Justice served but injustice can't be undone
By Ryan Killian
We presumed 'em guilty as we read horrifying accounts of what they'd allegedly done.
We shook our heads at the indecency of college athletes.
We called them rapists.
Wednesday, the three Duke lacrosse players accused of raping an exotic dancer had all charges against them dropped.
"Based on the significant inconsistencies between the evidence and the various accounts given by the accusing witness, we believe these three individuals are innocent," North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper said.
More than a year after they were thrust into the harshest of spotlights, David Evans, Reade Seligmann and Collin Finnerty can live in peace. Or can they?
When the media caught wind of this story and its intriguing elements - white attackers and a black victim, athletes ganging a 27-year-old mother, well-to-do Duke students forcing themselves on a working North Carolina Central University student - they pounced.
Headlines screamed. Talking heads opined. And millions of Americans passed judgement.
The media bears some responsibility for this unfortunate injustice, but will it do its part to reverse it? Doubtful.
While the rape story was featured prominently on espn.com when it broke, the story on the charges' dismissal languishes off to the side - right under "NFL Releases 07 Schedule."
The images of Evans, Seligmann and Finnerty have already been forever tarnished. They will always be associated with rape and even kidnapping. Making sure America hears of their innocence is only right.
If they're guilty of anything, it's exercising bad judgement - the same bad judgment that's being employed all the time on West Campus with no consequences. Attending a party where strippers have been hired as entertainment may not be conduct becoming of a college athlete (or any aspiring professional), but it certainly isn't tantamount to abuse, much less rape.
Wednesday's decision didn't result in a celebration or even true joy for the accused; it merely gave them their cue for a long-awaited sigh of relief. Relief with an asterisk.
Dismissal of these charges does not grant the accused peace of mind. Nor does it grant them a restored image or escape from the stigma of rape. It is merely an acknowledgement that those once presumed guilty have been deemed innocent. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Former Durham District Attorney Mike Nifong, who has since been charged with ethics violations that may result in his disbarment, and an overzealous media built this case up to the epic and tragic proportions that it has suddenly fallen from.
Now, Evans, Seligmann and Finnerty will pay the price.
"These cases are over and no more criminal proceedings will occur," Cooper said.
But whispers of "rapist" will continue forever.
We presumed 'em guilty as we read horrifying accounts of what they'd allegedly done.
We shook our heads at the indecency of college athletes.
We called them rapists.
Wednesday, the three Duke lacrosse players accused of raping an exotic dancer had all charges against them dropped.
"Based on the significant inconsistencies between the evidence and the various accounts given by the accusing witness, we believe these three individuals are innocent," North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper said.
More than a year after they were thrust into the harshest of spotlights, David Evans, Reade Seligmann and Collin Finnerty can live in peace. Or can they?
When the media caught wind of this story and its intriguing elements - white attackers and a black victim, athletes ganging a 27-year-old mother, well-to-do Duke students forcing themselves on a working North Carolina Central University student - they pounced.
Headlines screamed. Talking heads opined. And millions of Americans passed judgement.
The media bears some responsibility for this unfortunate injustice, but will it do its part to reverse it? Doubtful.
While the rape story was featured prominently on espn.com when it broke, the story on the charges' dismissal languishes off to the side - right under "NFL Releases 07 Schedule."
The images of Evans, Seligmann and Finnerty have already been forever tarnished. They will always be associated with rape and even kidnapping. Making sure America hears of their innocence is only right.
If they're guilty of anything, it's exercising bad judgement - the same bad judgment that's being employed all the time on West Campus with no consequences. Attending a party where strippers have been hired as entertainment may not be conduct becoming of a college athlete (or any aspiring professional), but it certainly isn't tantamount to abuse, much less rape.
Wednesday's decision didn't result in a celebration or even true joy for the accused; it merely gave them their cue for a long-awaited sigh of relief. Relief with an asterisk.
Dismissal of these charges does not grant the accused peace of mind. Nor does it grant them a restored image or escape from the stigma of rape. It is merely an acknowledgement that those once presumed guilty have been deemed innocent. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Former Durham District Attorney Mike Nifong, who has since been charged with ethics violations that may result in his disbarment, and an overzealous media built this case up to the epic and tragic proportions that it has suddenly fallen from.
Now, Evans, Seligmann and Finnerty will pay the price.
"These cases are over and no more criminal proceedings will occur," Cooper said.
But whispers of "rapist" will continue forever.
Labels: duke, injustice, innocent, lacrosse, mike nifong, rapist
posted by BurntOrnge at 9:43 PM
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