Duke Case Spurs Campus Fumbling

CBS News reports, in an article titled "Duke Case Spurs Campus Culture Cleanup," that Duke University administrators are undertaking an introspective examination of campus culture. But wait. Before you jump to the conclusion that they are talking about looking into why they immediately presumed that the accused lacrosse players were guilty and took several punitive actions against them, consider this:

The notoriety of the case forced Duke to the front of academe in this evaluation of student life and campus culture. But colleges across the U.S. are also soul-searching and refining policies in the wake of the case, recognizing that Duke is not the only campus where the confluence of race, sex, privilege, and booze could spark a scandal.

"In part because of the Duke scandal, there's a trend in higher education towards increasing accountability for perpetrators, more and better support for victims, and ... more intensive prevention programs," says Alan Berkowitz, a social justice consultant in Trumansburg, N.Y.

Not sure about who they mean by perpetrators and victims? Read on:

... since the case came to the fore last spring, colleges have been instituting or hurrying planned changes to address the problems of an athletics-dominated college atmosphere, where even Division III schools are relying on fine-tuned squads to draw recruits and prestige.

Still not certain what they think the real problem is? Keep reading:

"The Duke situation does reinforce the importance of not presuming a student is guilty, but, while tragic for the individuals involved, it has also had the important effect of causing universities to rethink the role athletes play and the rules that govern conduct," says Karen-Ann Broe, a risk analyst at UEI.

Yes, they are still piling on the athletes. The athletes are the perps! While admitting that it is not good to prejudge someone, they still intend to blame the athletes for the whole thing.

I can save the university administrators a lot of money. No matter how many nannies you hire to lecture to a bunch of college boys some of them are going to get themselves and you in trouble. Don't assume that you can do anything to make college life all that different from life in general.

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