I am a life-long resident of Durham. I am a 25-year employee of Duke University. I am a little confused.
The three defendants in the lacrosse case, and their families, would like for me and my fellow taxpayers to give them $30 million or face a lawsuit. Oh wait, accept the terms of the "settlement" or face a lawsuit. Why drag me and my fellow taxpayers into this? We were not invited to the party. At least I wasn't. We were offered neither beer nor chips nor salsa. We had no say in the "adult entertainment" for the party. But yet, here we are.
Was there any misconduct at this party? Let's see, men, beer and adult entertainment. Only they can answer that.
Was there injustice? Yes, there was a miscarriage of justice. A finger was wrongly pointed. A district attorney got a little overzealous. But this group of young men wanted adult entertainment at their party.
Was the truth brought to light? Yes. It may have taken longer than it should have, but in the end their names were cleared. But again, this group of young men wanted adult entertainment at their party.
The former lacrosse coach may have a case for a lawsuit against his former players for losing his job. He trusted this group of young men to do the right thing on and off the field and be responsible for their actions. Was he invited to this party? Was he asked about having adult entertainment? But yet, here we are.
Should taxpayers in college towns around the country start paying dues to a "am-not-responsible-if-there-is-misconduct" fund just in case young men want to have a party with adult entertainment?
You were wrongly accused. You were wrongly charged and jailed. You were a victim of the media who turned this affair into a soap opera just because of the name of our University. You were found not guilty. A coach lost his job. A district attorney lost his job, was disbarred and sentenced to jail. And now, I'm going to the credit union for a loan to pay my part of the "settlement." And yet, here we are.
I am a little confused. Would I be going to the credit union for a loan if those young men had not wanted adult entertainment at their party?
Where would we be then?
Barry Buffaloe
Senior Accounting Clerk,
Duke Dining Services
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