Apr. 5, 2012 issue

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, APRIL 5, 2012

ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTH YEAR, ISSUE 129

WWW.DUKECHRONICLE.COM

Sorority practices investigated for hazing

T. Watkins dismissed from football

by Yeshwanth Kandimalla THE CHRONICLE

Monday. Duke spent $983 million on research, increasing its ranking two places from the 2009 fiscal year.

Although the national average for research and development spending for universities increased by 6.9 percent, Duke’s expenditures increased by 21.6 percent.

Red-shirt sophomore Tyree Watkins was dismissed from the Duke football team Wednesday, following his arrest for allegedly assaulting a female earlier this week.

Watkins was dismissed for conduct unbecoming of the football program, football head coach David Cutcliffe said in a statement Wednesday.

Vice President for Student Affairs Larry Moneta and Dean of Tyree Watkins Students Sue Wasiolek declined to comment on the status of Watkins’ enrollment.

Watkins was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of assault on a female Monday, Kammie Michael, Durham Police Department public information officer, wrote in an email Wednesday.

A warrant for Watkins’ arrest was issued Sunday by DPD Officer Nicole Hawkins, according the Durham County Clerk of Court.

After being notified of the warrant, members of Duke University Police Department arrested Watkins at his on-campus apartment at approximately 11 a.m. Monday, Duke Police Chief John Dailey said.

SEE RESEARCH ON PAGE 4

SEE WATKINS ON PAGE 8

by Raisa Chowdhury THE CHRONICLE

Administrators have addressed reports of hazing among Duke’s sororities.

The administration recently concluded investigations of five sorority chapters for practices of alleged hazing. Reported actions include “kidnapping” members in the early morning hours to an undisclosed location and requiring members to wear specific clothing, said Stephen Bryan, associate dean of students and director of the Office of Student Conduct.

Not all of the investigated groups were found responsible.

No sororities currently remain under investigation, Panhellenic Association President Kelsey Woodford, a junior, wrote in an email Wednesday. Woodford declined to comment further.

“The behavior presented caused a situation in which women may have been distressed by being woken up in the middle of the night and taken from their residences,” Bryan wrote in an email Wednesday.

None of the reports of alleged hazing by sororities involved alcohol use or SEE HAZING ON PAGE 6

CHRONICLE GRAPHIC BY DENNIS OCHEI

In the 2010 fiscal year, Duke ranked fifth in the nation in research dollars spent.

Duke climbs US research rankings

by Jack Mercola THE CHRONICLE

Duke is building upon its elite standing as a research institution despite the shrinking pool for federal research funding.

Duke was ranked the fifth-largest research university in the nation based on expenditures in fiscal year 2010, the University announced

Advisory committee hears students for a ‘conflict-free’ Duke

by Charlie Haley THE CHRONICLE

Duke is making progress on a path to potentially become free of conflict minerals and the interests of companies using the materials.

For the past six months, the Coalition for a Conflict-Free Duke has been pushing the University to consider a shareholder resolution that would ask Duke to take conflict minerals into account when investing in electronic companies. For the first time in five years, the Advisory Committee on Investment Responsibility conducted an open session Wednesday, where a crowded room discussed Duke’s financial relationship with conflict minerals in Africa. If the initiative is successful, Duke will be the second university in the nation, following Stanford University, to pass a shareholder resolution regarding conflict mineral trade.

Senior presents dance and technology thesis, Recess 8

The sale of conflict minerals is largely responsible for fueling violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

“It’s high time that we’re talking about investment responsibility at Duke,” said CCFD Chair Stefani Jones, a sophomore.

“There’s something wrong ... when we don’t know if our cellphones are funding the deadliest war since World War II.” CCFD’s proposed voting guide would request that shareholders vote to approve resolutions asking companies for information and increased transparency regarding their involvement in conflict mineral trade.

The committee hopes to advise President Richard Brodhead about conflict mineral investment policy by the end of the semester, said ACIR Chair Jonathan Wiener, William R. and Thomas JISOO YOON/THE CHRONICLE

SEE CONFLICT-FREE ON PAGE 12

Ashworth hits career coaching mark, Page 7

Stefani Jones, a sophomore, speaks during a meeting of Duke’s Advisory Committee on Investment Responsibility.

ONTHERECORD

“...naturally, I am one of few constituents who enjoys keeping up with the latest DSG news.”

—Samantha Lachman in “Bore-aucracy.” See column page 11

2 | THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

THE CHRONICLE

worldandnation

New mutation in autistm may be due to older fathers

NEW YORK — Newly-found gene mutations tied to autism may one day help scientists classify types of the developmental disorder and shape treatments based on their DNA profiles, researchers said.

The mutations are not found in parents of autistic people, and do not guarantee children will have autism, the scientists found. Some, though, are more common in children of older fathers, with the risk rising as the men age, according to one of three papers reported Wednesday in the journal Nature.

One in 88 U.S. children have autism spectrum disorders, according to a federal report last week. Although the disorders are classed together, symptoms are frequently different and DNA may hint at ways to group similar patients, said Evan Eichler, a professor of genome sciences at the University of Washington in Seattle and a study author.

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schedule

at Duke...

Historic Gardens Color Walk Sarah P. Duke Gardens, 9-11 a.m.

Curator Mike Owens and horticulturist Jan Watson lead a casual walk through a variety of garden spaces. The cost is $5.

Sacred Places, Public Policy and American Indians West Duke 101, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Director Craig Howe lectures in West Duke 101. Light lunch is served.

Help Make a Can Mural!

Iowa’s Branstad calls pink China pressured to take slime foe in smear campaign sides in Sudan oil dispute Iowa Gov.Terry Branstad said Wednesday the campaign against the beef filler called “pink slime” by food activists is a “vicious smear” and called for a congressional probe after more than 200 Iowans lost their jobs.

Beef Products Inc. has suspended operations at three plants, including one in Iowa.

JUBA, South Sudan — China is being pressured to pick sides in a dispute over oil between Sudan and South Sudan, the International Crisis Group said Wednesday. China is finding it increasingly difficult to balance its interests between the Sudanese government in Khartoum and the newly independent south.

East Campus Main Quad, 4:30-6 p.m.

The Eco-Reps makes a mural out of soda cans for their “sustainable art” project.

Rhodes, Marshall, Churchill & Mitchell Scholarship Info Session Smith Warehouse Room 177, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

This info session outlines the four post-graduate scholarship programs for interested students.

For more events go to calendar.duke.edu

TODAY IN HISTORY

Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.

— Leo Tolstoy

on the

FRIDAY:

TODAY:

1614: Pocahontas marries John Rolfe.

”

“Jake Kite, a 6-foot-1 safety from Roanoke, Va., verbally committed to the Blue Devils this weekend. The hard-hitting defensive back chose Duke over Ohio, N.C. State, Virginia and Virginia Tech, among others. Kite gives the Blue Devils their fourth pledge of the 2013 recruiting class.”

— From The Blue Zone bluezone.dukechronicle.com

on the

calendar

Qingming Festival (Tomb Sweeping Day) China

Arbor Day South Korea SIMON DAWSON/THE BLOOMBERG NEWS

“Occupy the London Stock Exchange” protestors sit at their brightly colored second camp at Finsbury Square in London. The protestors at St.Paul’s cost the City of London police more than 910,000 pounds ($1.5 million) to monitor, and they were finally evicted from the area Feb. 28.

Sponsored by the Chancellor’s Office, Fuqua School of Business and Duke University’s Department of Germanic Languages and Literature

Wednesday, April 18, 2012 10:00 AM HCA Auditorium Fuqua School of Business 100 Fuqua Drive Durham, NC 27707

Ursula von der Leyen, MD, MPH Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs of Germany

Go For Broke Day U.S.A.

Hansik: Cold Food Festival South Korea

Looking for a summer job or extra spending money during summer school?

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions at Duke University has positions for work study or non work study students for part-time tour guides from May 7 - August 18, 2012.

Also, two full-time internships are available.

The Primary responsibility will be providing walking tours of West Campus to prospective students and their families.

Part time guides work a flexible schedule which could include as many as 4 tours per week.

This is a perfect opportunity to earn some extra income while attending summer school.

Being an active participant in the Duke community is a plus, as is enthusiasm.

Interested individuals should contact Will Niver, Admissions Officer, at 919 684-0665 or Will.Niver@duke.edu

THE CHRONICLE

THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012 | 3

DUKE STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Duke researchers present findings on campus culture

by Patton Callaway THE CHRONICLE

Duke Student Government held its first faculty-student town hall meeting Wednesday to encourage collaboration on campus issues.

Two faculty members presented results from recent surveys about students’ habits at Duke. Noah Pickus, head of the Academic Integrity Council and Nannerl O. Keohane director of the Kenan Institute for Ethics, shared research conducted by the Academic Integrity Council about integrity in undergraduate life. Steven Asher, professor of psychology and neuroscience,

presented his findings from the Duke Social Relationships Project.

Faculty and DSG members shared opinions and thoughts about these issues during the forum that senior Kaveh Danesh, DSG vice president for academic affairs, organized.

“I envisioned this as a tradition during which students and faculty can get a sense for what the other party thinks concerning campus issues and cultures,” Danesh said in an interview.

Pickus first addressed issues of integrity at Duke, noting discrepancies SEE DSG ON PAGE 6

SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

Students in ECON 195S: “The Goodner Equity Project,” learn from Blake Goodner, Trinity ’96.

Econ class connects Duke with Wall Street

by Margot Tuchler THE CHRONICLE

NICOLE SAVAGE/THE CHRONICLE

Noah Pickus, Nannerl O. Keohane director of the Kenan Institute for Ethics, speaks to the Senate.

Thanks to a course in the economics department, students are getting a taste of Wall Street finance without having to leave campus.

Emma Rasiel, director of the Financial Education Partnership and assistant professor of the practice in economics, has partnered with hedge fund manager Blake Goodner, co-founder of the investment firm Bridger Capital and Trinity ’96, to teach a finance course, ECON 195S: “The Goodner Equity Research Project.” The course focuses on equity research about various companies and features biweekly video conferences with Goodner.

“Academic finance and real-world finance are not always quite the same

thing,” Rasiel said. “The fact that they’re getting the academic angle from me and then really learning from [Goodner] how this is done by hedge fund managers in New York is eye-opening for them, because it gives them extraordinary practical exposure to the real job.”

Goodner noted that the course is meant to provide knowledge about investing that translates to work done at investment firms, such as analyzing companies and pitching research ideas to portfolio managers.

