Sunday, April 29, 2007

Hoax News Items – Apr. 29

KC Johnson ALERTS Readers in the Berkshires:

Tomorrow, [Monday, April 30] Group of 88 stalwart Grant Farred will give a talk on the lacrosse case entitled, “Public Secrets, Public Scandals: The Event of Duke Lacrosse.”

The talk is scheduled for 4.30pm, at Griffin Hall, Room 3, Williams College.

One “public scandal” of this case, of course, was Farred’s behavior—the Literature professor published a pre-election op-ed accusing hundreds of Duke students of “secret racism” for the offense of . . . registering to vote in Durham.

Given that Farred’s talk seeks to expose “Public Secrets,” it would seem that he would be eager for as much publicity as possible. Yet it is my understanding that he rejected a request for his talk to be taped.

I would invite anyone who attends the talk to take notes, which I will post.


Thanks, KC. I hope people also come with questions:

“Professor Farred, where did the money for your group's full-page 'listening statement' ad come from? University funds?”

“Can you recall where you were when you first realized it was all a hoax?”

“Is there any chance you could be lured away from Duke?” (full disclosure – I’m a Duke alum with fingers crossed on that question. – JinC)

From Joan Collins who’s written the powerful Profiles in Courage series comes this news:

A small, dedicated group of individuals made a great contribution in establishing [Friends of Duke University.]

Interestingly enough, it was started in May of 2006 because they saw a blog devoted to supporters of Crystal and they realized Collin, Reade and Dave and their families deserved one dedicated to them.

Many thanks to Jason Trumpbour and the other hard working FODU organizers. A small, well organized, well intentioned, but not-well funded group of individuals truly did make a difference. Well done FODU!

Here is the new discussion board link.
http://z10.invisionfree.com/FODU_Open_Boar...wtopic=104&st=0
All justice seekers join with Joan in a “Well done FODU.”

Thank you and please stay at it. You’ve made a critical difference in the struggle for “Justice in Durham.”

Question: Is anyone keeping count of the number of excuses Durham City Manager Patrick Baker is offering for his failures and those of certain Durham Police officers and their supervisors?

About this time last year The Johnsville News and Liestopppers were both trying to keep track of the number of lies Mike Nifong was telling. Well, at least the public ones.

I said Nifong’s lies were coming so fast and numerous that even skillful bloggers couldn’t keep count of them. That turned out to be the case.

We may find that’s again the case with Baker’s and DPD’s excuses: 1001, 1002, ziss, ziss, click, click, 1994, 1995 …..

One thing we can all count on: When it’s time in Durham to settle the lawsuits and pay up, the money won’t be coming out of Baker’s pocket or from underneath whatever mattresses DPD Chief Steve Chalmers says he’s been sleeping on these last thirteen months.

No, the money will come from Durham taxpayers.

Mayor Bill Bell and the Durham City Council have worked hard to arrange things that way.

Even Durham Herald Sun editor Bob ("Anything goes") Ashley knows that.

More soon.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks John!

Hope you get some updates on Farred's Talk.

Anonymous said...

Some Questions:

1. Did you find Professor Houston Baker's March 2006 open letter to the Duke Administration appropriate or racist? Why or why not?
2. What did you think of Provost Peter Lange's reply to this letter where he stated he was appalled by it and labelled its contents a form of prejudice?
3. Did you talk to Baker about this?

FODU said...

John and Joan,

Thank you for your kind words. You have been the best of friends through this ordeal.

Anonymous said...

Luke, I imagine Farred will refuse to answer questions about the conduct of others. I recommend the following questions:

1. When did you realize the case was unquestionably a hoax, and why did it take you so long?

2. When nationally-funded voices with histories racial violence and of lying about white defendants come to Durham and condemn, curse, and threaten Duke students -- as in the lacrosse hoax, what should be the response of Duke faculty?

3. There is now a huge gap in the trust that white students have for Duke faculty and administrators. What can be done to heal that wound?

4. Would you support a Center for the Study of Contemporary Interracial Rape on campus so that the true facts of this crime can be publicized? If not, why not?