President Richard Brodhead of Duke University finally took prudent action in suspending the men's lacrosse team from further games until some rape allegations against team members are resolved. A woman hired to dance at a house where a party including team members was in progress has said that she was raped and otherwise assaulted. Team captains deny it. For a time, Brodhead seemed reluctant to take the step of suspending the season. Understandably, that didn't set too well with many people.

Perhaps that's a reflection of Duke's status in Durham as a privileged institution that sometimes is perceived as having trouble relating to the rest of the community. It's true, of course, that the university over the years has engaged in many community-spirited initiatives -- its health care complex, for example, is a community mainstay. In fact it was already acting to acquire dilapidated houses being used by rowdy students and turn them back into more dignified, assimilated residences.

For his part, Brodhead has had to take into account the fact that these allegations of violence thus far are just that, and in fact are flatly denied by some of those who were attending a March 13 party on Buchanan Boulevard. But the allegations indeed are serious. A racial angle also has arisen, as the woman who alleges the attack was black -- she came through a firm that provides dancers -- and the alleged assailants were white.

At best, even if the players are proved right about the rape accusations, the facts still are troubling, what with alleged underage drinking and rowdiness about which neighbors had complained. A number of members of the team had had minor run-ins with the Duke or city police before. Those matters of fact, suspicions and true outrage in the community are reasons enough to put lacrosse aside while this mess is sorted and solved.