tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post8761338302818616555..comments2024-02-24T05:19:10.949-05:00Comments on Durham-in-Wonderland: Taylor on the State of the Academykcjohnson9http://www.blogger.com/profile/09625813296986996867noreply@blogger.comBlogger92125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-61924400445778946202007-11-22T11:16:00.000-05:002007-11-22T11:16:00.000-05:00So much for it all being past and forgotten. Mr. ...So much for it all being past and forgotten. Mr. Faulkner, call your office.<BR/><BR/>daveAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-72786670283734943422007-11-20T13:25:00.000-05:002007-11-20T13:25:00.000-05:00I disagree with that Ralph. BTW, Ruby was not exec...I disagree with that Ralph. BTW, Ruby was not executed but died of cancer. Oswald was shot dead by Ruby two days after the assassination. It was front page new for months. Wake Island, etc put Pearl Harbor off the front news fairly quickly. Disagree with the 1933 Nazis also. None of the 88 hold an elective office.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-50933428463899735282007-11-20T08:27:00.000-05:002007-11-20T08:27:00.000-05:00We need to avoid any comparisons of this case to t...<I>We need to avoid any comparisons of this case to the activies of the Nazis. It ain't the same.</I><BR/><BR/>How much of their history have you studied? Wjile of course it's nothing like the Nazis in 1939, it is disturbingly reminiscent of the Nazis in 1933.<BR/><BR/><BR/><I>Even the Lindburg kidnapping, 9/11 Pearl harbor, President Kennedy's assination, etc eventually moved out of the news.</I><BR/><BR/>Only after Hauptman was executed; Oswald was assassinated and Ruby was executed; and Japan was laid waste, nuked twice, and occupied for nine years.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-75649594144211858012007-11-18T14:29:00.000-05:002007-11-18T14:29:00.000-05:00We need to avoid any comparisons of this case to t...We need to avoid any comparisons of this case to the activies of the Nazis. It ain't the same.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-34756513363379757552007-11-18T03:14:00.000-05:002007-11-18T03:14:00.000-05:00Ralph Phelan said... "Why isn't an angry cohort...<I>Ralph Phelan said...<BR/><BR/> "Why isn't an angry cohort of Duke faculty loudly and publicly demanding that the administration investigate the violation of one of their student's privacy rights and turn the culprit over to the Feds for criminal prosecution?"<BR/><BR/> Because as a group tenured faculty are even less courageous than Frenchmen(*).<BR/><BR/> Sorry Duke Prof, Horwitz et al., but I calls em like I sees em.<BR/><BR/> Through revolotions, counter-revolutions, kings, emperors, and how many republics is it by now ... six? ... the French have remarkably never changed their battle ensign: Two white fleurs-de-lis separated by a diagonal white stripe, all on a white background. The lack of contrast in the design sometimes leads to it being misinterpreted.<BR/><BR/> 11/15/07 2:52 PM</I><BR/><BR/>For one of the few (only?) times I have disagreed with RP:<BR/><BR/>Due to my experience as both an amateur military historian and as a soldier who has met with the soldiers of many other nationalities, I cannot agree with this view of the French or any other nationality. If you want to say the French military was incompetant in WW II, then fine. But basically soldiers are soldiers: some may be better trained, equiped, and led, but all are equally courageous.<BR/><BR/>Now, as for a "military strategy" against the occupation forces at Duke, I would recommend a guerrilla campaign. There should be no opportunity missed to identify the 88ers (I use this term to include the additional 27 who signed the "We hate you" letter, but I exclude Prof. Petters, because he withdrew almost immediately). Students, professors, and other Duke employees should never miss an opportunity to write "88" next to the name of <B>any</B> of the 88ers. Students should force 88ers to defend their anti-student actions and professors should refuse to cooperate with them. Make them understand that their role will <B>never</B> be forgotten.<BR/><BR/>I understand that schools like Vanderbilt, Cornell, and Harvard are welcoming 88ers like Argentina welcomed the fleeing Nazis, but that's o.k. Eventually, if we "keep our eyes on the prize", they will have no haven.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-80104745248267908612007-11-16T21:51:00.000-05:002007-11-16T21:51:00.000-05:00Anon wrote:"Even the Lindburg kidnapping, 9/11 Pea...Anon wrote:<BR/><BR/>"Even the Lindburg kidnapping, 9/11 Pearl harbor, President Kennedy's assination, etc eventually moved out of the news. Events far greater than Duke Lax."