Back at Duke
Houston Baker, the Duke faculty member who wrote the appalling letter about the alleged rape, got rewarded with a job offer at Vanderbilt where he is now distinguished professor. He has never apologized or retracted his Salem-witch trial like rantings.
Duke’s President Brodhead who cancelled the lacrosse season, lectured ad nauseam about racism and sexism, and pandered to the race/class/gender lobbies to preserve his own fides at the expense of the accused is still refashioning and repositioning his rhetoric in light of the present embarrassment (e.g., now saying of the wrongly accused, “They have carried themselves with dignity through an ordeal of deep unfairness”). Uh, uh.
Yet he should recall earlier statements such as, “ “We are eager for our students to be proved innocent.”
Mr. President, they were always innocent unless and until proven guilty by a jury.
Almost everything he was “worried” about was a lie. The real inebriated or drug-induced were the strippers, one of whom could hardly stand. The racist exchange, as little as it was, apparently started when a team member was called a racial and sexual epithet by the stripper to the effect that he was a white boy with a small penis.
The lying and perjury was all on the part of the “victim”. Sexual battery may well have occurred at some earlier point—since the “victim” had DNA evidence of sperm from several males—but we know not one was from a Duke student.
The sordid behavior was evident among his own faculty, some of whom signed a letter damning the students on no evidence, in efforts to promote their own agendas.
What Duke Should Say…
If the President were to reopen his mouth, he might tell the truth:
“The university advises strongly against students hiring “exotic dancers” at private parties. Besides the moral issues involved, many of such performers are habitual drug and alcohol users, and engage in dangerous promiscuous sexual activity, as well as having criminal records. Hiring such a performer only increases a student’s own exposure to a host of these obvious dangers, criminal, sexual, and drug-related.”
“As for as matters on campus, this sad travesty should be a reminder that the university especially must be a custodian of civil liberties and a protector of the right of individuals to due process. Instead the Duke community devolved to the rule of the mob, condemning the accused in print, rallies, and flyers in a way that was intended to cast pre-trial guilt upon their innocence. This is reprehensible. To the extent that I either participated in such a rush to judgment or, as your president, let it unfold without rebuke, I am deeply sorry. I failed the entire community. In efforts to appear liberal and unbiased I proved illiberal and prejudiced. At the very moment when the community was looking for a voice of reasoned calm I joined the storm of reckless emotion.”
Why won’t the Duke president or the culpable faculty apologize?
Because deeply entrenched among the Left is a notion of moral justice that transcends the law and is now to be adjudicated by elites versed in race/class/gender theories. In this way of thinking the “rape” is just a matter of semantics, the law an obstruction to the larger question still unresolved: a poor black woman performed sexually for white rich males.
De facto this is an indictment of our entire male-dominated capitalist system that put the poor, the female, the person of color in bondage to the white, male and wealthy.
In that prism, technicalities of law don’t matter and surely don’t address these larger pathologies so endemic in the United States, against which the university nearly alone exists to combat. That the “victim” lied under oath, ruined the reputations of innocents, was on drugs, was engaged in promiscuous sexual activity, and had a criminal record is simply proof of her victim status. This notion of a higher law unto themselves is used frequently by Left and Right, it is true, but never in such an injurious or hypocritical fashion as by the academic Left that on campuses has developed a real contempt for our laws of free speech and due process—again, seen as impediments to their version of heaven on earth.
Invade, Invade Everywhere?
Barrack Obama’s recent speech linking mass murder at Virginia Tech to everything from Darfur to outsourcing and Imus was about as pathetic an exegesis as one could imagine. And his calls to do something in Darfur were surreal, akin to the Democrats’ demands that we “get Osama bin Laden” as if invading or bombing nuclear Islamic Pakistan were a real option.
But we know both would be difficult, and the Democrats’ past record, from October 2002 to the present, would give us the script: vote for invasion, back peddle when things got rough (and they would in the Pakistani borderlands or the killing fields of the Sudan), and then blame others for brain-washing them. Five years from now I could imagine Mr. Obama assuring everyone that he was given faulty information about Darfur and thus, Kerry-like, was for the invasion before he was against it.
