themselves instrumental in creating the image of the lacrosse team which was put forward to the world by the mainstream media. This did not happen by accident. This "caricature" was just one of many such bigoted caricatures preassembled, nurtured, and ready for use by certain so-called academics at Duke. These people have made a study of language and how it is structured and have long since created a vocabulary suited to their own language. They have noticed how people use and store and learn words, and they have created a lexicon of their own and used it to caricature others for their own purposes whether for politics or power or to indoctinate, but hardly to educate or inform. In effect, they have created their own language . . . crated their own personal knowledge of vocabulary . . . and established their own lexicon. Their efforts affect and infect their departments, colleges and universities where they teach and the students whom they have taught, and it is very much a part the knowledge and world view and vocablary of the Fourth Estate, so much so, that the media have a difficult time dealing with any reality that does not conform to the narrative that these academics have developed and put in place to review or see or describe the world reality they think that they are experiencing at any gioven time. To these people the reality in front of them " . . . does not compute." As was said in Durham, "It's not about the truth . . . .," or to paraphrase a once popular song, "What's truth (sic) got to do with it . . . . " What thes people fail to realize is this manipulation of language can be used against them, and at the end of this charade, ordinary people suffered from an arrogant tyranny of word bigots.
I for one, do not beleive that the Duke case is an isolated instance. I hope that the entire tale of conspiracy is exposed with ALL the players.
Why did these criminal acts go unchallenged? Because it was simply business as usual. Their way of doing things had never been challenged in the past, they had no reason to think it would EVER be challenged. They were not above the law --- they were the law.
KC
What a magnificent demonstration you have given us of all the academic, scholarly and pedagogical Virtues. It is truly wonderful to see a High Adept in action and functioning.
You did it for three young men horribly, treacherouly used. And also to correct the violation of teacher/student duty. Motive doesn't get any purer than that.
You are, in fact, a Mensch. A decent person.
Mazel tov!
Ciao professore.
KC --
I'm not sure what Michael Munger has done to earn him so high a place. In fact, until you mentioned him just now, I had never even heard the name. Googling to find out didn't really give me confidence -- not only did he state in December 2006 that the underage drinking, the hiring of the strippers, and the alleged racial epithets would of themselves justify firing the coach and suspending the team (hadn't Kim Roberts already admitted by then on 60 Minutes that she initiated the only exchange of racial epithets that night?) but specifically opined "That sort of thing would NEVER have happened on Duke's basketball team, for example." Well, we had a first-hand account in April 2006 of the baseball team hiring strippers on multiple occasions, and Bill Anderson has said that a source "close to the situation" said that yes, the basketball team had also hired strippers for a party -- less than two weeks before the lacrosse players. I am honestly wondering whether we are so short of heroes that Munger really merits to take a place beside Gustafson and Baldwin.
Many thanks to Lane Williamson for his decisive handling of Nifong...and for his biting wit.
Many thanks to James Coleman for always being fair and a gentleman...upholding the integrity of his profession when most others did not.
Jason Trumpbour contributed greatly, especially in the early months of this case. His website and his comments in the local papers were very informative long before some of us found KC.
Coach Kimmel was a true prize.
KC,
You have been the first thing I read in the morning, and the last thing and night--and often in between. You have demonstrated what a scholar should be--follow the facts no matter where they lead. I am honored to have met you, privileged to have read your book, and honored to have been allowed along for the ride. You were a rare beacon of light over a year ago, along with Bill Anderson, Joan Foster, LaShawn Barber, Dan Abrams, the Liestoppers crew, Jason Trumpbour, and pitifully few others. Enjoy Israel.--Buddy
Thank you doesn't seem like enough for the information you provided on this blog and in your book.
I certainly agree with your picks, and also agree that you left yourself off the list, but that's what I've come to expect. Classic understatement! The proof is in the pudding, so to speak--no one can refute the facts, so they attack with "nasty bloggers" and start name-calling!
And the good guy cab driver (whose name I won't try to spell or bother to look up) who did the right thing, not the easy thing. And the attorney who went to bat for him when he needed it (the name's in the book, but I'm at work now).
As an aside, I have the Ken Burns WWII series recorded--gotta go watch it as soon as the blogs slow down!
Thank you will never be enough for what KC has done.
Why Not Peter Lange?
KC, You are the best. My only complaint is you decreased my productivity at work as I apent so much time on DIW!
Doesn't Peter Lange deserve to be on this list. He wasn't perfect (he had a role in naming the members of the CCI) but he stood up to the potbangers when they stood screaming outside his house. His response, captured on Youtube, was a demonstration of how all of the administration could/should have acted. Finally Lange's public response to Houston Baker, for which he was called a racist by a leading African-american professors group, was a real profile in courage.
I have been critical of Lange before. He was involved in hiring some of these loony professors. But in this case he stepped up big big time.
Charles K. Bobrinskoy T 81
Don't forget Coach K. I really appreciated what he said and when he said it--ie, we are in the kid business...
He seemed to be criticizing the Duke administration's response without coming right out and saying that. Given his position i thought his remarks were perfectly crafted. And I think he spoke to the team--but I could be wrong.
"One riot, one Ranger."
Well done KC.
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