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, JANUARY 18, 2012
Rush numbers hold steady from last year
ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTH YEAR, ISSUE 78
WWW.DUKECHRONICLE.COM
NC to play greater role post primaries
Diplomatic matters
SC a likely indicator of GOP nominee
by Raisa Chowdhury THE CHRONICLE
Despite changes to fraternity rush and the introduction of the house model, fraternity and sorority recruitment numbers are consistent with last year. The Panhellenic Association noted that 20 to 25 fewer women registered for recruitment this year compared to last year, when a record 511 women registered for recruitment. Of those who registered, 45 are sophomores this year. “We’re halfway through the rush process, but in terms of how we did last year, last year was an incredible, incredible surge—a couple hundred more than usual,” said senior Laura Williams, vice president of recruitment and membership for Panhel. “We’re at about the same amount.” Interfraternity Council President Zach Prager, a senior, said about 500 men have signed up for fraternity rush, which is a typical amount. Last year, Panhel saw an 18 percent increase from 2009 in women who signed up for recruitment. Changes to the IFC recruitment process that were instated this Spring included shortening the process by one week and requiring students to register by
by Chinmayi Sharma THE CHRONICLE
TRACY HUANG/THE CHRONICLE
John Negroponte, former U.S. ambassador to Honduras and deputy secretary of state, spoke in the Sanford School of Public Policy Tuesday.
SEE GREEK ON PAGE 4
North Carolina will have to wait its turn to become a major factor in the 2012 presidential election. As the South Carolina primaries approach, Republicans in North Carolina said they are considering the race in the neighboring state a clear indicator of the eventual Republican candidate. Both state GOP and Democratic news Party members said North analysis Carolina will play a more prominent role once the general election begins. “North Carolina is a crucial state in both parties’ electoral strategy, so you can count on seeing a lot of President [Barack] Obama and our nominee once the general election starts,” said Rob Lockwood, communications director for the North Carolina Republican Party. For the past eight presidential election cycles, the winner of the South Carolina Republican primary has gone on to win the party’s nomination. Mitt Romney, who has already won the New Hampshire and Iowa primaries, is more likely to secure the win, Lockwood said, noting that he faces significant opposiSEE REPUBLICANS ON PAGE 6
HDRL places juniors after Duke grad named White lapse in communication House budgetary director by Arden Kreeger THE CHRONICLE
For juniors returning from studying abroad in the Fall, housing worries have finally been eased. After a prolonged process, Housing, Dining and Residence Life successfully placed the 59 juniors returning from study abroad programs who had yet to receive on-campus housing as of Nov. 29. Contrary to student sentiment, the delay in housing assignments was not the result of a housing shortage. “Supply of on-campus housing is dynamic, so [in November] when we had to communicate assignments, it may have appeared that there was a housing shortage,” said Linda Moiseenko, manager of Duke Community Housing. “However, vacancies SEE JUNIORS ON PAGE 5
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Keohane 4E Quadrangle opened for students in the Spring semester, adding 150 beds to West Campus.
A Duke graduate will now serve as acting head of national budgetary policy. President Barack Obama appointed Jeffrey Zients, Trinity ’88 and deputy director for management of the Office of Management and Budget, as acting director of the OMB Tuesday, according to a White House news release. In his new position, Zients will assess and seek to improve the White House’s budgetary performance. Zients follows current director Jacob Lew, who will become the White House chief of staff this month. “I’m pleased to designate to lead the Office of Management and Budget,” Obama said in the release. “Since day one, Jeff has demonstrated superb judgment and has provided sound advice on a whole host of issues. With decades of experience, Jeff has been a tremendous asset to our team, and I’m confident in his ability to help us rebuild an economy where hard work and responsibility pay
ONTHERECORD
Duke students vote below national average, Page 3
“We realized that we do not have ordinarily 100,000 people trying to march at the same time...” —Charlotte City Attorney Bob Hagemann on crowd control. See story page 3
off and the middle class has a chance to get ahead.” Zients was confirmed by the Senate as deputy director and the first federal chief performance officer in June 2009, and has previously served as acting director of the OMB from July to November 2010. He was also the CEO and chairman of the Advisory Board Company and chairman of the Corporate Executive Board. Both firms offer consulting services related to performance benchmarking and management best practices, the release noted. Zients is also a co-founder and board member emeritus at Urban Alliance Foundation, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that provides job assistance for underprivileged youth. The foundation works with corporations to offer high school seniors paid internships, adult mentors and training. —from Staff Reports
Women’s basketball enters tough stretch, Page 7