Wolfowitz, Don’t Resign!
There is a strange leftist fixation on Paul Wolfowitz. By any standard of DC protocol, he has done nothing even approaching scandal at the World Bank. Indeed, he seems to have taken inordinate lengths to apprise the Bank of his relationship with his companion there. And it almost appears that such consideration revealed to his enemies not moderation and conciliation, but politeness seen wrongly as vulnerability. During past administrations, Wolfowitz lobbied to pressure autocracies in the Philippines and Indonesia to reform. And in the 1991 War he was a lone voice of dissent, calling for support for the Shiia and Kurds, and the injection of some morality in US foreign policy.
Apparently, the left hates him especially because he is an intellectual and academic, and therefore de facto must be “liberal” in their own doctrinaire sense. The result is that he becomes for them some sort of mirror on their own ideologies, a professor that had the same training, education, and career, but instead reached far different conclusions about human nature and global morality. And that proves infuriating—‘How can a PhD and professor use our education to become like “them.’?
He should never resign, and will emerge stronger when this lynch mob subsidies. The existential question remains, however—in a world in which China has $1 trillion in foreign reserves and still champions itself as protector of the global poor, do we still need the World Bank?
The Killer
What do you have to do to get attention as a madman? Terrify your teacher? Empty a classroom by your creepy presence? Light fires? Be referred for mental health treatment? Have a judge review your dossier? Live a complete life of solitude?
I had a somewhat similar, though very minor experience with an unhinged student in 1971, in fact, with a roommate, my first semester at UC Santa Cruz.
He will remain unnamed (and eventually became quite successful), but when I moved in the first week, the room was full of weapons—knives, spears, clubs, brass knuckles, and various literature about martial arts, violence, killing etc. He slept most of the day, was up all night, skipped all classes, and bragged that he had not bathed in 6 months.
At first I wasn’t too worried, since in rural Fresno County where I grew up, those in high school with nothing left to lose, unlike this fellow, punched first, and talked second—and seemed a lot scarier, despite my new roommate’s hair to his shoulders, no shoes, strong odor, and large size.
He played Stones records all night long and drank 2 quart-sized beers each evening, after a prior long history of drug use. I told him that I would report him to resident authorities and preceptors, and finally did but they insisted that they couldn’t find another dorm room for him.
The university finally recommended counseling after he shot flaming arrows off the dorm roof at students. Then he fled from the orderlies who came to our room to straight-jacket him, and had to be forcibly removed.
A week at a mental detention facility seemed to help, but he was expelled or left school shortly thereafter. As I said, years later he straightened out, and is now a successful businessman, and likewise years later told me that he blamed the university for not providing a more structured environment.
That semester I’d call home for advice when the university at first did nothing, and my father would warn, “No one can protect you. Only you can do that. So be ready. Sooner or later you’ll have to defend yourself. He’s nothing any more dangerous than you’ve seen out here on the farm.”
This warning about the need for self-reliance was essentially a reiteration of what he had been saying since I went to a rural, wild school at 8 where fighting and intimidation were the norms, and he feared he could not be there to protect me nor had much confidence—he was an educator himself—in the school to do so.
My older brother earlier had been jumped in high school. My father helped the police track down the toughs who did it, and came away disgusted that they were turned loose after reprimands, despite his offer to both of having a go with them in “a fair fight” (a 45-year old versus two 19 year old toughs).
So back in the dorm I then put my bed on stilts, and slept with my uncle’s Louisville Slugger (36 oz.)
Finally, we had a 20-minute, all out-fight, knocking things all over the room, a real battle to the finish. Apparently, I had cleaned the room and he became enraged at me for using air freshener. Luckily I won—and after that he was quieter, at least to me, though the arrow incident soon followed.
All this lasted 15 weeks. His “problem” was known to the college at the time, to the point that former roommates had warned me on arrival that my assigned roommate was somewhat volatile.
