Duke Official Offers Apology Over Scandal

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Associated Press
Sunday, September 30, 2007

DURHAM, N.C., Sept. 29 -- Duke University President Richard H. Brodhead apologized Saturday for not better supporting the men's lacrosse players falsely accused in last year's highly publicized hoax rape scandal.

Brodhead, speaking at the university's law school, said he regretted Duke's "failure to reach out" in a "time of extraordinary peril" after a woman accused three players of raping her at a March 2006 party thrown by the team.

"Given the complexities of this case, getting the communication right would never have been easy," Brodhead said. "But the fact is that we did not get it right, causing the families to feel abandoned when they were most in need of support. This was a mistake. I take responsibility for it, and I apologize for it."

Brodhead spoke at a school-sponsored forum on legal and ethical issues common to high-profile cases, and he received a standing ovation after his speech.

As authorities began to investigate the allegations, Brodhead and the university initially suspended the highly ranked team from play. He later canceled the remainder of its season and ousted longtime coach Mike Pressler. Meanwhile, Durham County prosecutor Michael B. Nifong labeled the team "hooligans" as he searched for suspects.

Nifong was disbarred in June for violations of the state bar's rules of professional conduct.