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
XXXDAY, MONTH THURSDAY, MAY 16, XX,2013 2013
ONE ONEHUNDRED HUNDREDAND ANDEIGHTH EIGHTHYEAR, YEAR,ISSUE ISSUES1 X
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BOT elects Gates encourages graduates to connect Rubenstein as chair by Raisa Chowdhury THE CHRONICLE
Trustees discuss 2U and Duke Kunshan Uni by Danielle Muoio THE CHRONICLE
The Board of Trustees elected David Rubenstein, Trinity ’70, as Board chair in its meeting this weekend. Rubenstein, co-founder and co-CEO of private equity firm The Carlyle Group, is well known for his philanthropic support of the University, having donated over $50 million to the University. His most recent contribution to Duke was a $10 million donation to the Sanford School of Public Policy, announced Apr. 30. He has been on the board for eight years, and has spent the last two years serving as co-vice chair with Jack Bovender, Trinity ’67 and Graduate School ’69. Rubenstein’s term as chair is effective July 1. He will succeed Richard Wagoner, Trinity ’75, who has served as board chair since 2011. Wagoner’s term on the Board concludes at the end of the fiscal year. “I’ve been very impressed by his commitment to the University,” Wagoner said. “He’s a very open guy. I look forward to a great period for the Board of Trustees under his leadership.” Bovender and Susan Stalnecker, Trinity ’73, will serve as vice chairs of the board. Stalnecker is the first female to fill the role of vice chair, Rubenstein said. Neither Bovender nor Stalnecker could be reached for comment in time for publication. In addition to the election, the Board received updates on several University initiatives, including online education, Duke Kunshan University and DukeOpen. Under new leadership Rubenstein, who also serves as co-chair of the Duke Forward campaign, noted that his continuous dedication to serving the University both philanthropically and as a member of the Board stems from a desire to give back. Growing up in a household with parents that did not graduate from high school or college, Rubenstein needed considerable financial compensation to attend college. He noted that of all the universities he applied to, SEE BOT ON PAGE 7
ELYSIA SU/THE CHRONICLE
President Brodhead introduced the speakers, Barnhill and Gates, at Wallace Wade Sunday.
Caps flew as undergraduate, graduate and professional students celebrated their new degrees in Wallace Wade Stadium Sunday morning. Commencement speaker Melinda Gates, Trinity ’86 and Fuqua ’87, an entrepreneur, former trustee and co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, discussed the importance of connection for this year’s graduating class. She encouraged students to take advantage of new technologies to maintain connections with people and, in turn, take inspiration from those people to make a difference in the world. “Love is a part of healing, born out of a big idea, and that is the dignity of all people,” she said. “Of course not all of you are going to dedicate your whole life to eradicating poverty. That doesn’t mean you can’t form deep human connections or that your connections can’t make a difference in the world if you make the moral choice to connect deeply with others.” Although abstract conceptions of humanity and poverty are not enough to SEE COMMENCEMENT ON PAGE 16
Mobility limited by construction by Emma Baccellieri THE CHRONICLE
Widespread construction on roadways around campus is complicating transportation routes. As part of separate construction projects, portions of Campus Drive and West Main Street were closed following the end of the Spring semester. On May 13, the section of West Main Street along East Campus closed in order to accommodate the restoration of the Main Street bridge. Meanwhile, much of Campus Drive has been narrowed to one lane in order to allow for the replacement of water pipes. The construction does not currently affect bus routes. “Something like this never runs perfectly,” said Floyd Williams, project manager of the facilities management department, referring to the West Main Street construction. West Main Street is currently blocked off from Buchanan Boulevard to Swift Avenue, and vehicles are being diverted to
Duke University Bicyclist Appreciation Event May M 17, 8-10AM @ the Bryan Center plaza Duke Parking & Transportation Services and Sustainable Duke will be co-sponsoring a bicyclist appreciation event on Bike to Work Day to thank our bike commuters for helping to make Duke a more sustainable campus. Bike over to the Bryan Center on May 17 to meet other cyclists, learn more about Duke Bicycle Commuter Benefits, and enjoy breakfast and prize giveaways while they last.
alternate routes. “We’re watching the barricades we put up Monday—not everything’s been exactly what we were anticipating, we’re working daily to try to improve the barricade situation,” Williams said. The construction is a North Carolina Department of Transportation project rather than a Duke project, Williams noted. The only part of the construction funded by the University was the rebuilding of the stone wall surrounding East Campus. The West Main Street construction is scheduled to be completed in October and will result in an entirely new bridge— slightly longer and taller than the current one, which was built in 1950. “It’s aging out—not to a dangerous point—but we want to go ahead and replace it,” Williams said. The demolition of the bridge will take place from May 27 to June 14 and will SEE ROAD WORKS ON PAGE 7
JISOO YOON/THE CHRONICLE
Several roads around campus are currently being worked on which could complicate the bus routes.
Duke University Bicycle Commuter Course May 18, 1-4PM @ 123 Old Chemistry Building Duke Parking & Transportation Services will be hosting a bicycle commuter course on Saturday, May 18 to equip bicyclists with the information you need to become a regular bike commuter. The course will cover basic bike maintenance and repair, NC bike laws, safe biking tips and techniques, how to carry gear and equipment, and an on-bike campus tour. Please bring a bike and helmet. To register, email alison.carpenter@duke.edu.