The DNA tests came back negative, but two players on Duke University’s lacrosse team have been charged with kidnapping and raping a stripper at a team party. The scandal has shocked the nation, and as media attention is focused on Durham, the problems for these two former athletes are just beginning. Last week, two sportswriters for The University News gave their views on the scandal and what it means for sports and the media. Rather than debate them point by point, I wish to give the perspective of a student-athlete and what ramifications this scandal has for college athletics. I will not condemn the Duke lacrosse team or these two individuals until a court rules on their guilt, but let us look at the situation they put themselves in.
They threw a team party, and have been charged with raping a stripper whom they hired. Clearly, some poor decisions were made, but these decisions were made, and the team has to live with the consequences. As a student-athlete for this University, I have the honor of competing against some of the best competition in the nation, while representing Saint Louis University. Whenever I race, I never forget that putting on my SLU uniform is a privilege-a privilege that comes with many responsibilities. I am constantly a representative and a symbol of the University, be it in practice, in a race, in the classroom, in my apartment or at a party.
One could argue that, once I take off that SLU uniform, I am just a college student, and I am only responsible to myself for my actions. But, to be a student-athlete, you are never “just a college student.” It requires a sizable commitment, in both time and energy, and it is a commitment that you must be willing to let affect your whole life. I will admit to making plenty of poor choices in my time in college-no one is perfect-but I never forget that the choices I make reflect not only upon myself as a person, but also on this University and its Athletic Department. I realize that I will never garner the media attention as the national champion swimmer, or the All-Conference basketball player, but all of our athletes must be held to the same high standard, regardless of talent, scholarship or media attention.
The O.J. Simpson trial showed us many things about our society and our national media. But I see the Duke scandal as a sign of much worse things for sports in this country. The actions of O.J. Simpson can always be attributed to one disturbed individual, but the actions of the Duke lacrosse players reflect on their whole team, as well as their coach. Whatever happened that night was a collective action, and that may be the most disturbing aspect to the whole sordid affair. That this happens at one of our most elite universities, among its student-athletes, tells a very upsetting tale about what is happening to college sports. This is not the first scandal in recent years related to college athletes.
What does this trend mean? In this most recent case, the issue was not even related to recruiting or trying to turn professional, as many scandals are. These young men acted in such a way to demean and abuse another human being. And they did it as a team. Yes, the DNA tests came back negative, but clearly there is more to sexual assault than DNA. No one has been found guilty, but these accusations are not unfounded. Yes, they are college students. Should their actions be excused because they are young? No, they should be held to a higher standard, as college-athletes, than what society is willing to tolerate.
Dan Herman is a senior in the
College of Arts and Sciences and a member of SLU’s men’s cross-country team
