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| Blog and Media Roundup - Thursday, October 29, 2009; News Roundup | |
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| Topic Started: Oct 29 2009, 04:21 AM (233 Views) | |
| abb | Oct 29 2009, 04:21 AM Post #1 |
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http://dukechronicle.com/article/whose-raw-deal Whose raw deal? By Vikram Srinivasan October 29, 2009 As a conservative, I find few things more tiring than hearing like-minded peers whine about the classroom bias of liberal professors. The complaint, in many ways, misses the point of our academic training. If anything, conservatives are getting a sweet deal. While paying the same amount of tuition as our liberal peers, conservative students are often getting a better education by virtue of having our views constantly challenged. Campus conservatives need to realize that the purpose of our undergraduate education is not for us to hear what we want to hear. Indeed, a proper liberal arts education should challenge our deepest beliefs and force us to reevaluate and reflect on them. Yes, there are excesses of political expression among the faculty. But these instances are atypical and should not be hyped up to be more common than they really are. The notion that liberal Duke professors are generally politically intolerant is much-exaggerated. The perception likely originates at least in part with the actions of the Group of 88 during the lacrosse incident and the controversy that ensued. But there are more than 2,500 full-time Duke faculty. To draw broad conclusions, as so many do, based on the actions of a few is surely misrepresentative. Students ought to remember that the overwhelming majority of their faculty members are not tone-deaf ideologues, but individuals who through their years of specialized education have been inevitably exposed to a variety of differing viewpoints. You are not the first conservative your professor has met. In fact, your professor, depending on his or her area of academic specialization, might even have a better understanding of your political views than you do. There is usually little reason for conservatives to fear that they cannot express their views in a classroom setting. Still, because of the prominence of a few misrepresentative cases, many conservatives enter the classroom in a defensive position. Worse yet, many remain in this pose perpetually. This approach to one’s education often manifests itself in a kind of reactionary thoughtlessness, an impulse to view criticism or disagreement as an attack on one’s character rather than an opportunity to reflect more deeply and mature intellectually. At other times, conservatives shrink into a shell and insulate themselves from participation in classroom dialogue. This is a lost opportunity, to say the least. At its root, this defensive reaction can reflect an ideological narcissism unbecoming of a 20-year-old. Political views are not sacred principles immune to criticism, especially since most of us have held them no longer than five years. At the point where you can’t handle criticism for views you’ve basically just arrived at, maybe you should reevaluate your interest in politics. Moreover, to attribute certainty to views which are so fundamentally and frequently debated is little if not intellectual egoism. That’s not to say that you can’t have strong beliefs—obviously not. But students should seek to actively recognize the difference between belief and fact. If not for the sake of challenging and developing your own understanding, engaging with a liberal classroom environment will make you a more effective advocate for your own principles. People of all belief systems benefit tremendously from understanding why and how others might disagree with their positions. Yes, there are legitimate criticisms to be made of the current state of affairs as it pertains to politics in the classroom. Too often, course syllabi skew to the left in their representation of the major authors in a field of study. Liberal students lose out under this scenario from not having their views sufficiently challenged, and all students get a distorted picture of a field. It is also true that there is some benefit to having ideological mentors who share your basic worldview and can guide you as you seek to flesh out its full implications and assumptions. Classes could also benefit from professors trying to be more actively self-aware of how they are presenting themselves. Ultimately, there is a power disparity inherent in classroom interactions. Even if students should not be deterred by the fact that their professor articulates a certain viewpoint without reservation, the reality is that a good number will be regardless. But in most cases, these kinds of precautions should not make or break a student’s learning experience. To avoid those few radicals in the faculty who do not respond well to disagreement, a look at the standard course evaluation Web sites while book-bagging is usually more than sufficient. So conservatives have little reason to complain about the fact that they attend a liberal university. Indeed, we should be thankful for the opportunity. If complaining is to be done, it should come from liberal students. They’re the ones getting a raw deal. Vikram Srinivasan is a Trinity senior. His column runs every other Thursday. |
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| abb | Oct 29 2009, 04:21 AM Post #2 |
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http://dukechronicle.com/article/brostoff-column-degrading-durham Brostoff column degrading to Durham By Monica Allison, Gail Hignight and Cathy Lewis October 29, 2009 We were extremely disappointed by the remarks Ben Brostoff made about Durham in his Oct. 27 column “You, me and Kyrie [1].” Durham is a great place to live and work. Yes, there is poverty, but we are not “poverty–ridden.” Does he know of some secret city where poverty does not exist? We are consistently named one of the best places to live in the U.S. Durham is an exciting, eclectic city with wonderful neighborhoods, world class entertainment, great shopping, year-round sports to take part in and watch and fantastic restaurants. Durham also has a very active volunteer community. We were also really perplexed with Brostoff’s statement, “Add this to the fact that Durham citizens, oftentimes black, work for the University in such glamorous positions as Subway chef and bus drivers.” What was the point of this sarcastic remark? Besides the racial undertones, was he really insinuating that a person who works in a restaurant or drives a bus is not of as much value as someone in a higher paid position? Does he really not understand that it is the sergeants, in any organization, and not the officers, who keep the doors open every day and turn the lights off every evening? As for Durham citizens resenting Duke, that is just a silly statement. Duke is very much a part of Durham and appreciated by the majority of citizens. We would like to invite Brostoff to get out and experience the City of Medicine. Drive through our lovely neighborhoods, visit the small independent shops, spend some time in our schools, meet our teachers and students. Talk to the bus driver and the Subway chef, (or the dean, your professors, staff assistants, doctors or any of the other thousands of employees). Brostoff’s perception of the Bull City just might change. Monica Allison Staff member, Department of English Gail Hignight Assistant to Dean, Office of the Dean of Academic Affairs Cathy Lewis Staff assistant, Office of the Dean of Academic Affairs |
