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2 |WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 2018
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Something to tell you
I
have a large, soft face and tend to dress like a retired social worker. Sometimes I speak too quietly for people to understand what I’m saying. This is likely part of the reason why, walking to class, sitting in the library and especially
Frances Beroset EDITOR’S NOTE at parties, people who need to unspool tend to find me. I used to play a game with myself where I would keep track of how long someone would speak without leaving space for me to respond, letting their words envelop me totally. I call this the Duke student monologue. At other times, I found myself to be the one who spilled out my problems to people who hadn’t asked. A colleague who I am now close friends with likes to remind me that our first conversation took place on the way to The Chronicle’s open house, on the bus between East and West during O-Week. I told her that I felt miserable, had made the wrong decision, hated Duke already and was seriously thinking about transferring to UNC. All this is to say: your first year as an adult (and probably a few after that) will at times be crushingly lonely. Add to that Duke’s baffling formal and informal social systems, the sheen of invulnerability most students seem able to project and the jokey veneer of cynicism the rest of us put on, and you have a recipe for periods of profound alienation. You might spend some of your nights pacing around East Campus in the
dark, crying on a phone call home. Do not forget that everyone else will be feeling these things too. At least one other person living on your hall your first year will probably have the wind knocked out of them by: a loved one’s illness, having slept through something really important, a broken bone, an inevitable but still crushing and drawnout breakup, a radical change in academic program, the realization that they’ve been deeply unkind to at least one person in their life, and myriad other problems large and small. Although you will have your own problems to worry about, you will need to be generous with others, even if it is only taking time to read or listen to their words. Through your education and connections forged here, you are gaining a degree of power in the world, whether you deserve it or not. People will regard you as someone who has something to add. This is probably not merited. Sometimes it will seem as though the person who is most powerful is the one who can speak the most or the loudest. This is, of course, ridiculous. Don’t forget that being the listener is an important role, too. I hope The Chronicle will be a place for you to feel less alone at Duke, as it has been for me. I encourage you to listen to each other, in the pages of The Chronicle and more importantly in person, even when it is easier to turn the page, tune out and hurry past. Frances Beroset is a Trinity senior and the editorial page editor for The Chronicle. Reach out to her any time at frances.beroset@duke.edu
The Chronicle
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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 2018 | 3
Letter to the editor In memory of Professor Peter Euben
W
hen Peter Euben recently died, Duke lost one of its finest professors. When I took the first incarnation of his nowwell-known “Living an Ethical Life” class during spring semester 2007, I expected conflict. The idea for the class was almost absurd: put a bunch of bright Duke kids from vastly different backgrounds holding vastly different convictions into a room together and make them read everything from Socrates to Nietzsche to the Book of Job. Then pull the pin out of the grenade and toss it into the center of the room with a question like “What does goodness look like in a world without God?” In the hands of a lesser teacher, the class would have been a violent failure. Instead, it was probably the most formative class I took as an undergraduate. Every student’s perspective was heard and honored, but no one’s perspective was spared from his rigorous analytical
questioning. He would often let student disagreements simmer until the boiling point, when he would step in, dial the heat down, and sift out the strong arguments from the weak. My own arguments landed on both sides of his judgment, but even when he tried to correct me, I always felt like I was learning something from someone who cared about me and my growth. Over a decade later, I am now in the latter stages of doctoral work and am working to build a career like his. During the dark and lonely days, memories of professors like him keep me (and many of my colleagues) moving forward. Duke can never “replace” him, of course, but we would do well to continue his legacy of passionate and rigorous teaching about the ethical issues that matter most. Nathan Jones, Trinity ‘09 and M.Div. ‘12, is a fifth-year Th.D. student at the Duke Divinity School.
Want to contribute to campus dialogue?
Interested in writing for the Opinion pages? Contact Frances Beroset at fb55@duke.edu
Send your letters to the editor to chronicleletters@duke.edu
onlinecomment “Exhausting. All of it.” — Alice Mauroner on May 31’s “From ‘water buffalo’ to Joe Van Gogh: Larry Moneta discusses free speech controversies from his career in student affairs”
Direct submissions to:
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.
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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 2018 | 5
From ‘Why Duke?’ to ‘Why, Duke?’
