Duke Lacrosse

Duke Lacrosse Case

In March of 2006, several players of the Duke Lacrosse team were accused of raping an exotic dancer at a party at a home located off campus. The victim was a student of North Carolina Central University. She told police that three lacrosse players from Duke University forced her into the bathroom and physically beat and rape her. As a result, the President of Duke University suspended the entire team during that period until he found fit according to the legalities that the Duke Lacrosse players would face. All 46 of 47 lacrosse players had to give DNA samples with a cheek swab. Since the victim said that her attackers were white, the 47th player, the only black Duke Lacrosse player, did not have to take the DNA test. During that period, there is said to have been racial tensions on campus. The victim herself was black. Some believe that the attack was racially motivated.

Duke Lacrosse Assault

During the Duke Lacrosse team’s suspension, some students at the university protested to the University’s president that suspension was not sufficient for the players’ action. According to police, the three players and the accused, lived at the house where the party was held. Over 100 students protested to the University’s president hoping for a harsher punishment. The Duke Lacrosse team may be associated with this incident for quite some time. Unfortunately, men and violence against women is all too common. Men with high status, such as an all-star athlete Kobe Bryant, more often are not convicted for sexual assault according to USA Today. Athletes tend to have better odds at not getting convicted then the general population. Fewer athletes actually end up going to trial and only a fraction of those who go to trial end up in convictions. Many teams a plea agreement is the final outcome. More often, charges are usually dropped or acquitted. These figures are almost opposite for the general public, where 80% of those who go to trial are convicted.

Duke Lacrosse Rape Victim

There are many cases all over the country involving college age men and rape of women students. Such assaults are typically against women that these violent men know or have met at a party. While the Duke Lacrosse team’s case went public, many of these cases do not. The farthest they may go is to the university or college clinic who treats rape victims. Planned Parenthood is also an avenue for rape victims where they can find caring women to help them cope with their trauma.