Duke University Rape Case Raises Issues of Race and Class in Durham

A black female student from North Carolina Central University has accused three white members of Duke University's Lacrosse team of rape. The alleged incident took place last month. The woman was hired as a dancer for a lacrosse team party held in a house rented from Duke University. There she says she was beaten, raped and choked by three white lacrosse team members who also called her racial epithets. The lacrosse team denies the allegations. Police have not filed charges, but are taking DNA tests of nearly all the team's members in an effort to identify the suspects. At least one witness says he heard lacrosse team members making racial slurs. Jason Bissey, who lives next door to where the party was held, said he heard one player yell at the woman: "Thank your grandpa for my nice cotton shirt."

The derogatory remarks have not been confined to the night of the incident. Last week, radio show host Rush Limbaugh called the woman a derogatory two-letter often used to describe a prostitute.

A number of students and community members have rallied to support the woman. Last Wednesday, activists distributed "wanted" flyers with photos of lacrosse players as hundreds participated in the annual Take Back the Night march against rape.

* LaHoma Romocki, Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Health Education at North Carolina Central University.

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