I bring this up in real empathy with the students, since I don’t believe that the university can protect any of them. Its mentality is therapeutic. And in the age of law-suits, and fourth-chances officials always err in the direction of the accused’s rights. I say that not in hindsight or criticism, but in sadness that the best advice one could give a child going to the university would be something like: “You will meet very eccentric people there, with all sorts of problems and strong passions, most of them antithetical to your own. Don’t expect moral guidance necessarily from your professors, or physical protection from your colleagues or the administration. Ask for such help, but don’t count on it. Instead keep you eyes open and at all times expect the worse.”
I am sorry if that sounds pessimistic, but I find it better advice than something like the college brochures’ promises of four years of intellectual and lifestyle stimulation in a cordial tolerant environment.
Sadly, it just ain’t so.
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22 Comments
GGA - Dublin, Ohio:Dr. Hanson -
I have tried to access your Private Papers website several times this week and cannot get it to open. Are there technical difficulties with the site? Is there anything we can do to help?
Thank you for continuing to be a breath of fresh air in today’s cold world. Your columns and posts are quite a contrast against the bias and hypocrisy emanating from much of the MSM, which is as tedious as it is pretentious and tiresome. Your words, insights, and intellectual honesty are invigorating and truly appreciated.
Keep up your great work.
Kind Regards,
Apr 20, 2007 - 2:43 pm Tom Holsinger:GGA - Dublin, Ohio
UCSC, Fall 1968, Stevenson College, bottom floor of Dorm 5. I was a sophomore. Freshman George (not my roommate) wouldn’t bathe. At all. Two weeks later everyone on the floor except for the RA dragged George into the restroom at night and used a wire brush. George then became a normal person, won the Saga Foods pie-eating contest, and voluntarily washed up afterwards.
Fire arrows is a bit much. My sons didn’t believe my stories until I got Modesto realtor Mike Zagaris on the phone to tell them that he had personally manned the fire hose from the third floor lounge of his dorm to fill up the second floor lounge of an adjoining dorm. That was Stevenson’s first year, before my freshman year.
My freshman year Proctor DeVries politely asked us to stop borrrowing the construction crew’s earth-moving machines at night and having races with them (I have photos). We complied as we liked him.
Apr 20, 2007 - 4:55 pm BRussell:As always, very interesting reading. You’re one of the best authors out there, and this blog is testimony to it!
I am enjoying A War Like No Other tremendously. I especially like your personal perspective you bring to your blog and your writings.
B Russell
Apr 20, 2007 - 5:04 pm Joel Mackey:Regarding your description of your dealings with your college roommate:
It is indeed incumbent upon each individual to defend themselves against those who would do them harm. The illusion of safety provided by the “authorities” is just that, an illusion. Unfortunately, your ability to hold them accountable through civil court proceedings is quiet a bit less than if they were to infringe your ability to be free of Christian influences.
Apr 20, 2007 - 5:10 pm NahnCee:Duke faculty nor administration will not - and probably can not - apologize because they’ve been warned by their lawyers to shut up. Any apology will be trotted out as an admission of culpability in the lawsuits which will surely follow.
This is one place where Duke administration, especially, should NOT listen to their lawyers, but should both use this as a teaching opportunity and try to mitigate the damage by admitting human frailty. If the stupid President of Duke University would just admit that he’d been stupid and apologize for being that way, the three Duke students *might* find it in themselves to feel some sympathy, and not sue his ass. Which definitely deserves to be bankrupted AND spanked.
As for the Duke faculty, no one could possibly have any sympathy for them, ever, so it’s fine if they clam up and claim the 5th. Let the Duke group of 88 take their positions on the courtroom stand and in life with other noted bullies such as Lucky Luciano, Bugsy Seigel and Al Capone. It’s what they should all be noted for throughout the rest of their careers as human beings and as scholars.
Apr 20, 2007 - 6:49 pm Publius:Your post about your college days and Virginia Tech should be expanded into a major essay. The ideas you express go down into some of the deepest problmes of our over-sophisticated culture.
I am a college administrator, and have been trying to convince my institution that the four retired New York City police officers who work at our school should be provided a secure safe in their office to keep a firearm in case of a dire emergency.