<BR/><BR/>With all due respect to the epochal nature of those events, they were *not* "events far greater then Duke Lax" -- at least not if one grasps the underlying reasons for the destruction caused by some Duke faculty and administrators.<BR/><BR/>Two driving ideologies of that destruction are political correctness and "diversity." This is well documented in _UPI._ Those two are trying to transform the very purpose of higher education, indisputably one of the most important institutions in our culture. They want to change colleges from institutions of learning to institutions of proseltyzing -- from places that worship the "life of the mind" to places that worship race, gender, and class. <BR/><BR/>Since colleges and universities prepare the culture's next leaders in business, education, politics, science, law et al., it is hard to imaging an event -- properly understood -- that is much "greater."<BR/><BR/>As the saying goes, if one does not understand history -- and its causes -- then one is doomed to repeat its mistakes.<BR/><BR/>Duke ProfAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-17922184991221214762007-11-16T11:24:00.000-05:002007-11-16T11:24:00.000-05:00The past is never dead. It's not even past. --Wi...<I>The past is never dead. It's not even past.</I> --William Faulkner<BR/><BR/>daveAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-5981804502663185362007-11-15T22:44:00.000-05:002007-11-15T22:44:00.000-05:00Ever the Lindburg kidnapping, 9/11 Pearl harbor, P...Ever the Lindburg kidnapping, 9/11 Pearl harbor, President Kennedy's assination, etc eventually moved out of the news. Events far greater than Duke Lax. I hope that the case is taught in law schools forever, but eventually most folk will lose interest. Moving along is human nature. It is not a conspiracy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-64272155771620039502007-11-15T19:41:00.000-05:002007-11-15T19:41:00.000-05:00As someone or someones in Duke Admin violated the ...<I>As someone or someones in Duke Admin violated the team's privacy and civil rights giving out the keycard information, I doubt Duke faculty is entering into the fray.</I><BR/><BR/>Obviously, they're not, but they would be if they thought it was in their own interest to do so. I simply submit that it <I>would</I> be in the interest of faculty who oppose their radical "colleagues," and an administration that caters to them, to embarrass them by– taking the students' side! They would endear themselves to the students (traditionally good allies to have in campus confrontations), and the parents, and probably most alumni, leave a little egg on the PC crowd's face, and be recognized as a Force To Be Reckoned With before the next go around.<BR/><BR/>Radical faculty are always on an administration's case, whatever it (or someone in it) does, just to keep their agenda moving forward. That's how Larry Summers got to be ex-president of Harvard.<BR/><BR/>But 2:52 PM has nailed me on my faculty analogy to the French Resistance, and I'm realistic enough to recognize that this is not where the line will be drawn.<BR/><BR/>I share your suspicion that the Duke administration's violations of the students' privacy rights were one of the primary reasons for the very quick settlement with Seligman, Finnerty, and Evans. Another reason I think the administration would be extremly sensitive to faculty criticism on this and related points. It's a brilliant missed opportunity for push-back, which might have moved things further along than... moving along.<BR/><BR/>daveAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-46872937460449025232007-11-15T16:24:00.000-05:002007-11-15T16:24:00.000-05:00Between the Bakers, Grant, Burness and Peter Wood,...Between the Bakers, Grant, Burness and Peter Wood, I think the bells are starting to toll at Duke. Where is Robinson Everett these days?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-55164758827615029942007-11-15T16:21:00.000-05:002007-11-15T16:21:00.000-05:00As someone or someones in Duke Admin violated the ...As someone or someones in Duke Admin violated the team's privacy and civil rights giving out the keycard information, I doubt Duke faculty is entering into the fray. I think these violations is what made the BOT authorize the pay out to the defendents, asap. Could the violations have anything to do with Burness' retirement. That is speculation on my part about Burness.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-1540457772955145482007-11-15T15:07:00.000-05:002007-11-15T15:07:00.000-05:00The other side does stuff like this, and they get ...<I>The other side does stuff like this, and they get a new academic department.