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| abb | Oct 29 2009, 04:23 AM Post #3 |
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http://dukechronicle.com/article/devil%E2%80%99s-eve-will-serve-alternative-franklin-st Devil’s Eve will serve as alternative to Franklin St. By Rongjie Chen October 29, 2009 For the second year in a row, Duke students will not be provided transportation to Chapel Hill’s Franklin Street Halloween celebration. As another option for students, Campus Council is organizing Devil’s Eve on the Main Quad Saturday night, with activities including costume contests as well as music and dance performances. The decision to keep Franklin Street restricted to Chapel Hill residents stemmed from safety concerns, Chapel Hill Mayor Kevin Foy said. “The problem is, in the past, we have had increased numbers of people coming to Franklin Street, until the point a couple of years ago, when 80,000 people crowded downtown, in too little space,” Foy said in an interview. “It was too big and too dangerous.” Many Duke students believe Chapel Hill’s Franklin Street policy is unfair. “I kind of equate this to LDOC at Duke,” junior Yi Zhang said. “Even though a lot of people come from off campus and cause a lot of damages, we never exclude anyone from LDOC.” Junior Pat Light agreed with this sentiment. “I don’t think Durham ever closes its doors to UNC students,” Light said. “If they’re trying to foster a brotherhood between the two cities, this isn’t the way to do it.” Mayor Foy noted these concerns and wanted to emphasize that Franklin Street’s new “Homegrown Halloween” policy was not meant to single out Duke students. Foy said the problem was that people came by the busload from numerous places, sometimes as far as Georgia and Tennessee. “It became an enormous regional event that we couldn’t accommodate,” Foy said. “It’s just a safety issue and we’re trying to scale it down to a local event.” Unfortunately, Chapel Hill’s method of addressing Franklin Street’s safety issues has created a new cause for concern at Duke. Junior Will Passo, DSG vice president for Durham and regional affairs, said he worries that Franklin Street’s “Homegrown Halloween” policy will not discourage students from driving to Chapel Hill, a particularly dangerous situation on a night when drinking alcohol is a prime activity. “Kids are still going to go,” Passo said. “But now, the University can’t ensure safety.” Campus Council Programming Chair Ben Goldenberg, a sophomore, said he believes that while there are many alternatives in celebrating Halloween, it would be good to bring the Duke community together on campus as well. “The Franklin Street festivities have certainly become a well-known tradition,” he said. “I believe that Devil’s Eve can evolve into that sort of tradition.” |
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| abb | Oct 29 2009, 04:24 AM Post #4 |
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http://www.heraldsun.com/pages/full_story_news_durham/push?article-Duke+med+dean+peers+into+future%20&id=4185747-Duke+med+dean+peers+into+future&instance=main_article Duke med dean peers into future 10.28.09 - 09:12 pm Dean Nancy Andrews, Duke University BY DAWN BAUMGARTNER VAUGHAN dvaughan@heraldsun.com; 419-6563 DURHAM -- The dean of the Duke University School of Medicine said today that leadership in difficult economic times, and any time, takes collaboration. Dean Nancy Andrews spoke with Duke Chapel Dean Sam Wells Tuesday afternoon at the Duke Clinic as part of the deans' dialogue series. For each dialogue -- two are held per semester --Wells talks to a college dean about a topic relating to the common good during a public lunch discussion. Wednesday's topic was "Leadership in Difficult Times." Andrews said the medical school has two worlds -- the health system, where the majority of faculty work, and the medical school, which is dealing with the same financial issues as the rest of the university. The health system is relatively healthy financially, she said, but there is stress, including the impact of impending health care reform. Andrews also noted that the National Institutes of Health budget has been flat and medical school research is driven by federal funding. She gets the most pleasure from her work by watching people develop in their careers, whether students or faculty. She also loves clinical research. She stopped practicing clinical medicine to be able to spend time in her lab, teaching and work as an administrator. "My dessert at the end of a long day is thinking about the research lab," she said. Andrews loves to hear about clinical research, she said. Wells asked Andrews about her role as a female leader. She said that she, like some other women, has been underestimated and felt invisible in the workplace. She hopes that is changing, she said, because all kinds of leadership and talent needs to be drawn from a larger pool than in the past. Andrews said she has learned the most about leadership by listening to people. "I can't just be seeing things through my own eyes. I need a bigger picture," she said. Andrews said that leading during difficult economic times means being aware that the economy is affecting people different ways, at home and work. "Ultimately what I'm most worried about is helping people see the strength in this organization," she said. Andrews thinks the down time of the economy will last longer than people anticipate, and it is important to come together. The economy "makes us think of things that don't cost money," she said. "Our greatest resource is the people we've got here -- it's not the money. In a way, that's the silver lining." Andrews hopes her legacy at Duke is helping people improve health and make scientific breakthroughs. When faced with a problem, she said, you roll up your sleeves and do the best you can. When the best isn't the right thing, it's time to change course and do better, she said. Andrews said being a leader means promoting the work of others, not just yourself. |
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| abb | Oct 29 2009, 04:30 AM Post #5 |