“Students get great academic education in science, math, English, literature and languages but wouldn’t it be neat for undergraduates to get a little more of a SEE FINANCE ON PAGE 12

Summer 2012 Health, Wellness and Physical Education We have a wide variety of courses being offered for Summer Terms 1 and 2 * All courses are available for undergraduate, graduate and visiting students Term 1 PE 33 Physical Fitness for Women PE 40 Beginning Tennis PE 58 Tai Chi PE 59 Aikido PE 65 Yoga PE 95 Intro to Outdoor Adventure PE 97 Beginning Rock Climbing PE 174 Sports Marketing Term 2 PE 33 Physical Fitness for Women PE 172 Admin in Sports Management

PRESIDENT RICHARD BRODHEAD INVITES MEMBERS OF THE DUKE COMMUNITY TO THE HERTHA SPONER PRESIDENTIAL LECTURESHIP

SUGAR COATED CELLS: THE GOOD NEWS AND THE BAD NEWS Carolyn R. Bertozzi, PhD The T.Z. and Irmgard Chu Distinguished Professor of Chemistry Professor of Molecular and Cell Biology University of California, Berkeley

Thursday, April 5, 2012 Love Auditorium, Levine Science Research Center 2:30 PM–Unveiling the translation of Hertha Sponer’s biography, sponsored by the Physics Department and Arts and Sciences 3:45 PM–Reception outside Love Auditorium 4:30 PM–Hertha Sponer Presidential Lectureship

http://recreation.duke.edu/

Hertha Sponer was the first woman full professor in the natural sciences at Duke University, invited to join the faculty in 1936. Seventy years later, a group of women faculty in the sciences recommended this lectureship to President Brodhead to highlight the research of prominent women in science, engineering, mathematics, and medicine. phy.duke.edu/history/DistinguishedFaculty/HerthaSponer

4 | THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

THE CHRONICLE

Childhood trauma victims more likely to contract HIV

by Danielle Muoio THE CHRONICLE

There is a high correlation between people who suffer childhood trauma and those who contract HIV, a recent study found.

The study of more than 600 HIV patients, led by Brian Pence, associate professor of community and family medicine and global health, linked certain childhood psychological trauma—such as sexual or physical assault, death of a family member, domestic violence or a parent’s suicide attempt or completion—to worsened health outcomes. The study found that one in four HIV patients was sexually abused as during childhood, and patients usually suffered from multiple instances of pre-adolescent trauma, factors that should influence patient treatment, Pence said.

“Our medical care system often treats the patient as they walk in the door ... and what sometimes gets lost is that person’s life history,” he said. “This research shows that those life histories can profoundly influence how a patient will end up doing clinically.”

The intent of the study was to research the association between past trauma and the contraction of HIV. Factors that researchers considered in this correlation prior to the study were psychological issues, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, and addictive behaviors such as drug and alcohol use, Pence said.

In contrast to previous theories, this study found that trauma is associated with HIV status, independent of a particular mental health issue.

“What really surprised us in the data was that, in fact, all of those factors explained very little of the association between trauma, current behaviors and current physical health outcomes,” Pence said.

Dr. Rachel Dew, assistant professor of child and adolescent psychiatry, noted that certain life circumstances are associated with childhood sexual abuse, such as

poverty, neglect and substance abuse in parents. These factors can put individuals in a demographic that would be at higher risk for acquiring HIV. Children who undergo trauma also have the tendency to recreate the incident as a coping mechanism, she added.

“It’s very hard on [an individual’s] selfesteem if they’ve been sexually abused— they may feel like sex is the only way they are going to get love from anyone,” Dew said. “That kind of psychology leads kids into a lifestyle that can be associated with HIV infection.”

Kathleen Sikkema, professor of psychology and neuroscience, global health and psychiatry and behavioral sciences, has conducted research on mental health and HIV on her own. Coping with sexual abuse in an unhealthy way often results in the revictimization of an individual, which can expose them to HIV, she said.

“People often deal with substance abuse to help deal with the all of the emotions that come with [childhood sexual abuse], which is then just another risk factor for HIV,” Sikkema said. “So they build this perfect storm of potential issues— they may end up trading sex for drugs and end up getting raped in those situations, and the cycle keeps exacerbating without some sort of intervention.”

The study shows a need for increased public focus on mental health, said Susan Reif, a co-author of the study and research consultant of the Duke Center for Health Policy and Inequalities Research. Encouraging a greater focus on mental health screening immediately after an HIV diagnosis could promote better health outcomes, she added.

“It’s clear from the study that failure to address mental health is going to lead to poor health outcomes, which leads to more transmission,” Reif said. “What needs to be built on is the ways to deal with people in various phases after the trauma.”

RESEARCH from page 1 “Our upward trend has been continuous for a decade,” said Vice Provost for Research Jim Siedow.

Of Duke’s $983 million in expenditures, $514 million came from the federal government and $113 million was funded internally by the University, according to the National Science Foundation report.

The University received the 13thmost federal funding for research in fiscal year 2010. Since the economic downturn, the federal government has been tightening its budget for research and development, said Michael Schoenfeld, vice president for public affairs and government relations. Even so, Duke’s research expenditures have continued to expand—largely fueled by significant corporate contracts.

Duke received $234 million in contracts and grants from corporations in fiscal year 2010. Duke receives the most corporate funding out of any university nationally, nearly doubling the next highest recipient of corporate funds: Ohio State University, which gets $120 million, according to the NSF report.

“We were among the first schools to really look at corporations as an opportunity,” Schoenfeld added. “Now that the federal funding for research is slowing down and in some cases, shrinking, more and more universities are trying to catch up in the private sector.”

Only Johns Hopkins University, the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Washington-Seattle rank ahead of Duke in total research expenditures, according to a report by the NSF. This makes Duke the secondlargest private research university. “[This] is related to the quality of our faculty and the quality of our proposals,” Schoenfeld said. “We have a massive research enterprise and our faculty are among the best in the world—they are very competitive for the funding.”

Of Duke’s total research enterprise, 83 percent is embodied in the Duke University Medical Center—a large portion of which is comprised by the

“Why Engineers Like You Will Save The Planet” Dr. Robert C. Marlay, Ph.D., P.E. U.S. Department of Energy

NAE Grand Challenges Scholars Seminar April 12, 2012 6:30 PM Fitzpatrick Schiciano Auditorium Side B

Dr. Marlay will be speaking about technical innovation and why advanced technology will be the key to meeting the energy and environmental challenges of the 21st Century

The Duke Community is invited to attend— faculty, undergraduates, graduate students and staff

Duke Clinical Research Institute, Siedow noted. The DCRI is a major boon to the University’s research undertaking due to size and official partnership with Duke.

Nationally, medical sciences receive the most federal research funding by a large margin, according to the NSF report.

Contract research organizations like the DCRI are not unique to Duke, Siedow said, but the DCRI stands out because it is both a part of the University’s research enterprise and is large enough to be nationally acclaimed.

“There are two categories of competitors for the DCRI—ones that are like ours, but are smaller and ones that are our size but don’t count as a part of the school’s total research expenditures,” Siedow said.

About 220 faculty and 1,200 employees are engaged in clinical research at the DCRI, noted Director Robert Harrington. About 40 percent of its research funding is from federal sources. Harrington outlined two methods in which institutions garner federal research grants—groups of researchers can approach federal departments and apply for a grant, subjecting the proposals to peer review, or the government can pose a question and choose the most competitive and suited institution to proceed with the research.

Harrington added that the government seeks to fund universities who excel in “team science”—research that involves multiple departments of the wider institution. Biomedical engineering is one of Duke’s most impressive cross-departmental research efforts.

“The diversity of our research, our proficiency in team science and the overall strength and creativity of our faculty all speak to why we’ve done so well in the face of a shrinking pool over the past few years,” he said.

Other than federal sources, Harrington added that DCRI receives funds from virtually all of the major pharmaceutical companies and also forms contracts with a variety of smaller biotechnology and biologics firms.

THE CHRONICLE

A day at Duke

THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012 | 5

2

A photo essay by Reem Alfahad, Tyler Seuc and Elysia Su.

1. Jim Russell, chief innovative officer at McKinney, speaks Wednesday at the Fuqua School of Business. 2. Students enjoy live music at Duke Royale, a cocktail part at the Doris Duke Center coordinated by DUU Annual Events. 3. Members of Hoof ‘n’ Horn and Duke Theater Studies rehearse the musical “Ragtime.”The show begins today in Reynolds Theater.

1 3

Jostens Ring Days Distinctive. Classic. Lasting.

Tuesday, April 3 - Thursday, April 5 10am - 4pm The University Store, Bryan Center, West Campus

Sponsored by Duke University Stores®

6 | THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

THE CHRONICLE

DSG from page 3

HAZING from page 1

between students’ perceptions and the realities of campus integrity. The actual number of students who reported engaging in dishonest behavior was significantly lower than the number that students estimated participate in such behaviors.

“We need to publicize results to make it clear that ethical behavior is in fact the norm,” Pickus said.

Integrity goes beyond the classroom and applies to social, civic and work situations, he said. Students and faculty are not all compartmentalized, and integrity in academic life relates to integrity in daily life.

The study found that students who are engaged with their academics and have genuine relationships report to be the least lonely. Statistics also showed that although higher alcohol use correlated with more social interaction, it also corresponded to students with lower academic engagement.

“If you love your work, why would you want to get wasted the night before?” Asher said.

Danesh said he chose these two studies because he had worked with both faculty members, and there are parallels between the two reports.

“There was an opportunity for some sharing of perspectives,” he said. “The broader hope is that this becomes a venue for all students and all faculty and that we continue to build on what we did today.”

distribution, personal servitude, physical training or acts of humiliation, Bryan said. His office, however, has received reports of these behaviors by fraternities, selective living groups and nonresidential groups.

Bryan noted that some of the practices, such as requiring members to wear certain clothing, were on the “very minor end of the spectrum” of hazing. The groups found responsible for hazing were required to complete educational programs that revisit the purpose of the practices and redesign it to meet expectations for a University organization. Bryan could not comment on specific chapters.

Hazing is defined as any action taken that is potentially harmful to an individual’s physical, emotional or psychological well-being, regardless of whether the individual is willing to participate, according to the University’s hazing policy.

“What might be perceived by some as historic ritual might be inappropriate in this day and age,” Vice President for Student Affairs Larry Moneta said. “The acts of hazing for which people are held accountable

In other business: The Senate voted to change the Student Organization and Finance Committee auditing bylaw.

DSG also approved an amendment to the SOFC bylaw that allows religious groups to apply for exemption from the requirement of democratically elected officers.

Some religious groups said they have felt forced into a competitive democratic process that conflicts with their religious values, said senior Shane Hunt, DSG director for religious outreach and affairs.

“Religious groups pride themselves in their consensus-based leadership structure,” Hunt said. “It’s a group effort to lead a group organization.”

@dukechronicle

tend not to be gray areas but involve obscenity and obvious harassment.”

Clarybel Peguero, assistant dean of fraternity and sorority life, said she could not talk about specific cases and the sorority chapters that were in question.

“We have received calls to our hazing hotline, and those found in violation of the hazing policy are held accountable,” Peguero wrote in an email Tuesday.

The presidents of individual Panhel chapters declined to comment.

Moneta noted the practices under question are worthy of examination and may require some adjustments. The evaluations of each practice must be conducted individually, and context is crucial.

Although students have expressed concern that a closer look at alleged hazing practices is eliminating harmless traditions that help students feel included, Moneta said this perspective trivializes the seriousness of hazing.

