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, NOVEMBER 8, 2011
ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTH YEAR, ISSUE 52
WWW.DUKECHRONICLE.COM
Expert debates possible water policies Medical
withdrawal given deadline
by Yueran Zhang THE CHRONICLE
The United States needs to adopt an integrated water policy in order to confront the long-term water crisis, a leader in water sustainability said Monday. Ben Grumbles, president of the Clean Water America Alliance, discussed how American society should change the way it values and manages water at both regional and national levels at a lecture titled “Are We Ready for a National Water Policy?” The event was hosted by the Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions. Grumbles said even though the solutions to water problems depend on specific physical conditions of each region, such as climate and soil quality, the framework of water policy should transcend geographical boundaries and integrate cross-regional collaboration. “People tend to believe water is local— actually it is, except when it is not,” Grumbles said. “It is the battle we are fighting for all across the country.” Bill Holman, the director of state policy at the Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions, introduced Grumbles as one of the leading thinkers working on water policy, given Grumbles’ diverse experience and involvement in water-related issues. “The issues he addresses are exactly part of mission of the Nicholas Institute,” Holman said, adding that Grumbles’ perspective may facilitate rigorous conversation among scholars. In addition to working on local environmental issues, Grumbles promoted an integrative approach to solve large-scale SEE WATER ON PAGE 5
by Patton Callaway THE CHRONICLE
MELISSA YEO/THE CHRONICLE
Ben Grumbles, president of the Clean Water America Alliance, discusses possible solutions to a growing national water problem. The event was hosted by the Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions.
After this Friday, students will not be able to withdraw from an individual class, even if for medical reasons. Students have historically been able to request a medical withdrawal from a class until the last day of classes in a semester. Beginning this Fall, the Nov. 11 academic withdrawal deadline will instead apply to medical withdrawals as well. Academic deans in Trinity College of Arts and Sciences and the Pratt School of Engineering decided to change the policy at the end of last Spring. The earlier deadline for medical withdrawal is meant to encourage students’ communication with their academic deans about any mental or physical healthrelated issues with enough time left in the semester to seek help. The new policy also helps prevent pinpointing one class as the source of a medical issue, as students will still be allowed to request an incomplete or a medical leave of absence from all courses. “The decision was made out of a sense of wanting to have a policy about courses be both consistent and fair to students,” said Norman Keul, an associate dean in Trinity College and adjunct associate professor of German. Until this year, medical withdrawal allowed students dealing with extreme health issues to drop a class any time throughout the semester. These students were also permitted to SEE WITHDRAWAL ON PAGE 6
‘Kings of Tobacco Road’ to meet at NC Central by Chris Cusack THE CHRONICLE
CHRIS DALL/THE CHRONICLE
2011 NBA Draft picks Nolan Smith and Kyrie Irving are expected to play in the Nov. 17 exhibition.
Political science department faces relocation, Page 3
Kyrie Irving will get his chance to take on North Carolina on the hardwood this season—just not as a current member of the Duke men’s basketball team. On Nov. 17, Irving, and a number of other former Duke players, will take on a star-studded lineup of Tar Heel basketball alumni in the Kings of Tobacco Road exhibition at 8:30 p.m. “It transpired pretty quickly,” said Rob Blair, CEO and founder of Bleid Sports, which collaborated with S.J.G. Greater N.C. Sports, Inc., to put together the game. “With Duke and UNC in the Mecca of college basketball, it just made sense.”
N.C. Central has tentatively agreed to host the game at MacDougald Gym, Blair said, but no official contract had been signed. Both lineups are also still in flux, Blair said, but Elton Brand, Gerald Henderson, Nolan Smith, Corey Maggette, Chris Duhon and J.J. Redick will play for Duke under coach Jay Williams. Former Tar Heel Jerry Stackhouse, cofounder of S.J.G. Greater N.C. Sports, Inc., will be joined by Vince Carter, Antawn Jamison, Rasheed Wallace, Raymond Felton, Brendan Haywood and Donald and Shammond Williams on a team coached by Phil Ford. SEE KINGS ON PAGE 8
ONTHERECORD
“...I would like to offer a piece of advice to you as you enter the polls: Please vote responsibly. .” —William Reach in “Please vote responsibly.” See column page 11
Blue Devils awarded No. 1 seed in NCAA Tournament, Page 7
2 | TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2011
THE CHRONICLE
worldandnation
Judge blocks new graphic cigarette warning labels
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A federal judge blocked the federal government Monday from requiring tobacco companies to begin putting graphic new warning labels on cigarette packages, cartons and advertisements beginning next year. In a 29-page decision, U.S. District Judge Richard Leon granted a request from five tobacco companies to issue a preliminary injunction barring implementation of the Food and Drug Administration’s new mandate. “The Court concludes that plaintiffs have demonstrated a substantial likelihood that they will prevail on the merits of their position that these mandatory graphic images unconstitutionally compel speech, and that they will suffer irreparable harm absent injunctive relief pending a judicial review of the constitutionality of the FDA’s rule,” Leon wrote. The tobacco companies hailed the decision.
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onschedule at Duke... Westbrook 0015, 12-1p.m. Professor Jen’nan Read, Hassan Khalil and Dr. Ismail Suayah will discuss their personal perspective on the fall of Gadhafi.
