How accurate is the “Sex and Scandal at Duke” article that Rolling Stone published in its June 1, 2006, issue?
Janet Reitman, the Rolling Stone reporter, spent several days with a handful of undergraduate women while researching her article. The women she profiled were vocal supporters of the lacrosse team. While Reitman’s article may accurately depict a certain subset of Duke undergraduates, it presents a very limited view of the wide range of experiences and opinions that actually characterize Duke students. Many other students have protested vigorously that their social lives look nothing like those shown in the article; they define themselves first and foremost by academics, or community service, or the arts, or athletics or other activities. Duke prides itself on the diversity of its students, and a diverse student body produces a lively and varied social life – one far more complex and interesting than what’s shown in this article. Simultaneously, through its Women’s Initiative and other efforts, Duke is addressing many of the issues raised in the Rolling Stone article regarding social in
