Columnist: 88 didn’t consider “innocence”

Brandon McGinley at DailyPrincetonian.com [excerpt]

Without considering the potential innocence of their students, the postmodern elite among the faculty at Duke sprung into action, unleashing a torrent of intellectually stylish buzz words such as "race," "class," "gender" and the granddaddy of them all: "white male privilege."

It was irrelevant that the case against the students deteriorated daily; it was irrelevant that the accused were members of the Duke community and, as such, might be entitled to respect and support; and it was irrelevant that the young men were innocent until proven guilty. Their status as wealthy Caucasian males was enough to pass judgment on their actions and their character.

Within a few weeks of the allegation, apparently outraged [Group of 88] faculty members seized the opportunity to promote their radical leftist ideology of racial, sexual and financial oppression in the local press.

[In “Duke’s Tenured Vigilantes,” Weekly Standard writer Charlotte] Allen makes a convincing case that the rush judgment by the [Group of 88] enabled both the district attorney and the national media to forge onward with their own crusades against the hapless lacrosse players.

McGinley’s “on the money” from start to finish. The only thing I disagree with is his referring to the 88 as “elite.”

They come across more like pampered, self-indulged preeners.

McGinley's voice is new to me. How about you?

I'm sending him an H/T and a link to this post. His email: bmcginle@princeton.edu.

I hope he contunues to speak out.