Homebuying Seminar
Report criticizes electric Syrian opposition labels transmission line project Homs a ‘disaster area’ WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Energy Department has come under criticism from its inspector general for the handling of an electric transmission line project that received $152 million of federal financing, but which the IG says has come to “a standstill, with no progress being made.”
LONDON — The opposition Syrian National Council Monday urged the United Nations and other international groups to help civilians caught up in five days of government attacks in the city of Homs, which it called a “disaster area.”
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“Rivers, already named the preseason ACC Freshman of the Year, was named to the Naismith Award Watch List on Monday. Rivers is one of 50 players on the list for the award, given annually to the top player of the nation and is one of only seven freshmen on the list.” — From The Blue Zone bluezone.dukechronicle.com
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WEDNESDAY:
Libya Teach-in: Personal Perspectives on an International Issue
It is an undoubted truth, that the less one has to do, the less time one finds to do it in. — Earl of Chesterfield
on the
TODAY:
Searle Center Conference Room E, 12:30-1:30p.m. The seminar will offer helpful hints on home financing, such as getting prequalified, upfront costs, choosing the right mortgage, etc.
Miku: Japan’s Virtual Idol as Social Media Platform Hull Studio, 2:50-4:20p.m. MIT associate professor Ian Condry will discuss the impact of Miku Hatsune, Japan’s number one virtual idol.
CORRECTIONS In the Nov. 8 article, “Voters to decide on sales tax,” it was stated that the current sales tax in Durham County is 7.25 percent. The sales tax in Durham County is currently 6.75 percent. If the transit tax passes, Durham County sales tax would be increased 7.25 percent, not 7.75 percent as previously reported. The photo caption for the Nov. 7 article, “Wells outlines strategies to counter drug use,” incorrectly identified the speaker as Mark Wells. The speaker is Patrick Duddy.
DEBBIE CENZIPER/THE WASHINGTON POST
This unfinished structure is one of many barren structures and lots left behind by a developer associated with the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s afforable housing project. Although HUD recently reported that the project was doing fine, structures like this tell a different story.
The photo caption for the Nov. 3 article, “Lawyer Howard calls for overhaul of legal system,” incorrectly identifies the location of the event as the Sanford School of Public Policy. The event was held at the Duke Divinity School. The Chronicle regrets the errors.
THE CHRONICLE
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2011 | 3
Political science dept. to move out of Perkins by Autumn Robinson THE CHRONICLE
The political science department will soon have a new home. Although the exact relocation has not yet been determined, the political science department—currently spread out between the third floor of Perkins Library and the Old Chemistry Building—must move once Perkins Library undergoes its next wave of construction, which is slated to begin in phases in late 2012. The renovations to the library are made possible by a $13.6 million contribution in August from David Ruben-
stein, Trinity ’70 and co-founder and managing director of The Carlyle Group. The department will most likely move to the Gross Chemistry Building, though this is not a “done deal,” said Scott de Marchi, director of undergraduate studies in the political science department. “[There has been a] long-standing push to get a gift to renovate the library—this was always in the works,” de Marchi said. The Gross Chemistry Building—located on Science Drive in between the Duke Law SEE MOVE ON PAGE 6
ON the
BALLOT 2011 Municipal Elections
From Staff Reports THE CHRONICLE
At Durham’s 2011 Municipal Elections today, voters will choose the next mayor of the Bull City and new city council members, among other ballot items. Duke Student Government’s Durham and Regional Affairs committee has organized transportation to the voting polls. Charlene’s Safe Rides vans will be available from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. at the West Campus bus stop to take voters to the W.I. Patterson Center or Watts Elementary School based on the voter’s address. The Mayor’s race: Durham Mayor Bill Bell, a Democrat who was first elected in 2001 and won 81 percent of the vote in the mayoral primary that took place earlier this month, is running against Rev. Sylvester Williams, a Democrat and pastor of the Assembly at Durham Christian Center. Williams received 8 percent of votes in the primary election, the most of any other challenger.
SOPHIA PALENBERG/THE CHRONICLE
The Duke political science department will relocate from its current location in Perkins Library and the Old Chemistry Building, likely to the Gross Chemistry Building.
The ‘Bull City’ council: Voters will have the opportunity to make three selections for at-large seats on Durham’s City Council. Incumbents Diane Catotti and Eugene Brown are running for reelection to the council. Brown and Catotti were both elected to the council in 2003. Solomon Burnette, Donald Hughes and Steve Schewel are also running.
A tax for transit: The ballot also includes a proposal that would impose a local half cent sales tax for transit improvements. The transit tax is expected to raise $17.3 million in its first full calendar year of collection, according to Durham County. Planned transit improvements include increasing busing hours as well as constructing a commuter rail through Durham and Research Triangle Park by 2018. The county hopes to implement a light rail system by 2024. The current sales tax is 6.75 percent. A half cent increase would bring the sales tax to 7.25 percent. The school tax: Voters will also consider another quarter cent rise in sales tax. The revenue will contribute to public education. The school tax will raise approximately 9.2 million in its first full year, and $2.7 million between April and June 2012. Of the $9.2 million, about $6.17 is expected to go toward Durham Public Schools. Durham Technical Community College will be allocated approximately $825,000 and pre-kindergarten programs will get about $200,000. If this increase passes along with the transit tax, the sales tax would increase to 7.50 percent. For more information on voting or transportation to the polls, voters are encouraged to visit the Durham Country Government and DSG’s respective websites.