As incidences of and deaths from hazing have increased significantly on a national scale, administrative awareness of the issue on campus has also increased.

“Hazing is a serious issue and is in the spotlight even more so due to extreme cases at other universities that demonstrate just how dangerous hazing can be,” Peguero added.

Recess

volume 13 issue 24 april 5, 2012

REFRESHED

Home at Home Durham folk group Midtown Dickens are local in more than one sense of the word

CENTER

CHELSEA PIERONI AND SOPHIA DURAND/THE CHRONICLE

nikki minaj

schizoid superstar’s second album a flop

PAGE 6

wrath of the titans an action adventure that makes no pretense

PLAYGROUNDBLOG

what is good art?

Kenan Institute considers the ethics of the arts

PAGE 7

recess

[EDITOR’S NOTE]

PAGE 2

L

et me acknowledge at the outset that I run the risk of coming off as a curmudgeon, or a Republican housewife, or Dave Grohl at this year’s Grammys, but I’m compelled to level a complaint against hiphop.

Let me also acknowledge that I have been a devoted fan of pioneers like A Tribe Called Quest, Tupac, Biggie, Nas and N.W.A. since I was fifteen, so I can approach the issue with at least a semblance of authenticity.

That said, I find it increasingly difficult to justify a serious interest in the genre given its substance. The language of hip-hop is, and for the most part always has been, almost exclusively misogynistic, homophobic, materialistic and violent. This is not to say that these qualities are not present in other forms of music. The Rolling Stones, for instance, received their fair share of feminist backlash for “Under My Thumb,” and “Anarchy in the U.K.” made the Sex Pistols the most feared band in the world in 1976. Nor would I argue that music would be better off without these qualities. God forbid we condemn ourselves to endless reissues of Barry Manilow records.

The problem is that, with little exception, hip-hop’s rhetoric never strays from the grotesque and the degrading.

Take as an example the single “Rack City” by Tyga. The ubiquitous club hit has peaked at number eight on the Billboard Top 100 chart—in short, it’s really, really popular. And yet the lyrics read like infantile, stream-of-consciousness nonsense. I’m tempted to write it off entirely as a mindless pop song, but that’d be a cop out. Top-40 radio listeners don’t need to approach music with a critical sensibility, but to reward such drivel with airplay and record sales is downright irresponsible. It’s a troubling time when profane, moronic tripe like “Rack City” passes as mass entertainment.

Of course, most music critics would agree that “Rack City” is awful and serves as a poor representation of the genre, like saying that Nickelback is rock and roll. So let’s look to a group that has received nearly universal critical acclaim, N.W.A. Several members of the outfit—Dr. Dre, Ice Cube and Eazy-E—are legends in the rap world, and their 1988 debut album Straight Outta Compton is considered one of the most influential ever recorded. It’s difficult for me to commend them, though, because most of their lyrics are unprintable and the messages in their songs are shockingly inflammatory. We should think carefully before we canonize a group whose primary ethos is “To a kid lookin’ up to me/ Life ain’t nothin’ but b****es and money.” Say what you will about the expression of young black frustration or the realities of ghetto life— Marvin Gaye tackled those same issues in What’s Going On

[recesseditors] what we’re registering for Ross Green................................................................................................................BIO47: Drinking in the Gardens Matt Barnett....................................................................................................................PE211: Advanced calf-toning Michaela Dwyer.......................................................................................................................PHIL41: Liminal spaces Brian Contratto..............................................................................................................MRS209: Landing an anchor Chris Bassil...........................................................................................................................EOS11a: Rocks for seniors Josh Stillman...............................................................................................................HIS92: Bad taste in pop culture Phoebe Long............................................................................................................................SRT189: Finding a little Chelsea Pieroni..........................................................................................PS160: Deposing the Italian Government

April 5, 2012

without resorting to vicious obscenity. Does “F**k tha Police,” with its celebration of dead cops, really belong next to Innervisions?

Women especially are vilified in hip-hop to an extent that rivals most hate groups. Song titles like “B****es Ain’t S**t” and “A B***h Iz A B***h” telegraph a motif that pervades an astonishing majority of hip-hop rhetoric. In fact, I challenge you to find five popular rap songs that don’t refer to women as b****es or h**s, or glorify adultery, or portray women as sub-human objects. The fact that this is difficult at all indicates a sad state of affairs. Even Jeru The Damaja’s 1994 track “Da B****ez,” which humorously distinguishes between upstanding women and their unpleasant counterparts, is the product of a disappointingly misogynist agenda.

This all ultimately points to a cult of machismo that can’t help but be destructive to everyone involved. The only way to succeed by hip-hop’s terms is to outdo all of your competitors. And your competitors, it seems, are everyone else in the world trying to do anything productive. The pursuit of wealth and status and sexual prowess and authenticity have been utterly fetishized by the rap community, an alarming trend when you consider that a significant portion of our youth idolize these musicians.

If some kid’s heroes are telling him to treat girls like dirt and that money buys happiness, well, you can bet your britches he’s gonna believe it.

That’s not to say all hope is lost. Conscientious objectors like The Roots and Mos Def are out there releasing quality, intelligent rap albums all the time. Conscious rap, as it’s called, is a small but important sub-genre that deserves critical attention. But until music writers come to their senses and stop lavishing praise on acts like the objectively abhorrent Odd Future collective, we will remain stuck in this positive feedback loop that precludes reason and good taste.

Now, as I await the inevitable hate mail and rebuttals, I will do as any old-fashioned humorless square would do and put on Straight Outta Compton. After all, “F**k tha Police” is one of my most-played songs in iTunes.

—Josh Stillman

NASHER MUSEUM OF ART AT DUKE UNIVERSITY

ALEXANDER CALDER AND CONTEMPORARY ART

FORM, BALANCE, JOY ON VIEW THROUGH JUNE 17, 2012 Tickets are free to Duke students on same day of admission (1 per I.D.) Tickets are half price for Duke faculty and staff ($5, 2 per I.D.) Nasher Museum Members receive two free tickets per day. www.nasher.duke.edu

Alexander Calder and Contemporary Art: Form, Balance, Joy is organized by the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago. The exhibition is sponsored by The Northern Trust Company. Lead foundation support is provided by the Terra Foundation for American Art and the Chicago Community Trust. Major support for the exhibition is generously provided by The Kenneth and Anne Griffin Foundation. Additional generous support is provided by Margot and George Greig, Anne and Burt Kaplan, Ruth Horwich, The Broad Art Foundation, Gagosian Gallery, Lindy Bergman, Helyn Goldenberg, Sara Szold, and The Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation.

At the Nasher Museum, major individual support for the exhibition is provided by Frances P. Rollins, Marilyn M. Arthur, Trent and Susan Carmichael, Drs. Victor and Lenore Behar, Kathi and Stephen Eason, and Mindy and Guy Solie. Additional generous support is provided by Deborah DeMott, Nancy Palmer Wardropper, The E. T. Rollins Jr. and Frances P. Rollins Fund, Jo and Peter Baer, Paula and Eugene Flood, Pepper and Donald Fluke, Kelly Braddy Van Winkle and Lance Van Winkle, Carolyn Aaronson, Diane Evia-Lanevi and Ingemar Lanevi, Caroline and Arthur Rogers, Angela O. Terry, and Richard Tigner. Major corporate and grant support for the exhibition is provided by the Mary Duke Biddle Foundation, NetApp, and the N.C. Arts Council, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources.

Additional support is provided by Carolina Biological Supply Company, Duke’s Pratt School of Engineering, The Research Triangle Park, Parker and Otis, Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society, Clinical Ambassador, American Scientist magazine, and Tech Shop.

ABOVE: Alexander Calder, Blue Among Yellow and Red, 1963. Painted sheet metal and steel wire, 43 x 63 inches diameter. Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, The Leonard and Ruth Horwich Family Loan (EL1995.12). © 2012 Calder Foundation, New York / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photo by Nathan Keay, © MCA Chicago.

recess

April 5, 2012

chromatics KILL FOR LOVE ITALIANS DO IT BETTER

On the Chromatics’ latest release Kill For Love, producer Johnny Jewel crafts a record of cinematic scope and splendor. The sprawling 90-minute record is the Portland-based group’s fourth LP and their second after switching styles from chaotic noise punk to slow-burning synth-pop.

The album leads off with a heart-rending rendition of Neil Young’s personal meditation, “Into the Black.” The most rock-leaning track on Kill For Love, the Chromatics’ beautifully spare guitar heightens Young’s lyrical richness.

The indelible line, “It’s better to burn out / than to fade away,” quoted by Kurt Cobain in his suicide note, sets the stage for the album’s somber thematic arc.

The title track “Kill for Love” is mellifluous with a driving drumbeat, and the lavish synth waves accentuate Ruth Radelet’s vocals, which blur the line between nonchalance and pathos. “Running from the Sun” has “Beth/Rest”-like crooning coupled with an omnipresent, simplistic piano line. The song eventually develops into the haze of analog that dominates the second half of the album. The penultimate track “The River” and the 14-minute album-closer “No Heaven” make for a forlorn and enthralling end, letting us come down gently off our auditory high.

Ultimately, the record’s wavelike progression is one of its most entrancing qualities. There are succulent synth-pop anthems followed by soothing instrumental interludes. However, its ebbs and flows build to a substantial whole. Although it’s April, Kill For Love has established itself as a contender for album-of-the-year. Its standout tracks—“Into the Black,” “Kill for Love,” “Lady,” “Candy” and “The River”—capture the repressed sensual energy of great understated cinema.

—Derek Saffe

PAGE 3

Nothing Like the City: Ragtime converts Reynolds Theater into turn-of-the-century New York

TYLER SEUC/THE CHRONICLE

Lindsay Samuel (left), Sam Caywood (center) and Mollie Zoffer (right) during Wednesday’s dress rehearsal of Ragtime, Duke’s largest undergraduate theater production. The show opens its run tonight at 7:30 p.m. in Reynolds Theater. Read more about the adaptation of the E.L. Doctorow novel and the students behind the production in next week’s edition of Recess.

SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

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recess

PAGE 4

April 5, 2012

MUS

Coffeehouse hosts PhD. music student’s danceworthy blend of classical and EDM

by Dan Fishman THE CHRONICLE

Tomorrow at the Coffeehouse, Alex Kotch presents his dissertation. His argument: classical music has a place on the dance floor. His committee: scores of students who want to party.

A fifth-year PhD. candidate in Duke’s Music Dept., Kotch blurs the boundary between club DJs and American minimalist composers. Friday’s concert—called the Alleys of Your Mind Dance Party—places Kotch on stage with his electronic equipment, right next to a conductor, seven wind instrumentalists and a soprano singer.

“This kind of hybrid performance doesn’t happen very often,” Kotch said.

Though he focused on classical music and jazz for most of his life, Kotch started to notice the similarities between popular music and his favorite composers.

“In some cases, what separated electronic dance music from minimalist compositions was one had electronic drums and one didn’t,” Kotch said.