I
sideline to the protest frontline, they capture Duke’s us your story ideas and tips. biggest moments. If you enjoy graphic design, consider We are writers, photographers, graphic designers and joining our graphics department, where designers create editors. We are student journalists, and we’re proud to tell informative visuals to complement stories. Duke’s stories and hold the University accountable. If none of these areas interest you, let us find a For more than one hundred years, we’ve shaped campus space for you that fits your interests. We’re constantly dialogue and written the first draft of Duke’s history. We’re expanding our digital presence, and our video and a family of student journalists who care deeply about each audio editors want creative minds to help them explore other and passionately pursue the questions that drive new ideas in our video products and podcasts. If you’re us—whether they dig into the paradigms of college life or interested in marketing, consider being involved with just entertain us. We’re in the business of answering them, our social media strategy. and we have a lot of fun doing it. EDITOR’S NOTE Whether you’re an upperclassman or a first-year, we’d Questions are powerful things. I know you’ve got love to have you on board—no experience necessary. questions about Duke. We do too. If you’re not interested in joining The Chronicle, keep as the rising high school senior whose breath it took away. up with our work in print and online, through our website, But I can’t. And I’m glad. If there is anything I’m proud of in my first two years Facebook and Twitter accounts. Join the conversation by Bre Bradham is a Trinity junior and Editor-in-Chief of The of Duke, it’s that I know exponentially more about this writing guest columns and letters to the editor, and send Chronicle. You can reach her at breanna.bradham@duke.edu place and the people who call it home than when I arrived here. Some of this comes naturally as you find your niche within the Duke bubble and settle into campus life, but most of it has come from asking questions. And if there’s anything that’s defined my Duke experience so far, it’s that I’ve gotten to ask a lot of questions. At The Chronicle, we have the privilege and duty of asking important, tough and fair questions, of going beyond watching Duke exist and digging into what pushes it, what makes it squirm and what it doesn’t always want to share. This year, we investigated whether Greek life and Selective Living Groups at Duke are as homogenous as you think, and why there were no female managers for the men’s basketball program—again. As the #MeToo movement gained national attention, we asked why a professor found guilty of sexual harassment by Duke was hired at another school and why some students are hesitant to report harassment. When the walk-up line in Krzyzewskiville devolved into a drunken mob, we investigated what went wrong. We also asked less weighty questions, like how to spend $106.36 at Longhorn steakhouse. We published our first issue as the Trinity Chronicle in 1905, about two decades before West Campus would be built and before the University transformed from Trinity College to Duke University. We are the meticulous, play-by-play record of Duke’s history, our front pages a print edition of life here. If you visit our offices, you’ll see papers hung on the walls covering everything from Duke’s first ever national championship in men’s soccer in 1986 to the first Nobel Prize in 2012. But we don’t take ourselves too seriously. Part of the magic of 301 Flowers is that pretty soon it starts to feel like home, and the people you share it with become a family bonded by the adrenaline rush of breaking news, the late nights of editing and, when the weather’s nice, a game of frisbee on the quad. Our News department covers a broad swath of life at Duke, from investigating the attendance records of Duke Student Government senators to breaking news when racially charged incidents strike campus. News reporters always know the ins-and-outs of what’s going on around Duke. When big discoveries happen or major decisions are made, we’re the ones who delve into them and question the people involved. If longer form work is your interest, consider joining our Towerview section, which delves into rich storylines to produce indepth features. If you want the best seat in the house at Cameron Indoor Stadium, consider joining our Sports department. We cover all 27 of Duke’s varsity sports, and we travel around the world to follow them to the biggest games. Whether it’s asking Coach Krzyzewski what went wrong minutes after a tough loss or digging into the majors athletes choose, our Sports writers have a front row seat to the world of Duke athletics. In the Opinion section, our columnists share their ideas and generate conversations around them through an unparalleled platform read by administrators, alumni and students alike. Members of our Editorial Board discuss the most pressing and interesting issues of campus life and construct thoughtful takes on relevant topics. If you’re passionate about the arts or culture, consider joining our tight-knit Recess section. From traveling Plan your trip at to the Sundance festival in Utah and interviewing film directors to exploring why couples tent outside the chapel W W W. G O D U R H A M T R A N S I T. O R G to reserve it as a wedding venue this year, Recess sheds light on Duke’s artistic and social side. or by calling 919-485-RIDE Our photography staff are front and center at the biggest games in every sport and news event. From the football n my two years here, I’ve been lucky to watch more Chapel sunsets than I can count—and there’s no better vantage point than an open window in The Chronicle’s offices in 301 Flowers. If there’s a breeze, I’ll lean out the window and just watch, trying to take in the tower of Hillsborough bluestone with the same fresh eyes
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6 |WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 2018
Where do Duke students come from?
