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, FEBRUARY 15, 2012
ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTH YEAR, ISSUE 98
WWW.DUKECHRONICLE.COM
DUKE CANCER CENTER
The jewel of Duke Medicine New facility follows ‘long history of success’ in cancer research, care
Duke responds to accessibility problems by Arden Kreeger THE CHRONICLE
by Danielle Muoio THE CHRONICLE
The February opening of the Duke Cancer Center is a simultaneous testament to the future of cancer treatment and the historical evolution of patient care at Duke. Since the Duke Hospital opened to patients in 1930, treating cancer has been integral to the mission of Duke Medicine, said Dr. Victor Dzau, chancellor for health affairs and president and CEO of the Duke University Health System. Seven years after its opening, Duke Hospital began one of the nation’s first brain tumor research and treatment programs. Since then, cancer research and clinical care have become a hall-
mark of Duke Medicine, which receives nearly $300 million annually in cancer research funding. “We have a long history of success and have always ranked among the best cancer centers,” Dzau said. “Over the years, we have not been as well-adapted as we should have been.... When I looked at this I feel that this day we need to change and reorganize and create the cancer institute around the patients.” In 2010, Duke Medicine launched the Duke Cancer Institute, which will be housed by the new Cancer Center and accompanying facilities. That year, Duke saw nearly 50,000 individuals diagnosed with cancer and conducted 869 oncology clinical trials with 5,979 patients en-
rolled, according to DCI’s 2011 annual report. The establishment of the first brain tumor treatment program in 1937 was just the start in a cascade of improvements to Duke’s cancer programs, clinically and educationally. In 1947, Duke launched a training program teaching medical students how to treat cancer patients, according to a DCI presentation. One of the first doctors to use chemotherapy for brain tumors was Duke doctor Barnes Woodhall, who adopted the treatment in the 1950s. And in another realm of firsts for the medical community, Duke was named SEE CANCER CENTER ON PAGE 6
TYLER SEUC/THE CHRONICLE
When most students are elbowing their way onto the C-1, junior Megan Barron has to make alternate arrangements to make it to class on time. Barron and other students with disabilities rely on the Duke Van Services to transport them to and from classes, extracurricular activities and social engagements. Barron, founder and president of the Duke Disability Alliance, said the van service is just one of Duke’s disability services that could be improved. Last week, Duke Student Government unanimously passed a resolution challenging the University to make West Campus 100 percent handicap accessible by 2022. Following this meeting, Barron and sophomore Fedja Pavlovic, DSG senator for residence life and dining, began a series of meetings with the Facilities Management Department and the Disability Management System to achieve this goal. “I want to see Duke be on the cutting edge of accessibility for any of the top-10 universities,” Barron said. “The resolution did great things as far as bringing awareness to the table, but it wasn’t exactly specific as to how to bring about such changes. I want to see the words turn into actions.” The University has no official statistics regarding the number of students with disabilities SEE ACCESSIBILITY ON PAGE 5
GRADUATE YOUNG TRUSTEE
Physics Building Burnett draws on interdisciplinary approach renovations in by Lauren Carroll THE CHRONICLE
Malik Burnett, currently in his ninth year as a Duke student, wants to enhance the graduate student experience if elected as graduate Young Trustee. Burnett, who graduated from Trinity College of Arts & Sciences in 2007, is now a fourth-year student in a joint medical doctorate and MBA program at the School of Medicine and the Fuqua School of Business. With a wide range of experiences in Duke’s various schools, Burnett said he has always been interested in University issues. He is particularly concerned with graduate student life and an unsaid notion that they have “second-tier status” compared to undergraduates—an issue that he would bring forward as a JAMES LEE/THE CHRONICLE
Graduate Young Trustee candidate Malik Burnett, now in his ninth year at Duke, wants to call attention to graduate and professional student issues.
SEE BURNETT ON PAGE 6
sight, admins say by Margot Tuchler THE CHRONICLE
The outdated Physics Building is due for a facelift, but the exact specifications are still up in the air. Renovations to the building—built in 1948 and added onto in 1963—have been discussed intermittently over the past 15 years, said University Architect John Pearce. The building needs to be updated in order to execute certain labs and experiments, which require carefully controlled atmospheric conditions. The approach that the University will take, however, is unclear. “We could build a separate experimental building, or we could build a whole new building for the entire SEE PHYSICS ON PAGE 12
Fuqua-West Point partnership, Page 3
ONTHERECORD
Duke faces sliding Hokies, Page 9
“I’m not interested in any kind of relationship with just anyone, and I’m willing to wait for a good one.” —Lillie Reed on relationships. See column page 11