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
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011
Accountability policy met with criticism
ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTH YEAR, ISSUE 20
WWW.DUKECHRONICLE.COM
West Union centers likely to move
Going for the gold
by Anna Koelsch
by Lauren Carroll
THE CHRONICLE
THE CHRONICLE
Although the renovations to West Union are still a work in progress, one detail is near certain—the Center for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Life and the Mary Lou Williams Center for Black Culture will be moving out permanently. Plans for the renovated West Union Building do not include space for private groups, Vice President for Student Affairs Larry Moneta said. “It’s pretty likely that West Union will emerge as a public space... fully used for public use,” Moneta said. “Ultimately we’ll have to seek new homes for the Mary Lou [Williams Center] and the LGBT center.” The Board of Trustees will vote on plans for the West Union Building renovations at its meeting Friday, Moneta said, adding that the renovations will most likely begin Summer 2013. The timeline and future location of the centers’ move is not yet determined. “There’s a lot of questions unanswered,” said senior Nana Asante, president of Black Student Alliance—a group that meets regularly in the Mary Lou Williams Center. “The uncertainty is most troubling.... A lot of actions have been taken that have not been explained to us.” Moneta said he will be meeting with students frequently to discuss the future of the LGBT center and the Mary Lou Williams
A previously unwritten student conduct policy is raising concerns about the creation of University guidelines. The “Duke Community Standard in Practice: A Guide for Undergraduates” now stipulates that student leaders can be held accountable for the actions of their group members. This policy is not new in practice, but this is the first year it has been officially written down in the Community Standard, Vice President for Student Affairs Larry Moneta said. The recent addition of this accountability policy—an unofficial rule that has been enforced up to this point—to the Community Standard has spurred a negative response from many student leaders. “I can definitely see how [the policy] would be appropriate in some circumstances,” said Duke Student Government President Pete Schork, a senior. “But [this issue] raises larger questions about to what extent [the Office of] Student Conduct has the ability to hold students accountable to policies that aren’t written.” If a member violates University policy while representing a student group, the group’s leader can potentially face consequences—though each circumstance is evaluated independently, Moneta said. He
NORAH KARLOVICH/THE CHRONICLE
Olympic track and field athlete Jackie Joyner-Kersee shares her stories on ambition and passion, along with fellow Team USA athletes Steve Mesler and Alana Nichols.
SEE CONDUCT ON PAGE 12
SEE RENOVATIONS ON PAGE 12
Panhel to apply Repeal of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ for 9 houses creates a more open ROTC by Ashley Mooney
by Yeshwanth Kandimalla
THE CHRONICLE
THE CHRONICLE
For the first time in almost 60 years, sororities could have a place to call their own. Later this month, nine sororities will be applying for individual houses—or sections—under the new house model, which will begin Fall 2012. The chapters in the Panhellenic Association are following the same application process as other selective living groups seeking space under the new residential model. “What our women will be asking for are nine equitable houses, meaning the houses should be the same as far as number of beds and common room size,” said Panhellenic Association President Jenny Ngo, a senior. “Right now we’re asking for medium to large houses, with approximately 40 beds.” With the implementation of the house model drawing
During his freshman year, junior Michael Pruitt, a midshipman in the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps, shared an intimate moment with his then-boyfriend at a Central Campus party. The next day, a senior in the Naval ROTC drove him to his residence hall and offered him some blunt advice. “She said, ‘Michael, you need to be more f—ing careful,’” Pruitt said. Starting Tuesday, Pruitt’s need to be careful ceased to exist. “Don’t ask, don’t tell,” a policy enacted in 1993 that prohibited lesbian, gay and bisexual soldiers from serving openly in the military, formally ended Tuesday. Its expiration followed a 60-day transition period stipulated by the legislation repealing the policy. President Barack
Obama signed the repeal of DADT into law Dec. 22, 2010. Although Pruitt said he is not permitted to comment on the military policy changes specifically, he said the repeal has allowed him to be candid about his identity as a bisexual member of the military. “Ever since I joined the Navy, I wanted to be that gay sailor, that new paradigm,” Pruitt said. “I am able to finally stand up and say this is who I want to be.” The president, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, provided Congress with written certification of the U.S. military’s readiness for the policy change July 22. Given DADT’s end, former members of the military who had been discharged due to revealing their sexuality can be reinstated. SEE DADT ON PAGE 6
SEE SORORITIES ON PAGE 5
Education policy expert notes graduation challenges , Page 3
ONTHERECORD
“I was no fan of Tailgate. It’s true. I am not afraid to admit it.” —Rui Dai in “Grow up already.” See column page 11
Students discuss residential house model, Page 3