The last couple of months have provided the media with enough major stories to keep them busy for quite a while. First, the Duke acrosse team invites a stripper to perform at their party. What happened at that party is only known to a select few individuals. Then, a bunch of pictures show up on the Internet that show the Northwestern soccer team hazing the new players on the team. Now, the media has turned this whole thing into a circus.
The Duke lacrosse story has been arguably the most popular sports story of the last couple of months, and it probably should be. An accusation like this shouldn’t be taken lightly, and hopefully the truth does indeed come out.
The Northwestern soccer team incident serves as proof that there is serious hazing going on at schools, and that something needs to be done to end this craze. My problem with all of this is how the schools are being portrayed.
There is no question that Duke’s image has taken a serious hit. People see this potentially horrible crime taking place at Duke and they start to view the school in a negative way. This is unfortunate. These players, guilty or innocent, screwed up big time. They should never have put themselves in that situation to begin with. I have no problem with these students having to deal with their mistakes. However I do have a problem with Duke having to suffer because of this ordeal.
Duke University has nothing to do with this incident. People act as if the university lacks discipline because something like this occurred with their students. Anyone who has spent anytime at college knows that the school has absolutely nothing to do with off campus activities. How can a university possibly be expected to have total control over what happens throughout the city. This was a party that happened off campus. The University of Duke has nothing to do with this. It seems at times that the media is blaming Duke for this party.
The only people who should be blamed for these acts are the participants. To blame the school and fire the coach over these acts is completely unfair. No coach can be expected to keep tabs on his/her players at all times. These players made their own decisions, and they alone should have to suffer the consequences.
The Northwestern soccer incident is something that happens at all schools, and should be addressed on a nation wide scale. Northwestern gets the image of being a party school because this particular event occurred at their school and resulted in pictures being posted on the web. This type of stuff happens everywhere. Does this make it OK? No, but it doesn’t mean that Northwestern is to blame.
These schools are suffering because of these events. For years to come, there will be people who think of the lacrosse team party when they hear the name Duke. These parties could’ve taken place at any school across the country. The media needs to do a much better job of reminding everyone that there is nothing that these schools could do about these parties. People act like these schools didn’t have rules against these activities. Everyone needs to remember that the students should be to blame, not the universities.
John Addler would love to hear your thoughts and comments.
He can be contacted at john.addler@atomicsportsmedia.com