These former officers are all highly respected and senior administrators and faculty. They agree that it is a legitimate proposal.
We basically have free police protection on campus - but academia is so rife with pacifism and anti-authoritariansim - the propsoal will neve see the light of day.
It is totally irrational, and proves beynd doubt that the “safety of our students” is the last things on academics minds. Leftist ideology trumps all.
God help us.
Apr 20, 2007 - 7:07 pm juliesa:I graduated from a large state school in the late 70s. The dorms had no security, and there was no effort made to protect young women. The sexual assaults that occurred in my dorm and in the dorm parking lot were minimized by the university, and there was no effort made to increase security after these incidents. I came from a very sheltered background, and I was not prepared for this sort of thing.
My roommate was dating a 21-year-old farmboy, and he was happy to make a strawman puchase of a revolver for me when I asked him to. Even though it was against the school rules and the law, I kept it in the dorm and took it in the car when I traveled. A couple of years later I used this cheap little .22 to scare off a guy who tried to get too friendly with me when my car broke down on the highway as I was on my way home.
After reading this post, Victor, now I have sympathy for what young men have had to go through, too. Food for thought, since I have a son who’ll be going off to college in three years.
I’ve worked in a variety of jobs, with all kinds of weird shifts and odd jobsites, and I’ve traveled a lot solo, but I’ve never felt as vulnerable out in the “real world” as I did during my college years. For one thing, with today’s gun laws, I can carry a concealed weapon, and as an adult I can buy a weapon anytime I want to and keep it handy to use at home. I also think that my neighborhood police and my various workplaces have provided far better security than my alma mater ever did.
Apr 20, 2007 - 7:22 pm Kenneth Greenlee:Dear Dr. Hanson,
You are impressive indeed. Your latest missive illustrates not only your knowledge of millenia old wars but years old (personal) conflicts.
I have listened to many talking heads and I come away convinced that even the most libertarian/convservative brains are (wrongly) seeking a legal/court solution. My reaction was initially the same: “there should be a law to NBC’s publishing (and posthumously glorifying) the VT killer’s press kit”.
In my (ripened) opinion, seeking redress in the courts is hugely wrong. Once a precedence for extreme grief tort relief is established (or even entertained), the (Rosie-sized) genie is out of the bottle. Better (much, Much, MUCH times ten) to let the market scorn NBC; the scorn is heaped on daily, with IHOP choice of syrup.
Again, impressed,
Ken Greenlee
Apr 20, 2007 - 9:23 pm David Roseland:Thanks for publisihing some words almost everyday. Your web postings are a valuable educational supplement.
Apr 20, 2007 - 10:05 pm r moor:Think of each class as its own city state. When trouble comes they have a much better chance to survive if they band together and act. Maybe colleges can do better by first having obligatory “bar the door” drills. The TA who got her class to bar the door with a table should get a medal.
Apr 21, 2007 - 1:36 am T J Olson:In order to tweak to immoral lack of conscience on display in university towns - not to mention among media elites - I have a new bumer sticker on my car:
“KKK-cares”
According to Id-Pol, or identity politics, I am my race and gender, ie, white male (Christian-if that applied). So where’s the harm in admitting” the “truth” they seek to impose upon me? A life-long libertarian atheist? None.
“KKK-cares” is a statement that matters because these idiot elites so obviously cannot. Their rot of double standards and hypocrisy made me do it.
Apr 21, 2007 - 2:03 am Ward:I suspect that many men like your roomate or lesser versions of him like I was would have benefited from the structure of a millitary education for some period of time. I was a hellraiser but eventually found some pleasure in intellectual persuits that others who were only out for grades may have missed but I would have been better prepared if millitary service had been involved but from 77 to 81 that was not a popular course to say the least.
