Well, after reading his email, and comments about what Dr. Brodhead said in response to yesterday's INNOCENT declaration, I understand that they want a "do over" without having to go over all the steps they took to get to today.
Despite the public outcry for his ouster (public on the internet, anyway), I have always stood by the notion that Dr. Brodhead was in a no-win situation -- and whichever choice he made, he had a pretty good chance it would be aggressively second-guessed. Once the 3 players were indicted, I don't think the Administration could do much on their behalf, up to and including questioning the process. Duke did disclose that the DPD had told Duke's security folks that this was not a reliable witness and would not turn into much. When the legal authority of the city, Mike Nifong, goes onto national platforms saying he was sure a rape had taken place, I do not think the University could have done anything but torch more irrational anger.
My problem now is that despite the conciliatory comments about the kids and their courageous fight, and the satisfaction with the successful outcome (and no thought about lawsuits), there is a noticeable gap in the Duke Board Response: Mike Pressler.
I'll digress a bit to talk about another coach who is doing the talk show rounds right now: Vivian Stringer. This woman is being glorified for her support of her players. She is being given a forum to position her program as one of great achievement and academic integrity -- for "remarkable girls."
Well -- Mike Pressler believed HIS players. He said trust was part of their relationship, and he was fired. And unlike Vivian Stringer, who is simply speaking out on behalf of hurt feelings, Mike Pressler was willing to believe what his players told him and stood behind them in the process. The University told us he had resigned. I think that might overstate reality.
We now know that the trust he had was well founded. The "fantastic lies" of David Evans indictment speech have been uncovered. And gullible Mike Pressler, 16 year employee of Duke University , is gone. Oh -- by the way -- he was right to believe them. The State of North Carolina agrees that the allegations were fantastic lies -- and these boys were cooperating and telling the truth. Mr. Steele's letter today, and Dr. Brodhead's conciliatory (self-conciliatory I think, because no one either one of those two boys would come back to Duke unless it moves out of the Durham Police Department jurisdiction) does not mention the wrong done to the coach.
Despite the conciliatory Administrative effort, and the state proclaiming that no crime was committed (NOT that insufficient evidence exists), here's what Associate Professor of Duke Biology Sheryl Broverman had to say:
"Since we haven't gone through a normal legal process, we don't know what really happened. The fact the charges were dropped doesn't mean nothing happened. It just means information wasn't collected appropriately enough to go forward."
(Apparently tenure only comes to those who teach -- whatever they teach. Following are excerpts from Duke's Biology faculty information:
Sherryl A Broverman Associate Professor of the Practice
Ph.D Indiana University, 1990
919-668-0228 sbrover@duke.edu
104 Bio Sci
Research Interests: science literacy for non-majors; science education reform; the interaction of gender, education and global health (WOW ! I'm impressed...???)
- How inclusion of civic issues, international connections, and social engagement alters the cognitive and affective responses of non- major science students to science education.
- How course design impacts the demographics (gender, race, etc) of student enrollment in elective science courses.
- Developing international science courses.
- The factors that impact educational outcomes for girls in rural Kenya.
Current projects: Creating linked curricula on HIV/AIDS with Egerton University in Kenya., Developing international research service learning in the sciences.
Recent Publications
Ogwang-Odhimabo, R, and S.A. Broverman, Globalizing the Microbiology Curriculum, ASM News, vol. 71 no. 10 (2005), pp. 448-449 [author's comments].
Broverman, S. and G. Prestwich, Fast ion-exchange membrane purification of a microsomal protein., Biotechniques, vol. 19 no. 6 (1995), pp. 874-875 .
Broverman, S. and P. Meneely, Meiotic mutants that cause a polar decrease in recombination on the X chromosome in Caenorhabditis elegans., Genetics, vol. 136 (1994), pp. 119-127 .
Academic Integrity Council, 2006 - present Meet monthly to analyze surveys on academic integrity and cheating, devise new honor code, advise provost on academic integrity matters.
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Couldn't resist updating you on our most recent legal analyst's conclusions about the INNOCENCE of DUKE STUDENTS.
Anyway -- Mike Pressler lost his job for believing and defending his players against allegations made by a part-time exotic dancer and social escort in the courthouse. Vivian Stringer is defending her players against an inappropriate remark made out of their presence on a drive-time radio program using "street" slang popularized in the African American rooted Hip Hop culture by (ironically) a part-time philanthropist and talk show host who is now person who is suddenly out of work. See the difference?
[This is like the old urban legend about Kennedy and Lincoln and all the "amazing" coincidences - both on coins, both assassinated, congress in 1846 and 1946, elected in 1860 and 1960 - Google Kennedy and Lincoln for more fascinating coincidences. ]
Don Imus: A White male who made inappropriate comments about black hos
Chrystal Mangum: A black ho who made inappropriate comments about white males.
The Object of the comments:
Rutgers Basketball Team; reigning runner up in a Division 1 NCAA Sport, basketball
Duke Lacrosse Team; (then) reigning runner-up in a Division 1 NCAA Sport, lacrosse
Common denominator: Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton
In both situations, they defended the black females. In the Imus case, they championed the fact that these women were student athletes deserving respect. In the Duke case, they championed the (never actually met) exotic dancer for her struggle against disreputable (white) student athletes.
Some have called for Imus to pay tuitions for the Rutgers girls.
Jesse Jackson offered top ay tuition for the Durham girl.
Don Imus got fired for joking about the Rutgers girls.
Mike Pressler got fired for defending the Duke boys.
The Duke boys were exonerated on April 11.
Don Imus was fired on April 11.
Does anyone find this pattern troubling?
Anyway -- Duke needs to make their part right. Everyone says there will be lawsuits forever, but if the Duke Board really wants to make this right, they will pre-empt any reason for a wrongful termination suit (which Pressler likely won't file, because he wants to coach lacrosse and doesn't want to be vilified any further) and offer to reinstate Mike Pressler, or at least to make a public apology for his taking the bullet for an incident that never occured. The MORAL high ground means conciliation with ALL injured parties.
So Duke -- Shut up the Biology woman and apologize to the Lacrosse Man....and I promise I won't make any more Imus-Duke references.
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