The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, April 10, 2006, Page 4, Image 4
, *• f
Samuel Spies
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
DURHAM, N.C. — Time
stamped photographs will
show an exotic dancer was
already injured and “very
impaired” when she arrived
at a party where she claims
she was raped by members
of Duke University’s men’s
lacrosse team, an attorney
for one of the players said
Sunday.
Durham attorney Bill
Thomas said some of the
photographs, taken when
she arrived at the house,
indicate the woman was
injured before getting to the
party March 13. They show
extensive bruises and scrapes
on her legs, especially
around the knees, he said.
“This young lady was
substantially impaired. She
had fallen several times
during the course of the
evening,” Thomas said.
He declined to identify
the player he represents and
said he would not release
the photos, taken by at least
two cameras, until pending
DNA tests are completed.
He also wouldn’t say
whether the photos were
taken by a lacrosse team
member or someone else;
court documents have
indicated that only team
members were present at
the party.
No one has been
charged in the case, but the
allegations that members
of the nearly all-white
team raped the woman, a
black student at a nearby
university, have rocked both
Duke and Durham.
The allegations have
led to the resignation of
coach Mike Pressler, the
cancellation of the lacrosse
season and the suspension
of one player from school.
Several dozen people
gathered Sunday outside the
house where the party took
place, and pledged to return
each Sunday until the case is
resolved.
“Whether I want to
believe it, or whether you
want to believe it, something
took place in there,” said
Johnny Williamson, 36,
of Durham. “Something
indecent took place.”
District Attorney Mike
Nifong, who was expected
to return this week from
an out-of-town conference
and has not commented on
the case in the past several
days, has said previously
he is confident a rape
occurred. Court documents
said a medical exam of the
alleged victim found injuries
consistent with sexual
assault.
The victim has not
returned repeated messages
seeking comment, but her
father said Sunday she hasn’t
changed her story.
“I expect them to say
that,” he said of the lawyers’
contentions his daughter is
lying.
The woman and the other
dancer arrived separately,
Thomas said, and performed
briefly before leaving. The
victim told police she and
the other dancer left because
they feared for their safety,
but were later convinced to
come back inside.
Thomas said the photos
contradict the alleged
victim’s assertion she was
scared, as they show her
standing at the door of the
off-campus house with “a
major grin on her face” as
she tried to get back inside.
“People inside the house
have stated she was banging
on the door, attempting to
regain entry,” Thomas said.
The woman told police
she was pulled into a
bathroom and assaulted
after coming back into the
house. But Thomas said the
woman locked herself in
the bathroom, where police
later found her purse, cell
phone, and several artificial
fingernails she claimed to
have lost during a struggle
with her attackers.
Thomas said one of the
attorneys representing team
members had interviewed
the other dancer extensively,
and she said the alleged
victim never told her about
a rape.
Partygoers dance night away at RHA’s Spring Charity Ball
Event raises $4,000
for Camp Hope,
Camp Seratoma
Katie Boucher
THE GAMECOCK
Mix together a few disco
lights, a dance floor and
music with tuxedos, suits
and evening gowns, and
you’ll get what might seem
to be a description of the
perfect prom.
But this scene did not take
place in a high school gym
— it was straight out of the
Residence Hall Association
Spring Charity Ball held at
the Columbia Conference
Center on Friday night.
Of the more than 180
tickets sold, only about 120
students attended.
Decorations and floral
arrangements adorned the
ballroom, and chairs and
tables were set up for people
to enjoy the food and rest
from dancing. The music
was a mix of rap, pop and
swing and seemed to cover
all genres.
Randall Phillips, a third
year criminal justice student
and charity ball planner,
said he was pleased with the
turnout.
“We raised just shy of
$4,000 for Camp Seratoma
and Camp Hope,” Phillips
said. “We are hoping that
this will grow in the years to
come.”
Sarah Rogers, a second
year English student, said
she enjoyed the food, which
included a chocolate fondue
fountain with fruit.
“I’ve been eating
chocolate-covered
strawberries all night,” she
said.
Deirdre Martin, a second
year international studies
student, said she had a great
time.
Rogers and Martin came
with a group of girls. They
said it was fun to get dressed
up, go out and have fun with
their friends.
“Laffy Taffy” by D4L got
everyone on the dance floor.
