Duke Lacrosse Team Scandal

INTRODUCTION

Duke University is a private institute, whose strategic plan is to make a difference and look beyond the traditional mode4l of universities, while setting ambitious goals. The university alone attracts a variety of students, with over 50% being Caucasian, 22% being of the Asian race and only a mere 10% being African-American (Official Duke University Website). Dukes reputation along with its culture was challenged back in 2006, when three members of the Duke Lacrosse team were accused of beating, chocking and raping a 27 year old African-American. It all began on March 13, 2006, when the lacrosse team threw an off-campus party and decided to hire two exotic dancers for entertainment purposes. Everything was going smoothly as the guys enjoyed dancing from the two hired woman, until a sexual comment was made by one of the guys regarding them using a broom to have sex with one of the woman. After the comment was made, things began to get out of control. By the end of the night, three members of the Duke Lacrosse team ended up being accused of beating, choking and raping one of the exotic dancers that was hired to dance at their party. The dancers name was Crystal Gail Mangum, a 27 year old African-American who at the time was a student at North Central University. Mangum accused three members of the Duke Lacrosse team of kidnapping and raping her the night she was hired to perform at their party (Jennings, 2009). By the time Spring arrived, the three members were indicted on charges of rape, kidnapping and sexual assault, by Michael B. Nifong, who at the time was the district attorney of Durham County, NC. However, by the beginning of April in 2007, the innocence of the three young men was declared by the state.

The problem to be investigated here is how big of an impact ethics had on the governments responsibility towards all parties and the concern of our legal system being fragmented. First, I will determine the impact this particular scandal...