April 8, 2019 by Duke Chronicle

The Chronicle

See Inside Boonchant shines at Augusta National Page 7

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

MONDAY, APRIL 8, 2019

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ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTEENTH YEAR, ISSUE 51

Duke Athletics says it’s ‘looking into’ University recommends claims Nike paid Zion Williamson’s mother closing Delta Sigma Phi By Ben Leonard

Managing Editor

By Likhitha Butchireddygari Investigations Editor

The University has moved for closure of its Delta Sigma Phi chapter, according to a recent email from Phil Rodriguez, executive director of Delta Sigma Phi’s national organization. Last week, Rodriguez wrote in an email to alumni of the Duke chapter that this decision was due to “risk management incidents,” but did not specify what those incidents were. Rodriguez wrote in the email that DSig plans to appeal this decision at an upcoming hearing. “Reoccurring risk management incidents over the past 12 months led to the University stating they could no longer recommend the chapter in operation,” he wrote. According to the Housing and Residence Life website, the group is not listed as a house for the upcoming academic year. In the email, Rodriguez added that Duke began to work with the Delta Sigma Phi chapter and the national organization on an “advancement plan,” which included better risk management practices and training. However, after an “incident” in the Fall semester and this Spring, “the University felt they had no additional choice but to recommend closure.” When initially asked why the fraternity did not have housing, Larry Moneta, vice president for student affairs, declined to answer. When later asked what the “risk management incidents” were and to confirm that Duke was recommending closure, Moneta declined to comment. Junior Brendan Quinlan, president of the chapter, did not respond to requests for comment. Rodriguez added in an email to The Chronicle that the national organization is committed to its chapters. “When incidents occur, our number one priority is ensuring the safety of our brothers and working to mitigate any future issues by partnering with our alumni and university leaders,” he wrote in the email to The Chronicle. “Both our chapter leaders and the national organization are eager to share our vision on how we can work together to move our chapter forward with its nearly 100 year history at Duke.” Ben Leonard contributed reporting.

Michael Avenatti, a prominent lawyer whom federal prosecutors in New York have accused of attempting to extort Nike, alleged in a tweet Friday night that Zion Williamson’s mother was paid for bogus “consulting services” to get Williamson to Duke. Avenatti’s tweet April 5, “About this denial by Coach K the other day relating to payments by Nike...Can you please ask Zion Williamson’s mother - Sharonda Sampson - whether she was paid by @nike for bogus ‘consulting services’ in 2016/17 as part of a Nike bribe to get Zion to go to Duke? Thx.” In a subsequent tweet, Avenatti directed his comments at the official Duke men’s basketball account, asking Duke’s “close friends at [Nike] to check their Nike Vendor Portal for payments to ‘Sharonda Sampson Consulting.’ Just search 2016 to the present. Appreciate it.” Kevin White, Duke’s director of athletics, wrote that the University is investigating the allegation like it would any compliance matter. “We are aware of the allegation and, as we would with any compliance matter, are looking into it. Duke is fully committed to compliance with all NCAA rules and regulations,” White wrote in a statement to The Chronicle. “Every student athlete at Duke is reviewed to ensure their eligibility. With regard to men’s basketball: all recruits and their families are thoroughly vetted by Duke in collaboration with the NCAA

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Henry Haggart | Sports Photography Editor Lawyer Michael Avenatti has accused Nike on Twitter of paying Zion Williamson’s mother so he would go to Duke.

through the Eligibility Center’s amateurism certification process.” The Chronicle has left a voicemail and sent a text message to a number listed for Sampson, and has reached out over Facebook to a profile appearing to be Sampson in a message for comment, but did not receive a response in time for publication. Nike didn’t address specifics in a statement provided to Yahoo! Sports. “Nike firmly believes in ethical and fair play, both in business and sports and won’t be commenting further beyond our statement,” the statement read. Williamson is the presumptive No. 1 overall

pick in this year’s NBA draft after enjoying a monster freshman season for Duke. After averaging nearly 23 points and nine rebounds per game, the 6-foot-7, 285 pound forward was nearly unanimously named the Associated Press Player of the Year Friday. Nike has sponsored Duke Athletics since 1992 and recently signed an extension through 2027. Head coach Mike Krzyzewski, who has been a “Nike Coach” since the 199394 season, has a building on Nike’s campus named after him. Friday night’s tweet wasn’t the first time Avenatti mentioned Duke in the context of See AVENATTI on Page 12

Why is the Duke Chapel yellow at night? By Carter Forinash Staff Reporter

Red Chapel, blue Chapel, old Chapel, new Chapel. After a recent overhaul of its lighting system, the Duke Chapel can now change colors—and cut energy costs. As part of a campus-wide initiative to refit buildings with up-to-date lighting systems, the Duke Chapel is now outfitted with LED lights. The new lights, installed over the past two months, will improve energy efficiency and can illuminate the Chapel in a range of colors. However, while the new lights can change color if necessary, they were installed only as an energy-saving measure and will remain white for the time being, James Todd, Duke Chapel communications manager, wrote to The Chronicle. Though the new lights are meant to shine colorless light the majority of the time, the new bulbs bring a yellow hue to the Chapel on most nights now. The LED bulbs replaced outdated metal-halide bulbs that have illuminated the

Juan Bermudez | Sports Photography Editor As part of a energy-effient initiative, the lights illuminating the Chapel have been replaced.

Chapel for decades. The LED lights will use around twothirds of the energy of the old Chapel bulbs, Todd wrote. The LED lights also have a life expectancy of 50,000 hours, or nearly six years, more than triple the 15,000-hour life expectancy of the old bulbs.

FDA approves new postpartum depression drug

Zion sweeps national player awards

Duke researchers discuss the stigma associated with the condition and the effects of the new drug. PAGE 3

Zion Williamson handily Naismith Player of the Year.

wins

According to Todd, the new lights are part of a broader Duke Facilities Management effort to transition to LED lighting in existing buildings across campus. Although new buildings on campus have been built with LED See CHAPEL on Page 12

It’s called ‘pop.’ Change my mind. AP

and PAGE 7

Columnist Luke Sallmen dares you to tell him that the fizzy drink is called soda. PAGE 10

@dukechronicle @dukebasketball |

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2 | MONDAY, APRIL 8, 2019

Women in Technology surveys students Grand jury indicts NC Republican chairman for bribery