The dissertation includes recordings Kotch made in the ICU while recovering from a life-threatening brain aneurysm.

“I convinced the nurses to allow me to set up recording equipment,” he said. “The machines in the room had different kinds of beats, and I recorded those sounds as well as a few conversations and some ambient noise. I couldn’t face making music out of any of it until about nine or ten months later, but in mid-2011 I sampled from it. Some of the audio samples take on a symbolic role. The survivor’s life is embedded in the piece.”

Kotch is one of a handful of young, interdisciplinary musicians to be showcased on

Friday. Before Kotch goes on stage, the chamber group Wet Ink Ensemble will pla pieces composed by Duke graduate students. Later in the night, the genre-defying C Hill duo Beat Report will play a DJ set, and Durham’s own Treee City will present ba dubstep-inspired electronica.

“Think Girl Talk with a political message for people with ADD,” said Jil Christ explaining how she views Beat Report. “Sometimes we will go from Bollywood to Top Johnny Cash in a couple of minutes.”

Wet Ink’s Eric Wubbels expects the atmosphere of the Coffeehouse to make the pleasantly relaxed.

“A good concert is good, but a good concert that’s BYOB has a superior vibe,” W said.

“The idea of having recitals in club venues is really picking up speed,” Kotch said concert hall often falls flat socially.”

Likewise, clubs tend to play uninteresting music. Alleys of Your Mind aspires to exception to that rule.

“Friday is a chance to dance and to be challenged musically,” Christensen said.

The Alleys of Your Mind Dance Party is sponsored by the Duke Music Department as pa Encounters series. Alex Kotch, the Wet Ink Ensemble, Beat Report and Treee City will play at th Coffeehouse on East Campus, Friday at 9 p.m. Admission is free.

Home, always:

by Brian Contratto THE CHRONICLE

SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

Home starts off familiar and comfortable—a bit more charm too, like a college vacation spent at home. Not insignificantly, third long-player, released Tuesday, starts with a song called “H ends with “This is My Home.”

The idea of stability works in the music, too. With the same multi-instrumentalists Catherine Edgerton, Will Hackney, Jon and Kym Register—the arrangements and voices are recogni much appears to have changed for the Durham-based band.

But the voices are less tremulous on Home than on 2009’s L starry-eyed earnestness in the lyrics. The instruments are more when the voices belt out and shoulder the emotional heft, it’s n for a muscular horn section to augment.

So yes, this album is more mature, and Dickens’ trademar comes in clearer with crisper, autumnal production. But this is album, more immediate yet amenable to repeated listens.

This is all to say: the band has gotten better with age, and th their story that permeates their music. “Home,” Triangle music new album evokes all of these things.

I met the band after one of their twice-weekly practices, on Trekky House (near the intersection of Mt. Moriah and Old a “music house” for over a decade. Trekky is the record labe Hackney and Martin Anderson that primed the latest Midtown its release two days ago—the band practices at the house, Hack they used to even have an in-house recording studio (until their grade sound equipment with him and starting doing sound for outside the back porch, tucked into overhanging tree branches that another flagship Trekky band, Lost in the Trees, used to to Lost in the Trees, The Mountain Goats, Bowerbirds, Mega Calico Haunts: for those who have followed Triangle music th decade, these names are familiar. “It’s a pretty tight commun “We’ve known all these people playing music for five years or m bands.”

Edgerton and Register are both from Durham and have play

April 5, 2012

recess

PAGE 5

SIC

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ay new Chapel ss- and

tensen, p 40 to recital Wubbels d. “The be the art of its he Duke SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

on Midtown Dickens, quintessentially local ming and enjoyable Midtown Dickens’ Home All Ways” and e band members— nathan Henderson zable, and not too Lanterns; there’s less e restrained, too— not really necessary rk twang-and-pluck also more of a pop here’s a gladness in , the Pinhook—the n the porch of the d Chapel Hill Rd), el founded by Will Dickens album for kney lives here and r friend took his hiToro Y Moi). Right , is the old tour bus our with. afaun, Mt. Moriah, hroughout the past nity,” Hackney said. ore in their various yed music together

since they were in high school. They started Midtown Dickens together in 2006, and Jonathan Anderson (who’s known Edgerton since she was born) and Hackney joined the band in 2008 to contribute a litany of instruments to Lanterns—mandolin, drums, piano, guitar, banjo, etc.

Together, the quartet shares the perfect history to imbue their folksy ramblings and sky-directed ponderings with a central, Dickensean idea: growing up, but not moving on. Though Hackney denies any unifying message on Home, the opening track resembles a fairly literal thesis on friendship, home and family.

“It’s about how we’re supposed to be getting married, having kids, buying houses, creating new homes away from our families and friends—reacting to that social expectation and redefining what it means to be ‘home’,” Edgerton said. “It’s a pretty intensely recognizable feeling.”

Regardless of any flexibility in their definitions of family, the geographical sense of home has remained consistent for the band; all four members were born and raised in North Carolina. “I think a big piece of my own identity has to do with being from the South, and my relationship with Catherine feels like a really defining piece of who I’ve grown to be,” Henderson said. “These relationships are among a handful that really root me to North Carolina.”

Midtown Dickens enjoyed a whirlwind opportunity this past summer, as special tour guests on a three week West Coast tour with the Mountain Goats. That band is the vessel for the intense folk narratives of John Darnielle who, after more than a dozen releases, has become an elder statesman of Durham and independent music at large. The band was expected to fly out just a few days after the invitation, and recalled packing instrument cases full of merchandise to sell—they didn’t even have time to properly freak out with anticipation. The highlight of the tour was a show at the Fillmore, one of rock’s most legendary performance venues, in San Francisco. “I remember seeing Sonic Youth there and feeling like, ‘Oh my god, I can’t believe I’m in this venue.’ And then actually playing it!” Edgerton said.

“That was the show I will never, ever forget.”

The opportunity didn’t come from left field—it’s the kind of gesture that local musicians are known for, in a place where artists don’t so much share an aesthetic “scene” as a community of friendships; where “bands that have had some sort of national success are able to pull people up,” Hackney said. “It’s sort of a lifestyle.”

Although the lifestyles of the members of Midtown Dickens include “day jobs,” their lives remain largely inextricable from local music. Register is a co-founder of

The Pinhook bar in downtown Durham, which hosts touring artists several nights each week, and has recently hosted several Duke Performances shows. Likewise, Edgerton recently began writing for the Duke Performances blog, and also works with a cooperative group called “2 Sensitive Artists and a Chain Saw,” which mainly free-lances carpentry and electrical work. Anderson teaches a variety of music classes, including jazz history and music theory, at the Carolina Friends School in North-West Durham. And Hackney, alongside Lost in the Trees member Martin Anderson, dedicates his time to Trekky Records, which has represented close to 20 bands since its inception.

In 2009, Midtown Dickens hosted their album release party to a packed, sweaty crowd in the Duke Coffeehouse. For Home’s coming out party tonight, they’ll upgrade to the Cat’s Cradle in Carroboro, where they will co-headline with Diali Cissokho and Kairaba, a West African-inspired dance band that Henderson also plays for. After that, Dickens will head out to the road until late summer to plays shows throughout the East Coast and Midwest. The distant venues discerning enough to host will witness the band’s strongest tracks to date, like “Only Brother,” which was recently featured as NPR’s Song of the Day. The unfortunate branding of “local music,” which too modestly designates some of the nation’s best music, was partially to blame for the Duke University Union’s recent dissolution of its Campus Concert Series, whose programming domain was divvied out to the more successful operations of the Coffeehouse and Smalltown Records. But for Duke students and Durham residents, the privilege of living among a thriving arts community is re-illuminated with new releases of this caliber—not that they’re especially rare in these parts.

“I’ve toured around and there’s great places for music, but the energy and amount of people constantly cheerleading it [make it clear] that it’s a very special place for music,” Hackney said. “If I didn’t grow up here I probably wouldn’t be running a label and trying to do this. Which isn’t to say that any of us are making money. But we’re able to get by happily, and we can always pretend we’re making money.”

Midtown Dickens will play at the release party of Home on Saturday, Apr. 7 with Diali Cissokho and Kairaba at Cat’s Cradle 9 p.m. Tickets are $5 and are available through the Cat’s Cradle website.

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PAGE 6

April 5, 2012

nicki minaj

Spears, Taio Cruz, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and LMFAO— WTF? It’s as if someone took the most detestable qualities from each of those artists—the manufactured enthusiasm, the syrupy, synthetic production, the monotonous dancefloor drone—and set them to lyrics that were mind-numbingly stupid. “Starships” is a song that represents the tepid, cloying, shameless recycling of pop at its worst, the kind of song that would play on repeat at Shooters in hell (or real life). Whatever credibility Minaj earned from her standout cameo on Kanye’s “Monster” is immediately overshadowed by this ghastly abomination. I am literally sickened.

And speaking of “Monster”—the multiple-voice thing was cool there, and still novel. Minaj has since proved that adopting a number of vocal styles is the only trick up her sleeve, and that wore thin before her first album came out.

At this point it’s just annoying and tiring; it’s like she’s playacting all the characters in an amateur radio drama that never ends. That’s called a gimmick, dear, and it’s a poor premise on which to base your entire career.

—Josh Stillman

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mirror mirror

DIR. TARSEM SINGH RELATIVITY MEDIA

Mirror, mirror on the wall, which is the fairest film of all? Sadly, it’s not Mirror Mirror, a retelling of the classic fairy tale Snow White starring Julia Roberts and newcomer Lily Collins as Snow White.

In an attempt to put a new spin on a well-known tale, Mirror Mirror introduces some never-before-seen characters— an eccentric servant Brighton (Nathan Lane) and a beast that lives in the woods and terrorizes the village. Although Lane’s character doesn’t have much of an impact on the film one way or another, the beast was an element the screenplay could have done without. Mirror Mirror’s trailers and movie poster suggest that Roberts’ evil queen is the film’s antagonist, but with the inclusion of the beast, her presence turns out to be something of a red herring. The traditional poison apple—a symbol of the fairy tale—was not given the attention it deserved, and would disappoint an audience excited to see a childhood cartoon brought to life.

Similarly, the story changed other little pieces of the classic

Nicki Minaj should be ashamed of herself.

For a woman who prides herself on individuality—I can only assume that’s the explanation for her confectionnightmare fashion sense—she makes little effort to stand out on her second album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded.

Scratch that: she makes no effort whatsoever. This record is so desperate to cash in on pop trends it’s embarrassing.

There’s pseudo-dubstep: “Whip It,” “Pound the Alarm.”

There’s trap-hop swagger: “Come on a Cone,” “I Am Your Leader.” There are synth anthems: “Beautiful Sinner,” “Automatic.” There’s even a reggae-pop track featuring Beenie Man, who hasn’t been relevant in a decade. But far and away the most inexcusable transgression is the abortive lead single, “Starships.”

