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Ivy League Crimes Are More Equal Than Others

To grab headlines, commit or fall victim to murder at Harvard or Yale

By M. Morris,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 18, 2009 2:49 PM CDT
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(Newser) – The killing of Yale grad student Annie Le dominated headlines around the world, "but every murder is uniquely dramatic," Jack Shafer writes for Slate. Why this one? It involves a magic word. "Three murders at a Midwestern college equal one murder at Harvard or Yale," Shafer calculates. "If you kill somebody and want the press to go all Nancy Grace on your ass, make sure your victim attends or works at Harvard or Yale."

The disparity is well documented, indefensible, and easy to explain, Shafer contends. The tabs are trading in schadenfreude, their nominally tonier competitors in empathetic or aspirational coverage. "Had the Le murder happened at, say, Oklahoma State University," Schafer observes, "you'd have to bribe the night editor of the New York Times with a case of scotch and Hasty Pudding tickets to get him to run a one-inch wire story."

Jason Aquino, 23, during his arraignment in Medford, Mass., August 3, 2009. The charges included murder and armed robbery in connection with the shooting death of Justin Cosby in a Harvard dorm.
Jason Aquino, 23, during his arraignment in Medford, Mass., August 3, 2009. The charges included murder and armed robbery in connection with the shooting death of Justin Cosby in a Harvard dorm.   (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
A sign seeking info in the disappearance of Annie Le posted on the Yale campus in New Haven, Conn., Monday, Sept. 14, 2009. Le's body was later found hidden behind a wall in a Yale research building.
A sign seeking info in the disappearance of Annie Le posted on the Yale campus in New Haven, Conn., Monday, Sept. 14, 2009. Le's body was later found hidden behind a wall in a Yale research building.   (AP Photo/Douglas Healey)
A flyer bearing photos of Annie Le is posted outside the building that housed her lab in New Haven, Conn.
A flyer bearing photos of Annie Le is posted outside the building that housed her lab in New Haven, Conn.   (AP Photo/Thomas Cain)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 6 comments
corrozu
Sep 20, 2009 4:22 AM CDT
Yeah, and guess what, her wedding was still on the same day.
DontLikeYou___
Sep 20, 2009 3:06 AM CDT
Some reporters.... well, I think they live devoid a reality which is present in the lives of the rest of us.
corrozu
Sep 19, 2009 10:55 AM CDT
and her death was very gruesome and violent.

 
media • newspaper • New York Times • Yale University • Ivy League • crime • murder • homicide • tabloids • media coverage • Oklahoma State University • Harvard University • Annie Le • Raymond Clark • Nancy Grace

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