Rape is a devastating crime whether it is actually committed or if it is only alleged. The serious nature of the crime dictates a large media response, yet we believe this is often damaging. With high profile cases such as the alleged Duke lacrosse rape case, defendants and victims alike are often dragged through the mud.The alleged Duke lacrosse rape case has made national headlines because of the allegations of racism (with potentially three white men attacking a black woman) and the high regard with which Duke University is held. A similar case at a different school would not have warranted such a huge reaction from the media. The issue with the alleged lacrosse case should be the alleged crime itself, and not the race or social status of those involved. Rape is a crime that transcends racial or socio-economic backgrounds and is therefore universally condemned. The fact that the alleged attackers were white and the victim was black plays little role in proving the guilt or innocence of the parties involved.Similarly, any riff between the economic status of the parties involved does not indicate whether a crime has been committed.With cases like rape and other forms of sexual assault, the accused are often seen to be guilty until proven innocent. The burden of proof often lays with the defendants who now must assert their innocence against a barrage of media attention.We by no means defend what the Duke lacrosse team may or may not have done. Rape is a reprehensible crime and such allegations should not be taken lightly.However, cases such as this one and other recent examples, such as the Kobe Bryant rape case, demonstrate a flaw in the criminal justice system that forces anyone accused of a crime to defend their innocence against a presumed guilt.