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10:31 p.m. • 2-10-12

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NCCU Chancellor: Op-Ed Piece Not University's View


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N.C. Central Chancellor James Ammons
N.C. Central Chancellor James Ammons

Views in an inflammatory column in North Carolina Central University’s campus newspaper are not those of the university, Chancellor James Ammons said in a statement released Tuesday.

The column, “Death to all Rapists,” was published in the April 18 edition of “The Campus Echo” and refers to the dismissal of sexual assault and kidnapping charges against three white Duke University lacrosse players who were indicted and arrested after a black N.C. Central student told police she was raped at a party last March.

“We black people (while we may be able to bribe judges like white people) cannot expect justice from the American legal system, period,” writes Solomon Burnette, a senior at the university.

Burnette calls for “retributive correction” and says it is time to fight “whether intellectually, artistically or physically.”

“In no way does the university advocate violence as a means to seek justice,” Ammons said, noting that the views expressed were those of one student, Solomon Burnette, and neither those necessarily of the newspaper or the school.

The Campus Echo has a policy of accepting opinions submissions from students, faculty, staff and community members, a disclaimer before the column reads, “and respects their freedom of expression according to the First Amendment.”

The newspaper’s editor, Rony Camille, told WRAL Tuesday that the decision to publish the column came after a debate among staff members and that freedom of speech ultimately won out.

Ammons went on to say in his statement to say that although Burnette has a right to express his opinion, “we also know that the freedom of speech comes with the responsibility to be fair and accountable. We also believe that the facts do matter in this case and every legal case and violence is not the answer.”

Camille said the paper has gotten about a dozen e-mails from people outside the university community critical of the column and the paper.

RELATED TOPICS: Duke University

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RE:" part of the reason he is as old as he is and still attending college would be the 13 month prison sentence after pleading "no contest" to charges of robbing two Duke students AT GUNPOINT."...this may be the funniest and saddest part of the whole story...maybe he should go after his attorney...or the Duke kids that "snitched" on him...un-be-lievable

This Eldridge Cleaver wannabee is NOT "a columnist". He is just some hot head with a keyboard. The "issue" is not what he wrote .... but that the NCCU paper thought it served a worthwhile purpose to promote his radical opinion. They gave him access to their paper .... question them. Not him.

There was a situation in Wilmington, NC where two police officers responded to a call about a unclothed black gentleman. While one of the officers was close to him perhaps arresting; the gentleman went for his gun and shot if off twice. Subsequently, his rookie partner shot the gentleman and he died. The black community in Wilmington protested and acted like he was shot only because of his race. He plainly was shot because he gained control of an officers weapon and posed a deadly threat against them. The North Carolina SBI proved via balistics, and via video evidence that the officers were responding appropriately. Why can't the black community see that this young man was wrong and not blame the officers just because they are white? If the gentleman in question had been white and the officers black I certainly would not question their response, or walk in protest against them. The student at NCCU is not helping his community, and I think we have a lot to learn.

Why do people, like this guy, drive a wedge between the races? If a white "columnist" wrote a similar piece about blacks he would have to be suspended, fired and meet with the rutgers' BB team to soothe things over!

Freedom of speach only goes so far, it is still illegal to yell "fire" in a crowded building when there is no fire. It seems Burnette has a lot of experience with the American Legal System and if he does not like it he should try what some other countries have to offer, where you are still guilty after proven innocent.

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