The Duke Lacrosse Scandal: A Case of White Privilege in College Sports

Abstract

This commentary will review the confirmed events of the Duke University Lacrosse sex show party and the Duke administration's response. White privilege, and the role of the media in perpetuating entitlement, is explored in the context of McIntosh's (2003) model. The sudden exodus by the Duke black faculty as a symbol of the culmination of white privilege at the elite university will also be examined. The central argument is that the Duke lacrosse student-athletes and administration's denial, protectionism, unearned advantages, and normalization of the player's behavior are indicative of white privilege. Concluding points consist of a comparison between the lacrosse scandal and other recent student-athlete sexual assault cases, a call for a national student-athlete welfare organization, and the potential for a Title IX lawsuit.