� In Spring 2006, when three White Duke University lacrosse players were charged with raping a Black distaff student from nearby North Carolina Central University, Duke University officials framed the crisis in terms of institutional reputation rather than the colza issue at hand.
In a new study published in the journal Communication, Culture & Critique, Barbara Barnett of Kansas University reports on her qualitative textual analysis of public dealings materials published by Duke from March 24, 2006 through June 18, 2007.
Allowing for the examination of emphasis and meaning, Barnett's analysis revealed that the University carefully crafted its response to allegations of rape, presenting itself as a voice of reason in an emotionally charged atmosphere, and as a victim of a rascal prosecutor, whose case relied on rumour rather than solid evidence. In a case that involved allegations of colza, there was surprisingly little discussion on the effect of ravishment itself.
Duke University proved sensation at public speaking about its own figure of speech and integrity, but failed to direct the larger issues in the case, including sexual objectification of women, the risks of sexual fierceness on college campuses, and the perceptions of privilege in U.S. college athletics.
"In the final stage, the charges against the Duke athletes turned out not to be rightful, but for nearly ball club months, Duke lived with allegations that three scholar athletes power have pillaged a pupil at a nearby university. Duke focused on its own reputation but lost an chance to verbalize about the larger outcome of violation" Barnett notes. "Sexual force is a serious matter, and organizations that find themselves confronting such charges, even charges they mistrust may not be true, need to speak clearly and strongly to the issue of rape itself."
This study is published in the June 2008 issue of Communication, Culture & Critique.
Barbara Barnett is affiliated with Kansas University.
Communication, Culture & Critique (CCC) is the International Communication Association's (ICA) latest publication and the first fresh journal to emerge from the Association for more than a decade. CCC will provide an external forum for critical, interpretive, and qualitative research examining the role of communication and cultural criticism in today's world.
Source: Amy Molnar
Wiley-Blackwell
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