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, APRIL 3, 2012
ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTH YEAR, ISSUE 127
WWW.DUKECHRONICLE.COM
‘Zoboomafoo’ creator urges conservation
Revised policy allows medical withdrawal
Blue night
by Philip Doerr
by Jack Mercola
THE CHRONICLE
THE CHRONICLE
The future of primate conservation may be in the hands of today’s youth, the co-creator of the children’s show “Zoboomafoo” said Monday. Martin Kratt, Trinity ’89, highlighted the potential to shift children’s interest in animals into a desire to make a difference. Kratt delivered the keynote address in Griffith Film Theater for the third annual Primate Palooza. The week-long festival focuses on the important ecological role primates play in the environment. Primate Palooza is sponsored by Duke’s evolutionary anthropology department and the Duke and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Roots & Shoots group, a program of the Jane Goodall Institute. “Everybody can find their own path and their own way to help the endangered species,” Kratt said. “The biggest thing I learned is that you really have got to do what you’re most interested in and most passionate about.” Kratt created and hosted children’s television shows about the animal world with his brother Chris. Kratt’s shows, including PBS’s “Kratts’ Creatures” and “Zoboomafoo,” emphasized the importance of getting children excited about primate conservation. Kratt’s interest in wildlife filmmaking began when he was a zoology major at Duke. Kratt made his first film about the 3-foot long salamander known as the hellbender after a field trip to North Carolina’s Smoky Mountains with his amphibian
Although the Spring course withdrawal deadline has passed, students with extenuating medical circumstances may still have the option to pull out of classes. Administrators and members of Duke Student Government have recently amended the medical withdrawal policy in response to student concerns about changes made to the rule in November. This change—effective immediately— allows Trinity College of Arts & Sciences students with serious medical concerns to potentially withdraw from a course up to 5 p.m. on the last day of classes by petitioning the Trinity deans. The November change to the policy applied the deadline for academic withdrawal to medical withdrawal as well. Students were prevented from withdrawing from a course in the four weeks leading up to the last day if classes, even for a medical reason. Up until November, students with extreme health issues could drop a class anytime throughout the semester. This semester, the withdrawal deadline was March 28. “The [November] policy didn’t fully account for students who faced extenuating circumstances after the standard course withdrawal deadline,” said senior Kaveh Danesh, DSG vice president for academic affairs. “The new language of the policy lets those students know there is a procedure in place for them.” It is unclear whether or not this policy applies
LUCY DICKS-MIREAUX/THE CHRONICLE
The Duke University Chapel is lit in blue to recognize World Autism Awareness Day. SEE KRATT ON PAGE 7
SEE POLICY ON PAGE 8
Junior Lee named Robertson interconnects Truman Scholar wealth and social capital by Kristie Kim THE CHRONICLE
A Duke student has been named a 2012 Harry S. Truman Scholar in recognition of her public service, leadership capabilities and academic achievement. Junior Kristen Lee was one of 54 students selected for the scholarKristen Lee ship, which awards up to $30,000 to college juniors to pursue graduate studies in public service fields. Scholars are also given priority in admissions at certain institutions and benefit from leadership training, career and graduate school counseling and internship opportunities within the federal government.
“Truman Scholars are exemplary individuals who are deeply rooted and invested in public service,” said Donna Lisker, associate dean of undergraduate education and co-director of the Baldwin Scholars program. “They’re expected to have contributed significantly to their community and demonstrate their potential to make a difference.” Lee, a sociology major, has been involved in research on racial inequalities in higher education and sex trafficking. She has also conducted research and done community service to advocate for women who are especially vulnerable to contracting HIV/AIDS—individuals who are poor, poorly educated or subject to abuse—and partners of prison inmates. SEE LEE ON PAGE 8
by Yueran Zhang THE CHRONICLE
The meaning of wealth depends on how it is expended, said Julian Robertson, philanthropist and billionaire investor. Robertson, founder of the Robertson Scholars Program, said that learning to use money to enhance social well-being is much more pivotal than knowing how to make money. He addressed members of Duke Venture Forward and Robertson scholars at an event Monday afternoon sponsored by DVF, an organization that mentors and prepares students for the business world. “With wealth can come a lot of good, and I’m always trying to make sure that people are using it in the right way,” Robertson said. “That is something you get addicted to, and you want to keep going with it.”
ONTHERECORD
Duke opens federal relations office, Page 3
“Sounds simple enough, right? Almost as easy as making it past the second round of the NCAA Tournament.” —Sony Rao in “At face value.” See column page 14
Once commonly known as the “Wizard of Wall Street,” Robertson founded and managed Tiger Management Corp., a hedge fund he started in 1980, which was most successful in the 1980s and 1990s. Since retiring from the hedge fund business, he has worked with a variety of public welfare organizations and university boards. Since he closed the hedge fund—also known as the Tiger Fund—in 2000, Robertson has made substantial profits betting on the fall of credit default swaps on subprime debt, Fortune reported in 2008. In 2000 Robertson donated $24 million to create the Robertson Scholars Program, a unique merit scholarship offering participants an opportunity to study at both Duke SEE ROBERTSON ON PAGE 6
Blue Devils take on Campbell, Page 9