A Question for Duke Trustees

You all know the old parlor game where we each get to pick one historical figure to have lunch with and say what one question we’d ask the figure during lunch.

I want to play a version of that game with you.

I get to have lunch with Duke University’s board of trustees.

I tell the trustees at the start of lunch that my question is a very simple one they should all be able to answer.

But I also tell them the question needs some “teeing up” which shouldn’t take me more than four or five minutes.

“But not to worry,” I assure them. “I’m just going to recite some facts we can all agree on. Those facts are the basis of my question.”

Then I begin:

I say that President Brodhead didn’t meet with the Duke lacrosse parents who were on campus March 25, 2006, the day Duke cancelled the game with Georgetown; nor did he meet with them the next day. Brodhead’s never said why he didn’t.

I interrupt myself at this point to remind the trustees that I only just said, and will only say, what are indisputable facts.

I add: “I promise I’ll keep it short.”

Then I continue:

After listening to a tape of “the first 911 call” President Brodhead issued a full, written, unconditional apology to the caller and her friend in which he said: “I am sorry the woman and her friend were subjected to such abuse.”

After we all listened to the threats of “Justice will be done, Rapist” and “Dead man walking” shouted at Reade Seligmann at the Durham County Courthouse last May 18, Brodhead said nothing.

The faculty said nothing.

You, the trustees, said nothing.

Even The Chronicle said nothing.

The “Vigilante” poster was distributed and posted on campus. Brodhead never said anything critical of those who produced and distributed the poster targeting the white lacrosse players

Last spring the members of the Women’s lacrosse team were subjected to cruel, sexist attacks in many national newspapers for doing nothing more than saying the truth: “Innocent.” No senior Duke administrator spoke up on the women’s behalf.

More than a year after the Group of 88’s “listening statement” appeared as a full-page ad in The Chronicle, no one will acknowledge who paid for the ad and whether or not payment was made using University funds.

Fifteen academic departments and programs are listed as signing on to the “listening statement.” But many faculty in those departments and programs say they have no idea how their departments and programs came to be listed.

No one at Duke has so far told them how it happened.

Brodhead has made no public comment expressing any concern regarding who paid for the ad, whether University funds were used, or how the departments and programs came to be listed.

Brodhead frequently assures alumni groups the University is “in very good hands.”

Now, trustees, to my question: You and President Brodhead keep sending “the Duke community” promotional materials and emails telling us that everything is just fine at Duke.

Are you trying to turn us all into Dupies?

I’m listening.