Making Duke Research a “must read”

I recently received a Duke News email which began - - -

As a Duke alumnus, we thought you might be interested in seeing Duke Research. It's a colorful multimedia magazine that explores the people and programs that have made Duke a top ten research institution. Please join us, leave a comment, and subscribe for monthly updates!
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Duke Research may be a fine publication, but I doubt I’ll subscribe. There’s so much out there and so little time to read.

But Duke Research would go to the top of my “must read” list if it provided research findings concerning such questions as:

How and why was the decision made that President Brodhead would say nothing in his March 25, 2006 public statement the about the extensive cooperation the lacrosse players had provided Durham Police?

Did any of the senior administrators who attended the meeting at President Brodhead’s house before his statement was released point out that failing to mention the players’ extensive cooperation, and instead urging everyone to cooperate with police would lend credence to what those at the meeting knew was the Durham Police’s lie about the players stonewalling them?

Executive Vice President Tallman Trask and then AD Joe Alleva had both met with the lacrosse captains who’d detailed their extensive cooperation with police.

Did they not speak up and share what they knew?

Then Vice President for Public Affairs and Government Relations John Burness knew of the players cooperation?

Didn't he speak up?

Does any Duke trustee then or now believe Brodhead didn't know about the players' cooperation before he issued his statement?

Was there discussion at the meeting of whether President Brodhead would meet later in the day with the lacrosse parents?

If yes, what was the substance of the discussion?

Was the decision that Brodhead would not meet with the parents made at the meeting?

If yes, did any member of “Dick’s senior team” say that was a mistake?

Why has President Brodhead never explained why he refused to meet with the parents?

Was there any trustee involvement during the meeting at Brodhead’s house?

If yes, who was/were the trustee/trustees involved?

Was Board of Trustee Chair Robert Steel involved in any of the following: 1) general discussion during the meeting; 2) discussion in particular concerning whether Brodhead would meet with the parents; 3) discussion in particular concerning the content of Brodhead’s public statement?

There are many more questions about that March 25, 2006 meeting I wish Duke Research would report on the most telling and troubling of which is: Why is it necessary to ask now the questions I've asked here?

They should have been answered more than two-and-a-half years ago?

For your ease of reference, here’s the full text of President Brodhead’s March 25, 2006 statement and a link to the Raleigh News & Observer’s front page story that day which led Brodhead to call the meeting at his house.

Statement by President Richard H. Brodhead on Duke Men’s Lacrosse Team

Physical coercion and sexual assault are unacceptable in any setting and have no place at Duke. The criminal allegations against three members of our men’s lacrosse team, if verified, will warrant very serious penalties. The facts are not yet established, however, and there are very different versions of the central events. No charges have been filed, and in our system of law, people are presumed innocent until proven guilty. We also know that many members of the team, including some who were asked to provide DNA samples, did not attend the party.

I urge everyone to cooperate to the fullest with the police inquiry while we wait to learn the truth.

Whatever that inquiry may show, it is already clear that many students acted in a manner inappropriate to a Duke team member in participating in the March 13 party. I applaud Athletics Director Joe Alleva for responding to the conduct that is not in question even as we wait for the investigation to determine the truth about disputed parts of the events.

The N&O's March 25, 2006 story:

Dancer gives details of ordeal

A woman hired to dance for the Duke lacrosse team describes a night of racial slurs, growing fear and, finally, sexual violence