</I><BR/><BR/>Not even. The other side bangs pots, and they get a new academic department.<BR/><BR/>daveAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-40395422280078320132007-11-15T14:52:00.000-05:002007-11-15T14:52:00.000-05:00"Why isn't an angry cohort of Duke faculty loudly ..."Why isn't an angry cohort of Duke faculty loudly and publicly demanding that the administration investigate the violation of one of their student's privacy rights and turn the culprit over to the Feds for criminal prosecution?"<BR/><BR/>Because as a group tenured faculty are even less courageous than Frenchmen(*).<BR/><BR/>Sorry Duke Prof, Horwitz et al., but I calls em like I sees em.<BR/><BR/>Through revolotions, counter-revolutions, kings, emperors, and how many republics is it by now ... six? ... the French have remarkably never changed their battle ensign: Two white fleurs-de-lis separated by a diagonal white stripe, all on a white background. The lack of contrast in the design sometimes leads to it being misinterpreted.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-61088509422731235112007-11-15T13:59:00.000-05:002007-11-15T13:59:00.000-05:00There was, connected to the underground, a very vi...There was, connected to the underground, a very visible Free French movement. I think Duke Prof, for whom I have several times expressed my appreciation, based on his reply, properly understood the salient of the question: where are the de Gaulles and the Free French forces at Duke– "the Resistance"– not "are <I>you</I> a member of the underground"?<BR/><BR/>Leaking the Lubiano cover letter leak was helpful. Leaking who at Duke leaked the McFadyen email would make a much bigger bang.<BR/><BR/>But more germane to my original question: Why isn't an angry cohort of Duke faculty loudly and publicly demanding that the administration investigate the violation of one of their student's privacy rights and turn the culprit over to the Feds for criminal prosecution?<BR/><BR/>The other side does stuff like this, and they get a new academic department.<BR/><BR/>daveAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-47438318021487641172007-11-15T11:04:00.000-05:002007-11-15T11:04:00.000-05:00So let's keep an eye out for the equivalent of bri...So let's keep an eye out for the equivalent of bridges going "boom" but not waste time asking people if they're helping to do it.<BR/><BR/>What would the academic equivalent be? Leaking Lubiano's cover letter, perhaps?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-22633528312124531172007-11-15T10:36:00.000-05:002007-11-15T10:36:00.000-05:00"My question is: is there an equivalent to the Res...<I>"My question is: is there an equivalent to the Resistance inside the University?...</I><BR/><BR/>ralph phelan @11/14 4:48 PM said<BR/><BR/><I>If there is, then by definition they won't be talking about it. And rightly so.</I><BR/><BR/>Yes. There is "behind the scenes," but there is also "the scenes." Both are needed. Along with clandestine infiltration of the <I>Abwehr</I>, the Resistance blew up bridges, reminding everyone that there <I>was</I> a Resistance.<BR/><BR/>daveAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-36952968174177604592007-11-14T17:34:00.000-05:002007-11-14T17:34:00.000-05:00Anyone know if Peter Wood is retired?? If so, wher...Anyone know if Peter Wood is retired?? If so, where is he living? Gotta track this boy down.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-5096226690361536612007-11-14T17:01:00.000-05:002007-11-14T17:01:00.000-05:00These organizations would not touch this hoax with...These organizations would not touch this hoax with a ten foot pole. They only want to involve themselves in what is trendy and safe.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-36377681396441395752007-11-14T16:48:00.000-05:002007-11-14T16:48:00.000-05:00dave wrote"My question is: is there an equivalent ...dave wrote<BR/><BR/>"My question is: is there an equivalent to the Resistance inside the University? I don't mean isolated individuals "taking a stand," but a conscious, dedicated core of resistance fighters who plan, cooperate, and use every means available to undermine the system from within?"<BR/><BR/>If there is, then by definition they won't be talking about it. And rightly so.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-51706144195404450252007-11-14T15:23:00.000-05:002007-11-14T15:23:00.000-05:00Duke Prof @ 11/12 6:31 PMThank you for your referr...Duke Prof @ 11/12 6:31 PM<BR/><BR/>Thank you for your referral to the <A HREF="http://www.nas.org" REL="nofollow">National Association of Scholars</A>, an obviously high-minded organization for academics dedicated to reforming higher education in this country. I'd encourage everyone to visit the website (hint: check out the NAS Online Forum for commentary by one KC Johnson on several topics @ 06/13/06 and 10/18/06 and by Prof. Staddon of Duke @ 05/08/06– relive those thrilling days of yesteryear– and more recent commentary on Duke by Prof. Jay Bergman, CCSU @ 08/14/07).