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http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local_state/story/163330.html Published Thu, Oct 29, 2009 02:00 AM Modified Thu, Oct 29, 2009 05:28 AM Easley coolly contradicts Campbell's take on finances Former Gov. Mike Easley gave sworn testimony Wednesday about free flights, the use of a vehicle and campaign-funded repairs to his home that directly contradicted earlier statements in a state Board of Elections hearing. Easley, a two-term Democratic governor who left office in January, said he never instructed supporter McQueen Campbell to submit false invoices that led to his campaign's paying $11,000 for repairs to Easley's Raleigh home. He said he believed that Campbell had been properly reimbursed for dozens of times he flew Easley on campaign and personal trips. Easley's five-hour appearance on the third day of the board's hearings was a rare sight: a former governor being questioned about possible crime by five members of a state board, three of whom he appointed. Easley grimaced when asked about Campbell, his longtime friend, political ally and pilot. Campbell had testified Monday that he flew Easley without getting paid and fixed Easley's house in Raleigh, then had to pester the governor for reimbursement -- which eventually came from campaign money. Easley conceded that his campaign likely had not met its responsibility under state law to properly pay for flights that Campbell had provided, flights valued by Campbell at more than $100,000. Board Chairman Larry Leake said he believes testimony showed the law was broken in that area: "Clearly, there was a violation." Campbell's planes are owned by companies. Easley's campaign should have paid the companies for the flights because North Carolina bans corporate contributions. And those payments should have been disclosed. Even had Campbell owned the planes personally, the value of the donated travel far exceeds legal limits. Easley said he had thought Campbell was being paid all along, and was assured of that even as The News & Observer raised questions before stories in May that detailed free flights from supporters. "It didn't get to be an issue until April or May, when McQueen Campbell was in the paper saying, 'I didn't get paid,'" Easley said. The governor said Campbell, a businessman who grew up in a political family, should have known to issue invoices. "He's not an imbecile," Easley said. He noted that the campaign had plenty of money. Easley said he wants to pay anyone who is owed. Easley took greater exception to the allegation earlier this week from Campbell about repairs to Easley's home on East Lake Drive in Raleigh. Campbell said that he and Easley were part of a scheme to pay for $11,000 in fix-ups with campaign money. The payments were not reported as elections law requires because, Campbell testified, Easley wanted him to submit bogus invoices that listed the payments as being for travel. "I didn't tell him to send them," Easley said. "I didn't indicate to him to send them. I didn't express or imply or give him any indication or suggestion that he should do that, or that I would approve it or that I would condone it," Easley said. "It never, ever happened." Leake asked Easley what would make Campbell contend that was the case. "I don't know," Easley said. Invoices in question At issue are two invoices Campbell submitted to the campaign. One invoice was dated Dec. 29, 2004, for $4,777.50 to cover flying time to "various fundraisers" and "various events." Another was dated June 30, 2005, for $6,300 and covers flights from Nov. 5, 2004, to April 30, 2005. Records show Campbell paid for work on the house before submitting both invoices. Easley testified that he believed both invoices to the campaign had nothing to do with his home. A lawyer for Campbell said that he testified to the best of his ability. Easley offered new versions of events. He said that the second invoice was for future flying time with Campbell. "We decided he should get an advance," Easley testified. That contradicts a memo that Rebecca McGhee, a campaign worker, wrote to the campaign treasurer when Campbell submitted the second invoice. She questioned why Campbell was getting paid for flights without producing flight logs. Her memo says she wanted more documentation before cutting a check. "The Governor said that he knows what the invoice says," she wrote in the memo. "He instructed me that we should go ahead and pay the invoice." There is no mention at all of future flights, especially in late 2005 when Easley was into his second term and not planning to run for office. Campbell's flight records show that he provided one campaign-related flight after that. It was in 2006 and was valued at about $850. Easley bristled at questions about what happened on the phone call with McGhee. He said at the time he was focusing on the state lottery and other government matters. "I get a call from Mr. Campbell that said they don't want to pay the invoice for the advance," Easley said. "My state of mind was, 'Can't you all work this out?' ... I don't have time to mess with these invoices." Moreover, Easley disputed a central part of Campbell's testimony: that the money scheme arose after Campbell went to Easley to get reimbursed. Elections board member Anita Earls asked Easley: "He never came to you and complained about not getting paid for the repairs?" "No, ma'am," Easley said. "Never. He never, ever mentioned anything about repairs to the house along with any invoices." Leake asked Easley how he thought the home repair work was being paid for. Easley said he assumed that Campbell sought payment from Easley's personal secretary, who handled many personal bills, or a rental company that was managing Easley's home while he lived in the Executive Mansion. The loaned SUV Easley was also asked about a GMC Yukon that his son drove for several years. Easley offered a slightly different account than Robert F. Bleecker of Fayetteville, whose dealership owned the vehicle. Bleecker had testified that he provided the car for Easley's son and that he understood he wouldn't get paid until Easley was finished with the SUV. Easley said it was a campaign vehicle and that his son used it for campaign purposes. Easley acknowledged he could not say whether anyone else from the campaign used the car and said it was kept at the Executive Mansion, not at a campaign office. acurliss@newsobserver.com or 919-829-4840 |
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| abb | Oct 29 2009, 04:31 AM Post #6 |
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http://www.newsobserver.com/opinion/editorials/story/162866.html Published Thu, Oct 29, 2009 02:00 AM Modified Wed, Oct 28, 2009 06:47 PM Easley's version It was a day for the books, maybe even the history books. In a meeting room at a downtown Raleigh hotel, the immediate past governor of North Carolina sat for nearly five hours to answer questions from members of the board that oversees state elections. Mike Easley has been a man of silent mystery for these past months, as the embarrassing stories about his perks and connections and campaign finances have swirled. Federal prosecutors are investigating, and Easley could have declined to answer questions. But he confidently took the challenge. It would be fair to say that he was unruffled, even affable, and offered what in his view were plausible explanations for some of the issues that have come under scrutiny. On what a car dealer admitted was an unusual deal in which the governor paid his tab at the end of a lease, Easley said Fayetteville dealer Bobby Bleeker had simply provided a "loose arrangement." And what of an implication from friend and pilot McQueen Campbell, in his appearance before the board, that Campbell had thought he was supposed to submit invoices for phantom airplane flights to cover the costs of repairs Campbell handled at the governor's private home in Raleigh? (The bills apparently were paid with campaign money, which was legal at that time.) The governor said that simply was not the understanding. His testimony was directly at odds with Campbell's. The federal probe is not yet over, and the outcome of the elections board hearing is yet to be seen. But yesterday's appearance by Easley was