y fellow columnists have written column after column after column calling for housing reform. Even I have written about it, twice. A few weeks ago, the Chronicle laboriously assembled a dataset for the 1,739 students who entered as the class of 2018 to examine homogeneity in Greek life. Most of those students, assuming they didn’t transfer and completed their requirements, just graduated. But how much of the problem stems from the structures that exist on campus, and how much is due to the composition of the student body to start with? The same dataset in the Greek life article also shows the following: If
Amy Fan COLUMNIST the entire senior class were reduced down to 100 people, their high school breakdown would look like the diagram in the top left of the graphic on the opposing page. Nationally, 28 percent of K-12 students attend a private school or a low-poverty public school. In the senior class, that proportion is a whopping 72 percent, more than 2.5 times the national proportion. Perhaps more striking: Nationally, 22 percent of K-12 students attend a high-poverty public school. In the senior class, that figure is 1 percent—just 21 students. Context behind the statistics Private/Boarding School: Of the 1,514 students who went to a high school in the United States, 484, or 32 percent, went to a private high school. Eight were homeschooled, and the rest went to public school. 62 students (including 8 who went to the public boarding schools TAMS and NCSSM), or 4 percent, went to a boarding school. In contrast, 10.2 percent of students in the United States as of January 2018 attended a private high school, according to the NCES. Roughly 0.5 percent of students
attend a boarding high school. Low Poverty/High Poverty: The percentage of students qualifying for free and reduced lunch is a traditional proxy to examine the overall wealth of a school. In the 2014-2015 school year, 51.8 percent of public school students nationwide qualify for free and reduced lunch. The cutoffs to qualify are 130 percent of the poverty rate for free lunch, and 185 percent for reduced lunch. For a family of 4 in the 20172018 school year, the cutoff for reduced lunch was a family income of $45,510. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) defines low poverty schools as schools with fewer than 25 percent of its students on free or reduced lunch and high poverty schools as those with more than 75 percent of its students on free or reduced lunch. Nationally, only 20 percent of public school students attend low-poverty schools, and about 24 percent of students attend high poverty schools.
students on free and reduced lunch. Nationally, the median public school student attends a school where 51.7 percent of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. At Duke, the median is 19.39 percent. In fact, 897 out of 1022, or 87.8 percent, of Duke students come from public schools where the proportion of students receiving free or reduced lunch is below the national median. Family income and qualifying for financial aid have traditionally been the lens for examining elitism at Duke. And the statistics have been revealing and widespread: Median family income at Duke is $186,700, well within the top 10 percent of families. 19 percent of students come from the top 1 percent of families (minimum income $630K). Half of students are paying full price. But even if a student makes below median income, went to a public school, and qualifies for financial aid, that doesn’t necessarily mean we’re off the hook. The public schools that Duke students come from, much like the
Median family income at Duke is $186,700, well within the top 10 percent of families. 19 percent of students come from the top 1 percent of families (minimum income $630K). Half of students are paying full price.
Amy Fan columnist
Based on data from the NCES, the red bar graph in the bottom right of the graphic on the opposing page is the distribution of K-12 students nationally by the proportion of free and reduced lunch students at their school. At Duke, the population looks quite different. You can look at the blue bar graph in the top right for Duke’s distribution. The x- axis represents proportions of students on F+R lunch at a school. The y-axis represents the proportion of students who go to a school with that proportion of
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student body, skew towards the wealthy. Perhaps judging people by the school they went to is just as bad as judging someone by their hometown, sexuality, race, or the color of their socks. After all, most students didn’t pick the school they attended, just like they didn’t pick their hometown, sex at birth, or race. If anything, their parents were more influential in these decisions. Additionally, there are things the data can’t capture. There are students who’ve probably gone to multiple
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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 2018 | 7
Amy Fan | Contributing Graphic Designer Data from Duke’s Class of 2018 compiled by The Chronicle is on the top half of the chart. The bottom half of the chart presents the corresponding data for the United States overall.
schools across the socioeconomic spectrum throughout their schooling career. A uniform measure for free and reduced lunch nationally doesn’t consider different costs of living across cities. Self segregation by socioeconomic status likely happens within schools, so a seemingly socioeconomically diverse student body on paper may still lack diversity. But it’d also be wrong to deny that K-12 schools shape an important part of our individual identities. Aside from
teaching us the material that prepared us for college (or not), schools also play a major part in shaping our social circles pre-Duke, in the same way that Duke influences and shapes our future social and professional networks. For many institutional reasons, Duke may not draw a socioeconomically diverse class. After all, parental income is a huge predictor of college access in the first place. But if people are pushing for housing reform and changes to Greek life in the name of being able to
interact with a diverse group of people, it may be time to reconsider. Duke may be much more diverse than some students’ hometowns, at least in some regards. But are the only forms of diversity worth pursuing the ones that Duke endorses? Amy Fan is a Trinity junior. See the full dataset in “Is Greek life at Duke as homogenous as you think?” on dukechronicle.com.
