Thursday, March 15, 2007

Talking w. Regulars & Readers - 3-15-07

(A post in the old "web log" tradition: notes "at the end of the day" for those familiar with what's being talked about. Don't look for links in this post.)

JinC threads are always worth reading. In the last 10 days, they've been especially worth reading.

I'll respond here in PDQ manner to some recent comments . Tomorrow, I'll respond with more detail to other comments.

Regarding Chronicle columnist Shadee's reference to "sexual agency,"a reader, while no doubt smiling, asked just what Shadee meant by "sexual agency."

That's an easy question.

A "sexual agency" is where you go to get your "sexual license" renewed.

I'm surprised Shadee, a Duke Senior and Women's Studies and Cultural Anthropology double major, didn't mention that.

Speaking of majors ---

We're you surprised to learn that Durham Police Major Lee Russ has been leading ol'JinC "around the barn" since last May on the matter of who the Durham CS board members were?

I don't think you were; and neither was I.

But I sure was surprised to learn Duke University Police Director Robert Dean was chair of the board of Durham CrimeStoppers when CS's coordinator, Durham Police Cpl. David Addison, produced and distributed the text of the CS Duke lacrosse "Wanted" poster.

The same goes for learning Duke’s Dean of Students, Sue Wasiolek, was also a CS board member at the time.

Would you have believed even two weeks ago that Duke's Dean of Students and its Police Director were CS board members when the "Wanted" poster was produced? Or that they apparently said nothing last March and April when the poster endangered and libeled Duke students?

I'll stay on this matter as my post today, which includes a letter to Director Dean, demonstrates.

A very thoughtful reader wonders why I said 46 rather than 47 Duke students were harmed and very likly have cause to bring suit.

The 47th student is the African American member of the '06 Duke lax team.

That student may very well have cause for action. But because the 46 were ID'ed as "white," and because part of bringing a libel claim is you prove you were ID'ed, I didn't mention the AA student in what was already a long, complex post.

If the AA student brings suit, he may, depending on the basis of the suit, have to make a somewhat different case than the other 46 students.

No doubt all 47 have been gravely harmed by many individuals and organizations. I wish all 47 success in actions they bring which, besides giving them some measure of restorative justice, will benefit all of us who need to know "who did what" so we can make sure "who" never again does "what."

A reader suggested I include in my letter to Director Dean a query concerning the “Vigilante” poster.

I didn’t mention the “Vigilante” poster because I wanted to keep the focus on the “Wanted” poster.

But I’ve posted on the “Vigilante” poster from the beginning and will again very soon.

Instapundit linked to JinC? Do you know why that happened?

Because you and others have refused to rollover and accept a frame-up and its enablement. On comment threads, forums and other places literally thousands of people have been making their voices heard.

Together we’re making a difference.

Yes, the work is hard and slow.

That’s why we need to keep on keeping on.

Hat tips to all the justice seekers.

More soon.

John

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Does the fact that the black blayer was excluded make any case broght a civil rights case? ie the players named were named only because they were white. this is demostartably true since the black one was not.

Anonymous said...

why isn't my comment published, parent of lax player?

Anonymous said...

The first demand any of the 50+ parents had at 12:15 p.m. meeting 25 March 2006, was that L. Minneta, S Wasiolek, J Alleva, immediately remove from GODUKE.COM the 2006 roster. The group that assembled after the cancellation of the Georgetown was assured the roster would be removed. It is interesting that Dean Sue on the board of CS; before Duke removed the pictured roster from the web site GODUKE.COM she assisted ptl. Addison produce the vigilante/wanted poster.

Anonymous said...

"Would you have believed even two weeks ago that Duke's Dean of Students and its Police Director were CS board members when the "Wanted" poster was produced? Or that they apparently said nothing last March and April when the poster endangered and libeled Duke students?"- JinC

Yes, I would have beleived it. I didn't have knowledge of it, but I have had no difficulty whatever in beleiving it. Spinal absentitus is a very common malady of the politically successful. As both these positions have much more to do with the political savvy of the successful appointees in never taking a stand that can cause unpleasant reactions amongst the body politic (in this case the faculty and administration), than actual ability to do the job, or to even understand the duties of the job. I am not surprised.

Especially in the case of the flop cop.

Anonymous said...

Thanks John!

You should not let this blog impose on any of your time with family you're visiting so far away. This mess isn't going away soon, and family is much more important.


5:09
"[Wasiolek] assisted ptl. Addison produce the vigilante/wanted poster."

2 questions:
Could you be more specific as to what you mean by "assist"?

How do you know either had anything to do with the vigilante poster?

Anonymous said...

Off topic - History Channel is doing Churchill this Friday = plan to watch -thanks to you.

Anonymous said...

8:01- The meeting refered to was the parent group of the men's lacrosse team and there were at least 50 parents of the 47 boys on the team. How do I know if the demand was made? I was the first adult from the parent side to speak up, demanding immediate removal of the roster. The DUKE admins. agreed then did nothing. 5:09

Anonymous said...

John, you share a wonderful blog and I appreciate all that you do.

In tonight's post, you used the term "restorative justice." Restorative justice is a process in which the perpetrator of a crime or harmful act is confronted with his victim in a conference convened by a facilitator and family members of both sides. The purpose is to give the victim an understanding of why the perpetrator committed the act against the victim and to provide an opportunity for the perpetrator to atone for his act and be forgiven. The families "come together" to help the perpetrator understand his crime better and help set a path that steers the perp away from future bad acts. The perp explains about how his terrible childhood drove him to commit the crime, is forgiven by the victim, and makes or promises to make some form of restitution such as repaying money robbed from the victim. Then they all hug and sing Kumbiya together (fade to sunset).

Not to nitpick, but is "restorative justice" what you actually meant?