gripping both for the windows it offered on Easley himself and because this was an exceptional event -- sworn testimony by a former governor at the dead center of an ongoing drama. What came to light during Easley's testimony included the fact (known to many around him) that the governor hated raising money. He didn't like making calls, going to fundraisers, hitting people up. He reinforced the impression that, for someone who can summon a sense of humor and measure of charm when he wants to, he is at heart an introvert. He also doesn't like spending money. Elections board Chairman Larry Leake alluded to the governor's grip on greenbacks when he mentioned to Easley that he was viewed as "tight." Easley turned that one to his favor when he reckoned, "I am with the state's money." Other sidelights: The Easley home on fashionable East Lake Drive had plumbing problems and was in need of renovation. The former governor didn't know, and didn't seem to want to know, many of the details of campaign financing. He also couldn't recall precisely where his former campaign headquarters was located. Has Easley given indisputable answers and explanations for all of the questions that have built up over the last few months? Those questions involve not just his campaign finance operation but also his wife's lucrative former job with N.C. State (arranged with Campbell's help when Campbell headed the university's Board of Trustees), his real estate dealings and his relationships with campaign contributors who got appointments or favorable treatment during his administration. No, he hasn't. Even after a lengthy appearance before interrogators such as the one yesterday, there remain issues still to be addressed, some of which are doubtless under wraps in ongoing investigations. But Easley's broken silence at least provided some curious, even in part fascinating, moments in a long-running saga. |
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| abb | Oct 29 2009, 04:35 AM Post #7 |
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http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/6302288/ Ex-judge's new book touches on many issues Posted: Oct. 28 5:29 p.m. The former Durham District Court judge who called on lawmakers for anti-gang legislation during a hearing for one of two men charged in the slayings of two college students is speaking out again. Retired District Judge Craig Brown has penned a new book, "Blind Justice," which touches on a wide range of topics from living with a disability – he suffers from a chronic illness that cause him to lose his sight – to reforms needed in the justice system. On March 14, 2008, Brown was setting bond for Laurence Alvin Lovette Jr., who is charged with murder in the Jan. 18 slaying of Duke graduate student Abhijit Mahato and March 5, 2008, killing Eve Carson, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's student body president. Brown called for state legislators to immediately pass laws to curb gang activity. "It was a tough night in a sense that I was well aware he would be appearing in front of me in the morning," Brown said of the night before Lovette's arraignment. "I suppose, in a way, I had to balance the rules of being a judge, on the one hand, and being a leader, on the other, and the conflict between the two." Despite advice not to say anything and to do his job as a judge, Brown asked the governor for a special session of the General Assembly to take up anti-gang legislation. "It was my sense that the public needed to be reassured, that leaders in the state were moving forward in terms of the anti-gang legislation after a number of years in consideration, and simply to calm the public," Brown said. "That was the essential goal of what I had to say after the arraignment was completed." At the time he made the comments, he said, he had been planning to retire. "In a way, I suppose, it freed me to make the comments that I did," Brown said. "The First Amendment does not necessarily apply to judges at all times. You are constrained by the requirements of the code of judicial conduct, in terms of what you can or cannot say in a particular situation. The comments I made in respect to the anti-gang legislation were across the line." Brown also writes about former Durham County District Attorney Mike Nifong, who won indictments for first-degree rape, sexual assault and kidnapping against three Duke University lacrosse players after a stripper reported being raped. The case unraveled, however, and North Carolina's attorney general eventually dropped all charges and declared the players innocent victims of Nifong's "tragic rush to accuse." Brown wants people to look at Nifong's entire career and judging him by that, not just the lacrosse case. "His career is more than the Duke men's lacrosse case," Brown said. "Sometimes, I think, when the media focuses on a particular controversy, it's difficult for them to be able to place that controversy or issue in complete context." "Blind Justice," which is available at Amazon.com and in select bookstores, is the first of four books Brown plans to write. "I'm not asking people to agree with me," he said. "What I am asking the reading public to do is to read the book with an eye toward stimulating discussion about the various topics and circumstances that are covered in the book itself. That is the real goal of the book. To make people think." Reporter: Erin Hartness Photographer: Pete James Web Editor: Kelly Gardner |
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| abb | Oct 29 2009, 04:40 AM Post #8 |
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http://www.volunteertv.com/home/headlines/67044307.html Christian family speaks out on defense tactics Hours before the verdict, Gary and Deena Christian spoke up again for their daughter. Still incensed they were forced to defend her life in court. The families have already endured the horrible loss of their loved ones, and it sometimes gets worse. Posted: 6:05 PM Oct 28, 2009 Reporter: Mark Edwards Email Address: mark.edwards@wvlt-tv.com KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- "the defense attorneys, as low live as they are, can attempt to drag out children through the mud, make them into dope dealers and hookers." Gary and Deena Christian, addressing the media, upset with the defenses' allegations against their daughter Channon, and not being able to defend her reputation in court. I showed the Christian's news conference to Doctor Helen Smith, a Forensic Psychologist. Doctor Smith says the anger and frustration is warranted. "I deal with a lot of men in my practice and one of the things I notice about Gary Christian is he's like any other really good dad. He wants to protect his daughter, and what I see is that he's still doing that. Even though she's no longer with us I think he's there trying to be the dad, trying to say I'm her attorney. She can't be here to speak, but by god I'm going to speak for her." "Her lip was ripped from her gum. You think consensual sex looks like that when you are through?," Deena Christian asked. "She would roll over in her grave today if she thought anybody thought that of her, either using drugs or being promiscuous." Gary Christian said. "And that Channon Christian may have had consensual sex with that animal. Over my dead body." According to Doctor Smith, the notion that this was anything other than an extreme act of violence has to weight heavily of both victim's families. "Having to hear that your daughter may have gone out and used drugs and may be the one who had quote "consensual sex," to hear that has got to be extremely difficult and anybody who doesn't understand that really doesn't have any empathy or sympathy for victims in this country. One attorney with empathy is Eddie Daniel, who's representing the family of Jennifer Hampton, the 21-year old who's raped and beaten body was found in Melton Hill Lake last year. "The defense has a job to do. That's why I choose not to handle those types of cases. I spent over 10-years in law enforcement and I just morally can't do it," Daniel told WVLT. |