Apr 21, 2007 - 4:33 am Ralph Ambrosio:Regarding the Duke President’s proposed mea culpa, I think his lack of apology goes much deeper than any advise from his lawyer(s). I think that he is in a PC box. To explain the dangers in loco parentis to his students he would have to tell the unvarnished truth. Truth can be painful, might require that he cast some minorities as bad people. The left leaning college crowd can not do this as the bad people, both minority and non-minority, in the world are made bad by mainstream american society. So in his reality the Duke players are at fault because they had money and power and chose unwisely. They essentially deserved what they got. Did you read that stuff from ABC News about not feeling bad for the Dukies? This logic (?) also works for drug dealers, prostitutes, terrorists and literally every miscreant alive…or dead. You can not make this stuff up. Great article.
Apr 21, 2007 - 4:40 am Ritchie Emmons:Dr Hanson, Very impressive once again. Your missives are, to me, so dead on as to be almost therapeutic in light of what typically is trotted out in the news. For years I’ve been yearning for a major news outlet to delve into the “truth” about current topics and events. “Truth” meaning that they would go into the details of the why and how instead of just reporting the surface events. Also, calling out hypocrisy and disingenousness whenever and wherever it presents itself. Do you think you and Charles Krauthammer can spare some time from your day jobs?? Anyway, once again, very impressive what you wrote here.
Apr 21, 2007 - 7:28 am Minerva:Just wish Bradley and his fan club would read you — you are only a click away from his name!
Apr 21, 2007 - 9:45 am Jim, Los Angeles:Dear Professor,
I’m curious about the 20 minute roommate brawl. You shoulda used the bat.
Apr 21, 2007 - 11:49 am Jack Marcotte:Essential vdh. It hard if not impossible to create real Americans under the current PC atmosphere. Think about what that means for all our futures.
Apr 21, 2007 - 5:45 pm Peter E Quinn:Thank you for this lucid, informative article. I am 73, retired and read military history (always wanted to). I have found Canada was a great player in WWI (my family has graves of young men in France)and WWII. I served later yet knew many who plodded through Italy and hit the beaches on D Day. But now I read and read and then enjoy dicussions with a local GP who has a PhD in Modern and Medieval History. We follow the Iraq/ Afghanistan wars (so different than my infantry time in Korea, which I hate to discuss because the main memories were godawful fatigue and constant fear though I believe we all were there and kept each other up to huge levels of aggression, which I wish had been trained into VT students. (I did OK, I exist today). I thank you for your books and web contributions that bring sense to a confused world. I read Carnage & Culture recently (fabulous and so sad on Vietnam politics and the consequences - seems Ried, Kennedy, et al want to do this again.)I have ordered Soul of the Battle .
God bless the soldiers in Iraq and favour Gen Petreus.
Thank you and kindest personal regards,
In private from
Apr 22, 2007 - 11:07 pm pst314:Peter G Quinn
RR2 Elora, ON, CDA, N0B 1S0
GGA: Maybe your firewall is blocking it. Try disabling it for 5 minutes and then click “refresh” on the Private Papers blog.
Apr 23, 2007 - 9:46 am Steve:I can’t help but wonder if there had been 5 or 10
Apr 23, 2007 - 5:27 pm Comrade_Tovarich:former Iraq War veterans or Marine riflemen in those classrooms, would the ‘madman’ have survived long enough to kill 30 students? Perhaps American universities should think about granting scholarships to combat veterans of the Iraq and Afganistan war.
A retired relative finished his PhD in 1963. Early in his college days, a group of GI Bill WW2 and Korea vets appeared on campus. They had their own special dorm, where women and drinking parties were found, against the rules; however, the vets policed themselves and nothing go out of hand.
Once in a sciences class, a smarmy prof who had a reputation for gloatingly talking down to the students had at one of the vets who failed to answer a question correctly. The vet, who was a bit above the prof’s age and thus had probably been in combat, took a bit of the guff then stood up and told the prof that he had no business talking to students that way and was going with him to the dean’s office. The prof went and, in subsequent lessons, was a somewhat changed man.
But that was when professors sometimes had US flags in their office and classrooms, too.
Apr 24, 2007 - 4:37 am DEAN JONES:Once again you have hit the nail on the head. Reading your articles and books help me keep my sanity in this crazy world. I have said it before and will say it again. You are a national; or should I say an international treasure.
Apr 24, 2007 - 10:10 pm