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8 |WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 2018
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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 2018 | 9
Advice from the Class of 2018
G
raduation season is as apt a time as ever to reflect upon the formative moments that define our undergraduate experiences. I spoke with several members of the graduating
Sabriyya Pate COLUMNIST Class of 2018 to ask about the good, bad and ugly aspects of their past several years. In hearing about the journeys of these peers, and sitting patiently as they reflect, I was struck first and foremost by their astonishing degree of resilience. That said, the five seniors I spoke with—Natalie Shammas, Claire Ballentine, Jason Ng, Aliyah Salame and Alex Sanchez Bressler—are among the most resilient individuals I have had the pleasure of meeting in our shared time at Duke. Their profiles, compiled in a three-part column series, offer instrumental reflections on how current students may conceive our remaining time in college.
burned down the homes of several of her friends, and she ran for Chronicle editor just a few weeks after her mother’s passing. Still reeling in pain, she decided to dedicate her time and energy wholeheartedly to The Chronicle. In her outgoing editor column, she wrote, “after months of putting off my feelings, viewing crying as failure and telling myself that my tragedy was not unique, my emotions eventually caught up with me. But when they did, I was whole again.” She shared that the Chronicle has been and will remain the defining part of her Duke experience. “It has given me a purpose…. something I am really passionate about. The work that I have been able to do has been very meaningful.” Extracurriculars and friends are what truly make or break the Duke experience, she reflected. Though she maintains qualms with Greek organizations, she loves the powerful group of women with whom her sorority has connected her. Her advice to underclassmen? “Find the activities and extracurriculars that you are really passionate about and really
devout yourself to those things.” Don’t fill spots in your resume, and by far, live in the present. “I stressed too much during my college career... I compared myself to other people way too much,” and though she does not regret the reason why she could not (her editor position), she wishes she had gone abroad. “The biggest thing Duke has done for me—more than any class—has been The Chronicle and the opportunity to do journalism every day,” said Claire in our interview. As an alum, she will attend alumni events, donate if financially able, but also always remain critical because she knows “Duke has a lot of problems too.” When I asked Claire what advice she would give to her first year self, she answered: as crazy as it’s going to be, it’s all going to be okay. Don’t stress the little stuff. Focus on people. Relationships will always matter more. Alex Sanchez-Bressler This Texan Gender, Sexuality and Feminist Studies major says he could have used a slap across the face and a “be more caring” shouted into his face earlier during
Claire Ballentine Gatlinburg, Tennessee native Claire Ballentine is off to work at The New York Times after graduation this Spring. This former editor of the Duke Chronicle hardly recalls her first-year self because of all the immense changes—both the controllable and uncontrollable—that have redefined her life outlook. “My life in the past four years has really taken a 180,” she recalled. Her home community was ravaged by forest fires that
Chronicle File Photo
his time at Duke. Alex Sanchez-Bressler, a creative writer, is a co-founder of the Duke Men’s Project. He is grateful to have worked at the Duke Campus Farm for the opportunity it has given him to get away from campus, and his sincerity is refreshing. His freshman year, he regrettably signed up for multivariable calculus simply because “that’s what you do in high school,” and for a while he thought classes lasted from August through to May. A piece of advice Alex shared pertained to cultivating healthy relationships. Duke has taught him that friendships of convenience are notably different from friendships that add inherent, nurturing value to one’s life. The same philosophy goes to his academic work: he recently submitted his 63-page thesis on a topic that genuinely excites him, rather than bucking under extraneous pressures. Once while he was playing chess in Vondy during finals, a since-graduated friend came up to Alex and asked him, “is that productive?” “No. Chill,” Alex responded. In that vein, Alex knows that not everything has to be productive… especially when you are on a university campus. Alex’s advice to younger students is trifold: be wary of emotional labor, plug into your local community and live presently. There have been times when he has not been as careful or as accountable to people in his life emotionally as he would prefer to. But through it all, he has persisted, discovered himself and now blissfully fully enjoys giving and caring, each and every day. Sabriyya Pate is a Trinity senior.
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Walking Distance from East Campus!
