Central's Chancellor provides wise leadership

The complicated and dangerous situation that’s followed charges by an exotic dancer that she was raped at party at a house rented by 3 Duke University lacrosse players was made more worse following the release of an horrific email sent the night of the alleged attack.

The emailer, who a defence attorney said is a Duke lacrosse player, wrote of killing and mutilating exotic dancers.

The woman who’s made the rape charge is black and a student at North Carolina Central University, an historically black university. She says her attackers were all white.

Following release of the email, the Chancellor of NCCU, James H. Ammons, released a statement addressed to the Central student body. It’s an outstanding example of wise leadership in very difficult circumstances.

I’m publishing it here as it appeared in the Durham Herald Sun. Some of you are coming to this blog from other parts of the country to follow the Duke lacrosse rape story. I want you to know about Chancellor Ammons' statement.

Others of you are in Durham and trying to do your bit to keep things as sensible as possible. You may want to “copy and paste” Ammons’ statement and send it on.

Ammons' statement says things we should keep in the mind.

When I finish this email, I plan to call Ammons’ office and leave a “Hats off and thank you” message.

His number is 919 530 6104.

You can email him at: jammons1@wpo.nccu.edu
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The following statement by N.C. Central University Chancellor James Ammons was released Wednesday:

"The Duke University Lacrosse team player's e-mail released today by the media is very disturbing.

It is important that our students and supporters remain calm in light of this information being released. We do not want anyone from the NCCU family to seek retribution or take matters into their own hands. We have to exercise a great level of civility as we await the outcome of this investigation.

I am encouraging our students to continue to show support for the alleged victim and to continue to plan events that better educate individuals about sexual violence and racism.

I'm proud of our students for organizing forums and events where constructive discussions have taken place. I am appealing to our students, faculty and staff once again to let the legal process resolve this matter, because I believe that ultimately, we all are seeking the same goal; we want justice to be served."

URL for Ammons' statement: http://www.heraldsun.com/durham/4-721301.html