By Niharika Vattikonda Contributing Reporter

What percentage of students feel supported in their academic spaces? A project spearheaded by Duke Women in Technology sheds light on the barriers faced and overcome by women and members of underrepresented groups in STEM fields. The Percentage Project surveyed a total of 164 Duke engineering and computer science students from a variety of backgrounds. Questions focused on students’ experience both in the classroom and the broader Duke community. The survey data was aggregated by gender, sexual identity, ethnic identity, first-generation status, socioeconomic status and racial identity. Duke Women in Technology found that students from underrepresented groups reported having been told that their identity helps them secure job opportunities or gave them an unfair advantage in applying to Duke. In addition, first-generation students were almost 1.5 times more likely to report feeling intimidated studying computer science or engineering than other students surveyed. Junior Emily Liu, co-president of Duke Women in Technology—formerly Wiring with Women—and a columnist for The Chronicle, led the Percentage Project this year. As an executive board member, she explained that she was tasked with piloting a project in line with Women in Technology’s mission. The survey found that 47% of females reported that they “have felt judged or micro-aggressed” because of their choice to study computer science or engineering, compared to only 6% of males. Additionally, 55% of surveyed females and 12% of surveyed males reported being told that their gender identity gave them an unfair advantage at getting a job. Of all students surveyed, only 14% of low-income students reported feeling comfortable asking questions during lecture, compared to 34% of other students. In addition to the survey data, co-president Cyan DeVeaux, a junior, explained that people signed up to get their pictures taken and matched to various statistics from the survey conclusions as part of the broader project. The hope is that the Percentage Project will allow the Duke community to put a face

By Sean Cho Senior News Reporter

to the disparities in computer science and engineering. “When you’re able to have a picture or something visual attached to it, I think you can make it more impactful, and beyond just numbers, that these are actual students who completed this survey, actual people that you see on a day-to-day basis, actual students that you know,” DeVeaux said. After researching some of the executive boards of other WiT clubs on other campuses, Liu found that the University of Pennsylvania’s WiT club created the Percentage Project as a way to collect data on students’ experiences in technology. “Looking through the photos, I just felt really inspired,” she said. “I was just like, ‘Wow, it would be awesome to bring something like this to Duke.’” The conclusions and the survey questions are publicly available, so that the data is accessible to the Duke community and, more broadly, to individuals involved in technology. The conclusions, although disappointing, were unsurprising to Liu and DeVeaux.

North Carolina’s Republican Party is regaining its footing after the indictment of GOP chairman Robin Hayes, Trinity ‘67, and political donor Greg Lindberg for charges of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, bribery and aiding and abetting. According to the indictment—which was unsealed on Tuesday—Hayes, Lindberg and two of Lindberg’s associates—John Gray and John Palermo Jr.—allegedly attempted to bribe and influence Republican Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey. Hayes announced on Monday that he will not be seeking re-election and that the state GOP’s convention in June will be the last time he leads the party. Hayes has already surrendered himself to authorities, and he made his first court appearance in Charlotte on Monday. In response to the indictment, the N.C. Republican Party may remove executive director Dallas Woodhouse. Woodhouse stated that he was merely a witness in the investigation and denies ever speaking with Lindberg. “I work at the pleasure of the central committee and that is the status. That status can change by my determination or theirs,” Woodhouse said on Friday. “I will not resign. I have nothing to resign for.” Lindberg, the political donor, has been under federal investigation for his numerous financial contributions to North Carolina politicians. According to data from the Center of Responsive Politics, Lindberg has given more than $1.6 million to federal candidates and committees. In 2017, he was the N.C. Republican Party’s single biggest donor, and he also made donations to the N.C.

See TECH on Page 12

See GOP on Page 12

Selena Qian | Staff Graphic Designer

Announcement of Nominees

Congratulations to the following students, organizations, faculty, and staff, who have been nominated to receive Duke University’s most prestigious campus-wide honors for student leadership and service. Award recipients and nominees will be celebrated at In The Spotlight on April 16, 2019 5-7pm, Penn Pavilion. The event is open to to the Duke community.

FSL Chapter Awards Excellence in Academics: Chi Psi Delta Tau Delta Psi Upsilon Sigma Nu Sigma Phi Epsilon Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Alpha Delta Pi Delta Delta Delta Gamma Phi Beta

Excellence in Community Involvement Chi Psi Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Chi Omega Zeta Tau Alpha

Excellence in Membership Engagement Chi Psi Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Chi Omega Gamma Phi Beta

Excellence in Risk Reduction Sigma Phi Epsilon

Excellence in Chapter Management Chi Psi Sigma Phi Epsilon Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Alpha Delta Pi Chi Omega Gamma Phi Beta Chapter of the Year: Chi Psi

The Student Julie Anne Levey Organization Line-Up Memorial Leadership SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER Award Best New Organization Hear at Duke

Best Overall Organization Duke Swing Dance

Best Executive Board Member Samantha Woog (Duke University Wind Symphony) NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

Best New Organization Duke Sleight Club

Best Overall Organization Duke Smart Home

Best Executive Board Member Archana Ahlawat (Duke Conversations) JANUARY/FEBRUARY

Best New Organization Duke CommuniTEA

Best Overall Organization Student Association for Geospatial Analysis

Best Executive Board Member Steph Ng (Body Banter)

Queer and Trans Leadership Series Recognition Janelle Taylor Shom Tiwari Marie Helen Kreyer Miriam Levitin

Catherine McMillan Carlee Goldberg Joanne Huang Musa Saleem Noah Breuss-Burgess Jonathan Eini Dakota Douglas Sid Madala

Lars Lyon Volunteer Service Award Gino Nuzzolillo Varun Prasad Olivia Simpson Mary Helen Wood

Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award: Idalis French Moreen Njoroge Matthew Conley Katie Taylor

WomC’s The WomC Campus Impact Award: Sydney Lane The WomC Emerging Campus Award: Amelia Steinbach The WomC Community Impact Award: Uyi Idahor The WomC State Impact Award: NC Council for Women and Youth Involvement

The WomC National Impact Award: Kelly Fair The WomC Global Impact Award: Anwuli Okonjo The WomC Woman of Strength Award: Cathy Watson

Student Affairs Distinguished Leadership and Service Awards Building Alliances through Collective Engagement: Andrew Bates Alexander Goodman Rachel Berlowe Binder Helen Yang

Commitment to Diversity Anya Bali Janelle Taylor

Demonstration of Integrity Trey Walk Aubrey Howard Sarah Beckmen

Expanding the Boundaries of Learning

William J. Griffith University Service Awards Contributions to Duke: Matthew Conley Anya Bali Jasmine Syed Ariana Eily Brian Buhr Janelle Taylor Briana Kleiner Charles Huang

Contributions to Durham & Local Community: Trey Walk Zoe Abedon Alexander Goodman Joshua Landsberg Charles Huang Riley Hickman Mickayla Hinkle

Contributions to Global Community: Dillon Leovic

Dorothy Alexis Jackie Perez Alexander Goodman Anya Bali

Betsy Alden Outstanding ServiceLearning Award

Respect for the Community

Student Category:

Brian Buhr Maggie Haas Steve Boland II Rebekah Wellons Matthew Kaplan Grace Mok Hannah Ahrendt

Faculty Category:

Frances Beroset Charles Huang Kate Watkins Kevin Caves

For more details, visit https://studentaffairs.duke.edu/ucae/leadership/leadership-service-awards

Community Partner Category: Jeanette Stokes, Resource Center for Women & Ministry in the South, Inc. Audrey Hagopian, BASIS Charter School in Phoenix, AZ

The Forever Duke Student Leadership Awards Caroline Amoroso Kristel Black Eladio Bobadilla Matt Brantley Michael Brunetti Angel Clark Temis Coral Ariana Eily Valentine Esposito Rory Henry Shandiin Herrera Kushal Kadakia Justin Lana Sarah Loftus Donald Moratz Felix Nwogbo Charlie Pearlman Reed Perry Kristina Smith Stephanie Stefanski Lance Tran Tim Yoon Amulya Vadapalli

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MONDAY, APRIL 8, 2019 | 3

Doctors may see early clues Researchers discuss new of Alzheimer’s in our eyes postpartum depression drug By Shagun Vashisth

By Maria Morrison Staff Reporter

Senior Editor

The blood vessels in your eyes may allow for earlier detection of Alzheimer’s disease, a new Duke study suggests. Professor of Ophthalmology Sharon Fekrat was struck with a unique medical opportunity in 2017 when two 96-year-old genetically identical twins came into her office. One had advanced Alzheimer’s disease, whereas the other did not. The only physical difference between the two was their eyes. “The eye is actually a direct extension of the brain,” Fekrat said. “The retina is like the wallpaper of the inside of the eyeball—it’s nerve tissue. It shares many features with the brain and central nervous system.” The brain and eye also share biomarkers that can be used in diagnosing Alzheimer’s, such as levels of the protein amyloid-beta. Spinal fluid is also found in the vitreous gel within the pupil, Fekrat explained, and levels of amyloid-beta in these fluids can correlate with lower cognitive test scores. The research involved a collaboration with the Duke Neurological Disorders Clinic, where the team gathered participants with varying mental states. “Our study is the largest prospectively imaged group in current literature,” Fekrat said. The control group consisted of 254 eyes from 133 people categorized as being “normal” and cognitively healthy. There was an intermediate group of 72 eyes from 37 people with minor cognitive impairment (MCI). Finally, the study collected scans of 70 eyes from 39 patients with Alzheimer’s, as diagnosed by the neurology clinic using many mental state tests.

The Food and Drug Administration recently approved the first drug intended to treat postpartum depression in adult women. The federal approval marks a pivotal step in the development of treatments meant specifically for maternal depression—a highly stigmatized and often debilitating condition. Psychiatrists at Duke are hopeful that the new drug, brexanolone, will bring attention to postpartum depression and the importance of mental health care delivery. PPD affects as many as one in seven American women and can be life threatening for affected individuals. “New mothers are supposed to rejoice in the wonders of their infants and ignore the discomforts of the emotional, physical and logistical demands placed on them,” wrote Marla Wald, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, in an email. “This stigma, and therefore embarrassment and reluctance to ask for help, contributes to a large percentage of women never seeking treatment.” She explained that stigma surrounding mental health forces individuals to silently endure suffering. When it comes to PPD, the impact is even more staggering. “It’s very difficult for many women to talk about this time in their lives as being as anything but ideal and wonderful,” said Christine Marx, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences. “There’s some internal conflict in terms of trying to voice some of these concerns.” Because there have not been specific

Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Scientists may soon be able to use people’s eyes to help diagnose Alzheimer’s disease.

In both the control group and the MCI group, scans showed that microscopic blood vessels in one cell layer of the retina were considerably thicker than those in patients with Alzheimer’s. These results were interesting in two ways, Fekrat explained. First, there was no difference between the density of blood vessels in the eyes of cognitively healthy and MCI groups, though MCI has long been thought to be a precursor to Alzheimer’s. Fekrat said that the researchers later plan to separate those MCI patients who are diagnosed as having amnesia and those who are not to see if the forgetfulness is tied to Alzheimer’s. A long-term goal of the study is to include repeat imaging over the course of See EYES on Page 12

EAT A BURRITO

treatments targeting PPD until now, women and their families have felt little point in asking for help, Wald explained. The stigma around accessing treatment is further compounded by additional socioeconomic and racial factors. “Stigma around mental health discourages people from seeking care at all,” Wald said. “People are afraid to be identified as being thought of as ‘weak’ or ‘not normal.’ This is particularly true among young mothers.” What makes PPD unique among other mental health conditions is the crisis around the infant’s care that develops when the mother’s health is compromised. PPD interferes seriously with the maternal-infant bond, preventing affected mothers from bonding with their babies in the way that is crucial for healthy development. “Women with severe PPD have impairment in being able to feed, change, hold and comfort their babies,” Wald said. “Now with the FDA approval of brexanolone, the landscape of treatment is changing and we now have a good, quick treatment option.” Sold by Sage Therapeutics, Inc. under the brand name Zulresso, brexanolone relieves symptoms of depression for mothers and provides immediate relief. Standard antidepressants can take several weeks to work, or even worse, prove ineffective. Brexanolone is the synthetic version of a naturally occurring steroid in the body, allopregnanolone. The IV infusion of brexanolone increases levels of this natural steroid before gradually lowering it. To minimize the risk of loss of consciousness that can accompany the drug as a side effect,

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4 | MONDAY, APRIL 8, 2019

Duke students celebrate Holi

Duke Diya—the undergraduate South Asian Student Association—hosted the annual Holi festival on Abele Quadrangle this weekend. Holi is the Hindu festival of colors, and it celebrates the beginning of the spring harvest.

More than a hundred students gathered on Abele Quad to participate in the annual Holi celebration Saturday afternoon. Members of Duke Dhamaka, the university’s competitive bhangra team, also enjoyed participating in Holi (below).

Colorful powder and water filled the air. Some students recommend applying oil before celebrating Holi to speed up the cleaning process.

By Sujal Manohar Photography Editor

Duke Diya’s mission is to build appreciation for and showcase South Asian culture. Holi is a tradition originally from India, but it is now celebrated all over the world.

