Duke Rapists?

Well, the Duke boys are off, so to speak. Apparently they are considering lawsuits now. The lacrosse players are angry that the nation seems to have forgotten the presumption of innocence. But the Duke boys seem to have forgotten that they did not go to jail. They have been free for the entire year of the investigation. That freedom is based on the presumption of innocence.

That their lacrosse season was canceled is of great concern to them, but canceling a lacrosse season does not presume guilt. Lacrosse schedules are not rights guaranteed under the constitution, contrary to what the sporting media and sporting fans may think. The university canceled the season as damage control. University sports teams represent the university. When the players do charity work or win national championships, we boast that they reflect well on the university. When they hire strippers to their parties and get accused of rape, the boasting gets a bit trickier.