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10 |WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 2018
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Duke Student Health Center
The Duke Student Health Center is the primary source for a wide range of healthcare services, many of which are covered by the Student Health Fee. All students can be seen at Student Health regardless of insurance. Services include: • • • • • • •
Acute Care and Preventative Health Services Laboratory Tests (including external orders) Travel Medicine Allergy Shots Immunizations Referrals to Duke Specialists Video Visits
Contact Us: Office: (919) 681-9355 Fax: (919) 681-2874
Visit us in person or online: Student Wellness Center 305 Towerview Road, Durham, NC 27710 https://studentaffairs.duke.edu/studenthealth
Hours of Operation: 8a - 5p (M, Th, F) 8a - 7p (Tu) 9a - 5p (W)
The Chronicle
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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 2018 | 11
Reflections of an almost finished first year
I
can still remember the day I came to Duke. The warm feeling of pure euphoria that bubbled through my body upon opening my acceptance letter, that validated all of my hard work throughout high school, that carried me joyfully through the summer as each day brought me closer
Carly Lerner COLUMNIST to warmer weather and gothic architecture: to my future. I can still remember the crash, the startling and unforeseen collision of this exhilaration with a colder and darker anxiety; the realization that I had no idea what to expect of college. It was as though I had been partially blind for two years, worrying endlessly about college and working tirelessly towards my goal of attending Duke. Yet I had never really considered what it meant to actually attend Duke. And suddenly, on the day that I was expected to board a plane, leave behind the comfort and familiarity of my home and look onwards, the uncertainty of this future rattled me. Don’t get me wrong, I still arrived in Durham with the immense excitement of a student overjoyed and grateful to be here, but I was also extremely conscious of the hundreds of unfamiliar faces and the unwavering voice in my head that wondered “what do I do next?” I wasn’t armed with a detailed list of instructions, a blueprint of how to build the perfect life at college. All I had was the schedule that was printed in my bluebook, and the vague notion that if I sat in Marketplace long enough, I might be able to make some friends. My stake-out in Marketplace was an overwhelming triumph. I departed from O-Week with newfound friends and more confidence in my ability to college (not that “college-ing” is technically a real verb, but I digress). I quickly established a comfortable routine and eight months later, as I call upon the memories that have shaped my first year at Duke, I can say with utter certainty that this has been an amazing year. That being said, I can still hardly suppress a shudder each
time I recall the chilling uncertainty of my first day of school. Although I cannot go back in time and ease my past-self’s worries with a detailed explanation of Duke’s many intricacies, I would now like to pay it forward with a list of things I wish I’d known on that first, ominous day. P-Froshes, pay attention. 1. Midterms don’t really mean midterms, you’ll have them basically every other week and the only thing they are a-“mid” is your attempts to sleep. 2. Don’t text while you are walking onto a bus. First-years who accidentally board the C2 will be frustrated by the 8 extra minutes they spend on the way to East campus; even more vacant freshman who board the Robertson Express will be additionally frustrated when they return to reality and find themselves at UNC. 3. “First semester friends” is only a thing if you make it one. While rushing SLGs or joining Greek life has the incredible potential to expand your social sphere, it doesn’t mean that you can’t continue to spend time with the people you met first semester. Duke is filled with so many amazing people, and it is immensely easy to stay connected with friends outside of your organization if you choose to join one. 4. Sleep is paramount. All of the studying in the world isn’t going to pay off if you don’t squeeze some hours in each night. 5. It does actually get cold here. Not freezing, but as a New Yorker who basically envisioned Durham as a tropical beach destination, having sweaters and jackets will help infinitely. Enjoy the warmth while it is here, brave the weeks in which it isn’t and trust that it will come back soon. 6. We don’t tent for every basketball game. It’s actually comedic how often Duke students are asked how we all manage to live in tents for the entirety of the basketball season, but rest assured all of you indoorsy P-Froshes, most games simply require committing to a walk-up line (or mob, depending on the day). 7. If you want to actually get work done (not just sit on your phone and Snapchat your entire social network about the 12 midterms and four papers you have to write, while your computer screen goes to sleep from lack of attention) don’t go
Jeremy Chen | Graphic Design Editor
to first floor Perkins. Quieter, more work-conducive study spots can be found anywhere above this vibrant, social hub. 8. Food points translate to real money! It may feel like you are not spending any money when you never have to physically relinquish cash, and the boundless promises of West Union or Vondy are just a swipe away. However, food points do in fact represent money, and they are fleeting. Spend wisely. 9. Stay on the sidewalks at all times. I know this may seem obvious, but every Duke student knows that you move for the bus, they don’t move for you. Don’t learn the hard way. 10. Flunch your professors. Flunch, an abbreviation for “faculty lunch,” is a great way to get to know professors, learn about their research and make connections, all on Duke’s dollar. Despite my extreme apprehension and uncertainty during O-Week, my first year at Duke really was a success. Ultimately—whether you learn not to walk in front of a C1 from me or a near-death experience—everyone finds their way, carving unique and exciting paths, growing both academically and individually and finding that the initial, chilling anxiety only really returns in the face of leaving. Carly Lerner is a Trinity sophomore.
