So Far, So Good

Judging by the DNA evidence (or lack thereof), it looks like no rape was committed by the Duke lacrosse team.

Thank heavens.

But just because evidence of criminal wrongdoing is absent, that doesn't get the team off the hook. For my money, Duke was well-justified in cancelling the lacrosse season and even firing the coach, just based on the non-criminal but still outrageous behavior that has been credibly alleged, i.e. the stripper parties and the racial slurs. Call me old fashioned, but I think it's unacceptable for guys who are supposed to be young men of character, scholar-athletes, to be consorting with strippers -- much less writing emails like this one or engaging in racist slurs. Duke has a right to expect better.

Even so, it will be interesting to see whether all the racial polarizers (a la Jesse Jackson) -- who would have been the first to cry "racism!" had a charge brought by a white female alleged victim against black alleged male perpetrators appeared to be baseless -- will have anything to say. Don't hold your breath.