In the space of one song, Minaj accomplishes the impossible feat of ripping off Maroon 5, Black Eyed Peas, Britney tale that should have been left alone. The dwarves’ names have been changed—there’s no Doc or Happy, replaced instead by Half-Pint and Wolf. If done for some purpose, it would be appropriate to make such a change, but as it stands, the names were different just to be different. Mirror Mirror isn’t a more creative or daring film for all its cosmetic deviations from the original story; if anything, these changes just make us long for a more traditional take, which is why they shouldn’t have been there. The instances of filmmakers taking liberties with classic stories and, in the process, enriching and expanding on the meaning of their source material are too numerous too mention, but Mirror Mirror isn’t among them.

That said, Mirror Mirror is visually stunning. The costumes are spectacular, the settings beautifully crafted. The fight scenes were intense, and the villains looked incredible on screen. Although the plot may feel no more substantial than an appetizer, the visual aspects of this movie were worth feasting on.

As adaptations go, Mirror Mirror is no match for 1937’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, though it doesn’t warrant a refund from the theater. Ultimately, Mirror Mirror’s problem is that it’s neither the Snow White you’ve always imagined nor Snow White you never could.

—Jamie Kessler

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recess

April 5, 2012

PAGE 7

Kenan brings ethical perspective to arts

by Jamie Moon THE CHRONICLE

Unlike typical visual art exhibitions at Duke, the 15 works presented in the Kenan Institute for Ethics’ studentrun exhibition What is Good Art? set out to confront the ethical questions that arise from the works rather than their technical qualities. The exhibition, which opens next Monday in the West Duke building, aims to initiate dialogue specific to contemporary social, cultural and political issues within an ethical framework.

“Art is this rich way of thinking and talking about ethics that is accessible,” Kenan Student Programs Coordinator Christian Ferney said. “I think most people understand how fascinating ethics is. It’s one of those things that seems a bit daunting and pious, but it’s really about complexity and difficult choices. Art is a good way to see that tension and the pieces this year best convey [this tension].”

Every year Team Kenan, a student group that works to highlight ethical issues in everyday student life, hosts the competition, requesting submissions of visual artworks that evoke controversial questions. First, second, third and gallery prizes are selected by a panel of judges, all of whom are experts in art and/or ethics.

“From an artist’s point of view, we talk about technique, method and concepts. But having a competition from another discipline is a nice way to see what art can be on campus,” said Bill Fick, Visiting Assistant Professor of the Practice of Visual Arts and judge. “It’s good to explore these things because people think it’s not possible.”

The judging process, which occurs within a two to three hour long conversation, takes into account the work’s visual acumen, statement and accordance with theme.

“It’s partly like opening a birthday present when we get to look at the submissions as a whole. There’s always a substantial diversity and we don’t know what are going to be the winners of the show,” Ferney said.

The idea for the competition began in 2009 as a way to engage the student body with ethical concepts. When Team Kenan noted the positive reception that the competition and eventual exhibition received that spring, they decided the exhibition should be moved out of a secluded area like the Fredric Jameson gallery and into a more fre-

quented space.

“What is Good Art? provides students [the opportunity to] showcase their work outside at a more conventional place. A good place for that would be on their way to class,” Ferney said of the exhibition’s location in West Duke.

Although different disciplines consider ethics a fundamental piece of their studies, questions and conversations regarding ethics typically arise more in humanities and philosophy courses than the natural sciences or mathematics. What is Good Art? provides an avenue for students of all disciplines to include ethics in everyday conversation.

“I think we’re in need of more questioning here at Duke,” junior Sarah Bartleson, a Team Kenan member and What is Good Art? project leader, said. “You can be a Bio major and get a degree and never think about the implications for the research you’re doing in the way that the public would engage in it. Let’s just say, there are interesting conversations that we aren’t always having that should be had.”

As the competition gained followers and a greater reputation, Team Kenan also began developing themes for students to consider before submitting their works. This year’s theme, “How much truth can art bear?” is inspired by the writings of French philosopher Alain Badiou. As narrow and focused as the theme appears, Team Kenan assures that it opens up the opportunity for a variety of submissions.

“There is by no means just one meaning that you apply to a piece of work. The theme is the first step in guiding people a little bit,”said Rae Dong, 2011 alum and former Team Kenan member who was first to suggest the inquiry

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into the relationship between truth and art.

Bartleson agreed that the theme is accessible to all students.

“A lot of what we do is keep things very open-ended.

There are so many different ways to interpret this question even though it may be difficult to answer,” she said.

Freshman art major and Team Kenan member Niki Yogeshwarun was intrigued by the competition’s theme. Although she mostly draws and paints, she decided to submit a video called “Flaw.”

“I don’t think the point of ethical art is necessarily to be beautiful, but to ask questions and challenge perceptions. I think art should do that in general,” Yogeshwarun said.

What is Good Art? will be presented in the hallways of first floor West Duke from April 9 to May 14.

ACC Series at Jack Coombs Field

Duke Baseball vs.

Clemson Tigers Friday, April 6th at 6pm* *Inferno Event *Duke Baseball T-shirts for first 100 students

Saturday, April 7th at 2pm Sunday, April 8th at 1pm All Three Games Will Be Played at Jack Coombs Field Located on the Duke West Campus

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PAGE 8

April 5, 2012

Recess Interviews: senior Monica Hogan discusses her dance thesis, Heartwork

by Caitlin Moyles THE CHRONICLE

An avid dancer and choreographer, senior Monica Hogan has choreographed numerous pieces for November Dances, ChoreoLab and Ark Dances, performed at the opening ceremonies in China for the World University Games and is a member of DefMo. A biology and dance major, Hogan will present her senior thesis, Heartwork, the final piece of a three-year project combining dance with different artistic mediums, at the Hull Avenue Dance Lab April 7. Hogan sat down with Recess’ Caitlin Moyles before a rehearsal for Ragtime (for which Hogan is assistant choreographer) to discuss how she incorporates technology in her dance pieces, finds inspiration in interactions with people and what she plans to do post-graduation.

Recess: How long have you been dancing, and what types of dance have you practiced?

Monica Hogan: Well, I’ve been dancing practically since I could walk. At Duke, I dance primarily ballet, modern [and] jazz, but in the past I have done some tap and hiphop and other things like that. I dance with DefMo, so I get quite a mix of styles with that.

R: In your high school dance company, how did you emerge in the group as someone who could choreograph?

MH: I was always just interested in innovating movement. It was sort of a slow realization. I love dancing, but I think I like choreographing even more, taking an idea or vision and taking that all the way through to make it a reality—setting it on real people, and being able to step back and see that happen is a fun process for me.

R: What drew you to Duke?

MH: It actually was the fact that Duke has such a strong dance program and also lets you study in other disciplines, and you’re not penalized for that…I’m also a biology major, and at a lot of schools, it wouldn’t be feasible for me to do both of them…I’ve always been a techy, science person.

That’s actually the focus of Heartwork: dance and technology.

R: Can you talk more about the concept behind Heartwork?

MH: Sure! It started my sophomore year…I had people from Sabro, DefMo, Dhamaka, the Dance Program. The whole concept of that show was integrating different mediums with dance choreography. We had a piece with spokenword poetry, we had a piece where they danced on a canvas and painted as they danced. We had dance videography, sort of an experimental dance film through a collaboration with a film major at Elon [University]. I continued the show my junior year, and now I’m turning it into my thesis my senior year. This year has a focus on dance technology specifically.

R: Can you give some examples of how you integrate

MH: Most of my pieces are inspired by things that have happened to me or people that I’ve met. There’s a piece that will be in Heartwork that premiered in November Dances last semester called Habit of Living. It was inspired by the month I spent in China with the Duke Dancers last summer. It was really interesting because where we were people didn’t really speak any English, and I didn’t know any Chinese…We were rehearsing for weeks with the same people, and it was interesting to me how you could still form friendships and work around the language barrier. So Habit of Living was inspired by navigating communication with people beyond language and beyond cultural barriers.

R: Do you have any techniques that you’ve found helpful when you’re working with a group of dancers to facilitate the creative process?

MH: I like to give dancers a little bit of freedom in the movement. I’m not the type who’s about everyone’s arm being at the exact same angle. There’s a time and place for that, but usually…I want people to bring in a little bit of their own personal…creativity as well. A lot of [the dancers] will say, “I’m not a choreographer.” And that’s true and it’s not true, because they all have a sense of movement, and they all have a better sense of movement and what feels right for their bodies than I do. Giving…them the ability to fit it to their physicality and make SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE it feel right with their sense of music, someSenior dance major Monica Hogan won a Benenson Award, which funds arts-based times they’ll come up with something I never projects proposed by Duke undergraduates, to dance in New York this summer. would’ve come up with.

R: What are your post-graduation plans? technology into your work?

MH: I recently found out I got a Benenson Award in MH: I’m doing a piece with camera-tracking and motion-tracking, and they control a light projection, where the Arts, so I’ll be in New York dancing for the summer. basically the dancer moves through the space and it creates I’m hoping to stay in the New York area. Right now I’m inthis sort of light trail that follows the dancer. I also have a terviewing for jobs in marketing, PR, that kind of thing…I piece that’s using Twitter…It’s using an applet called We know I will still be dancing in some capacity.

R: Do you think you’ll still get to choreograph?

Feel Fine, which is live online. It pulls tweets that contain MH: I’m sure I will. I’m trying to take it slow enough the words “I” and “feel.” It scans though these tweets and color codes them and turns them into circles or squares to get my feet on the ground. But ultimately…whether for men and women, and it creates this cloud of moving it’s teaching kids or adults or a company, I definitely will dots that you can click on and…pull up real people’s re- always be involved in dance choreography. cent tweets. So the audience will be invited to tweet about Heartwork will take place this Saturday at 6:30 and 8 p.m. how they feel. I’ll be dancing, and there will be a sensor bar that’ll control a Wii remote so that instead of using a at The Hull Avenue Dance Lab (1516 Hull Avenue, off Swift mouse, [while] dancing in space I can click things and pull Ave). Admission is free. Email monica.hogan@duke.edu for ticket information. stuff up [projected on the screen behind me.]

R: What’s your inspiration for your choreography?

M I T E G A

duke theater studies, music, dance and hoof ‘n’ horn present

based on Ragtime e.l. doctorow

with live orchestral music presented by the Duke Chamber Players Book by

Terrence McNally • Music by Stephen Flaherty Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens

Directed by

Jeff Storer • Music Directed by Anthony Kelley Choreographed by Barbara Dickinson

April 5-7 & 12-14 at 7:30 pm April 7, 14, & 15 at 2 pm Reynolds Theater, Bryan Center $10 general public $5 students and senior citizens • tickets.duke.edu or 919-684-4444

R AG T I M E D U K E . C O M Ragtime is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. 421 West 54th Street, New York, NY 10019 Phone: 212-541-4684 Fax: 212-397-4684 www.MTIShows.com

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The Chronicle

THURSDAY April 5, 2012

Infielder Matt Berezo will miss the rest of the season after breaking his tibia during batting practice before last Friday’s game against Georgia Tech.

www.dukechroniclesports.com

WOMEN’S TENNIS

One tennis ball at a time Kentucky shifts NCAA paradigm Watching the national championship game Monday night, I liked to imagine that the evil geniuses in Indianapolis’ NCAA HQ had a moment of clarity similar to what many evil geniuses have in the movies. That moment when their robot army or horde of killer bees is beginning to cause mayhem and destruction and they think to themselves, “My God! What have we done?”

