NCAA president Brand says behavior at Duke party was inappropriate, regardless of charges

BOSTON -- NCAA president Myles Brand said behavior at a Duke men's lacrosse party last month was inappropriate, regardless of whether the alleged assault of an exotic dancer results in criminal charges.\nThe dancer, a student at a nearby university, told police she was raped at the party by three men who restrained and choked her as she struggled to free herself from a bathroom. Investigators have collected DNA evidence from team members but no charges have been filed. A spokeswoman for North Carolina's attorney general's office said Tuesday the state's crime lab is still analyzing those samples.\nBrand said no assumptions about guilt or innocence should be made before the case runs its course.\n"Nonetheless, the situation that arose was inappropriate at best," he said in Boston, where he attended the NCAA women's basketball championship game. "It is inappropriate that we should have any group of young men, let alone those who play on our athletic teams, inviting a stripper, underage alcohol and that kind of environment."\nBrand's comments were in response to a question during a news conference at which he discussed women's basketball before Duke played Maryland in the national championship game.\nHe said the Duke women's team should not be drawn into the discussion over what happened at the lacrosse party.\n"I think the Duke basketball team is a terrific team," Brand said. "I don't think that's in the least bit overshadowed or taken anything away from the women. In fact, I think by pushing the women to answer something that they have no role to play, that strikes me as misleading to readers. I know some journalists have done that."\nBrand also said he thought Duke president Richard Brodhead was correct in suspending the lacrosse team's season until the university learns more about what happened at the party. The lacrosse team's co-captains have denied that anyone was sexually assaulted or raped at the party.\n"I'm pleased to see they're taking strong steps until they get to the bottom of it," Brand said of Duke's administration.\nSeveral campus demonstrations have criticized Duke for not doing enough, but Brand called Brodhead's decision "evidence that the administration and faculty are treating it very seriously and not ignoring it."\nAlso Tuesday, the North Carolina chapter president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People said the group plans to keep watch on the investigation and has asked to meet with the district attorney who would prosecute any charges.\n"Our position as an organization whose mission is civil rights and community justice is that the investigation of the allegations are fair, meticulous, comprehensive, aggressive and thorough," said the Rev. William Barber II. He did not immediately return calls Tuesday evening seeking further comment.\nNeither District Attorney Mike Nifong nor a spokeswoman responded to calls and e-mails Tuesday. His office has issued a statement saying the he would not respond to questions until a decision is reached on how to proceed in the case.