Oct. 2, 2012 issue of The Chronicle

Page 1

T H E I N D E P E N D E N T D A I LY AT D U K E U N I V E R S I T Y

The Chronicle

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2012

ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTH YEAR, ISSUE 29

WWW.DUKECHRONICLE.COM

LDOC planning gets going Unemployment drops in Triangle by Carleigh Stiehm THE CHRONICLE

Unemployment in the Triangle area does not reflect the broader weakness of North Carolina’s economy due to the region’s knowledge economy, officials said. The North Carolina Department of Commerce released economic reports through August 2012 showing that the unemployment rates for the Durham-Chapel Hill area stand at 7.6 percent, the lowest of the major metropolitan areas in the state. Unemployment

BYTHENUMBERS ELYSIA SU/THE CHRONICLE

Musician Basshunter waves a Swedish flag while performing for a crowd at the Spring 2012 LDOC celebration. This year’s LDOC committee just began meeting to plan the Spring 2013 celebration. by Margot Tuchler THE CHRONICLE

The Last Day of Classes is nearly seven months away, but discussions have begun on what the 2013 event will hold. The Duke University Union LDOC committee has initiated planning for this academic year’s final concert, to be held April 24. Senior Bo Triplett and Sophomore Izzy Dover, LDOC

committee co-chairs, said they are looking to build on last LDOC’s emphasis on daytime programming and to bring a cohesive program of performers. Triplett noted that since artists take time to secure, the committee is already researching performers. Dover added that the committee wants to develop a vision for the event before more

specific details are put in place. “We’ve really been talking about bringing in a group of artists that kind of fit together well, to make it a cool concert festival experience rather than just having a hodge-podge of different genres and different price ranges,” Triplett said.

7.6 percent

the unemployment rate in the Durham-Chapel Hill area

9.7 percent

the state-wide unemployment rate, the fifth highest in the nation

statewide ranks at 9.7 percent, the fifth highest in the nation. “We continue to see development in this area because it is a knowledge and technology driven region,” said Charles Hayes, president and CEO of the Research Triangle Regional Partnership. “Nowhere else in the world do you have three top research universities in such a close proximity.” The report cited Durham County’s unemployment rate at 8.0 percent, down from 9.0 in August 2011. This was the tenth lowest rate of the state. Hayes noted that the reputation of the Triangle as an international center for knowledge and innovation will continue to draw in new residents and businesses. Since there are many people that want to live in this area, there will be many opportunities for work. He added that with more than 20,000 new college graduates in the area each year, the job market has been forced to adapt to accommodate to their growing careers and lifestyles. The skilled workers spur demand for housing developments and commercial spaces like restaurants. The Triangle area consistently

SEE LDOC ON PAGE 3

SEE JOBS ON PAGE 4

CEO lauds potential DukeEngage adds several of free online courses new programs for 2013 by Kristie Kim THE CHRONICLE

Online education programs can not only provide opportunities for the underprivileged but may also be powerful resource for students around the world, said Daphne Koller, professor of computer science at Stanford University and co-founder and co-CEO of Coursera. Founded in 2011, Coursera is a California-based online education company that provides the global community with free access to video lectures, quizzes and message boards from notable institutions. Currently, Coursera has more than 1.5 million registered users and a selection of 198

classes. Coursera partners with 33 institutions, including several peer universities such as University of Pennsylvania and Princeton University. As part of the lecture series titled “Online Revolution: Education for Everyone,” Koller addressed a crowded audience about the potential benefits of online education. “This sets the stage for a new wave of innovation,” she said. “By giving people access to education any time that they might want to learn something about astronomy, philosophy or poetry, they would be able to take advantage of [this resource].”

DukeEngage is expanding its domestic and international programs for the 2013 year. The multiple additions include a Durham “Sister Cities” project that will allow students to focus on doing service in the city of Durham and its sister city, Durham, England. The trip is unique in that it allows students to aid both the regional and international community. Other new projects include an initiative in Boston, Mass., focusing on social issues and one in Togo, Africa, with an emphasis on

SEE COURSERA ON PAGE 5

SEE DUKEENGAGE ON PAGE 4

Conor Irwin combines football with research, Page 2

by Elizabeth Djinis THE CHRONICLE

SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

Two students developed a computer center in rural Togo, which has inspired a new DukeEngage program in the same village. This is one of several new DukeEngage programs this year.

ONTHERECORD

“I am American, but I am also Jewish... I felt as if I were playing in the community I grew up in....” —Jeremy Gould in “Alums suit up for Israel.” See story page 6

Wrestlers: Gangnam style, Page 6


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