How Will Lacrosse Scandal Affect Recruiting?
April 18, 2006 — -- Archith Ramkumar received his acceptance letter to Duke University the same day the lacrosse scandal broke, but the prospective freshman from Norman, Okla., still plans to make his home in Durham, N.C., next year.
"It's had absolutely no effect on my visit here. I've loved the university. I've loved every bit of it, and I view the lacrosse incident as a small minority and not at all representative of the university," he said.
Archith was on campus Monday with his mother, Priya Ramkumar, for Blue Devil Days, an annual tradition that allows admitted students to explore the campus and decide whether or not they will attend the school.
Priya Ramkumar said Duke President Richard Brodhead had attempted to persuade parents and prospective students to look favorably upon the university's response to the allegations made by a 27-year-old black student from North Carolina Central University. The woman -- a stripper -- told police that she was attacked March 13 by three white men at an off-campus party thrown by members of the lacrosse team.
"He said that he has been talking to other university presidents and unfortunately this kind of situation seems to happen a lot on campuses, and it's about how the universities react. In his mind, the university has acted with a lot of class," Priya said.
Hours later, two lacrosse players were indicted on charges of first-degree rape, first-degree sexual assault and kidnapping. Sophomores Colin Finnerty and Reade Seligmann were being held today on $400,000 bond.
Jesse Longoria, Duke's student body president, would be heartened by Archith's enthusiasm. Longoria is one of the few Duke representatives to speak to the media in recent weeks. He said the incident had revealed many misperceptions about Duke, namely that it is a campus of rich, white students who isolate themselves from the rest of the community.
"That's going to be a big part of the days, weeks and months ahead. How can we come together as a community and show that, you know what, Duke's a lot bigger than what the perceptions are showing?" said Longoria, as he made his way to an interview with CNBC.
