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
THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2012
ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTH YEAR, ISSUE 119
WWW.DUKECHRONICLE.COM
Duke Medicine hopes to ensure research integrity by Tiffany Lieu THE CHRONICLE
ment. As an immigrant from South Africa, she noted the pull to take action about the problems associated with immigration and asylum in her own country and around the world. “I thought, ‘I should use my camera—that’s my tool,’” Klevansky said. “I wanted to show these refugees in a dignified form as individuals.” Taken between 2000 and 2002,
The School of Medicine is safeguarding against research misconduct with a new set of guidelines. A faculty committee has established measures to improve the quality and integrity of translational medicine research. The multidisciplinary Translational Medicine Quality Framework Committee began examining the issue of reinforcing research integrity last Spring. The committee’s report, released May 2011, outlines four key areas of improvement: bioinformatics support, biostatistical collaboration, research accountability and far more rigourous evaluation of research before moving to clinical trials. Some changes have already gone into effect, though administrators will continue to implement other measures in the next several years. The changes promote an environment where researchers will feel comfortable questioning one another and suggesting alternative interpretations of data, said Dr. Nancy Andrews, dean of the School of Medicine and vice chancellor for academic affairs. “Overall, we are ahead of most of our peer institutions in thinking about these issues,” Andrews wrote in an email Wednesday. “Research misconduct, while rare, is a problem that all research institutions encounter periodically.” The examination of research integrity was motivated in part by the alleged research misconduct of former Duke oncologist Dr. Anil Potti as well as a need to adapt to an advanced and increasingly technical field of medical research. The report focuses on genomics research, but the new guidelines apply to all of translational medicine—
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“Fragments from Another Life,” an exhibit of 44 photographs, is located in the lobby of Rubenstein Hall.
Exhibit depicts refugees’ concerns by Madeleine Clark THE CHRONICLE
Photography can illuminate the challenges of refugees as they adjust to life in their adopted countries, a documentary photographer said Wednesday. Rhonda Klevansky, a master’s in liberal studies candidate, presented “Fragments from Another Life,” an exhibit of 44 black-andwhite photographs in the lobby of Rubenstein Hall. The ongoing exhibition features refugees and
seekers of asylum who have immigrated to the United Kingdom from other countries amid conflict. About 15 students and faculty attended the opening, which concluded with a panel discussion that featured a former Tibetan refugee and an immigration law expert. Klevansky opened the panel with a summary of her project and her hope that students will be inspired by the photographs and motivated to examine more deeply the problem of refugee displace-
DUKE STUDENT GOVERNMENT
GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL STUDENT COUNCIL
DSG to alter committee Hunt elected GPSC president structure in Senate by Joel Luther THE CHRONICLE
Brown, external chief of staff, and Alexandra Swain, vice president for Durham and regional affairs, will make a bid for the presidency in the coming weeks. The proposal to restructure passed in a roll call vote of 38-8. During the presentation of the proposal, Schork and senior Esosa Osa, vice president for residential life and dining, explained the reasoning behind the increased number of committees—from five to seven—and changes in the committees respective purviews. “This makes it easier for the student body to come to us with questions but also
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The incoming executive members of the Graduate and Professional Student Council will focus on improving the quality of life for graduate and professional students. GPSC Vice President Bill Hunt, a fourth-year doctoral candidate in English, will succeed Felicia Hawthorne, a fifth-year doctoral candidate in the genetics and genomics program, as president of the council. Hunt said that the role of president was more external and policy oriented than his current role. Serving as president will require Hunt to make specific policy decisions, create a strategic vision for the organization and work closely with University administrators.
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Bill Hunt will succeed Felicia Hawthorne as the president of the Graduate and Professional Student Council.
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Brown, Swain to pursue candidacy for DSG president by Patton Callaway THE CHRONICLE
After a six-hour long meeting Wednesday, Duke Student Government senators approved a proposal to restructure the organization. DSG President Pete Schork, a senior, proposed that the Senate created five new committees—facilities and the environment; social culture; residential life; services; and equity and identity affairs— while maintaining the academic affairs committee and Durham and regional affairs committee. Two current members of DSG also announced their unofficial candidacy for DSG president. Juniors Chris
Women’s soccer players get international experience, Page 7
ONTHERECORD
“...I once received an official memo for being five minutes late to a math department meeting....” —Priya Bhat in “Evaluating ‘good’ teaching.” See column page 11
Recess talks with Ira Glass, RECESS PAGE 6