Kentucky’s all-star roster was the inevitable result of the NCAA and NBA’s paternalism. It’s what happens when you force 18-year-old kids to go to college Andy in order to protect NBA owners from losing money on unproven high schoolers while promoting a false idea of amateurism that led, this year, to even the word “players” being banned in the tournament in favor of the euphemism “student-athletes.”

You create a team like Kentucky, which is more than happy to take advantage of a rule that shouldn’t exist to land the most talented recruits in the nation year after year.

It’s a bit difficult, as an 18-year-old who just wants to go pro, to ignore the nine draft picks in the last two years, a proven path to NBA riches that begins in Lexington. Now, with a national championship, the recruiting pitch just got even more foolproof. Is it so hard to imagine the Wildcats winning every year until the one-anddone rule is changed? As ESPN’s recruiting analyst Dave Telep wrote Monday, “Monday was the byproduct of the talent acquisition’s endgame. There’s likely to be more because this program plugged up the biggest hole in its recruiting pitch. Now you can be the first pick in the draft and national champion.”

I’m not totally sure how I feel about this. On the one hand, I have a concern for the competitive balance of college basketball in the future, and of course, the general problem with whatever John Calipari did that caused him to leave his last two schools with vacated wins.

But on the other hand, I find what John Calipari has done to be very funny and, in a twisted way, admirable. Here we have a man who has truly cut through

Moore

CHRONICLE FILE PHOTO

Jamie Ashworth was first thrust into the head coaching role in 1997, when Jody Hyden left at the beginning of the spring season.

Jamie Ashworth’s 356 wins are a new ACC record

by Hunter Nisonoff THE CHRONICLE

Accepting the head coaching position of a team fresh off a national semifinal appearance may seem like a dream. Continuing a tradition of excellence, however, can quickly become a daunting experience.

This was exactly the position that head coach Jamie Ashworth found himself in halfway through the 1997 season, after the departure of former head coach Jody Hyden. When he was suddenly put in charge of one of Duke’s most successful programs, all eyes were on Ashworth to see if he had what it took to lead the team.

“It wasn’t an easy transition,” Ashworth said. “However, the only pressure that I felt has been my own.”

To put the challenge into perspective, head basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski finished his first season at Duke with a modest 1713 record and went 21-34 in the next two seasons, though he entered under decidedly different circumstances. While the Blue Devils had reached the national semifinals two years prior, they

had not established themselves as a basketball power.

Ashworth, however, never doubted his ability to succeed as the Blue Devils’ coach.

In his first full year as head coach, Ashworth took the team to a school record 27 wins, its 11th straight ACC regular season and tournament titles and its first title match in the NCAA tournament.

The season ended with Duke’s best final national ranking at No. 2, continuing the winning tradition and surpassing all expectations. It is clear that what both Krzyzewski and Ashworth have in common is the ability to take a program, whether it is already built up or just beginning, and raise the bar to reach new heights.

“I always knew that Duke was a place where you could be successful. That was one of the reasons why I came here,” Ashworth said.

Ashworth’s first true defining moment came in 2009, when Duke defeated California in the final round of the NCAA tournament, winning the title for the first time in school history. In recognition of his accomplishment, Ashworth decided to keep

the tennis ball that thensenior Melissa Mang hit to clinch the victory.

Other than consistent success in the NCAA tournament, both Ashworth and Krzyzewski have also proven themselves to be record breakers. With a 4-3 win over No. 8 Virginia Mar. 23, Ashworth improved his coaching record to 353-82, toppling former North Carolina head coach Kitty Harrison’s career ACC women’s tennis wins record. Ashworth reached the record-breaking mark in just 16 seasons—five fewer than Harrison—and his .811 winning percentage eclipses Harrison’s .610.

Ashworth kept the ball from win No. 353 as well, but this time he threw it into the stands for his wife.

“I never really thought about that record until after that match,” Ashworth said.

When you talk to Ashworth about his success, not only as one of the best coaches at Duke, but in the entire nation, SEE ASHWORTH ON PAGE 8

the BS of the NCAA, who has exploited a system to his and Big Blue Nation’s great reward. His recruiting pitch is unassailable. His school’s resources are limitless.

Indeed, the school’s webpage for potential recruits reads like a parody of a recruiting pitch. Under “Making Academics a Priority,” a quote from Calipari reads: “My jobs is to make sure there’s growth academically, and that they’re on line to graduate. It’s pretty obvious I’ve done that over my career as a coach.”

So obvious, John. And, then there’s this, a description of the “Wildcat Lounge,” an incredible looking space that looks like it was designed after combining Augusta National’s Butler Cabin with the Staples Center locker room: “Conveniently located next to Memorial Stadium and the Joe Craft Center, the Wildcat Lounge provides dormitory space for Kentucky basketball players and managers, as well as other UK students.”

Something tells me the regular student has as good a chance of getting housing in there as you or I do in K4 at Duke.

As a basketball fan, though, devoid of any morals or subjectivity, how could you not enjoy all this Kentucky dominance? The Wildcats were as entertaining as the Oklahoma City Thunder on a good night. They sprinted down the court at Mach 3.

Their point guard, Marquis Teague, possessed a sixth sense with Terrence Jones and Anthony Davis, finding them constantly for thrilling alley-oops. They also played some of the most ferocious defense ever seen in college basketball—Anthony Davis, who went 1-for-10 from the floor Monday, still completely dominated the game, most likely fighting the urge to block his teammates’ and his own shots.

They also played together harmoniously, something amazing for a group of young kids who were used to being the stars on their AAU teams. “What a lesson for these young people, that if you share, if you give up SEE MOORE ON PAGE 8

8 | THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

ASHWORTH from page 7 he is quick to congratulate everyone but himself.

“The girls are the ones that make up Duke tennis, not me,” Ashworth said. “Whether it is the ACC wins streak or the 353 wins, or the national championship, it comes back to them and the great players over the last 15 years.”

While these great players undoubtedly make up the heart of the program, it has been Ashworth’s job to consistently recruit the world’s best. He attributes this feat primarily to the student-athletes, as well as Krzyzewski himself.

Ashworth described the tremendous support that Krzyzewski has given to him and the program over the years, including talking to some of his tennis recruits.

“I sat in on [Krzyzewski] one time as he talked about the branding of Duke,” Ashworth said. “It really hit home with one of our recruits that she will always be known as a Duke student-athlete. He showed me that the branding of Duke is a global phenomenon and how we can take advantage of that.”

THE CHRONICLE

The progress that Ashworth has made while coaching the Blue Devils has placed him among the highest esteemed women’s tennis coaches in the nation. No. 3 Duke has now been ranked in the nation’s top five for the 23rd consecutive poll, the country’s longest active streak. The expectations are as high as ever, but Ashworth looks past the statistics, streaks, records, and history. He simply wants to see the best out of his team.

While he may never reach the same level of fame as the coach from the other side of Krzyzewskiville, this would be unfitting for Ashworth, who finds more joy in seeing his players success than his own.

“I love… watching the girls grow over their time here, watching them grow into leaders, learning their roles and being successful in their roles.” Ashworth said.

So while ESPN will continue to broadcast Krzyzewski cutting down the net after an NCAA championship, to see Ashworth celebrate a championship one would have to look closely as he quietly walks over to the court and picks up a single tennis ball for safekeeping in a quickly growing collection.

MOORE from page 7 something of yourself for those around you, if you care more about your teammates than yourself, it’s amazing what you can accomplish,” Calipari said Monday. “It doesn’t matter your age. That’s the lesson of this.”

My feeling is after the second or third national championship, we’ll see the rule change that needs to come. Embarrassed with the results, NCAA President Mark Emmert and David Stern will try to work something.

Until then, I, for one, welcome our new basketball overlords.

WATKINS from page 1 “We assisted him in turning himself in,” Dailey said.

“It was a coordinated arrest.”

Watkins was taken to Durham County Jail at 11:14 a.m. Monday and held until 12:41 p.m. when he posted a $500 bond, county jail officials said.

The incident in question was reported at 3:29 a.m.

Sunday at a bar on the 800 block of West Morgan Street, according to the DPD incident report. The assault was described as a physical, non-aggravated simple assault.

The alleged victim is Durham resident Ariel Daye, who sustained minor injuries and was not taken to the hospital, according to the clerk’s office.

Watkins played as a reserve wide receiver in 28 games during the past three seasons. He had a Blue team-high of five receptions for 78 yards in last weekend’s Spring Game. Once the 64th-best wide receiver in his recruiting class, the Camden, N.J. native missed almost all of the 2009 season with a knee injury and has 152 career receiving yards on 24 catches.

For breaking news on all Duke sports, follow us on Twitter at @chroniclesports CHRONICLE FILE PHOTO

Ashworth credits some of his recruiting success to men’s basketball head coach Mike Krzyzewski, who has spoken to a few of Ashworth’s targets.

External Affairs Associate Duke Student Publishing Co., publisher of The Chronicle, seeks a student employee to support The Chronicle’s external relations program. Duties will include mastering our database (entering data, tracking gifts, publishing reports and preparing correspondence to donors) and conducting research on Chronicle alumni and the careers they have pursued. Additional duties may include writing articles for our alumni e-newsletter, maintaining the alumni web portal and planning events. We hope to hire a student who will train and begin work this spring and continue in the fall, working approximately 8-10 hours per week. This position provides a great opportunity for someone with energy and ingenuity who is interested in helping The Chronicle develop strong systems and great relationships.

For more information or to apply, contact: David Rice, director of external relations, at david.rice@duke.edu.

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THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012 | 9

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The Independent Daily at Duke University

The Chronicle

10 | THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

Admissions on a slippery slope This year, Duke received being cut after only a single 31,565 undergraduate appli- read. The idea that a single cations, a 6 percent increase individual can determine the from last year. As the number fate of an applicant seems to of Duke applicants continues contradict Duke’s allegedly to rise, the Office of Under- holistic approach to admisgraduate Adsion. We ideeditorial missions has ally imagine enacted a polthat the admisicy change to streamline the sions office would devote exprocess in future application tensive time and manpower cycles. Previously all applica- to roundly understanding tions were evaluated by at each candidate, in all his or least three individuals before her intricate and individualbeing rejected, but now only istic qualities, and this step a single regional officer will appears antithetical to that read an application in the end. first round of consideration, With a closer look, howwith the power to reject it ever, the new policy proves outright. to be an important and necThis policy change may essary change given the coninitially seem gut-wrenching, straints of an ever-growing particularly, since in its in- applicant pool. For one, the augural year, it resulted in office has mitigated the risk one-third of applications of rejecting qualified appli-

“

I have struggled for four years and lost a lot of hair and sleep trying to find support for the humanities at Duke, and I’m very glad to see that it won’t be as hard for future generations.