Groups of friends danced
together, and a few ball
goers attempted to break
dance.
Rogers said even though
not too many people showed
up, it was a lot easier to
dance with a smaller crowd.
Phillips said the ball was
a chance for students not
involved in the Greek scene
to go to a social.
“If you are not in a
fraternity or a sorority, there
are not many opportunities
to dress up, dance and have
fun, but this gave everyone
on campus an opportunity
to do that,” Phillips said.
RHA Vice President
Jonathan Ross, a second
year political science student,
said, “We are very pleased in
how we were able to engage
the residents in this event.”
During the festivities,
a 15-minute film was shown
on the two charities that the
donations were going to.
Phillips said despite the
controversy over ticket sales,
the ball turned out well.
Comments on this story? E-mail
gamecocknews@gwm.sc.edu
PROTEST • COnTinUEDFROmi
said. “They’re working for
sub-minimum wages (that
are) costing jobs for white
people and black people that
are U.S. citizens that should
have the right to first crack
at those jobs.”
Many protesters were
waving Confederate flags.
Kyle Rogers, president of
the group’s Francis Marion
chapter, said the flags
undermined the protests
message.
“(The Confederate flag)
mixes the message,” Rogers
said. “We should save
tne ^onreaerate nags tor
something else.”
Protesters used signs to
broadcast their message,
saying, “Remember the
Alamo,” “Protect Our
Economy, Save Our
Standard of Living,” and
“The Penalty for Illegal
Immigration is Deportation
— Anything Less is
Amnesty.”
Nelson Waller said his
sign — “We Are Under
Enemy Occupation” —
accurately described the
siege on America by illegal
aliens.
“They are coming here
to take this country over,”
Waller said. “They have
no intention of adapting
themselves to our system
and our way of life. They
are at war with us.”
Daggett said it was time
for Americans to protest the
amnesty bill.
“Well, certainly illegal
immigrants have held
demonstrations all over this
country, and we thought
it’s time for Americans to
stand up and do the same,”
Daggett said.
Cars passing the protest
at the corner of Gervais
and Main streets honked in
support or ignored it.
One woman yelled, “Vive
la Mexico.” while another
motorist argued that the
land belonged to neither
group but to the Native
American people.
CofCC member Robert
Lampley said immigrants
would want more than
amnesty.
“All of these immigrants
are going to want free
college scholarships and free
affirmative action,” Lampley
said. “What kind of nation
has no border? A nation
without a border is not a
nation.”
Carter said he was in favor
of securing the northern
and southern border, citing
that many of the Sept. 11
hijackers entered the United
States through Canada.
“I think we need to put
the National Guard (on
the border),” Carter said.
“When they do their annual
two weeks, they need to go
on the northern and the
southern border and secure
them. That would be in the
best interest of America.”
Robert Foster, a British
man visiting the State
House on vacation, said the
protesters had spirit but no
message.
“I think it’s rather
genuine, but it’s (not
informational),” Foster said,
adding the protesters were
saying, ‘“We’re here, pull up
the drawbridges and don’t
let anyone else in.’ That’s
silly.”
Other members of Foster’s
group said England was
facing the same problem.
“It seems to be quite a
war for the United States,”
Foster said. “I think (the
protesters) are being a little
bit selfish perhaps.”
Carter said he would like
to extend a warning to Sen.
Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.
“I would tell Sen. Lindsey
Graham to enjoy the rest
of his term in the senate
because he’s not going to
get re-elected,” Carter said.
Graham supported a bill
by Sen. John McCain, R
Ariz., and Sen. Edward
Kennedy, D-Mass., allowing
illegal immigrants to stay in
the country for six years after
paying a $1,000 fine, paying
back taxes, learning English
and staying employed.
Carter said Americans
must look after their jobs.
“We’ve got to look after
South Carolina textile jobs,”
he said. “We’ve got to look
after ourselves.”
The event, organized
over two weeks, experienced
heavy rains, declining the
number of supporters,
Rogers said, adding that he
expected four times as many
supporters if the weather
had been pleasant.
Josh Allen of Anderson, a
motorist who took literature
from a protester, said he
agreed with the general
sentiment of the protesters.
“I think the borders
should be secured,” Allen
said. “I’m not exactly sure
what their message is, but I
think the border should be
Comments on this story? E-mail
gamecocknews@gwm.sc. edu
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