DUKE COMPUTER CARE COVERAGE Duke Computer Care Coverage is an optional service available for an additional cost if you purchase your laptop from the Duke Technology Center. Duke Computer Care Coverage is not available for laptops purchased from another source. Duke Computer Care Coverage will cover repairs due to catastrophic accident, break or spill, and unlimited support for warranty work, virus removal and spyware eradication. Please note that some limitations apply. Laptops from Apple, Dell, and Lenovo ¡ Choose between our inventory of business-class or consumer machines, all selected as powerful and fast enough for the applications you’ll use ¡ Special discounted student pricing on a variety of laptops designed to allow you to select the brand and configuration best suited for your studies On-campus hardware and software support ¡ Warranty and non-warranty hardware repair performed by certified professionals on staff at Duke ¡ Virus removal and emergency data back-up services provided by experienced Duke IT staff ¡ Phone, email, online chat, and walk-up service year round Extended warranties & Duke Computer Care Coverage ¡ 3 years on Apple, Dell, and Lenovo laptops ¡ Unintended mishaps ¡ A loaner laptop if your computer is in the shop for an extended time
No worries! We’ll take CARE of your computer!
Concerned about coverage while away from campus on break? Don’t be!!! DCCC goes with you! Both accidental and warranty work can be performed by any authorized repair shop nationwide! Contact us for more details!
Duke Computer Repair 3523 Hillsborough Road • 919.684.6760 Academic Year Store Hours: Monday - Friday: 7:30am - 5pm www.dukestores.duke.edu/cpufix Department of Duke University Stores®
OPERATION: Computer Repair PUBLICATION: Chronicle
12 |WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 2018
The Chronicle
commentary
The incredible shrinking first year class
E
very year, Springtime is signaled by the warming temperatures, looming threat of finals and delivery of much-awaited offers from the Office of Undergraduate Admissions to anxious high school seniors across the world to join the incoming Duke freshman class. And as with each Spring prior, the percentage of those that receive such offers has continued to fall. This year, of a regular decision pool of almost 33,000 applicants, only 2,123 of them—6.4 percent—were accepted. Together with
Editorial Board the 875 of those who were accepted in the early decision round, Duke’s Class of 2022 acquired an overall acceptance rate of 8.3 percent—the lowest in University history. In an era obsessed with quantifiable validation, this annual increase in selectivity is often boasted by administrators and students alike as a testament to their own merit and superiority. Especially in the realm of elite universities, a low acceptance rate is often paraded as the end-all to beall for prestige, quality and desirability of an institution, as evident by social media posts and online college admissions forums. As students who are often fixated on the validation of our own elitism by the nature of us attending such an institution, we are undoubtedly complicit in perpetuating this standard. The yearly increase of Duke’s selectivity is a carefully crafted process, characterized by intentional steps to artifically make the home of the Blue Devils evermore enticing. In recent years, this has been accomplished in part by an uptick in the percentage of an incoming class taken from the early decision pool of applicants. This undertaking, which binds an applicant to attend once admitted, allows universities to accept less from the regular decision pool, leading to lower acceptance rates that make the institution more desirable. Other methods practiced by Duke and other elite institutions include overmarketing themselves to the point that even students who are highly unlikely to gain admission still excitedly apply.
Chronicle File Photo
Naturally, forgone in this game of numbers and status is any focus on the outcomes and experiences a specific college education can provide. This myopic obsession with selectivity has thus effectively tilted the conversation around college admissions from one centered around the four-year educational journey into one dominated by imprecise measurements and arbitrary rankings. Yet, it’s equally important to note that the ethos behind these unseemly tactics are not a recent phenomena. Higher education is fundamentally based upon principles of artificial gatekeeping and exclusion. It is an undeniable truth that a Duke degree is valuable in part because of the swaths of people who could never get access to it. The mechanisms of control and debarment wielded by institutions like Duke help maintain education as an expensive commodity, subsequently keeping it only attainable by certain wealthy
and powerful classes. However, regardless of how unethical these practices may seem, there’s unfortunately not much about admissions processes that can change quickly. Private institutions are bound by the arbitrariness of the market so much so that there are aspects of selectivity that Duke —with its status as an elite institution—must play into. Furthermore, these suspended beliefs regarding selectivity and prestige are very much ingrained within the image and culture of Duke; it is constant thread that winds itself in most of Duke’s institutional problems. However, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions can still take small steps—such as bringing transparency within the admissions process and putting less emphasis on the early decision process—to help lessen this arbitrary standard and ensure that the admissions process is as equitable as possible.
