Just today it was announced that two Duke University Lacrosse players have been charged with forcible rape (as if there is another type) and kidnapping, among other charges.
The story of the 27 year old stripper who was allegedly raped while performing for the Duke Lacrosse team at an off campus party has galvanized Durham, North Carolina. There have been allegations of racism and economic privilege with both sides playing out this case in the media. But one question has not be asked, why are we hearing about this on a daily basis in the national news?
Is this the first college rape in American history? Is it the first rape in North Carolina or the first rape in Durham? One could safely bet that this probably isn’t the first rape at Duke University
either (or any other high profile school), considering the proliferation of alcohol, women and men with loose morals and idiotic jocks it probably occurs weekly.
Exactly why is it that this story has garnered such national headlines is a riddle wrapped in an enigma. Is it because the accuser is black and the alleged perpetrators are white, this certainly isn’t the first crime committed by whites against a black person, especially in North Carolina. If a rape has occurred, then most certainly these men should be punished to the fullest extent of the law and then some, but does it require daily headlines on Fox and CNN, no certainly not any more than the disappearance of Natalie Holloway. No offense to the victim, if she was indeed a victim and no offense to the accused if they are indeed innocent, but who cares?
http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/04/18/duke.rape/