4 | TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2011
THE CHRONICLE
Rana discusses consequences of Islamophobia by Shucao Mo THE CHRONICLE
Risk and danger for labor migrants have intensified under the regimes of terror control in the post-9/11 period, one expert said Monday. Junaid Rana, associate professor of Asian American studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, addressed the issues of Islamophobia and connected society’s irrational fears with racism, arguing that the intersection between the two enacts the global war on terror in everyday life. “A revitalized Islamic identity is, in many ways, a response to the pressures of diasporic living and the challenges of racial discrimination and social prejudice,” Rana said. “Through transnational revivalist movements such as the Tablighi Jamaat, migrants are reclaiming Islam as they construct identities through pedagogics that emphasize ethical and moral reasoning.”
Rana also introduced his recently published book, “Terrifying Muslims: Race and Labor in the South Asian Diaspora, ”to an audience of Asian and Middle Eastern studies students and affiliated professors in the lectured
“A revitalized Islamic identity is, in many ways, a response to the pressures of diasporic living and the challenges of racial discrimination and social prejudice.” — Junaid Rana, associate professor of Asian American studies
titled “Migrant Islam Confront Racism: Revivalist Movements and Islamophobia.” The Duke Islamic Studies Center sponsored the event. During the speech, Rana showed a scene from the 2005 film “Syriana” to demonstrate the complexity of a Muslim world divided by religious sects, ethnicity, nationality and economic standing. He noted that transnational migration connects those relationships to their global context, which is indiscriminatingly hostile against Muslims. “His argument fits with the Marxist analysis of religions... operating at the level where people are not quite an opiate of the masses, but [are] accepting the structural inequality,” said Frances Hasso, director of the international comparative studies program and associate professor in international comparative studies, women’s studies and sociology. In addition to Islamophobia, a binary mentality that poses Muslims in terms of democracy and freedom versus radicalism and militancy often makes it more difficult to come to a mutual understanding about the culture, Rana said. “This dichotomy results from competing notions of humanism in which ‘humanity...’ is stripped from the Islamic militant,” he said. In his book, Rana investigates the construction of transnational working classes from Pakistan and how they are represented in the context of the American empire and recent war of terrorism. In addition to their identity as transnational workers, he said, society racializes middle and south Asian foreign workers—creating new social relationships in the face of a global capitalistic structure that depends upon mass migration. Rana noted that some of the challenges that Muslim migrants and transnationals have to overcome are in situating their social and religious identities and better understanding their own culture—what it means to be a global Muslim—in a Western context during the transnational working process. “[The question is] how to deal legitimately with a materialistic world as a practicing Muslim,” Rana said. Rana has conducted ethnographic fieldwork in Pakistan and the United States. He chronicled the world views of Paskistani labor migrants as they became part of a larger global racial system—in the process discovering the prevailing experiences with racism felt by migrant workers across Europe. He noted that his research also emphasizes the importance of a revitalized Islamic identity to Muslim participants—reaffirming their faith but also providing them with a framework for religious action. Claudia Koonz, professor and Peabody Family chair of history, said the book was a wonderful study that gave her a larger framework in which to analyze contemporary Islamophobic attitudes following globalization and transnational migration. She added that Rana’s speech left her with a strong sense of the transnational capitalistic structure.
THE CHRONICLE
WATER from page 1 water problems. Grumbles said the American people had to forgo the traditional way of dealing with water crises because during recent years, new factors such as aging water infrastructure, a growing population and diminishing natural resources have emerged to make the issue more pressing. “If the U.S. does not make smart changes, our economy will be disadvantaged globally,” he said. Grumbles added that the government, science agencies, nonprofit organizations and private enterprises all share the responsibility in establishing a national policy framework. “Every organization is part of the game,” Grumbles said. “We have to push both regional agencies and national entities toward a holistic approach.” A holistic approach requires people to adopt a new way of interpreting the concept of policy, he said. “We do not continue to understand ‘policy’ as ‘legally enforceable regulation,’” Grumbles said. “Our organization
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has been thinking ‘policy’ as a broad concept—a vision and principle of sustainability that needs national attention and support.” Establishing a holistic national water policy will take time, Grumbles noted. “[Among all the environmental issues,] there is nothing more conservative than water policy,” he said, adding that skepticism about the severity of water crisis has worsened the situation. Grumbles challenged the traditional way of dividing a water problem into different subproblems, arguing instead that agencies should learn to view the problem as a whole. “Some people are still used to separating water problem into water quantity, water quality, water resources and so on, according to different skill sets required and cultural and political concerns in different regions,” Grumbles said. “But now we need an encompassing approach that integrates various considerations.” Previous policies involved combining science, technology and finance. “The [United States] needs to embrace some new ways of
thinking when it comes to technology and finance,” Grumbles said, noting that technological and financial innovation combined with private enterprise could make a significant difference. A partnership between public and private sectors is crucial, said Lauren Traugott-Campbell, research fellow at the Center for the Study of Natural Hazards and Disasters at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “It’s important to educate people to see the importance of the issue,” Traugott-Campbell said. Troy Pepping, a first-year student in the Master of Environmental Management program at the Nicholas School, said people should take a proactive attitude immediately to shape a new framework of water policy. “Even though the [process of raising people’s awareness] is slow, I still have faith that the new mode of confronting the water crisis would be implemented in the long run,” Pepping said. Before becoming president of the Clean Water America Alliance, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting water and environmental policy, Grumbles served as director of Arizona’s Department of Environmental Quality.