The Chronicle
commentary
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 2018 | 13
CONVENIENCE. IT’S WHAT WE’RE ALL ABOUT. The Lobby Shop, located in the University Store, offers a variety of conveniences from crackers to candy bars, frozen foods and beverages to canned goods, natural snacks, and health and beauty aids. The Lobby Shop is open evenings and weekends to satisfy after-hours shoppers.
Upper Level, Bryan Center | Phone: 919-684-2179 Monday - Friday: 8:30am - Midnight Saturday: 9am - Midnight | Sunday: 11am - Midnight Department of Duke University Stores®
OPERATION: The Lobby Shop PUBLICATION: Chronicle HEADLINE: Convenience DATES: Send Home Issue 2014 COLOR: CMYK
CAPS: Counseling and Psychological Services
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is committed to diversity as a core value of our organization. CAPS provides services within a context that values the uniqueness of each human being and remains sensitive to cultural and individual diversity in the immediate and extended community. This includes our respect for how race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, gender expression, sexual identity, age, socio-economic status, disability, and veteran status might impact a person’s experience in the Duke community and the world in which we live.
Access to Services Drop in between 9am-4pm Monday through Friday
Individual, Couples, and Group Counseling: Including the Understanding Self and Others and skill-based groups
Workshops Including Koru, RACE, LEAP for International Students, and Yoga
Community Engagement Liaison relationships and presentations to faculty, staff, and students
Health Coaching Values, holistic health, and life purpose
Psychiatric Services Evaluation and medication management
Referral Services Therapy and medication referrals 305 Towerview Road Third Floor, Box 90955 Durham, NC 27708-0995 (919) 660-1000
http://studentaffairs.duke.edu/caps
The Chronicle
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14 |WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 2018
Don’t take The Chronicle for granted: A note about student journalism
N
othing about The Chronicle is guaranteed. It takes incredible work from student volunteers to put out a newspaper three days a week and publish content every day. Today, student newsrooms across the country are taking part in a day of action to highlight the need for student media and the precarious financial situation student media organizations face. Founded in 1905, The Chronicle has been a staple of the Duke experience before Duke was even called Duke. In 1993, we cut remaining financial ties with the University and have remained independent ever since. This independence has allowed us to provide readers information about the University that may have been difficult to unearth otherwise.
In the past few years, this has included issues with the student conduct process, sexual harassment, discrimination and so much more. Without The Chronicle, these stories would not have been told.
in North Carolina. Approximately 14,000 students are educated here, and our nearly $8 billion endowment is one of the largest in the country. In short, Duke’s reach is expansive and its impact on the lives of people is tangible. A strong, independent press is essential to hold the institution accountable and keep us as a community informed. We are the only organization on campus that attends every Academic Council meeting, every Arts and Sciences Council EDITOR’S NOTE meeting, every Duke Student Government meeting and consistently reports on the actions of the Board of Trustees, despite not having access to any portion of its meetings for As an institution, Duke employs more than 34,000 people the past decade. We consistently push the University to be around the world and is the 2nd largest private employer more transparent and more open about its decisions. We hold the University accountable. In addition, we provide coverage of all 27 varsity sports, various cultural events and student exhibits and performances throughout the year. We record Duke’s history as it is occuring and we don’t take “days off.” We also provide a platform for students to lend their voices to the campus dialogue through our Opinion section. Student journalism has powerful impacts on the Duke community and beyond. Frequently, our reporting appears in national publications. MATTRESS Student journalism is at a crossroads. Although journalism FACTORy; nationally is seeing a resurgence in support in the Trump era, this has not been felt equally by local outlets. Down the road, our colleagues at The Daily Tar Heel have faced financial pressures. Recently, former DTH General Manager Betsy O’Donovan wrote that the newspaper has operated on a $200,000 deficit. The Chronicle is very lucky. Because of strong leadership from students and the advertising staff, we have managed to do well in an era of financial uncertainty. You may not always agree with our decisions. But know that we take our work incredibly seriously and always seek feedback and ways to improve. We have sought to increase our engagement with the community this year with events including the DSG presidential debate. We have added a tip form on our website to make it easier for you to share information with us. If you want to get involved, let us know! There’s a lot of journalism to be done on this campus, and we intend to be around to do it. We hope you will support us in that effort. You can do that by reading us online and in print, following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and by donating!
