The Revenge of the Duke Lacrosse Players

This case is probably just the beginning of a series of lawsuits against Duke University.

RALEIGH, N.C. -- A former Duke University lacrosse player sued the university Thursday, alleging that one of his professors unfairly gave him a failing grade because he was a member of the team.

Kyle Dowd, 22, graduated in 2006, after the rape allegations set off a tumultuous few weeks in Durham, with almost daily protests by people who criticized lacrosse team members for a pattern of rowdy behavior.

...Dowd, who was not charged in the case, claims in his lawsuit that visiting professor Kim Curtis engaged in "outrageous and unethical conduct" when she gave him an F in a politics and literature class. The lawsuit claims he had earned C's on his assignments until that point.

The university later changed Dowd's grade to a D, citing a calculation error. But Dowd claims the incident nearly kept him from graduating.

Dowd and his parents are asking for the grade to be changed to a "P" for passing, and want $60,000 in damages.

"Kyle Dowd and his family feel very strongly that he was given a grade not based upon his performance, but rather upon the political agenda of the professor," said Dowd's lawyer, Joseph Zeszotarski Jr.

I don't know that I would award Dowd $60,000 in punitive and compensatory damages for the unfair grade.

But I'm glad that Dowd and his parents are suing Curtis and Duke University.

They should pay for their wrongdoing.

There should be a high price paid by Duke for rushing to judgment and harassing members of the Lacrosse team.

...Curtis was among 88 faculty members who signed their names in April to a full-page advertisement in Duke's student newspaper titled "What Does a Social Disaster Sound Like?"

"Regardless of the results of the police investigation, what is apparent everyday now is the anger and fear of many students who know themselves to be objects of racism and sexism," the ad read, in part.

The accuser is black. All but one member of last season's lacrosse team was white.

Why would Curtis and other faculty members do something so stupid?

There's nothing wrong with speaking out against racism and sexism, but it was wrong to connect their outrage to the alleged rape case.

It's shocking that the Duke faculty felt compelled to take out the ad and condemn the Lacrosse players as racist, sexual predators.

Given her opinions, could Curtis treat Dowd fairly? Would she allow her views to influence how she treated Dowd as a student?

I don't see how. It certainly wouldn't be very professional of her if she penalized Dowd by downgrading him just for being on the Lacrosse team.

It looks like that's exactly what Curtis did. She appears to have abused her position of authority to punish Dowd.

That's how it seems anyway, but I'm not going to jump to any conclusions about her.

That wouldn't be right.

Yes, Curtis should be considered innocent until the judicial system determines her to be guilty.

I'm sure Curtis would like her day in court before she's branded unethical.

Oh, why wait? Let's just assume that she's guilty and forget allowing her to defend herself against Dowd's charges.

Jesse Jackson should speak out against Curtis and act as an advocate for Dowd.

Lacrosse players Collin Finnerty, Reade Seligmann and Dave Evans still face charges of sexual offense and kidnapping in the case. Rape charges were dropped last month after the accuser wavered in her account of key details.

Duke said Wednesday it had extended an invitation to Finnerty and Seligmann to return to class and the lacrosse team, but that they could still be punished if they are ultimately convicted. They have not said if they plan to return.

What kind of invitation has Duke extended to Finnerty and Seligmann?

Whatever it is, I'd consider it way too little, way too late.

An "Oops! Never mind! You can come back now" doesn't cut it.

I wouldn't accept the "invitation" to return. No way.

Is being allowed to return to class supposed to undo all the damage that was done to Finnerty and Seligmann, as if that's enough?

That's nuts.

Duke needs to take responsibility for its role in royally screwing up the lives of these young men.

And so does Crystal Gail Mangum -- the accuser, the liar, the mother of three.

What a disgusting episode!

Duke University, Mike Nifong, Crystal Gail Mangum -- disgusting.


Regard your good name as the richest jewel you can possibly be possessed of - for credit is like fire; when once you have kindled it you may easily preserve it, but if you once extinguish it, you will find it an arduous task to rekindle it again. The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear.

--Socrates