<BR/><BR/>From what I can surmise about its membership, the Duke affiliate doesn't appear to be a shabby affair, either. (And it's not too hard to guess who might have provided some of the impetus for the Economics Department's defense of the lacrosse players' rights.)<BR/><BR/>So this is why I'm surprised that, as a national organization, the NAS doesn't appear to have addressed the Duke scandal at all. A review of its press releases and articles shows that it has spoken out on the Summers affair at Harvard, on the Dartmouth Board of Trustees "coup," on the University of Delaware RA "diversity" indoctrination program– it salutes its Delaware affiliate for the "critical role it played in exposing the abuses"– as well as on other issues. The NAS has joined with <A HREF="http://www.thefire.org" REL="nofollow">FIRE</A> and <A HREF="http://www.goacta.org/flashindex.html" REL="nofollow"> ACTA</A> (American Council of Trustees and Alumni) in speaking out on some of these matters.<BR/><BR/>Any insight as to why NAS has not formally addressed the Duke scandal?<BR/><BR/>Just as the G88 attempted to use the national publicity surrounding the Duke case to advance their own agendas, why doesn't NAS do the same, and push back? Perhaps the Duke affiliate could host the next NAS conference. And invite ACTA and FIRE. Topic: <I>Lessons of the Duke Lacrosse Scandal</I> (I know, I know, the title needs a colon). Several days of meetings and position papers right in front of Brodhead, the G88, and everybody. In. their. face. As a handful of professors at Duke, you are perhaps vulnerable to retaliation. As the vanguard of several national organizations that could mobilize a fair amount of attention on Duke (assuming they have their national political action coordination committee acts together), you are much less so. This is what I meant earlier by "fighting fire with fire." High-minded fire, to be sure.<BR/><BR/>daveAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-31215906550414311232007-11-14T13:00:00.000-05:002007-11-14T13:00:00.000-05:00Alan Furman said... Is Castro a Communist? 1...Alan Furman said...<BR/><BR/> Is Castro a Communist?<BR/><BR/> 11/13/07 6:29 PM<BR/>------------------------------------<BR/>Yes, but he's a paragon of moderation compared with Kim "Castrater" Curtis.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-1441769843479274032007-11-14T10:19:00.000-05:002007-11-14T10:19:00.000-05:00So now Duke's chorus sings: "we're beyond the lacr...So now Duke's chorus sings: "we're beyond the lacrosse case."<BR/><BR/>Imagine what they'd be singing *if* there had been a rape: "We'll never be over the lacrosse case. We need initiatives, investigative committees, firings, more money and status for "diversity" faculty, required courses in "multicultural" "education" -- forever.<BR/><BR/>Funny how they argue that racism is endemic to American culture and academia, and that we must "never forget." But the root cause of the lacrosse hoax, PC? -- "I don't see you. I don't see you."<BR/><BR/>Duke ProfAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-40188913223284855242007-11-14T09:45:00.000-05:002007-11-14T09:45:00.000-05:001:23 and the prior 2 -3 comments. Abortion and p...1:23 and the prior 2 -3 comments. Abortion and personal sexual preferences ARE personal matters. I believe that abortion and homosexuality are a fact of life and nobody's beliefs for or against is going to change that. What I DEEPLY resent is being forced to pay taxes to support something which is a personal choice. <BR/><BR/> <BR/>That is where the line is drawn.<BR/><BR/>If the shoe were on the other foot, and we could wave a wand and make the liberals pay for treating these cause - effect problems from the stance of a conservative they would have an absolute fit! <BR/><BR/>But because our country is now controlled in almost every segment by the economic and social liberals, the conservatives have to pay for programs that are repugnant to them... and they have to endure the ridicule of being called biggoted people and intellectual dolts for their point of view.<BR/><BR/>It is a serious issue.<BR/><BR/>I saw the interesting apparent conflict when KC (whom I admire to the hilt) openly endorsed Obamma, who came to Durham to endorse Bell.<BR/><BR/>And when KC, who teaches history and whose special field is US Congress, endorses Obama who is shown in a current photo alongside Hillary and others, REFUSING to pledge allegiance to the flag of the USA.