Term 1: May 15-June 27 Term 2: July 1-August 11

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MONDAY, APRIL 8, 2019 | 5

sportswrap april 8, 2019

SUJAL MANOHAR / THE CHRONICLE

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FLAILING IRISH

BASEBALL: SWEEPS PITTSBURGH â&#x20AC;¢ TRACK AND FIELD: TAKES DOWN UNC IN THE BATTLE OF THE BLUES

6 | MONDAY, APRIL 8, 2019

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MEN’S LACROSSE

DUKE DISMANTLES NOTRE DAME Blue Devils move to 4-0 against top-10 opponents with first victory against an ACC foe By Evan Kolin Staff Writer

Duke entered the weekend undefeated against three top-10 opponents this year. And in front of a packed crowd on a beautiful Saturday afternoon, the No. 8 Blue Devils kept that perfect record in big games intact, defeating seventh-ranked Notre Dame 14-8 at Koskinen Stadium. Coming off two consecutive losses 8 to begin ACC play, ND DUKE 14 Duke seemed like it was playing angry all game. Despite some flaws exposed over the last couple weeks, the Blue Devils’ continued track record against top competition proves they are one of the most talented teams in the country—a unit nobody wants to see flooded with confidence. “We have always had confidence,” senior attackman Sean Lowrie said. “We just did not play as well as we should have the last two weeks. “Coming in, obviously this week we had a great week of practice, had a great game. So we are just going to try and mimic that and go into the next game with the same intensity and the same confidence.” Duke (9-3, 1-2 in the ACC) had three players with five-point days—sophomore Joe Robertson and senior Brad Smith both

Sujal Manohar | Photography Editor

Midfielder Brad Smith put up a hat trick against the Fighting Irish Saturday afternoon. posted three goals and two assists, while sophomore Nakeie Montgomery added a goal and four assists. Lowrie added a hat trick as well. Sophomore Connor Morin carried the Fighting Irish with half of the team’s eight goals. The Blue Devils also made some lineup changes entering the contest, playing Smith as a midfielder rather than an attacker for the first time this season and inserting Lowrie into the starting lineup. “We all felt that the experiment to play as

an attackman was noble,” Danowski said. “He is more suited to be a midfielder. And if you are going to move him, you are going to need somebody to move into attack so we had guys kind of share that playing time—[Lowrie] and C.J. Carpenter—and they both came up with big days.” Duke started off the afternoon slowly. After taking a 1-0 lead just 56 seconds into the game, the Blue Devils were held scoreless for the remainder of the first period. Meanwhile, Notre Dame (5-4, 1-2) notched three first-

period goals—including one just seconds before the buzzer sounded—to take a 3-1 lead after the first 15 minutes. The Blue Devils shot just 1-of-4 with five turnovers in that first period, but they quickly flipped the switch. Danowski’s squad posted double-digit shot attempts in every period the rest of the way while totaling only eight more giveaways. In comparison, the Fighting Irish shot 3-for-10 and coughed the ball up only two times in the first 15 minutes, but did not post more than four shot attempts in any other period and finished the contest with 16 turnovers. The second period was all Duke, with the Blue Devils exploding for six goals—the most Notre Dame has allowed in a quarter this season. Montgomery had his name all over the statsheet, starting off the run with two assists and dancing around the defense himself to put Duke up 7-4 two minutes before halftime. Morrin responded with a goal of his own a minute later, but the Blue Devils still headed to the locker room holding a 7-5 edge. “I had some choice words for the boys,” Danowski said of his team’s shift in intensity See M. LACROSSE on Page 9

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MONDAY, APRIL 8, 2019 | 7

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Williamson wins AP, Naismith Player of the Year awards

Jones hints at returning for sophomore season

By Derek Saul

By Mitchell Gladstone

Blue Zone Editor

Sports Features Editor

Zion Williamson electrified the crowds during his freshman season at Duke. Now the accolades are raining in. Williamson was named AP Player of the Year Friday, earning 59 of the 64 total votes. Fellow freshman R.J. Barrett finished second in the voting with two votes, while De’Andre Hunter, Ja Morant and Cassius Winston earned a single vote apiece. Williamson also became the third freshman and the eighth Blue Devil ever to win the Naismith Player of the Year award Sunday afternoon. The awards were rolling in for the freshman duo all week, as Williamson and Barrett were named AP first-team All-Americans Tuesday. This is just the second time in history that two freshmen from the same team were named to the first team, and the Blue Devil duo joins the 2010 Kentucky pair of John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins in this club. This is also the second consecutive year that Duke has a freshman on the AP All-America first team, as Marvin Bagley III took home the honor in 2018. Williamson received all 64 votes for the All-America team, making him the only unanimous selection. Grant Williams of

Maybe the Final Four has Tre Jones thinking. Late Saturday night, the Blue Devil freshman posted on his Instagram with the caption “Year 2?” and sparked some buzz as to possibility of Jones returning to Duke for a sophomore season instead of turning pro. Team spokesman Mike DeGeorge did not have any further information on Jones’ decision. Jones added to the suspense with another post less than 24 hours later, which portrayed himself sitting in his locker during the NCAA tournament with his jersey hanging behind him. If Jones does indeed come back to Durham, he’ll be looking to build on a freshman campaign which he ended with some momentum. The Apple Valley, Minn., native scored a then-careerbest 18 points in the ACC tournament title game against Florida State, only to top it with 22 against Virginia Tech in the Sweet 16, knocking down five 3-pointers in the win. Jones will need to work on his shooting from outside if he wants to become an elite two-way player. He shot just 26.2 percent from beyond the arc for the season, but used his stellar defense to finish second in ACC Defensive Player of the Year.

Henry Haggart | Sports Photography Editor

Zion Williamson met all expectations for his freshman season at Duke. Tennessee, Ja Morant of Murray State and Cassius Winston of Michigan State join Williamson and Barrett on the first team. Duke’s season ended on Sunday night, as Winston’s Spartans took down the Blue Devils 68-67. The 6-foot point guard had 20 points, 10 assists and four steals in the contest.

Sujal Manohar | Photography Editor

Tre Jones proved to be a capable floor general in his first year as a Blue Devil.