Sports
BLUE ZONE
The Chronicle
TUESDAY November 8, 2011
Austin Rivers is one of 50 players on the Naismith Award Watch List. Our weekly roundup of Duke men’s basketball recruiting news.
www.dukechroniclesports.com
WOMEN’S SOCCER
Growing pains loom Top-seeded Blue Devils draw Radford On the way to adulthood, everyone must first wade through the frequently-awkward era known as adolescence. It’s those years, and how one survives them, that often come to define one’s true character. In the recent past, Blue Devil fans have been spoiled, though, as their team has seemingly skipped its adolescent stage and gone straight on to maturity. This season, though, Duke fans need to be prepared to pop a few zits. The 2008-09 Blue Devils, led by a core of juniors and the veteran hand of Greg Scott Paulus, started the season 18-1, with three convincing victories over ranked opponents. The next year, the eventual national champions again had a core of juniors and seniors that started fast out of the gate with a championship in the NIT Season Tip-Off and 13 wins in its first 14 games. And last season, teenager Kyrie Irving exhibited the maturity of a seasoned veteran, leading Duke to eight impressive victories before suffering his now-infamous toe injury. The common thread is clear—the Blue Devils of the last several seasons have exhibited an unusually high level of maturity that has directly correlated to its impressive early results. But Duke fans will have to temper such expectations this season. This year’s Blue Devils will be an entirely different squad than those of the last few years. True, the talent is still there, but the experience and
Rich
TYLER SEUC/THE CHRONICLE
Duke fans should temper their expectations for the early season as young players mature, Rich writes.
SEE RICH ON PAGE 8
MEN’S SOCCER
Streaking Tigers come for ACC tourney game by Andrew Beaton THE CHRONICLE
The Blue Devils set their highest goal mark of the season when they squared off against Clemson in September. But, Duke is not kidding itself into thinking it is facing the same Tigers squad it demolished 5-2. The No. 3-seeded Blue Devils will play host to surging sixthseeded Clemson in Clemson the first round of the ACC tournament tovs. night at 7 p.m at Koskinen Stadium. Duke Although Duke (10-6-2) handily deTUESDAY, 7 p.m. feated the Tigers earKoskinen Stadium lier in the year behind junior forward Andrew Wenger’s hat trick, the team is not even watching film from its earlier matchup because it knows how much Clemson has evolved since that blowout. “Their intensity and commitment to defense is much different [than it was in September],” junior forward Andrew Wenger said. “In their last couple games they’ve gotten some good results, so we’ve been watching those games.”
The Tigers (8-8-1) began the year slowly, and in the middle of October hit a low point with a 3-7 record in their first 10 matches. That stretch included two three-game losing streaks, and the few wins did not come easily, with two of them requiring double overtime. The second of the two losing streaks, which culminated in the team’s seventh loss, comprised three consecutive shutouts. In the seven games since then, however, Clemson has experienced a rebirth, with five wins and just one loss in that span. Two of the victories were in the ACC against ranked opponents, against then-No. 14 Boston College and then-No. 1 Maryland. Most recently, the team is on a three-game winning streak, including two conference victories, that finally leveled the squad at .500. “You’re going to see a much different Clemson team than we saw earlier in the season,” Wenger said, “but also a much different Duke team.” The Blue Devils, like the Tigers, have also steadily improved throughout the course of the season with eight wins and only two losses since the teams first faced off. SEE M. SOCCER ON PAGE 8
ELLA BANKA/THE CHRONICLE
The Blue Devils celebrate after seeing their name called during the NCAA tournament selection show. against Miami. “The ACC is so competitive,” goalkeeper For the first time ever, Duke will enter Tara Campbell said. “I would like to avoid the NCAA tournament as a No. 1 seed. any ACC team as long as I can.” The Blue Devils (17-3-1), making The Blue Devils’ ACC experience, even their ninth straight appearance in the including their conference tournament tournament, will play Radford (15-5-1) semifinal loss to Wake Forest, may prove at 2 p.m. Sunday at Koskinen Stadium. enough to help the team succeed early. With the top seed in its region, “It was disappointing to lose in the Duke enjoys homefield advantage ACC tournament, but… we learned from to open the that game,” tournament. Campbell said. The Blue Dev- “The ACC is so competitive. I “The first half ils, who boast so important, would like to avoid any ACC isespecially a 12-0-1 home in the record, have altournament. team as long as I can.” lowed just four Scoring the first — goalkeeper Tara Campbell goal is crucial, goals in their 13 games at Koand I think we skinen, and just learned a little two after September 9. about when you go down in a game, how “I think our strength has really been you react to that. So I think it could work at home all the way through,” defender out for us in the end that we didn’t win Maddy Haller said. “You can see that just the ACC tournament.” in our record. As a defense, it’s just kind With plenty of experience and a reguof nice to be home and… know where lar season ACC title already, Duke has put people are on the field.” itself in a great spot to improve upon its The Blue Devils also have the luxury round of 16 finish last season. of a break from conference opponents. “We’ve been working to this for a long The ACC earned a league-record nine time, not just this year,” head coach Robbie NCAA bids, including three No. 1 seeds, Church said. “The girls have done a fantasbut the earliest Duke could potentially tic job from the opening day of preseason face an ACC foe is in the quarterfinals all the way through.” by Matt Pun THE CHRONICLE
