Sept 6, 2011 issue

Page 1

T H E I N D E P E N D E N T D A I LY AT D U K E U N I V E R S I T Y

The Chronicle

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2011

ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTH YEAR, ISSUE 9

WWW.DUKECHRONICLE.COM

After Irene, Durham perseveres despite NC residents rising state unemployment rate recoup losses by Yeshwanth Kandimalla THE CHRONICLE

Eastern North Carolina is on the path to recovery following the damage caused by Hurricane Irene, government officials said. Gov. Bev Perdue said in a Friday news release that damage estimates top $400 million—including $320 million in crop damage, $40 million in uninsured home and business losses and $45 million in costs to local governments. Perdue also obtained public assistance for 20 eastern counties to apply for public assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to fund debris removal and infrastructure repair. Individuals and businesses in 33 total counties can apply for assistance from FEMA for damages related to Irene not covered by property insurance. Perdue also established the N.C. Disaster Relief Fund that collects private donations and distributes them to community organizations that assist in longterm relief efforts such as home repairs, according to her website. “Our fellow North Carolinians who were affected by this storm need to get back in their homes or reopen their businesses as quickly as possible,” Perdue said in a Sunday news release. “That’s why we have aggressively pressed for all SEE IRENE ON PAGE 8

CHRONICLE GRAPHIC BY DENNIS OCHEI

by Chinmayi Sharma THE CHRONICLE

The state’s employment rates are sinking, but Durham has bucked the trend. According to the North Carolina Employment Security Commission, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate exceeded 10 percent for the first time since last October, a rate of 10.1 percent as of July. This is a full percentage point higher than the national average—9.1 percent— and reflects a two-fifths of a percentage point increase in state unemployment since May. Durham County, however, has fared significantly better, as its unemployment rate

decreased from 8.4 percent in June to the current 8.2 percent, according to the state ESC report. “We have not felt the blow the state felt of climbing unemployment rates,” Durham Mayor Bill Bell said. “We have had maybe two or three positions discontinued [in the city government] and haven’t seen much growth in the housing and construction sectors, but all in all our unemployment rate went down.” Bell said Durham’s advantageous position in the job market can be attributed to city and county policy as well as institutional steps taken to sustain the public school system and promote entrepreneurship.

“Our county commissioners have really stepped up to the plate as they usually do, and we have been very lucky because we— unlike many other districts—did not spend all the money we received from the [federal] government last year,” Durham Public Schools President Jeffrey Nash said. “That is why we have not seen the mass layoffs in education occurring elsewhere.” In November 2010, Durham Public Schools received $6.2 million from the Federal Education Jobs Fund intended for salaries of personnel working at the school building level, said Paul Lesieur, SEE UNEMPLOYMENT ON PAGE 7

Conduct policy changes reflect drug abuse by Lauren Carroll THE CHRONICLE

Unnatural measures now mean additional consequences for students hoping to enhance their academic performance. The Office of Student Conduct sent an email to the student body Friday regarding several changes to the Duke Community Standard as well as policies currently under review. The unauthorized use of prescription medications—particularly drugs used in the treatment of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder such as Ritalin or Adderall—in order to improve or enhance academic performance is now considered cheating as well as a violation of drug policy. In the past, the use of such drugs

without a prescription was only a violation under the University’s drug policy. Stephen Bryan, associate dean of students and director of the Office of Student Conduct, wrote in an email Monday that students were the driving force behind this particular policy change. He added that administrators and students admit this policy will be challenging to enforce because it is difficult to prove a violation. “There is a perception—if not actuality—that Adderall abuse is rampant on campus,” Bryan said. “Enforcement is difficult, and the students who proposed this addition recognize this. They wanted to at least symbolically make a statement.” SEE ADDERALL ON PAGE 6

ELIZA BRAY/THE CHRONICLE

The Marketplace sees new setup, Page 3

ONTHERECORD

“Households don’t want to spend for two reasons. First, they either don’t have jobs or they’re worried about losing the ones they have.” —Professor Connel Fullenkamp on spending. See story page 15

Basketball staff sees new additions, Page 9


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