WOMEN’S GOLF

Five Blue Devils among first women at Augusta National By Mitchell Gladstone Sports Features Editor

In a few short days, 99 men will take over the hallowed grounds of Augusta National Golf Club, preparing for four rounds of play that will decide who ends up with the everrecognizable green jacket. But first, it was the ladies’ turn to take over 18 of the most famous holes in golf. A quintet of Blue Devils performed solidly at the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur this weekend in Augusta, Ga., with sophomore Jaravee Boonchant leading the Duke contingent, as she finished with a two-over-par 218 to tie for 12th. Incoming Blue Devil freshman Erica Shepherd also made the top-30 cut to earn a spot in Saturday’s final round before ending the weekend in a tie for 23rd, carding a fiveover 221. “This is such a great building experience for me and my game,” Boonchant told GoDuke.com Saturday. “The crowds, the atmosphere, the players were all incredible and I hope that I can play well enough to return next year. It will definitely be a goal of mine.” The Bangkok native had a chance to go low in the opening round Wednesday at Champions Retreat Golf Club in Evans, Ga., site of the first 36 holes, sinking a 30-plus-foot putt on the 10th hole of her round to get to three-under-par before a hole-out birdie from the bunker on No. 12 gave her a share of the lead. It didn’t last long, though, as a bogey and then a triple bogey on the following two holes dropped Boonchant right back to even par, and she wouldn’t get back into red numbers until the back nine of the second round. Shepherd, currently the 63rd-ranked amateur in the world despite just being in high school, bounced back from an ugly first nine holes to turn in a bogey-free back nine Wednesday,

ending the day under par. It was a struggle the rest of the week, however. Shepherd shot six-over-par during her final 36 holes, but the bright spot was most certainly a birdie on the 18th hole Thursday to secure a spot in Saturday’s final round. The Greenwood, Ind., native put her second shot into the green side bunker before getting up-and-down to card a 75 and avoid a playoff. That set the stage for Saturday, which began with three birdies on the first nine holes before an ugly finish that included a double-bogey 7 on the par-5 15th hole before bogeys on Nos. 16 and 17. “I’ve played in four LPGA events and I’ve never seen this many people,” Shepherd told GoDuke.com after playing

Augusta. “I’m just overwhelmed for women’s golf and I definitely had nerves, but I play best when I’m like that.” For the rest of the Blue Devils, it was a struggle. Gina Kim, Virginia Elena Carta and Ana Belac all turned in rounds of five-over or worse on Wednesday en route to missing the cut. Kim was the best of the rest, carding a six-over 150 on the first 36 holes. Still, all five Duke representatives got their turn at Augusta, as the entire field of 70 played a practice round Friday before Saturday’s finale. “It was probably one of the best experiences of my See W. GOLF on Page 9

Augusta National Golf Club

Jaravee Boonchant ended the weekend in 12th place, the best finish of any Blue Devil in the tournament.

8 | MONDAY, APRIL 8, 2019

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TRACK AND FIELD

Blue Devils topple UNC in Battle of the Blues By Jonathan Browning Staff Writer

It was a historic day for Duke track and field. Both the men and women won in Saturday’s dual meet against North Carolina—a first for the Blue Devils in the annual Battle of the Blues, set this year at the Morris Williams Track and Field Stadium in Durham. “You don’t need to say much more than it’s Duke versus UNC,” said director of track and field Norm Ogilvie. “Everybody in this school knows what that rivalry means and this is the first time we’ve had a dual against UNC since I’ve been here - it’s been 29 years in the making. “In the very beginning [of my tenure], this program wasn’t kicking it very well—I don’t think we wanted to have a dual meet with UNC. But we’ve reached the point now where we feel we can compete with them every year and this was the first time where we’ve beat both the men and the women on the same day.” And, in typical Duke-North Carolina fashion, it came down to the very end. For the women, it was decided on the very last leg of their final race, the 4x400 meter relay. Junior Brittany Aveni anchored the race and began her stretch just trailing her Tar Heel counterpart. She quickly made up the ground and never looked back, securing the win in both the event with a time of 3:36:06—more than four seconds faster than North Carolina—and the meet, catapulting the Blue Devils past their rival for a final meet score of 79-75. “We’ve always had a good 4-by-4,” said Ogilvie. “We won the 4-by-4 last year at the Penn Relays Championship of America race. We did that with one of our all-time greats in Maddy Price, the best quarter miler we ever had. She graduated and she was here with us as a volunteer assistant coach today. But I don’t think she could’ve been prouder of the anchor leg of Brittany Aveni having to come from behind to win it. It was all on the line— [Brittany] found a

Michelle Tai | Associate Photography Editor

Duke track and field made history Saturday evening, securing a dual meet sweep against North Carolina for the first time. way to do it.” The men’s competition also came down to the wire and was decided in final field event, the shot put. The Tar Heels needed a perfect top-three showing to come away with the team win for the meet, but Duke’s Ben Beatty and Iyin Battle had other ideas, finishing second and third in the shot put, respectively. Their performance clinched the meet win for the Blue Devil men with a final score of 80-73. “It turned out the shot was the very last event to end and

it was kind of dramatic,” said Ogilvie. “We had the entire UNC team and the entire Duke team out there watching the shot put. The UNC guy won - we expected that, he was the ACC Indoor Champion and NCAA All-American. But our guys rallied to take second and third. It was pretty dramatic stuff and that clinched it for us.” But the Blue Devils needed more than just heroic See TRACK AND FIELD on Page 9

BASEBALL

Duke sweeps Pitt behind Matt Mervis and ‘Old Town Road’ By Glen Morgenstern Staff Writer

How do you ignite a struggling baseball team composed of college students? All you need is a little taste of popular culture. Country-rap mashup “Old Town Road” accompanied designated hitter Matt Mervis to the plate in this weekend’s series against Pittsburgh, where he 0 mashed up Panther pitches at will. PITT Mervis let the horses loose this DUKE 2 weekend, driving in the go-ahead in the first leg of Saturday’s 5 run PITT doubleheader, and then recording DUKE 6 four more RBIs, smacking a dinger and scoring the winning run Sunday. 9 The 6-foot-4 junior’s effort led Duke PITT a three-game sweep of the Panthers DUKE 10 to at Durham Bulls Athletic Park, breaking the Blue Devils’ three-series losing streak. “[Mervis] is one of our top OPS guys right now,” head coach Chris Pollard said. “He has been a huge shot in the arm for us ever since being inserted into the lineup at Virginia. Now, we’re able to [play him at designated hitter] instead of having to play him at third. What great at-bats today.” Second baseman Joey Loperfido, who returned to action April 3 for the first time since Feb. 23, played the late-game hero this weekend. His two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning clinched the series for Duke Saturday night, and Loperfido walked it off Sunday with a base hit in the bottom of the 10th. “Having Joey back strengthens our defense and gives us a tremendous athlete at the top of the lineup and a great competitor,” Pollard said. “He is also one of our

best leaders, so we have that leadership factor when he’s out on the field.” Graduate right-hander Ben Gross dominated the Panthers (8-22, 2-13 in the ACC) in the first leg Saturday, allowing only two hits and tallying 10 strikeouts in seven shutout innings. An RBI single from Mervis and an RBI triple from right fielder Chase Cheek were all the scoring the Blue Devils (17-15, 6-9) could muster up in that first game. It was enough, though, as Thomas Girard managed to hold Pitt scoreless in the final two frames in a 2-0 victory for the Blue Devils. The second game of the day was much more suspenseful. Pitt had a 5-4 lead after six innings, but Loperfido sent a ball into the right field stands to give Duke a 6-5 lead , which Bryce Jarvis held for the save, stranding a man on third to end the game. Sunday’s game showcased the Blue Devils’ resilience. Freshman right hander Cooper Stinson struggled on the mound, especially in the third inning. Pitt loaded the bases, which prompted Pollard to remove Stinson, marking his second-shortest start of the season. Hunter Davis, who replaced Stinson, hit designated hitter Kyle Hess in the leg on his first pitch, scoring one, and an errant throw on a potential double play allowed another run to score. Only a diving stop and hurl to first from Duke third baseman Erikson Nichols ended a disastrous inning. Panther starter Christian Camacho left early clutching his elbow, and he was replaced by Chris Gomez. Then, Mervis walked up to the plate and crushed a ball off the top of the left field wall for a two-run double. A passed ball let Mervis take third, and another passed ball let Mervis score. With that run, See BASEBALL on Page 9