8 | TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2011
THE CHRONICLE
RICH from page 7
KINGS from news page 1
M. SOCCER from page 7
maturity isn’t—at least not yet. That’s why Duke fans shouldn’t be expecting another romp through the nonconference schedule, especially considering the unusually challenging slate facing the Blue Devils in 2011. Duke could conceivably lose at least two or three nonconference games, considering that they face one of the more loaded preseason tournament fields in recent memory at the Maui Invitational and also travel to Columbus to face Ohio State. But just as the sometimes rocky high school experience helps mold teenagers’ identities, the Blue Devils could be better off in the long run if and when they experience growing pains. While this year’s team certainly has the talent of previous incarnations, no one on the roster has truly been tested as the go-to guy in pressure situations. And Duke won’t know who to turn to until players like Seth Curry, Austin Rivers, Ryan Kelly and the Plumlees are thrust into those situations. And in all likelihood, most of them will struggle to adapt to these new roles when asked to fill them for the first time. But November and December difficulties will be forgotten if the team comes together in February and March. Head coach Mike Krzyzewski and his players will have to use a challenging non-conference slate to discover how the roster’s pieces fit together. Kelly emphasized this following the team’s final exhibition game against Shaw. “With a new team with new roles, that’s what guys have to figure out,” he said. “It’s getting better every day.... If we keep making steps forward, that’s all we can ask.” That’s not the kind of attitude Duke fans have come to expect as a new season dawns. Instead, they’ve been accustomed to the team’s rotation being set even before preseason practices even began. This year, even the Blue Devils’ starting lineup for Friday’s season opener is still unknown to the public. It will take longer than normal for Duke to find a consistent starting lineup, a welldefined rotation and, most importantly, an identity. But once the team’s acne clears and it discovers who it truly is, it should blossom into a confident and talented young adult. Hopefully for Blue Devil fans, that’ll come just in time to ask a date to the Big Dance in New Orleans come March.
“[Bleid Sports has] put together many other showcases,” Blair said. “But one with four NBA starters and ten NBA players? No.” S.J.G. Greater N.C. Sports, Inc., organizes the yearly North Carolina Pro Am, a summer league in which almost 20 total Blue Devils from both the men’s and women’s teams participated last year. It will also combine with Bleid Sports for the Clash in Cameron on Dec. 17, a high school basketball showcase featuring Jabari Parker, a Duke recruit in the class of 2013. Although the exhibition was rumored to be held in Cameron Indoor Stadium, Duke sports information wrote in an email Monday night that “Duke has nothing to do with any aspect of this game,” and declined further comment. The Kings of Tobacco Road game comes on the heels of last month’s Big Blue All-Stars vs. Villains exhibition at Kentucky’s Rupp Arena, in which Smith played for a Villains team coached by former Duke great Christian Laettner. Exhibition games have emerged all over the country as NBA players wait for a new labor agreement to be reached with the league.
In many ways, that game has served as a turning point for the Duke offense. The Blue Devils scored only five goals in the five games prior to the Clemson contest and were shutout twice. In the 12 games since then, they have notched 31 goals without being kept scoreless once. “We’re more polished and battlehardened,” head coach John Kerr said. “We’ve had some tough games that we’ve been in and learned a lot from it.” Kerr, who is in his fourth season as the Duke head coach, has yet to win an ACC tournament game in his tenure. His teams have been shutout 1-0 by Boston College in two straight years, and in his first year they fell to Virginia. “We haven’t won one since we’ve
been in charge,” Kerr said. “We’ve got to try and get that elusive win and move onto the semifinals.” This is the first time, though, that Kerr’s Blue Devils will have the benefit of homefield advantage. With the ACC’s decision to provide free admission to students for Tuesday’s matchup—a change from previous years—the team is hoping for a strong showing in support of the team. Should the Blue Devils prevail, they will face the winner of No. 2-seeded Maryland and No. 7-seeded Boston College, who also play Tuesday. Furthermore, a victory would have implications for Duke’s seeding in the NCAA tournament, which will be announced next week. “No question [we are thinking about that],” Kerr said. “Clemson’s RPI has shot up dramatically in the past three weeks, and it’ll be an excellent win if we can pull it off.”
Follow @dukebasketball for updates on the Kings of Tobacco Road exhibition, including roster updates and ticket information. CHELSEA PIERONI/CHRONICLE FILE PHOTO
Junior forward Andrew Wenger had a hat trick against the Tigers when the two teams met in October.