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| abb | Oct 29 2009, 04:41 AM Post #9 |
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http://www.volunteertv.com/home/headlines/67101402.html Updated: 3:58 AM Oct 29, 2009 Christian, Newsom families call for more victim's rights The Christian and Newsom families say they were not served by the legal system, because of the strategy the defense took, in making claims of drug use by Channon and Chris. They called for changes to the legal system, and one organization hopes to help make changes for these families, and for every future victim. Posted: 11:00 PM Oct 28, 2009 Reporter: Heather Haley Email Address: heather.haley@wvlt-tv.com KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- The Christian and Newsom families say they were not served by the legal system, because of the strategy the defense took, in making claims of drug use by Channon and Chris. The families spent more than 2 and a half years re-living the murders of their children, and in a news conference Wednesday, they called for changes to the legal system. And, one organization hopes to help make changes for these families, and for every future victim. Gary Christian says, "You can't talk about a defendants prior history, we wouldn't want to make anybody look like a mean person in front of the jury, my gosh. They might think he's bad. The system has gone to hell!" Deena Christian then says, "But yet they can say anything they want about our kids." And Hugh Newsom added, "Anything they want and they don't even have to prove it's correct." But the families are not alone, The East Tennessee Victims Rights Task Force supports families, and fights for new legislation. Remonda Swafford-Alleyne got involved with the group when Johnia Berry was murdered, and they helped her mother fight for a new law requiring DNA testing when a person is arrested for a violent felony. Remonda says, "One of the things that we'd like to do is have legislation that would allow for the victims to have the same kind of rights as the defendants or the suspects." The group has worked with Senator Tim Burchett to address problems with the system, and he says, "Another sad part of that is the fact that we never address these laws and things like that until we've seen what's gone on." Changes take time, and some people have yet to see justice for their loved one. "8 months ago I lost my dad due to a drive-by shooting where they targeted the wrong house," says LeRhonda Walton-Hill. No one has been arrested in the murder of her father, and now she wonders what allegations will be made when her family finally gets their day in court. LeRhonda says, "It scares me, but I don't think anybody would have anything bad to say about my dad." But the Christians and Newsoms have always said the same for their children. Gary says, "We have got to change the system." Senator Burchett says after all the Christian, Newsom trials, he expects there to be plenty of new legislation starting next year, and he says he looks forward to it. For more information the East Tennessee Victims Rights Task Force, CLICK HERE. |
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| abb | Oct 29 2009, 04:42 AM Post #10 |
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http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/oct/29/davidson-found-guilty-of-murders-penalty-phase/ Davidson found guilty of murders Penalty phase of trial will begin today By Jamie Satterfield Thursday, October 29, 2009 With the sifting of the evidence done and the guilty verdicts rendered, a Knox County jury today must turn to the scales of justice to weigh the fate of convicted torture-slaying ringleader Lemaricus Davidson. On one side of the scale, prosecutors hope to heap proof of what is known under the law as aggravating circumstances - reasons why they say Davidson should die for the January 2007 slayings of Channon Christian, 21, and Christopher Newsom, 23. On the other side, defense attorneys David Eldridge and Doug Trant look to pile so-called mitigating circumstances - reasons why they say Davidson should be spared death. The jury's job will be three-fold: n Decide whether aggravating factors, such as the heinousness of the crimes and prior criminal history, have been proven beyond a reasonable doubt. n Determine if circumstances such as mental health woes, addictions or childhood abuse exist in Davidson's background. n Then, weigh the two. If the scales tip toward the aggravators, the law commands a death sentence. If the scales tip toward the mitigating circumstances, the jury then must decide between a sentence of life without parole and life, which carries a mandatory 51-year prison term. The families of Christian and Newsom did not hesitate when asked what punishment they believe Davidson deserves following Wednesday's lengthy list of guilty verdicts, including convictions for first-degree murder. "Both of our kids are dead, and he deserves nothing less," said Chris Newsom's mother, Mary Newsom. This five-woman, seven-man jury spent roughly seven hours over two days deliberating Davidson's guilt. They deemed him guilty of 35 of 38 counts, ranging from the murder of both Christian and Newsom to kidnapping to robbery. They also found Davidson guilty of multiple counts of raping Christian. Davidson's only reprieve - and it was largely irrelevant because of the murder convictions - came in the rape of Newsom. With no DNA evidence to directly link him to a rape that forensic evidence suggested was committed with an object, jurors opted for convictions of the lesser charge of facilitation of aggravated rape. Davidson is the second of four suspects to be tried. His brother, Letalvis Cobbins, was convicted in August and sentenced to life without parole. Pending trial are suspects George Thomas, who will face a Hamilton County jury Dec. 1, and Vanessa Coleman, whose case is on hold pending a pre-trial appeal. A fifth suspect, Eric Boyd, remains uncharged in the killings but is serving an 18-year federal prison term for hiding out Davidson after the slayings. Davidson demanded a Knox County jury, a move that had proven a mystery until the trial got under way. It soon became clear that Davidson's strategy relied upon a panel of jurors who thought they knew the basics of this fatal crime spree until they heard Davidson's claims. Those claims centered on the notion that Christian and Newsom were not innocent victims but willing visitors to Davidson's Chipman Street drug house. But jurors soundly rejected Davidson's defense. "Anybody and everybody who said my