”

—“embala” commenting on the story “Humanities writ larger.”

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.

cants by requiring that the first reader be a regional admissions officer specializing in the applicant’s home area. These readers have the most familiarity with the applicant’s context, including school and demographics.

This familiarity will add considerable nuance and accuracy to that first read.

The primary benefit of the new policy is that it frees up readers to concentrate on the candidates who move past the first round. This will result in a more comprehensive look at more competitive applicants. These applicants require even a closer examination to differentiate. A holistic approach to the most competitive applicants is particularly important to building a diverse class each year.

More broadly speaking, rising admissions numbers are a double-edged sword.

Although the growing number of applications speak to the University’s growth and caliber, the sheer volume of applications places an extremely heavy burden on admissions. In this sense, the policy change is only a temporary salve for the problem.

We expect admissions to produce a class that is diverse and well-rounded, but the current system buries officers under a mountain of applications, making this task nearly impossible. Incremental policy changes, such as the new one, can alleviate some of the workload, but too many changes will sacrifice the integrity of Duke’s holistic ap-

proach. A re-evaluation of the entire system is necessary to cope with the emergent trends. If Duke hopes to keep up with consistently increasing numbers of applications, a new long-range plan will be necessary.

The most recent admissions policy change may seem alarming. At the very least, it will result in more applicants blaming their rejection letters on an admissions officer’s bad mood. However, the change simply copes with extreme conditions that are constraining the admissions office’s time and resources.

We hope such a change will prompt a more thorough look at our admissions process as the landscape of undergraduate admissions at Duke continues to evolve.

The age of desensitization?

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o you remember the tornado that forever sight into this increasingly prevalent short-lived changed history in Joplin, Mo. in 2011— nature of concern. He found that constant exthe one that claimed the lives of 161 posure to social media and news updates—the people and destroyed the homes norm in American society—can of countless more? Do you rememlead to desensitization. The fastber what you were wearing that paced nature of status updates, day, or what you were doing when 140-character tweets and news noyou heard the news? You probably tifications strains the human emodon’t, but I do. tional state. Stories and events As a native of Parsons, Kan., I receive little-to-no processing probably live considerably closer to time in the individual’s mind bewhere the tornado touched down fore a new blast comes barreling roshni jain than most people reading this through. Researchers worry that muddled and column. Located a mere 60 miles “violence and suffering become befuddled from my home, Joplin holds a spean endless show that allows indifcial place in my life. Because the ference to gradually set in.” biggest attraction my little town of 10,000 people As we approach the one-year anniversary boasts is a Super Walmart, my family and I took of the deadliest tornado in the record in the day trips to Joplin at least once a month to stock United States, I can’t help but contemplate the up on goods from Sam’s Club and window shop state of our humanity. We live in a world where around Northpark Mall. (Glamorous, I know.) constant connectivity is not only possible but Countless memories and irreplaceable moments also expected. I can’t believe that this justifies flood my mind when I think back to the time I or even necessitates our desensitization as a spent in Joplin. people. Life moves on and different disasters So it should come as no surprise that when I strike, but we must remain aware of the truth heard about the tragedy in Joplin, I realized that and significance of major world events. It’s easy a part of my life had changed forever. I spent the to let information go in one ear and out the subsequent days following the news and listen- other as we reduce people and devastation into ing to stories of survival and despair. It seemed statistics and estimated costs. But we must reas though the entire nation felt Joplin’s pain. In main human. this day and age of smart phones, Twitter, FaceIn March, the White House announced that book, Wi-Fi and countless other gadgets and net- the president would deliver the commencement works, constant connectivity is a given. No mat- address at Joplin High School on the eve of the ter where one lives, news of the tornado must’ve tornado’s one-year anniversary in May. This adreached him within minutes of its touchdown in dress will be especially significant considering Missouri. that the tornado obliterated the high school In his remarks at a memorial service held one campus only one hour after the Class of 2011 week after the catastrophe, President Obama completed its graduation ceremony. said “The cameras may leave. The spotlight may The information age might have led to our shift. But we will be with you every step of the desensitization as a people, but it did not render way until Joplin is restored. We’re not going our hearts and souls useless. President Obama anywhere. That is not just my promise; that’s kept true to his words and followed through America’s promise.” on his commitment to the city of Joplin. His Like he predicted, the media soon moved on, promise shows us that there is still hope in the and over time it seemed as though the American world—that human interaction and sympathy public and the government had, too. Sure, the still triumph over technology and distant comfederal government pledged to fund 90 percent munication. As times change, so must we, but of the debris removal efforts and allocate disas- we should do so without sacrificing our humanter assistance to survivors. But was that enough? ity. We might be desensitized but we’re still huAs is the case with many large-scale disasters, re- man. We haven’t lost our capacity to empathize. sponse is immediate and strong at the onset, but It’s still there—we just have to take pause, sort wanes overtime. Recuperation takes more than through the influx of information and let oura month, even more than a year. It’s an ongoing selves be human. process, one that must happen even after the cameras leave and the spotlights shift.

Roshni Jain is a Trinity freshman. Her column runs A study conducted by Antonio Damasio at every other Thursday. Follow Roshni on Twitter @ohsothe University of Southern California offers in- muddled

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Online only today: “Violent realities” priya bhat life as ms. b.

Visit www.dukechronicle. com/opinion for more.

Call to act: reform the sexual misconduct policy

A

s students have noted in multiple statements made in regards to this issue. articles in The Chronicle, the Of- One particularly concerning statement fice of Student Conduct recently was made by Stephen Bryan, in which he changed the time frame alluded to the idea that he for students to report a does not believe students lillie carroll sexual assault from two are truly concerned about sarah kendrick this policy change. He furyears to one year. We believe this change signifies ebonie simpson ther emphasizes his point an inexcusable failure on by noting that he has only guest column behalf of the OSC to truly seen “a certain subset” of understand the psychologistudents advocate against cal damage that victims face and support this issue. Despite March’s Breaking Out victims of sexual assault in their healing. campaign by Develle Dish, in which stuOn several occasions, Stephen Bryan, dents shared their personal survivor stodirector of the Office of Student Conduct ries (please see the photo exhibit in the and associate dean of students, stated that BC lobby this week), despite there being in the past 10 years, 96 percent of cases of 39 Chronicle articles referencing sexual sexual assault were reported to the OSC assault in 2012 alone—with five directly less than a year after the incident. This relating to this issue—and despite DSG fact may appear to negate the need for passing a resolution denouncing the statthe statute of limitation to be more than ute of limitations change, there just is not one year. However, in 10 years, there have enough convincing evidence to show that only been 27 individuals who have cho- students care. sen to report their assault to the Office of Thus, we are calling on students to Student Conduct in the first place. Dean prove him wrong. DSG, Develle Dish and Bryan’s statistics do not reflect the reali- concerned students have released a petities of this issue on campus. tion denouncing this policy change and There have clearly been more than we need as many students as possible to 27 victims of sexual assault in the past 10 sign. You can find the petition at tinyurl. years; in 2010-2011 there were 65 victims com/petitionagainstsol, in the Women’s of gender violence (rape, sexual assault Center, sent to you through your email and relationship violence) that sought ser- or through your friends’ social networkvices from the Women’s Center’s Gender ing sites.

Violence Prevention Office. Moreover, We understand that lengthening the the Women’s Center’s figures do not, by reporting time frame will not automatiany means, reflect the actual amount of cally increase the number of victims purvictims, for according to the National In- suing disciplinary action. However, we see stitute of Justice, 1 in 5 women are victims this step as part of a larger movement to of sexual assault in their college years. foster a culture that encourages victims The only fact that Dean Bryan’s statistics to come forward so that they are able to show is that Duke does not have a culture receive the necessary support. The countthat encourages reporting and this cul- less student groups, the Women’s Center ture is further buttressed by the recent and the large number of students who policy change. have undergone PACT and Bystander InWe are troubled by the lack of trans- tervention Training are all working to fosparency with regard to the reasoning be- ter a better and safer campus culture. The hind the statute of limitation change. For OSC and the wider Duke administration instance, in Raisa Chowdhury’s recent also has a role in setting the standard for Chronicle article, Dean Bryan explains Duke culture, and unless the University the change in the policy is an attempt to matches the efforts of countless students meet federal regulations outlined by the to improve our campus climate, our acDepartment of Education in their “Dear tions will not be as effective as they could Colleague” letter from April 4, 2011. The be. Thus, we call on the OSC to strengthpurpose of this letter was to advise univer- en its already admirable sexual misconsities on how to address issues of sexual duct policy to better serve survivors of violence on their campuses in order to be sexual misconduct on this campus. Even compliant with Title IX. Yet, this letter, if just one student reports an assault afwhich serves as the administration’s pub- ter one year, it is imperative that the OSC lic justification for the change, mentions and the wider Duke community support nothing about a specific reporting time the victim in any way we can. Reforming frame. Therefore, the administration’s the statute of limitation policy is a necescurrent argument does not explain or jus- sary step in the process of creating a safe, tify the change. supportive campus culture.

In a meeting with the Office of Student Conduct Advisory Committee last week, Lillie Carroll, Trinity ’12, Sarah Kendrick, Ebonie was disturbed by some of the Trinity ’13 and Ebonie Simpson, Trinity ’12

THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012 | 11

Bore-aucracy

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obody cares about DSG. work they had done. The house model To revise that lede, very few was going to happen no matter what people at Duke pay attention to coming into this year; there was no stopwhat Duke Student Governping it absent of some act ment does. This cohort obviof god or riotous student ously includes those on the outcry.” In the absence of body, as well as The Chroniunanimous, coherent opcle’s beat reporter. I’m most position to the model we interested in things most are hurtling toward the people don’t care about (inprecipice of a very weird die music, the Liberal Party amalgamation. Let’s just of Canada, Newt Gingrich, say I’m thrilled I’ve comsamantha et al.), so naturally, I am pleted the three-year livone of few constituents who ing requirement. Schork lachman enjoys keeping up with the what’s our age again? notes that in hindsight, latest DSG news.

“Maybe we could have What has surprised me, said ‘Hold the phone, we this year, was how little Duke’s adminis- have all these things we haven’t figured tration seemed to care about DSG. This out.’” is a bit inaccurate, so I’ll revise “care” to Third, the reduction of the state of “take care to include DSG in initial dis- limitations on reporting sexual assault. cussions involving the creation of policy The change seems untenable for the negand policy implementation” (yes, I did ative PR it engendered (though Stephen just quote myself).