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Sudents of all majors are invited to learn more about studying in Berlin, for either the semester/academic year or summer, at an information session on Thursday, November 10, at 6 pm, in Old Chem 116. See the Global Education Office for Undergraduates website at global. duke.edu/geo or call 684-2174 for more information. This event is part of Duke’s German Campus Week (November 7-12). See german.duke.edu for a listing of events.
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10 | TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2011
Timeout for democracy Today is Election Day, and back this up. For instance, alwe urge all registered voters though early voting had been in Durham County to make open since mid-October in it to the polls if they have not 2010, less than 1 percent of gone already. Furthermore, Duke students had voted five we propose that, starting days prior to that year’s elecnext year, Duke tion. cancel all classOne solueditorial es on Election tion to this enDay with the express purpose trenched problem is to give of giving students ample time Duke students a day off to to vote. vote and to broadly contemHistorically, voter turnout plate the importance of civic among Duke students has engagement. If Election Day been underwhelming in off- were a University holiday, year elections. Although this students would have little exyear’s numbers have yet to be cuse not to cast their ballot. released, turnout in North Without class, students could Carolina’s 2010 midterm was easily find time to drive or “exceptionally and alarming- hop on a bus to the nearby ly low,” said Gunther Peck, Watts Elementary School to Fred W. Shaffer associate pro- vote. Moreover, Election Day fessor of history and public would symbolically suggest policy, in a Chronicle article that students are not only Oct. 28, 2010. The numbers encouraged but expected to
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Our anger/ire/interest should be focused on what is holding the football team back, not continuing to debate the merits (or lack thereof) of Tailgate. —“Bassett” commenting on the story “Duke mauled in Miami.” See more at www.dukechronicle.com.
LETTERS POLICY The Chronicle welcomes submissions in the form of letters to the editor or guest columns. Submissions must include the author’s name, signature, department or class, and for purposes of identification, phone number and local address. Letters should not exceed 325 words; contact the editorial department for information regarding guest columns. The Chronicle will not publish anonymous or form letters or letters that are promotional in nature. The Chronicle reserves the right to edit letters and guest columns for length, clarity and style and the right to withhold letters based on the discretion of the editorial page editor.
participate in the democratic process. Columbia University already gives its students Election Day off and has done so every year since 1970. In fact, when the holiday was first proposed, it was intended to span 10 whole days, allowing students time to actually campaign in elections as well as vote. Today, the holiday has been shortened and combined with Columbia’s Fall break for a total of a four days off. We propose that a modified version of Columbia’s Election Day holiday be implemented at Duke. One drawback in Columbia’s model is that merging Election Day with Fall break gives students time to leave campus, defeating the original
purpose of allowing them time to vote. We suggest that Duke merely set aside a single weekday, the first Tuesday of each November. Flanked on either side by two normal class days, students would be prevented from going home on that day. This one-day holiday should also be marked by a bevy of student-led political programming and committed Duke-funded busing to the polls. Another complaint about the Columbia policy is that students often regard Election Day as just another day available for drinking, partying and excess. Shortening the Election Day holiday to a single day would also dissuade students from abusing it. Again, when Election Day is not incorporated into
a long weekend, we believe that it will more likely maintain its integrity as a day for voting and democratic participation. At special moments, Duke students can be inspired to vote en masse. For example, in the 2008 election, there was a startling 91 percent Duke turnout. Unfortunately, these moments are few and far between. As a campus, we must strive for passionate and consistent participation in both local and national elections—not just during a particularly glamorous political season. The current political culture of Duke is not cutting it. Election Day would let us formally acknowledge our civic responsibilities. The editorial board did not reach quorum for this editorial.
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T
he historic trip that I took part with seven other Muslim and Jewish scholars to talk with each other Muslim-American faith leaders to the Auschwitz openly about their respective views on their own traand Dachau Nazi concentration camps in Au- ditions; it gave them the opportunity to talk about gust 2010 continues to move and inpressure points between their comspire me. All the Muslim participants munities. of the trip felt that condemning HoWith the status of Sharia at the locaust denial and dialogue are necforefront of controversy, the early essary, but they’re not enough. The afternoon session on anti-Semitism transformative effect of the trip and and Islamophobia was of particupressing current issues here in the lar interest. The session focused on United States and the Middle East rehonest discussions about the limits quires Jews, Christians and Muslims to contextualization of criticism abdullah antepli and take dialogue further. of Israel and anti-Semitism. It also In this spirit, I co-organized a the land of delights considered the extent to which legclosed-door conversation with a select islative attacks on Sharia (some 20 and wonders group of Jewish and Muslim leaders U.S. states are looking at proposals last weekend. A once radical and unto ban Sharia including our own thinkable event quietly took place in a Jewish tem- North Carolina) logically implies similar attacks on ple in New York City: Jewish rabbis and scholars in Halacha. As I repeatedly said throughout the conHalacha (Jewish juridical literature) met with Mus- ference: Bigotry should not only be condemned lim imams and scholars in Sharia (Muslim juridical when it applies to one’s own particular religion. It literature) to discuss