Mary Helen Wood | Associate Photography Editor

Matt Mervis has provided a spark to the Blue Devil lineup in his junior campaign.

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MONDAY, APRIL 8, 2019 | 9

M. LACROSSE

W. GOLF

TRACK AND FIELD

BASEBALL

FROM PAGE 6

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between the first and second periods. “They looked a bit tentative. They looked a little bit like they were on our heels, and the deal is you’ve got to compete. If you lose, you lose. But you’ve got to be in there and I do not know that our guys were fully engaged in that first quarter.” Coming out of halftime, Duke scored the first two goals via Lowrie and freshman Garrett Leadmon. But the story of the third quarter was the Blue Devils’ defense. Notre Dame was held scoreless for the first 14 minutes of the period before Morrin wrapped around the back of the goal and finally ended the drought. Nevertheless, Montgomery found Robertson with a beautiful feed four seconds before the buzzer, with the sophomore putting it in the back of the net for a score to seize back the momentum. “It was things we had practiced during the week,” Danowski said of his team’s ability to find the open man all day—Duke totaled 10 assists. “Not necessarily for Notre Dame but just general lacrosse IQ, where we want to throw the ball inside or throw the ball to the pipe. And it was something that we worked on every day...and it is something that we hope to continue obviously as our IQ grows.” The Blue Devils took control in the fourth, scoring four more goals in a row to put the game to bed. Duke will now prepare for yet another top-10 matchup at home next Saturday, this time in the form of No. 4 Virginia.

life,” Belac told GoDuke.com. “I never expected to be able play on such a world class golf course that you can usually see it on television for most people and having the honor of being around the world’s best players and playing on such a great course.” The Blue Devils’ lone senior was rendered nearly speechless. “It is another type of golf. It is almost not golf what we played today. You have to be very creative. Thankfully we were assigned a caddie, because they were really, really helpful reading the greens and telling us where to hit the ball towards the green. It was a great experience and I played very well so that made just much better.” Wake Forest senior Jennifer Kupcho took home the hardware after turning in a five-under 67 Saturday to win by four shots as she went toe-for-toe with Arkansas’ Maria Fassi. Kupcho, the world’s top-ranked amateur, eagled the par-5 13th hole, becoming the first woman to make eagle at Augusta National in a competitive round, and shot fiveunder on the final six holes alone to close out the win. Top-ranked Duke will get a shot at redemption against Kupcho, her Demon Deacons and the rest of the conference in two weeks when the Blue Devils head to the ACC championships at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, N.C. Duke will be in search of back-to-back titles after securing its 21st crown last year.

performances in the last events to the Blue Devils took a 3-2 lead—their first win the meet—there were impressive of the game. performances all around. The men’s Jarvis, pitching for the second time in distance team went 18-0 in the 3000 two days, gave up three runs in the fifth steeple and 3000 meters, back-to-back inning. An RBI single from Pittsburgh events that really blew the competition second baseman Luca Lotito and a two-run open, putting Beatty and Battle in double from first baseman Bryce O’Farrell position to seal the deal. In the women’s gave the Panthers a 5-3 lead. 3000 meter, Duke swept the top three “[The doubleheader] put a big strain spots, securing nine vital points for the on us,” Pollard said. “That shortened, team to give the Blue Devils a shot to compressed series puts a lot of pressure on win it all. you from a pitching standpoint. We had to “We asked some guys to do some really go further with some guys than we big things. We asked some girls to do would have liked to.” some big things. And they all stepped It didn’t stay that way for long. Cheek’s up,” said Ogilvie. “And part of it is that single to center drove in Loperfido, who Duke-UNC thing. They really want to was hit by a pitch to get on base. After beat [that] school and they had their left fielder Kyle Gallagher walked, Nichols moment tonight.” doubled down the left field line, scoring The Blue Devils registered 42 Cheek and Gallagher and giving Duke back personal bests at the meet and one school the lead at 6-5. O’Farrell bungled a chopper record, set by senior India Lowe in the off the bat of—who else—Mervis, letting 400-meter hurdles with a time of 57.58, Nichols score. breaking the previous record time of But it still wasn’t over. Jarvis gave up 58.35. Graduate student Charles Cooper two homers that tied the game up at nine took first place in the 1500-meters and apiece, but Mervis scored the winning finished second in the 800-meters. His run on Loperfido’s walk-off single in the eight individual points were the most of bottom of the tenth to close it out at 10-9. anyone for Duke. Also impressing was “I’m really proud of our guys,” Pollard Brittany Aveni, the heroic anchor of the said. “They had to really work to get it. Pitt 4x400m relay, who won the 800m with a played exceptionally tough baseball. We personal best of 2:06.49. were fortunate, stayed in the fight and got The Blue Devils will send a contingent the sweep.” to the Tennessee Relays in Knoxville, Tenn. Duke will head battle crosstown rival next weekend and will return to Durham N.C. Central Tuesday at the Durham The New Times Syndication SalesAthletic Corporation for the Duke InviteYork the weekend after. Park at 6 p.m. 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 For Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 For April8, 4,2019 2019 ForRelease ReleaseThursday, Monday, April

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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