<BR/><BR/>I wish I did not know those things about KC.<BR/><BR/>And I wish that Stuart had not made those comments about never voting for a Republican in his life, as if that is some big sin. I am not surprised, given his education, and the fact that he is a Harvard grad, and Mass has returned the evil Kennedy's to the Senate for years. <BR/><BR/>BUT these realities do NOT in any way diminish the great esteem I have for Johnson and Taylor in their momumental accomplishment of researching, documenting, and exposing the Lacrosse Hoax. <BR/><BR/>As a life-long Republican, and as a person of faith who values integrity, I have been appalled at some of the revelations about leaders in my own party... their greed, dishonesty, and outright corruption have stunned and disappointed me. Kinda like I have felt about the Democrats for years.<BR/><BR/>Now I am coming to the conclusion ( I'm a little old to just be leaning this... just got my medicare card!) that both parties have the same problem: people!<BR/><BR/><BR/>I think that the fact that KC and Stuart have felt the need to reveal their political leanings is because the guilt-weight of the Lacrosse Hoax, politically, was mostly on sitting Democrats. When KC and Stuart went after truth, regardless of politics, they overturned the bad apple cart. In order to try to validate their objectivity, they reveal their own political leanings.<BR/><BR/>I don't recall whether Bernstein and Woodward did the same when they went after the Watergate scandal. <BR/><BR/>But it is a sad day when we are tempted to equate integrity with political party. And I guess that sad day has arrived. Ad homonem arguments or not... we are doing just that. <BR/><BR/><BR/>Taylor and Johnson stand as two heroes for intellectual and journalistic integrity in the Lacrosse mess. I can only hope that pervades all other areas of their lives because I have become great admirers of them and would absolutely hate to see their work discredited because they failed to apply the same razor sharp intelligence to other pursuits....regardless of their political leanings.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-47345219995470410922007-11-14T01:23:00.000-05:002007-11-14T01:23:00.000-05:00One begins to doubt the sincerity of professional ...One begins to doubt the sincerity of professional politicians from both the Republican & Democratic parties who conveniently fall into two lines on a handfull of hot-button social policy issues, e.g., gay marriage, school prayer, abortion, burning the flag, etc.<BR/>Of all the OECD countries only the American electorate is STUPID enough to fall for this crap in place of legitimate policy debate.<BR/>No European politico worth his salt would spend a nanosecond on the abortion issue, because European voters are smart enough to realize its a religious issue, not a political one.<BR/>And while I personally may not be thrilled if Teddy marries Freddy next door, I would like my political representatives to focus more on real political issues, eg., mortgage regulation, security of oil supply, military cost thereof, education(terrible), etc.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-83310579293765307112007-11-13T23:54:00.000-05:002007-11-13T23:54:00.000-05:00Whooooooooaaaaaaa!!! (Making time "out-sign" with ...Whooooooooaaaaaaa!!! <BR/>(Making time "out-sign" with my hands)<BR/><BR/>Let's move away from the democrat vs republican issue ... it is irrelevant.<BR/><BR/>Bear in mind that the only time either KC Johnson or Stuart Taylor, Jr. have mentioned which political party got their vote is when they answer the ridiculous charge that their opinions in the Duke hoax are somehow "rightwing-inspired" issues.<BR/><BR/>Since when have due process, the rule of law, and excellence in the academy ever been the exclusive domain of any political party in America?<BR/><BR/>These are issues that are of concern to ALL American citizens; let's leave it at that.<BR/><BR/>By participating here, I had hoped that our focus would be on those issues and that commenters would refrain from co-mingling these important issues with political affiliation.<BR/><BR/>I'm with Taylor ... I'm skeptical of the far fringes of either major political party in America. <BR/><BR/>I am concerned about America, however --- its laws, and the quality of its educational system.<BR/><BR/>Oddly, when I read the US Constitution, I see no mention of "Democrat" or "Republican." <BR/><BR/>I do see this: <I>"We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."</I><BR/><BR/>One SpookOne Spookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00592774438681904368noreply@blogger.com