daughter was doing drugs can forget it now," said Christian's father, Gary Christian. "The jury knew better." His wife Deena Christian added, "Chris and Channon were victims of murder. They shouldn't have been put on trial." Prosecutors Leland Price and Takisha Fitzgerald declined comment pending today's sentencing hearing. Eldridge and Trant also made no comments Wednesday. Hugh Newsom, Chris Newsom's father, who long has demanded all the cases be tried by Knox Countians, praised the jury and said Davidson's trial proved the community so enraged over the couple's death could fairly decide the suspects' fates. "These jurors should be considered pillars of our community," he said. "They did an outstanding job. From now on, jurors (in the remaining cases) should be from Knox County." Judge Richard Baumgartner on Wednesday afternoon sent jurors back to the hotel where they have been sequestered since the trial began more than a week ago to rest up for today's penalty phase. Eldridge told the judge he and Trant intend to summon at least eight witnesses to the stand on Davidson's behalf. During jury selection, the attorneys quizzed potential jurors about their knowledge of bi-polar disorder. Davidson himself told police he suffered from that mental condition when he was interrogated shortly after his arrest. It is, therefore, likely that a psychiatrist will be called to testify today about Davidson's mental health. Jamie Satterfield may be reached at 865-342-6308. Andrea Bowers, sister of murder victim, Christopher Newsom, looks toward her parents, Hugh and Mary Newsom, as the jury returns a guilty verdict against Lemaricus Davidson on Wednesday. Deena and Gary Christian, parents of murder victim Channon Christian, hold a press conference to show the results of a drug screening to refute accusations by defense attorneys for Lemaricus Davidson that her daughter used drugs. |
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| abb | Oct 29 2009, 04:43 AM Post #11 |
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http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=103067&provider=gnews Knoxville community reacts to Davidson verdict Alison Morrow 9 hrs ago The Lemaricus Davidson trial is one being closely watched, and not just by family and friends of Channon Christian and Chris Newsom. People around the community have been keeping an eye and ear on the court proceedings, waiting to find out what the jury would decide. 10 News crews didn't run into anyone Wednesday afternoon who hadn't heard about this trial. In fact, many said they've been glued to their television sets since it began. They all seem to agree on one point - that the jury made the right decision finding Davidson guilty. They're very interested to see what happens with sentencing. But many said, no matter the outcome, no sentence will be enough to bring the young couple back home. "You want to know that the person that did something to your family, your loved one, is going to receive some measure of punishment that's in line with what they did to your family," said David Coleman. "But at the same time, you can't take back what he did. The family's kids will always be gone," said Meghan Mearns. "It's certainly not going to bring their family back, their daughter or their son back, but at least they can feel like, if anything, this is some peace of mind," said Rhonda Burke. Many community members also continue to send their thoughts and prayers to the Christian and Newsom families. |
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| abb | Oct 29 2009, 04:47 AM Post #12 |
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http://www.bullcityrising.com/2009/10/bcrs-daily-fishwrap-report-for-october-28-2009.html BCR's Daily Fishwrap Report for October 28, 2009 We'd be remiss if we didn't point out Sunday's N&O investigative story on the NC School of Science and Math, a piece that looks at significant growth in the salaries of a number of chief administrative positions -- along with allegations by the Raleigh-based paper over the ties between NCSSM Chancellor Gerald Boarman and many of the top lieutenants he's hired, some of whom worked for him at Maryland's Eleanor Roosevelt High School. The story is worth a read. (N&O) In today's news: NCCU Forum turns on DPD Report, Emails: The Herald-Sun's recap of last night's municipal candidate forum at NC Central suggests the debate largely followed the lines of recent forums held by the League of Women Voters and other groups, with the notable exception of new criticism of incumbents over the 2008 Secondary Employment report released by the Durham P.D. and the City last week. Ward 3 challenger Allan Polak also raised a concern that the City has been unable to produce all emails from his competitor, incumbent Mike Woodard, after a public records request; Polak asserts that this reflects a failure of the Council to oversee required electronic records retentions standards. (Herald-Sun) The N&O's account goes further, documenting the interchange between Polak and Woodard at Tuesday night's forum. Polak asserted that Woodard was somehow tipped off by City Hall to the records request and intimated the Councilman lied about it; Woodard told the N&O's Jim Wise after the forum that public officials are always made aware of email records requests involving them, since they have to provide their password to City staff. An email from Woodard to City staff on Friday asks them to check again for email records, which he believes are unavailable due to a technical fault. (N&O) |
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| ~J~ is in Wonderland | Oct 29 2009, 11:30 AM Post #13 |
~J~ is in Wonderland
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Joint Press Release from the Haw River Assembly and the Southern Environmental Law Center For Release: October 29, 2009 Contacts: Elaine Chiosso, Haw Riverkeeper®, Haw River Assembly, 919-542-5790 or 919 360-2308 (mobile) Kay Bond, attorney, SELC, 919-967-1450 Kathleen Sullivan, communications, SELC, 919-945-7106 Durham Mistake Means Protest Petition Stands Commission Vote Means Jordan Lake Boundaries Remain CHAPEL HILL, NC—The Durham City-County Planning Department miscounted the amount of affected land owned by signatories to a protest petition and improperly invalidated a protest petition filed on October 5 ahead of the vote by the Durham Board of County Commissioners, according to the Southern Environmental Law Center and Haw River Assembly. On October 12, the county commissioners’ 3-2 vote to move the critical area boundary fell short of the 4-1 vote required by the valid protest petition so Jordan Lake watershed boundaries could not be amended. The Southern Environmental Law Center brought the error to the attention of the department on Tuesday, October 27. “We urge Durham County to admit its error, give full weight to the collective voice of affected landowners in a valid petition, and acknowledge that the proposed boundary move did not receive enough votes to pass during the October 12 vote of the county commissioners,” said Kay Bond, an attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center. The petition was signed by 24 property owners who would be affected by the county's request to move the critical area boundary. Using the planning department’s own methods and numbers, they