how improved understanding should be condemned when it applies to any reliand interpretation of the foundational texts, upon gion. Jews should not simply condemn or focus on which their respective religious laws are based, can anti-Semitism and Muslims on Islamophobia; we help bring the two communities together. My part- need to be united in speaking out against bigotry ners in crime, Rabbi Jack Bemporad, director of and extremism wherever it occurs. To me, hurting Center for Interreligious Understanding (New Jer- one religious community somewhere means hurtsey) and Professor Marshall Breger from Catholic ing all religious communities everywhere. University Columbus School of Law (Washington, Although not everyone was willing to publicly D.C.) were the other two co-organizers. acknowledge their attendance at the event, illustratAlthough it was scholarly, we tried to make sure ing that clearly this unprecedented effort is in its this coming together was not just some “Ivory Tow- infancy, they showed up and they openly engaged. er” undertaking. Even today, ancient religious texts For example, one of the issues that confronts both are profoundly influential in our daily lives. From religious traditions has to do with re-conceptualizthe golden rule to the Ten Commandments and ing the role of women; these issues were not avoideverything in between, our laws, society and un- ed but were explicitly discussed. derstanding of each other are guided, and at times I strongly believe the need to understand and use held captive, by the ancient texts of Judaism, Chris- foundational texts to improve relations is not only tianity and Islam. So how they are, or maybe more fundamental: With the rise of Islamophobia and the importantly how they are NOT, studied, taught, un- proposals to ban Sharia in the U.S. and rising antiderstood and interpreted today is crucial. Semitism in Muslim majority societies such dialogue In response, an unprecedented gathering of 40 of efforts are urgent. Understanding the commonality the country’s foremost minds in Sharia and Halacha and differences in our texts will go far in explaining met in a closed-door conference in New York. Our why attacks on Sharia are also attacks on religious law very own Dr. Ebrahim Moosa, one of the foremost and religious freedom and cannot be tolerated. scholars of Sharia in the U.S. from Duke University’s There are so many forces and people out there religious studies department; Dr. Kecia Ali from Bos- tirelessly working to divide faith communities locally ton University, who holds a Ph.D. from Duke; and and globally. I hope and pray, with this aforemenmyself were the main Muslim presenters. Despite tioned sense of urgency and responsibility, Jewish horrible weather and a snow storm in the Northeast, and Muslim leaders will learn and prove to work as the Oct. 30 inaugural meeting of the “Muslim Jewish hard, if not harder, to unite their respective comScholars Conference” was the beginning of an ongo- munities. This conference was a modest step in that ing bridge-building effort between the two commu- direction. May it continue and grow, God willing. nities. The conference brought together Jewish and Muslim scholars, rabbis, imams, university professors Abdullah Antepli is the Muslim Chaplain and an adand chaplains who otherwise have few opportunities junct faculty of Islamic Studies. His column runs every to talk to each other. It provided an opportunity for other Tuesday.
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Hughes, Catotti and Schewel for City Council
I
hear a lot of people say that they aren’t bents Catotti and Brown. When asked going to vote because they’re frustrated whether the candidates would support with what they perceive as a “broken” procurement policies to move Durham political system. I definitely away from purchasing elecdispute the idea that reasontronics with minerals that able and concerned citizens fuel the violent conflict in not voting will solve any the Congo, Catotti astutely problems, but we’ll set that pointed out that the city is argument aside for a mothe steward of its residents’ ment. Even if Duke students money. She commented are frustrated with the presithat Durham should avoid dent, with Congress and with spending taxpayer money in elena botella the North Carolina General ways that individuals would head-to-head Assembly, I assert the folfind ethically problematic, democrat lowing: that excuse doesn’t and highlighted Durham’s make much sense in the progress on the similar issue context of the Durham City of environmentally sustainCouncil, where intelligent and thoughtful able procurement. Brown, on the other public servants from different parts of the hand, said that he would tentatively reject political spectrum treat each other with re- a conflict-free minerals proposal, echoing spect and work together to solve problems. a trope that would be common in Brown’s Though there is certainly not unanimity of statements throughout the night—that the opinion, disagreements aren’t merely par- city of Durham should not take stances tisan bickering. Furthermore, those in the on national or international issues. In the Occupy Movement worried about the influ- context of procurement, Durham “takes ence of money in politics might be happy a stance” if it purchases its goods or serto know that one can mount a serious city vices from ethically questionable suppliers, council campaign in Durham having raised whether or not a formal policy is explicitly less than $300. Today, you’ll have the oppor- passed by the City Council. tunity to choose your top three of six candiThe sixth candidate in attendance at dates, helping to create a council that will the forum, Victoria Peterson, is unconvenmake decisions with substantial impact on tional and unlikely to appeal to the Duke your experience as a resident of Durham. community. While the other five candidates Of the five candidates most likely to ap- celebrate the mutually beneficial relationpeal to the Duke voter, NCCU graduate ship between the city and the University, student Donald Hughes, incumbent Di- Peterson’s rhetoric on Duke University is ane Catotti and Duke professor and Indy alarming. A simple example of this? Her Week founder Steve Schewel stand out as suggestion at a New Black Panthers Rally in those most worthy of a “top three” choice. 