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10 | MONDAY, APRIL 8, 2019

On the UMC and making space for LGBTQ+ people

n February, United Methodist Church officials and members from all around the world— including a delegation from the Duke Methodist ministry—voted to double down on its existing ban on LGBTQ+ clergy and same-sex marriages. While Duke as a whole has not commented on the decision, despite the fact that it was founded as a Methodist university, others have spoken up. The Campus Minister of Duke Wesley (Duke’s Methodist congregation), responded to the vote with an official statement reaffirming LGBTQ+ people’s place in the Methodist church. Greg Jones, dean of Duke’s Divinity School, issued a statement saying that he and others are “grieving the deep wounds to the United Methodist Church.” A columnist for The Chronicle, Nathan Heffernan, wrote an opinion piece calling for inclusion in religion—the Catholic church, specifically. Clearly, there is opposition to the vote and support for LGBTQ+ students on campus, but the question of whether or not it is enough in the face of larger religious institutions remains. Duke Wesley’s stance is riskier than it seems on the surface. In vocalizing its support for LGBTQ+ people, the group risks losing the funding and legitimacy that the overall United Methodist Church provides. The same institutional pressure to uphold exclusionary policies also exists in many other

onlinecomment “As a Duke student from small town eastern North Carolina in the 1970s, I experienced some of the same situations you describe in your column. My Southern accent and colloquialisms - I said and still say things like “I reckon so” - caused many people to brand me as less intelligent.” —Julia M. Gray, responding to “It’s called ‘pop.’ Change my mind.” via Facebook on April 5, 2019

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ministries on campus. And although the critiques of the UMC and other religious institutions are valid, Duke undergraduate Christian groups deserve similar scrutiny. LGBTQ+ students learn how to navigate religious life at Duke solely through word of mouth. The homophobia and transphobia that LGBTQ+ students can face within religious spaces are sometimes taken as immutable qualities. Outdated views on gender and

Editorial Board sexuality in spiritual circles can be alienating and put LGBTQ+ individuals in a position where they feel they must between their identity and faith. The bottom line of all this exclusion is this: LGBTQ+ people are suffering. Those who do not yet have the agency to leave these institutions are facing horrors such as conversion therapy. Those seeking religion and/or spirituality of their own accord are often being turned away. Religious LGBTQ+ people exist, and they are not walking oxymorons. All that exclusion does is harm vulnerable congregation members. By not taking identity-affirming stances, religious undergraduate organizations are failing to serve members of their congregation—both current and prospective. Inclusion of all people in religious communities is possible; in fact, there are many examples of it on Duke’s campus alone. In the Divinity School, LGBTQ+ students have their own student group, Sacred Worth. This collective was represented among a group of students who presented a list of LGBTQ+ related demands at the Divinity School State of the School address last year. Jewish Life at Duke along with many other non-

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It’s called ‘pop.’ Change my mind

Direct submissions to: E-mail: chronicleletters@duke.edu

Christian institutions at Duke are consistently making small, radical changes that don’t necessarily make the news. This includes designated gender neutral bathrooms, flexibility when it comes to gender-specific religious rituals and sharing pronouns at the start of every meeting. The discussion group, Queer and Trans Christians—formerly known as Liberating the Faith—is an intentionally healing and accepting space for undergraduates who are interested in exploring Christianity while celebrating sexuality and gender variance. In the Triangle, there are a number of accepting religious organizations and community centers as well as an interfaith Religious Trauma Support Group that meets at the LGBTQ Center of Durham every month. LGBTQ+ religious folks and allies have set plenty of precedents in all faiths already. Religious groups that still exclude do not have an excuse. The United Methodist Church’s vote was disappointing and hurtful—nothing can change that, and nothing can erase that kind of alienating pain. However, there are existing spiritual institutions doing meaningful work of making worship inclusive. LGBTQ+ folks deserve acceptance and although religion isn’t at always the only place they can find it, faith should be accessible to any and all who seek it out. No exceptions. So to LGBTQ+ faith leaders and allies, keep listening, learning and living out values of love and acceptance. And to all LGBTQ+ people, no matter your relationship with faith: you are seen and you are loved.

have a confession to make: in my head, I use the word “pop” instead of “soda” when I see someone grab a Mountain Dew or when I pass the Coca Cola bottles in the campus store. It’s a part of me; I have been saying it for as long as I remember, and until I left high school, I never thought much about it. Before coming to Duke, I never realized that it was weird to say “pop” to refer to the category of sweet drinks that students add to their alcohol to mask the taste. After one of my friends caught me saying it and, mostly in jest, called my choice of words “gross,” I’ve put a lot of thought into what I say when referring to pop and rarely say the word out loud. But after considering why I stopped saying it, I’ve realized that “pop” is more than a unique linguistic

Luke Sallmen COLUMNIST feature from my childhood and from my home of rural Pennsylvania—it’s a cultural tradition that defines the place that I was born in. I grew up in a town in Western Pennsylvania that is home to between 700 and 1000 people. Yes, you read that correctly. Seven hundred. My next-door neighbors are Amish and have a woodworking business. The family that lives across the street has a patch of woods where they hunt deer. One of my soccer coaches growing up was a farmer, and his sons both played on teams with me, drove trucks and worked harder than almost anyone I knew. This is a small town small town. Growing up amongst the farms, mills, Amish families and stalks of corn that mark the Pennsylvania landscape, enabled me to learn some things that people from other places would never know. I learned how to avoid neighbors’ guard dogs while running and how to take care of different types of farm animals. I learned to ride a four-wheeler (also known as a quad/ATV if you don’t know the PA lingo), how to survive without air conditioning in an old farmhouse, how to garden and that fries with vinegar are actually delicious. But unless you are very close to me at Duke, you’ve

likely never heard me say a word about most of those things. Why? Those are things that set me apart at Duke, but not things that Duke students value when they say they value “diversity.” If I talk about the fact that I am from a small rural town in Western Pennsylvania, I am associated with things that (most) Duke students look down upon—with being poor, with being a redneck, with all of the preconceived notions that primarily wealthy urban and suburban students have when they think about rural places. Because of those reasons, or because fitting in at Duke often means pretending I come from a major metropolitan area—or, as we Duke students like to say, “Just outside of [insert city name here]”—I do not often discuss my hometown unless we are already friends. For those same reasons, I do not tell people that some of my most cherished pets growing up were my goats, or that I’ve run through cornfields at night or accompanied my mom to a deer processing shop (think: a butcher shop, but a lot more in-your-face). Because prevailing Duke culture—or what is deemed socially acceptable—is being from Connecticut or California and looking, acting and especially speaking, the part, I’ve stayed quiet. Because it’s not cool, and because it’s a pain to explain why I use different language than my peers, I try to remember to say “soda,” or avoid saying anything when I can. But I refuse to stay silent on the idea that what is cool is being (or pretending to be) from WASPy Northeastern suburbia or one of the wealthy Bay Area suburbs. I do not think that trading in one of your own linguistic idiosyncrasies or other harmless cultural practices for acceptance is something we as Duke students should support, whether we are from the middle-of-nowhere or from Austin, Texas or from another country entirely. If we want a more inclusive—not just diverse— social environment, we should try not to subscribe to stereotypes, we should not tease our friends for parts of themselves that are both harmless and hallmarks of their upbringings, and we should end the stigma of saying “pop.” Luke Sallmen is a Trinity sophomore, a “pop” evangelist, and he looks forward to hearing from yinz in a later column. His column runs on alternate Wednesdays.