Adam Beyer & Likhitha Butchireddygari
INAL
Experience an Original
Eliminating the middleman and providing great value. Straight from the our factory to you...
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Adam Beyer is Trinity ‘18 and was the digital content director for Volume 113 of The Chronicle. Likhitha Butchireddygari is a Trinity senior and the current digital strategy director.
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Why study the Classics?
By exploring the world of ancient Greece and Rome you will •
Experience moving literature, eye-opening history, inspiring philosophy, breathtaking material remains
•
Enjoy small classes, tight community, and get to know your professors really well
•
Have life-changing experiences studying in Greece or Rome or going on a summer dig
•
Satisfy the Language Requirement and enrich your command of English at the same time
•
Learn alongside smart people, who decipher ancient texts, investigate ancient science and philosophy, explore ancient archaeological sites, use cutting edge technology to understand the past, and take the long view in thinking about our place in the world
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 2018 | 15
"We can't overestimate the value of a Classics major. Check this out: according to Association of American Medical Colleges, students who major or double-major in Classics have a better success rate getting into medical school than do students who concentrate solely in biology, microbiology, and other branches of science. Crazy, huh? Furthermore, according to Harvard Magazine, Classics majors (and math majors) have the highest success rates of any majors in law school. Believe it or not political science, economics, and pre-law majors lag fairly far behind. Even furthermore, Classics majors consistently have some of the highest scores on GREs of all undergraduates." —The Princeton Review
Featured Courses Fall 2018 GREEK 101
LATIN 101
LATIN 251
Elementary (ancient) Greek
Elementary Latin
Refresher Latin (for 1st-year students)
CLST 208
CLST 283
CLST 170FS
CLST 316S
CLST 144
CLST 299L
CLST 364
Ancient Myth
Greek History
Liberty and Equality: Ancient & Modern
Self-Knowledge & Wisdom
Principles of Archaeology
Landscape Archaeology
Ancient Science and Technology
We provide you with the best selection of groceries from staples to gourmet at competitive prices. We sell frozen entrees, juices, natural snacks, canned goods, soft drinks, coffees, cookies, crackers, condiments, cleaning supplies, health and beauty aids, Duke apparel and gift items, and school supplies. VEGETARIAN ENTREES | MILK | BUTTER | FROZEN PIZZAS | DELI MEAT | SOFT DRINKS
1925 Yearby Avenue, Mill Village, Central Campus Phone: 919.684.3808 Monday - Saturday: 11am - 10pm Sunday: 1pm - 10pm
SPORTS DRINKS | FROZEN ENTREES | SOUPS | CANDIES | CHIPS | HEALTH & BEAUTY AIDS
www.dukestores.duke.edu/food/uncle_harrys.php
BOTTLED WATER | SNACK ITEMS | BAGGED ICE | BREAD | PICNIC SUPPLIES | CHEESE | BAKING SUPPLIES
Department of Duke University Stores®
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OPERATION: U ncle Harry’ s PUBLICATION: Chronicle
The Chronicle
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16 |WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 2018
You’ll be here for four years. Get to know Durham. Duke Service-Learning THINK OUTSIDE THE BOOKBAG.
During registration consider these service-learning courses that will connect you with your new community. DANCE 215S-01 Performing Sexual Health
Explores the history & theories behind activist sexual health education theatre and creates and tours a live performance for high school students.
(DOCST209S) Digital Documentary Photography: Education, Childhood, and Growth
Develops digital photography and documentary skills to explore Durham public schools.
EDUC 111FS Rethinking Schools: Social Justice
Examines ways schools may or may not perpetuate and reproduce social inequities.
EDUC 112FS Medical Ethics, Aging, and End of Life Care in US Studies medical ethics, policy, clinical, and personal issues in working with dying and bereaved people.
EDUC 113FS Enterprising Leadership and Civic Engagement
Develops innovative, resourceful solutions to important civic issues within and external to Duke.
SOCIOL 178FS Refugees, Rights and Resettlement
Examines international refugee policy and works with refugees from Bhutan, Burma and Iraq recently resettled in Durham.
SOCIOL250 Medical Sociology
Explores the social and cultural context in which health care in the United States is delivered, particularly in terms of racial and age disparities, as well as disparities in rural and urban healthcare settings.
SPANISH 205-01, 02 Advanced Intermediate Spanish
Develops language skills and exposure to Spanish-speaking cultures in Durham.
Visit servicelearning.duke.edu to learn more