The topic here is standards. What standard do others apply in deciding whom to honor? The case of Jameis Winston immediately came to mind, a case well-known to many readers of the American persuasion. Nicholas D. Kristoff's characterization of Woody Allen as an "artistic giant" would reasonably be applied to Winston, whose art was practiced in the field, and on the field, in that branch of the entertainment industry known as "college tackle football." Like Allen, Winston was accused of a serious sex crime, rape. Winston's victim was young but not that young, not seven years old. She was college student age. As in Allen's case the District Attorney declined to prosecute. The D.A.'s decision in both cases freed the suspects to continue their artistic endeavors. And, like in Woody Allen's case, the "industry" had an honor to bestow on Winston. Which it did.
In the case of Jameis Winston there are two bodies whose standards we may compare and contrast with Kristof's and Hollywood's in the Allen case, first, Winston's university's standard, and second the standard of the honor-bestowing body. Florida State University's standard was no arrest, no prob, Winston could continue representing the university as their star player in the most visible and most lucrative college sport there is. The undersigned believes but does not know "for sure," that this standard was applied consistently by the university, i.e. to other athletes, male and female, football and field hockey, cash cow, and money-losing dreg. As with the standards used by Kristof and Hollywood, there are no "should's" here. Florida State was within its right to employ that standard. Is it a reasonable standard. In my opinion it is. Might we reasonably criticize it? We may. It does seem a little low; this is a publicly funded university. That is as far as the "character" issue extends at a public university? It is. Might there not be more character expected of a student on a free tuition ride at a public university in such a high-profile role as star of the tackle football team than not to get arrested for rape. For Godssake? Yep. But, that's the standard and they're stickin' to it. One more thing: Florida State's standard is to adopt someone else's standard, namely the standard of the police. Might we reasonably criticize a public university for not independently determining this matter rather than to punt ( pun intended, of course) that decision to the cops and breathlessly await the D.A.'s press conference? Yes. But...standard...stickin' to it.
What is the police standard to make an arrest? "Probable cause," more probable than not that the accused committed the crime. Now I must say, that is the goddamndest most reasonable standard I've heard yet. If it is probable that the accused committed the crime, he was OUTTA THERE! Winston would have had to pursue alternative artistic endeavors, perhaps in the field of medicine or nuclear physics, or pizza delivery, wherever his talents took him. So, thank you Florida State, thank you cops. You have shined light in the dark forest of Nicholas D. Kristof's cranium.
In the case of Jameis Winston there are two bodies whose standards we may compare and contrast with Kristof's and Hollywood's in the Allen case, first, Winston's university's standard, and second the standard of the honor-bestowing body. Florida State University's standard was no arrest, no prob, Winston could continue representing the university as their star player in the most visible and most lucrative college sport there is. The undersigned believes but does not know "for sure," that this standard was applied consistently by the university, i.e. to other athletes, male and female, football and field hockey, cash cow, and money-losing dreg. As with the standards used by Kristof and Hollywood, there are no "should's" here. Florida State was within its right to employ that standard. Is it a reasonable standard. In my opinion it is. Might we reasonably criticize it? We may. It does seem a little low; this is a publicly funded university. That is as far as the "character" issue extends at a public university? It is. Might there not be more character expected of a student on a free tuition ride at a public university in such a high-profile role as star of the tackle football team than not to get arrested for rape. For Godssake? Yep. But, that's the standard and they're stickin' to it. One more thing: Florida State's standard is to adopt someone else's standard, namely the standard of the police. Might we reasonably criticize a public university for not independently determining this matter rather than to punt ( pun intended, of course) that decision to the cops and breathlessly await the D.A.'s press conference? Yes. But...standard...stickin' to it.
What is the police standard to make an arrest? "Probable cause," more probable than not that the accused committed the crime. Now I must say, that is the goddamndest most reasonable standard I've heard yet. If it is probable that the accused committed the crime, he was OUTTA THERE! Winston would have had to pursue alternative artistic endeavors, perhaps in the field of medicine or nuclear physics, or pizza delivery, wherever his talents took him. So, thank you Florida State, thank you cops. You have shined light in the dark forest of Nicholas D. Kristof's cranium.