represented 20.9 percent of the owners eligible to sign a protest petition. A valid petition must have signatures representing at least 20 percent. A review of the numbers and methods used by the Durham City-County Planning Department revealed that a large portion of an affected parcel of land owned by a signatory to the petition was overlooked in the department’s count. In a cursory glance, the large parcel might appear to be two separate parcels divided by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers property. The planning department only counted one fraction of the parcel as belonging to the signatory. A closer analysis of GIS data from Durham County and corresponding county records clearly show that it is one parcel of land and should have been counted in total as affected land owned by a signatory of the protest petition. A second, smaller parcel of land owned by another signatory of the protest petition was also missed in its entirety. “The petition is rooted in public support for protecting drinking water supplies as a fundamental community resource for all instead of a convenience dependent on special interest,” said Elaine Chiosso, Haw Riverkeeper, Haw River Assembly. “How we treat Jordan Lake now determines whether we and our children will shoulder more bills to clean up resulting pollution or enjoy clean water and a healthy lake.” Represented by the Southern Environmental Law Center, the Haw River Assembly objected to the proposed move because it would reduce protections for the most polluted part of Jordan Lake and allow development within an area designated as critical for water quality of the lake. Jordan Lake is a manmade reservoir located south of Chapel Hill and Durham and west of Raleigh that supplies drinking water for Triangle area communities. Because of its vital function, the lake is protected by a critical area boundary, a one-mile buffer around the lake where development is restricted to low density and any developers must implement additional run-off management measures. ### Note to editors: • A map showing the parcel of land mistakenly excluded by the Durham City-County Planning Department is available for press reports based on this release if appropriate citation is given. The map is available at http://www.southernenvironment.org/uploads/fck/Jordan_Lake_Buffer_Petition_Map_web.jpg and a high resolution version is also available by contacting ksullivan@selcnc.org • The protest petition filed with the Durham City-County Planning Department is available at http://www.durhamnc.gov/departments/planning/pdf/jordan_protest_petition_attach2.pdf About Haw River Assembly The Haw River Assembly has been working since 1982 to protect the Haw River and Jordan Lake. Its members are advocates for clean water in the eight counties that make up this watershed, including Durham. HRA has been a leader in working for better protection of our public waters at the local, state and federal levels, and has some of the state’s oldest and largest volunteer stream monitoring, education, and river clean-up programs. HRA is a member of the international Waterkeeper Alliance. WEB: www.hawriver.org/ About Southern Environmental Law Center The Southern Environmental Law Center is the only regional nonprofit using the power of the law to protect the health and environment of the Southeast (Virginia, Tennessee, North and South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama). Founded in 1986, SELC's team of 40 legal experts represent more than 100 partner groups on issues of climate change and energy, air and water quality, forests, the coast and wetlands, transportation, and land use. WEB: www.SouthernEnvironment.org FACEBOOK: http://www.fanofselc.org TWITTER: http://www.twitter.com/selc_org |
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| Quasimodo | Oct 29 2009, 12:23 PM Post #14 |
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I see that a comment critical of this article's VP has been removed by those fearless champions of free thought, the editors of the Chronicle. Curious, in that the comment in question was critical of Durham, not Duke. It in no way transgressed the restrictions on lewdness or profanity. I guess they just didn't like what it said?  |
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| abb | Oct 29 2009, 05:38 PM Post #15 |
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http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/oct/29/torture-slaying-sentencing-judge-makes-history-wil/ Group home mom’s plea to save Davidson’s life: ‘I love him; he has such potential’ By Staff Reports Originally published 11:11 a.m., October 29, 2009 Updated 06:20 p.m., October 29, 2009 KNOXVILLE - Two women who offered convicted torture slaying ringleader Lemaricus Davidson a better life as a teenager today asked a jury to spare his life. Foster mother Flo Rudd and group home mother Alice Rhea told jurors Davidson was worth saving despite the fact that he turned to robbery and, ultimately, murder despite their efforts to rescue him from a troubled upbringing. “He’s my son,” Rhea said. “I love him. He has such potential. If you put him in a structured environment, he does everything he should. I think he can be an influence to young men for years to come.” The defense called 11 witnesses on Davidson’s behalf in the wake of his conviction Wednesday in the January 2007 slayings of Channon Christian, 21, and Christopher Newsom, 23. The state is seeking Davidson’s death as punishment. A psychological evaluation of Davidson showed no signs of any mental ailments, and psychiatrist Dr. Peter Brown testified Davidson was of “average intelligence.” Judge Richard Baumgartner sent jurors back to their hotel this evening. Closing arguments in the penalty phase are set for Friday. Earlier today, Davidson said he will not testify in the penalty phase of his trial. Davidson also chose not to testify on his behalf during his trial. Meanwhile, Criminal Court Judge Richard Baumgartner ruled today that for the first time in Knox County judicial history he will instruct Davidson’s jury that it is more expensive to execute someone than to sentence them to spend the rest of their life in prison. At the request of defense attorney Doug Trant, Baumgartner said that he will tell jurors that a 2004 study by the state Comptroller’s Office concluded that execution is a more expensive form of punishment than life without parole. Prosecutors Leland Price and Takisha Fitzgerald contested the decision to no avail. They argued that such a move has never been authorized or approved by any appellate court and could unfairly prejudice the jury. Trant confirmed that such an instruction has not been given in any other Knox County capital murder case. It was not immediately known if any other judges in the state have allowed similar rulings. The judge also, over the state’s objection, is merging all the murder counts, which essentially forces the jury to determine punishment for only one murder count for each victim. Price argued that should an appellate court later determine fault with any single underlying crime on which the various murder counts are based, the judge’s ruling could result in the entire case being returned for a new trial. Baumgartner insisted that he was doing nothing unusual in merging the counts. “Obviously there is one murder (each),” Baumgartner said. “You can’t have multiple murders. There are only multiple ways it can be accomplished. I think this is the appropriate way to handle it.” Jurors this morning got teary-eyed as the families of Channon Christian and Chris Newsom discussed the impact the killings in January 2007 have had on their lives and showed photographs of the couple as they appeared before death. The defense told jurors that Davidson was neglected and abused as a child and, by age 16, was a “lost cause.” However, they said the operators of a group home in Jackson, Tenn., where he spent nearly a year as a teenager would testify that Davidson responds well to a “structured environment” and could be a productive citizen if he is then locked up for the rest of his life. The five-woman, seven-man jury spent roughly seven hours over two days before declaring Davidson guilty on Wednesday. They deemed him guilty of the top count in 35 of 38 charges, ranging from the murder of both Christian, 21, and Newsom, 23, to kidnapping to robbery. They also found Davidson, 28, guilty of multiple counts of raping Christian. Davidson’s only reprieve — and it was largely irrelevant because of the murder convictions — came in the rape of Newsom. With no DNA evidence to directly link him to a rape that forensic evidence suggested was committed with an object, jurors opted for convictions of the lesser charge of facilitation of aggravated rape. Davidson is the second of four suspects to be tried. His brother, Letalvis Cobbins, was convicted in August and sentenced to life without parole. Pending trial are suspects George Thomas, who will face a Hamilton County jury Dec. 1, and Vanessa Coleman, whose case is on hold pending a pre-trial appeal. A fifth suspect, Eric Boyd, remains uncharged in the killings but is serving an 18-year federal prison term for hiding out Davidson after the slayings. More details as they develop online and in Friday’s News Sentinel. Convicted torture-slaying ringleader Lemaricus Davidson said today he will not testify in the penalty phase of his trial. Davidson also chose not to testify on his behalf during his trial. Prosecutors have rested their case in trying to show that Davidson deserves the death penalty, and the defense is calling witnesses to the stand this afternoon to try to mitigate his sentence. Meanwhile, Criminal Court Judge Richard Baumgartner ruled today that for the first time in Knox County judicial history he will instruct Davidson's jury that it is more expensive to execute someone than to sentence them to spend the rest of their life in prison. At the request of defense attorney Doug Trant, Baumgartner said that he will tell jurors that a 2004 study by the state Comptroller's Office concluded that execution is a more expensive form of punishment than life without parole. Prosecutors Leland Price and Takisha Fitzgerald contested the decision to no avail. They argued that such a move has never been authorized or approved by any appellate court and could unfairly prejudice the jury. Trant confirmed that such an instruction has not been given in any other Knox County capital murder case. It was not immediately known if any other judges in the state have allowed similar rulings. The judge also, over the state's objection, is merging all the murder counts, which essentially forces the jury to determine punishment for only one murder count for each victim. Price argued that should an appellate court later determine fault with any single underlying crime on which the various murder counts are based the judge's ruling could result in the entire case being returned for a new trial. Baumgartner insisted that he was doing nothing unusual in merging the counts. "Obviously there is one murder (each)," Baumgartner said. "You can't have multiple murders. There are only multiple ways it can be accomplished. I think this is the appropriate way to handle it." Jurors this morning got teary eyed as the families of Channon Christian and Chris Newsom discussed the impact the killings in January 2007 have had on their lives and showed photographs of the couple as they appeared before death. The defense told jurors that Davidson was neglected and abused as a child and, by age 16, was a "lost cause." However, they said the operators of a group home in Jackson, Tenn., where he spent nearly a year as a teenager will testify that Davidson responds well to a "structured environment" and could be a productive citizen if he is then locked up for the rest of his life. The five-woman, seven-man jury spent roughly seven hours over two days before declaring Davidson guilty on Wednesday. They deemed him guilty of the top count in 35 of 38 charges, ranging from the murder of both Christian, 21, and Newsom, 23, to kidnapping to robbery. They also found Davidson, 28, guilty of multiple counts of raping Christian. Davidson's only reprieve - and it was largely irrelevant because of the murder convictions - came in the rape of Newsom. With no DNA evidence to directly link him to a rape that forensic evidence suggested was committed with an object, jurors opted for convictions of the lesser charge of facilitation of aggravated rape. Today, prosecutors hope to prove aggravating circumstances to show that Davidson should die by lethal injection. On the other side, defense attorneys Trant and David Eldridge look to pile so-called mitigating circumstances - reasons why they say Davidson should be spared death. The jury's job will be three-fold: n Decide whether aggravating factors, such as the heinousness of the crimes and prior criminal history, have been proven beyond a reasonable doubt. n Determine if circumstances such as mental health woes, addictions or childhood abuse exist in Davidson's background. n Then, weigh the two. If the scales tip toward the aggravators, the law commands a death sentence. If the scales tip toward the mitigating circumstances, the jury then must decide between a sentence of life without parole and life, which carries a mandatory 51-year prison term. The families of Christian and Newsom did not hesitate when asked what punishment they believe Davidson deserves following Wednesday's lengthy list of guilty verdicts, including convictions for first-degree murder. "Both of our kids are dead, and he deserves nothing less," said Chris Newsom's mother, Mary Newsom. Davidson is the second of four suspects to be tried. His brother, Letalvis Cobbins, was convicted in August and sentenced to life without parole. Pending trial are suspects George Thomas, who will face a Hamilton County jury Dec. 1, and Vanessa Coleman, whose case is on hold pending a pre-trial appeal. A fifth suspect, Eric Boyd, remains uncharged in the killings but is serving an 18-year federal prison term for hiding out Davidson after the slayings. Hugh Newsom, Chris Newsom's father, who long has demanded all the cases be tried by Knox Countians, praised the jury and said Davidson's trial proved the community so enraged over the couple's death could fairly decide the suspects' fates. "These jurors should be considered pillars of our community," he said. "They did an outstanding job. From now on, jurors (in the remaining cases) should be from Knox County." More details as they develop online and in Friday's News Sentinel. |
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2:59 AM Nov 25