Bryan, associate dean of students and To be fair, I worry that DSG doesn’t director of the Student Conduct Office, always advocate effectively on behalf of didn’t seem to think so). Ebonie Simpstudent interests. The problem for both son, DSG vice president for student life, parties is similar: no one is intentionally points out that the administration made negligent or malicious, but due process the decision over the summer, when most gets lost in bureaucracy and miscommu- students were conveniently absent from nication. campus. Having learned about the deciI wanted to corral a few instances of this sion upon their return to school, student together in order to identify past problems leaders have had to catch up in trying to and future areas of improvement. If at this reinstate the old statute of limitations. point you’re wondering “WHY?” then the Fourth, the potential dining plan conanswer is that I needed a break from the tract fee reduction. The rate was initially real world’s obsession with putting dis- raised for the 2009-2010 academic year— crimination in our state’s constitution and Schork explained that it was meant to act probes in women’s vaginas. as a “stopgap for the entire dining budTo go chronologically, the first in- get.” Dining is still losing money out of stance occurred in September, when every orifice so it seems a high dining plan Duke Dining quietly restricted Merchants fee will endure for the foreseeable future. on Points hours, preventing students Finally, I’d like to address the fact that from ordering through the program be- no one can explain why gender-neutral fore 7 p.m. After receiving complaints, housing is restricted to Central. … Life DSG worked with Rick Johnson, who was goes on—DSG is preoccupied with reorthen the interim administrator in charge ganizing itself and restructuring its own of dining, to reinstate the hours. Students committees. I asked two of the three DSG felt warm and fuzzy. presidential candidates, juniors Swain Alexandra Swain, the current vice and Chris Brown, to comment on whether president of Durham and regional af- students see DSG as our advocates. Brown fairs (who is running for DSG president), says it “depends on the issue at hand; if identified this as a successful instance of they think we can make a difference, they lobbying for a policy change. The other absolutely do,” while Swain thinks “DSG one she highlighted was this Spring’s col- could do a much better job in making laboration with the Office of Public Rela- our advocacy more visible.” tions and Government Affairs: We’ll have This is all a wash. What really matters an on-campus early voting site starting is whether or not the administration even April 19 (plug: Vote AGAINST Amend- sees DSG as our advocates—and therement One). fore, whether or not they are inclined to Second, the house model. I sat in on a seek out DSG’s input during the policyfew meetings of the House Model Work- making process. ing Group last Spring. The discussions Schork wishes administrators would concerned me because they lacked vi- bring in students to help answer “meta” sion and were increasingly rushed. When questions, like “How can we improve the administrators in the room couldn’t Duke together? What are the big pulse isconclusively decide on an element to the sues? How can we be co-visionaries?” Indimodel, they’d propose to delay discus- vidual administrators will engage student sion until the summer. Discussion tiptoed leaders, but rarely, if ever, is this engagearound the specter of eventual renova- ment done with everyone on one page in tions to Craven, and any mention of the one place. Good things get done indeneed to set-up new placement program pendently, albeit without initial student software seemed to induce panic among consultation. As Schork notes, “the onus members of the working group. The es- is on students to find opportunities for sential question of how this actually im- improving the extent to which students proves the residential experience for in- are involved in the ongoing dialogue.” dependents remains unanswered.

Do we care that the onus is on us?

In an interview, DSG President Pete Schork agreed with my frustrations. He Samantha Lachman is a Trinity junior. admitted that “[DSG] got late to the game Her column runs every other Thursday. You only because of Campus Council and the can follow her on Twitter @SamLachman.

Think you’re funny?

Email mfl5@duke.edu for a fall 2012 Monday, Monday columnist application!

12 | THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

THE CHRONICLE

CONFLICT-FREE from page 1 L. Perkins professor of law. The committee meets only when requested and provides investment recommendations to Brodhead, who can then present the recommendations to the Board. Only the Board has the power to influence shareholder policy.

The forum provided an opportunity for the ACIR to gain insight about how the conflict mineral trade causes substantial social injury and how CCFD’s desired change would have a direct effect in alleviating this injury.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has suffered 15 years of violence and unrest, with more than five million casualties, according to an informational document provided by the CCFD at the event. It has also gained designation as the rape capital of the world. This violence has been fueled in part by the illicit trade involving minerals widely used in consumer technology products, as well as food packaging and

industrial goods.

Between 20 and 40 percent of the Congo’s warlords’ revenue comes from these conflict minerals, Jones said.

“Tonight was about getting that real, personal connection,” said junior Sanjay Kishore, CCFD member and president of Duke Partnership for Service. “It wasn’t about us at all—it was about hearing from folks who are in the Congo, who do research in the Congo, who have some kind of connection.”

Rachel Shukuru, a political refugee from the DRC who attended the event, said it is necessary to convince companies to take responsibility for their actions.

“Thank you for working to help Congo, to help those people who are suffering,” Shukuru said to the crowd.

Sophomore Nyuol Tong, a student from South Sudan and a columnist for The Chronicle, spoke at the event about a sense of guilt and moral obligation regarding problems in Africa throughout Western society.

“The issue will be solved by the people on the ground,” Tong noted. “But if [Duke stops] supporting

Duke University Student Leadership and Service Awards

Announcement of Nominees Congratulations to the following students, student organizations, faculty and administrators, who have been nominated to receive Duke University’s most prestigious campus-wide honors for leadership and service. Awards will be presented at the Duke University Student Leadership and Service Awards Ceremony, to be held at 6:00 p.m. on April 18, 2012, in Von Canon Hall, Bryan Center.

Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award Nabil Enayet Stefanie Fee Harrison Hines Sharon Pomranky Braveen Ragunanthan Preston Scott Lars Lyon Volunteer Service Award Cassidy Fox Juan San Juan Rebecca Kahn Molly Linabarger Job Ma Juan “Felipe” Madrid Chinmayi Sharma Robert Shofner Amanda Ukleja Salwa Zahalka

Class of 2015 Awards Adrienne Harreveld Michael Marion Lucas Metropulos Gavin Ovsak Derek Rhodes David Robertson Chris Szeremeta Jake Toffler Cameron Tripp Nicole Savage Christine Schindler The Raul Buelvas Award Reem Alfahad Mollie Breen Lauren Kerivan

Betsy Alden Outstanding Service-Learning Awards Matthew Curtis Akers Leslie Anna Andriani Stefanie Martz Fee Casey Hicks William Perry Holmes, Jr. Lauren Francis Myers Rebecca Lee Ortega Shilpa Sachdeva Youmna Ashraf Sherif Ebonie Vera Simpson Alexandria Joyce Taylor Amanda Ashley Truelove Jennifer Erin Zwilling

William J. Griffith University Service Awards Patrick Alexander Jerrica Becker Monica Bhutiani Catherine Conklin Ben DeMarco Nathan French Julia Hawkins Jonathan Lee Roger Look Alexandra MacLeish Derek Mong Zach Prager Braveen Ragunanthan Andrew Rohm Kim Solow Katie Sourbeer Rachel Sussman Nick Tippens Lindsay Tomson Dania Toth Oliver Wilson Sam Zimmerman

Baldwin Scholars Unsung Heroine Award Kendall Bradley Lillian Carroll Rev. Dr. Jennifer Copeland

Student Affairs Distinguished Leadership and Service Awards Meghan Akim Felicia Arriaga

Dora Anne Little Service Award Precious Graham Sunhay You

Nana Asante David Ban Chantae Campbell Betty Collada Joslyn Dunn Justin Harris Helen Ho Risa Isard Alison Kibbe Amy Li Alexandra MacLeish Ari Bar Mashiah Derek Mong Jennifer Morgan Nusaibah Kofar-Naisa Christina Pena Cheng Susie Qian Braveen Ragunanthan Ebonie Simpson Lindsay Tomson Tiffany Williamson Stephen Zhu Xiao Zhu Faculty and Staff Student Interaction Award Abdullah Antepli Jennifer Copeland George Grody Jordan Hale Adam Hollowell Kimberly Jenkins Erin Stephens Jeff Storer Adam Wong William Wright Swadel Leading at Duke Leadership and Service Awards Ashley Camano Stephanie Dudzinski Caroline Hall Sanjay Kishore Sarah McCaffery Lucas Metropulos Abigail Ness Zach Sperling

Jacob Tobia Lynn Vandendriessche Allison Vernerey Andrew Wenger Elizabeth Williams Jonathan York Grace Zhou Duke Dance Council Duke Students for Gender Neutrality Youth For Debate Blue Devils United Duke Marketing Club Wesley Fellowship, United Methodist Campus Ministry at Duke University Sophomore Class Council Panhellenic Association Engineering Student Government The Julie Anne Levey Memorial Leadership Award Nathalie Berger Brendan Huang Charlotte Lawrence Bret Lesavoy Tiffany Lieu Lucas Metropulos Malena Price Derek Rhodes Christine Schindler Tre’ Scott Ishan Thakore Alumni Association Forever Duke Award Nathaniel Hill

Awards also presented: Duke University Union Service Awards Duke Student Government Awards

For more details, visit http://www.studentaffairs.duke.edu/osaf/leadership-award-nominees

these companies, that will be a mitigating factor.”

In addition to affecting people, the conflict mineral trade also affects plant and animal life in the DRC, noted Brian Hare, assistant professor of evolutionary anthropology. Eastern Congo is one of the most biodiverse places in the world, he noted, adding that he studies the psychology of great apes, some of which only live in the DRC. “When people are suffering in eastern Congo, so are all of the endangered species that live in the forest” Hare said. “When people are exploiting the forest for minerals, they are also exploiting the native species— it’s adding insult to injury.”

Several students also noted that efforts to eliminate the illicit conflict mineral trade should not have a negative effect on mines in the region that are already regulated.

“When dawn strikes in the Congo tomorrow, what will they be waking up to?” said junior Alikiah Barclay.

“If there’s anything we can do to change that for the better, let’s do it.”

FINANCE from page 3 real-world flavor?” he said.

Goodner, a regular contributor to the Duke Annual Fund, said he came up with the idea for the course because he wanted to get more involved with students. He noted that some of his peers who had undertaken similar projects with their alma maters inspired him to create the project.

The idea of the course is similar to the economics department’s Duke in New York: Financial Markets and Institutions program, which is meant to provide students with a deeper understanding of financial markets, said Connel Fullenkamp, director of undergraduate studies and professor of the practice of economics.

Fullenkamp added that Rasiel is a very good fit for a collaboration with industry.

“Professor Rasiel has an extensive network and tremendous respect from the financial services industry, based both on her own industry experience and on her mentoring of hundreds of Duke students over the years,” Fullenkamp wrote in an email Tuesday.

This semester marks the first semester with a full class.

Last year, five students conducted independent research with Goodner as part of a pilot program, and its success prompted the expansion. The course is currently being taken by 11 students —10 are seniors.

Senior Ben Jones, who is taking the class and has a job at an investment bank next year, said he has enjoyed the opportunity to learn from Rasiel and Goodner.

“It’s been really helpful to hear about stuff related to financial markets from someone who’s currently doing it every day in New York,” Jones said. “[Rasiel] brings a lot of academic background, so it’s really useful to see both sides of the coin and hear multiple perspectives.”

Goodner said he has been pleased with how the course has gone so far, and he and Rasiel both expect that it will continue to be offered in future spring semesters.

“I didn’t know what to expect starting out,” Goodner said. “This was my first kind of educational experience being on the other side of the table, and it’s been great. I’ve learned a lot from [Rasiel], and I’ve been really pleased by how hard the students have worked on the ideas.”

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