Jeffrey Rosen reviews Stuart Taylor and K.C. Johnson’s book on the angry mob that nearly lynched the lives of several young men in the Duke lacrosse team case:
At least ìmany of the journalists misled by [former DA Mike] Nifong eventually adjusted their views as evidence of innocenceî came to light, the authors conclude. Thatís more than can be said for Dukeís ìactivist professors,î 88 of whom signed an inflammatory letter encouraging a rush to judgment by the student protesters who were plastering the campus with wanted posters of the lacrosse team and waving a banner declaring ìCastrate.î Even when confronted with DNA evidence of the playersí innocence, these professors refused to apologize and instead incoherently attacked their critics. In the same spirit, the authors charge, the president of Duke, Richard Brodhead, fired the lacrosse coach, canceled the season and condemned the team members for more than eight months. The pandering Brodhead, in this account, is more concerned about placating faculty ideologues than about understanding the realities of student life on his raunchy campus.
Does the foregoing remind you of the actions of another group of self-righteous crusaders?