2006 that the participants burn down the Incumbent Eugene Brown has added to Duke lacrosse players’ house. the diversity of perspectives on the board, Almost all of the issues that Duke stuand is clearly quite competent and intel- dents hold closest to their hearts—social ligent, but on certain key issues misses the justice and poverty, the environment, immark. Solomon Burnette, who as a result of migration and education—are at stake his frequent attendance of Duke cultural in today’s election. Hughes, Catotti and events and lectures is a familiar figure on Schewel have the strongest approaches to campus, would provide a unique voice, but these issues, and would represent the Duke lacks the polish and familiarity with issues student body well. that Hughes, Catotti, Schewel and Brown possess. Elena Botella is a Trinity junior and the coThe Durham City Council Candidate’s president of Duke Democrats. Her column runs Forum on campus last Thursday provided every other Tuesday. valuable insight into the differences between the candidates. For example, the issue of Occupy Durham brought the candidates’ relative capacity for conflict resolution and problem-solving to the surface. Disagreements between the City Council and Occupy Durham have arisen over a city policy prohibiting Occupy Durham from putting up tents in CCB plaza. Schewel and Catotti were wise to point out that, given that Occupy Durham participants are allowed to be in the plaza 24 hours a day without interference, the issue of whether or not they can erect tents in the public space might not be accurately deemed a “free speech” issue. Hughes offered the most insightful solution, boding well for his capacity to offer a creative approach to problem solving if elected to the council. He correctly pointed out the false dichotomy other council candidates had assumed—that if Occupy Durham was allowed to pitch tents, then any group or individual in any location would be allowed to pitch tents. Hughes proposed the creation of a Durham free speech zone, to allow for greater degrees of democratic discourse and to be a space for community engagement. Brown, on the other hand, let a long criticism of the approaches and goals of Occupy Durham obscure his reasonable response to the policy issue at hand. A question about conflict minerals best illustrated the difference between incum-
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2011 | 11
Please vote responsibly
I
n case you missed it, today is election day cided by such a small handful of people? for the city of Durham. After months of Voting is a two way street—it can usher knocking on doors, handing out flyers in candidates and leaders who’ll change and meeting with their poour nation for the better, tential constituents, the six or it can accomplish the recandidates for City Council verse. Take the 2008 senatoand two for mayor have firial election, where incumnally earned a well-deserved bent Jim DeMint trounced break from campaigning. Democratic nominee Alvin All they need is for a few Greene in South Carolina. of us, Durham’s citizens, to Greene, a man without trudge to the polls and pull conventional political exwilliam reach the lever, fill in the circle perience, surprisingly won head-to-head or punch the button next his party’s nomination after republican to their name. In doing so, mounting a virtually non-exwe’ll enable some of those istent campaign. Some politlucky candidates a place at ical theorists believe Greene the table in determining our own future won because his name was listed first on the and the futures of some 262,000 county ballot. Had voters been more informed, residents. In a way, our local government they might have chosen a candidate more depends on us. But I would like to offer a worthy to bear the party standard. Instead, piece of advice to you as you enter the polls: the Democratic electorate sold itself short Please vote responsibly. by choosing a poorly-equipped leader. Like every good citizen, we’ve been Straight-ticket voting, a traditional shortencouraged to go out and perform our cut to a quick and thought-free trip to the civic duty in the name of patriotism since polls, is also a no-go in general elections. grade school. Our teachers have joined a Doing so reduces a voter’s ability to make chorus of parents, scoutmasters and simi- an accurate and informed decision about larly civic-minded individuals who have questionable candidates and changes the dysung praise for a practice as essential to the namics of party leadership in an unhealthy U.S. as Thanksgiving dinner. If we’re lucky manner. Party nominations are generally we’ll walk out of the polls sporting a little decided more by party activists, leading to red, white and blue “I voted” sticker so we the increased polarization of political parcan show off our civic involvement to our ties. If an individual has researched every friends. And if we’re very lucky an email candidate on the ticket and likes only those from the administration may even be in or- candidates with an “R” next to their name, der, reminding us of the day‘s significance. by all means the voter should go for it. But All in all, voting can be a generally gratify- only after due deliberation. ing experience. But it is a task that ought to So before you head to the polls, take a be conducted with care. minute to go online and read up on the Let me explain myself: A vote can be very candidates. Learn about their positions powerful. A 2002 election for county com- and where they stand on important issues missioner had to be settled over a playing to Durham County. Do they support the card draw (true story!) because each can- infamous sales tax increase, or will they didate tied at the ballot box. In 1962, the oppose it? What are their stances on voter governors of three different states (Maine, ID cards? Will they lead Durham to fiscal Rhode Island and North Dakota) won by a solid ground, or plunge it further into the margin of one vote per precinct. And dur- morass of overspending and inefficiency? ing the 2000 election, George W. Bush won These are questions which we all need to Florida by a paper-thin margin of 537 votes. find the answers to. And when we do, we’ll While these stories are unrepresentative of all be a little bit better for it. So please vote most voting circumstances, my point is that responsibly. those participating in these elections were generally unaware of how important their William Reach is a Trinity junior and a votes would be. Who knew in 2000 that the member of Duke College Republicans. His colpresidential election could ultimately be de- umn runs every other Tuesday.
Want to share your opinion with the campus community? Email mlj14 for a spring column application. Interested in joining the editorial board? Email cka6.
12 | TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2011
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