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Surviving Duke one relationship at a time

’ve recently been the unwilling participant in a (notso) mysterious game against myself. The game, which has lasted a few weeks now, is simple: at every moment I am equally as likely to sob as I am to emit a (loud) cross between a chuckle and a cackle. The bit is that I don’t know which one will emerge in any given moment, a dash of anxious spontaneity I never asked for but experience nonetheless. And, sadly, there’s no prize at the end—only the unavoidable pity in the eyes of a stranger observing my face (which looks something like the image above) in Pitchforks. If one wanted to psychoanalyze me, they could point out the pressures of classes or relationships collapsing in on me, and classify my game metaphor as a useful distraction from actually unpacking and addressing my own issues. On the other hand, pursuing

Gino Nuzzolillo COLUMNIST such deep introspection sounds like hard work. Thus, when I walked into Mad Hatter’s last Thursday to catch up with a former professor, I remained in the thick of my game-like fantasy, desperately worried my ugly crying face would emerge and she’d be forced to witness it. Imagine my surprise, then, when within moments of us sitting down to talk, everything—fears, anxieties and a few droplets of saliva—spilled onto the table. I talked about second-guessing my decisions in planning an event, my complicated study abroad feelings, and the insecurities I felt in my friendships. The emotional balancing act that had dominated my daily life for weeks slowly dissolved as she held space for me to blather, rant and process. She didn’t let me

off the hook, though—she probed, asked difficult questions, provided support and affirmation. When we finished and walked out of Mad Hatter’s, I felt relieved leaving that frothy mixture of saliva and insecurity behind. I could not have survived some of my most difficult moments at Duke without mentors like this professor—mentors who were willing to critique, validate and offer their own versions of dealing with self-created game show metaphors. I remember my first year, for instance, drinking coffee on a plaza outside Perkins with someone older than me, a person who would become both a friend and mentor, as I told them about my ill-conceived project idea around workers’ rights at Duke. They would have been entirely justified in leaving me at that table without a word and never speaking to me again. Instead, miraculously, they stayed and offered gentle yet critical feedback, shared a brief history of labor activism at this University, and left me with the entirely sensible advice to read one, two or maybe ten more articles before trying out a new idea. While first-year me was probably a little stunned, I think we are all grateful to this friend that they checked me early. Over time, I realized I was incredibly lucky and thoroughly undeserving of the mentors in my life—my parents, friends, professors, activists. My appreciation for them grew because without their care and guidance I wouldn’t have figured out that my true love was history, not public policy, that I could participate in meaningful anti-poverty work in my local community, or that attending CAPS was a necessary step for me to take. They provided examples of moral courage, humility and how to be not-completely-cynical about Duke or the world. Without them I could not be here (both literally at my computer and in a grand spiritual sense), and there is no way I can adequately repay them. Nonetheless, I know I must somehow attempt to make good on the love they showed me. I believe we are each responsible, in

our own ways, for pouring whatever love, knowledge or support we’ve been given into those who come after us, whether it’s a sibling, a first-year in your SLG, or it’s through a program you create that will benefit Duke students long after you leave this campus. It’s a type of mentorship and community-building that goes beyond mere networking but rather a commitment to building relationships that make surviving this University a little bit easier. If done well, these relationships aren’t just a one-way exchange but reciprocal, a place to be vulnerable and collectively sharpen one’s thoughts and beliefs. A shared, meaningful relationship requires that both mentor and mentee recognize that they can learn from each other—that gaps in age or knowledge don’t necessarily weaken the validity of one’s insight or analysis. The mentors I’ve admired most, and in turn the relationships I treasured most, respected me as much as I respected them. This is the charge I’ll attempt to carry with me in my last year at Duke. The mentorship I received has left me determined to muster the resources and knowledge I do have and pass them on—a position I never imagined I’d be in when I first stumbled onto campus. I’ll share the classes I loved (and hated), the stories of brilliant students, workers and community members who held Duke accountable, and the absolutely crucial advice to immediately become friends with Duke’s librarians. I’ll try to listen, refrain from making dad jokes, and be there for performances, rallies or the Gardens on warm Sunday afternoons. I don’t imagine I’ll always do it as well as my former professor did for me last Thursday. Frequently, in fact, I make situations worse. But, at the very least, I know I can always commit to keep learning and showing up. Gino Nuzzolillo is a Triniy junior. His column usually runs on alternate Tuesdays.

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On Greek Ally Week

ut after considering why I stopped saying it,Back in January, I opened an Instagram story posted by the sorority I used to be a member of and my stomach dropped. It was a boomerang of several chapter members with a caption about being excited for the last round of recruitment—and, I watched as, dead center, two women kissed on the lips and then laughed in a nauseating loop. The dictionary defines cultural appropriation as “the unacknowledged or

Miriam Levitin GUEST COLUMNIST inappropriate adoption of the customs, practices, ideas, etc. of one people or society by members of another and typically more dominant people or society.” It’s being able to enjoy the benefits of certain identities and cultures without having to face the discrimination that comes from actually holding those identities. In the case of queer appropriation, it can erase the voices and identities of actual queer people, exploit queer culture while perpetuating antiqueer prejudice, and even directly denigrate members of the queer community. One example I see with aggravating frequency is a photo posted to social media of platonic friends accompanied by a caption about how she is “in love” with her

“girlfriend” or “wife.” I understand that it is likely meant in good fun, but when I know women who would be kicked out of their homes for posting a photo kissing their actual girlfriend, it doesn’t seem very funny to me. By all means, express the love you have for your friends on social media. However, if you joke about being in a queer relationship when you are not, I am never going to feel comfortable talking to you about women I’m actually dating. We seldom get the opportunity to unpack the LGBTQIA+-excluding culture perpetuated in the Greek environment. I’ve seen heterosexual-identifying women in sororities kiss one another as a “joke” while simultaneously expressing their discomfort with queer sisters in actual sexual and romantic relationships. I’ve heard of the fear that wearing braids and flannels during a round of recruitment would make the chapter look like “the lesbian sorority.” Then there’s the “My Tie” party, where your blind date finds you by the tie that you’re wearing—his tie. While Greek life maintains that the purpose of fraternitysorority “mixers” goes beyond meeting romantic and sexual partners, sororities— whose members indubitably have friends across chapters—do not host parties with one another. Of course, these are just a few examples, and thus do not include other negative experiences in sororities, as well as in fraternities, SLGs, and additional affiliations. I also want to recognize that many queer students have been fortunate to find affinity groups and supportive allies

within their organizations. If this doesn’t seem like a big issue to you, or if you haven’t considered how you may have inadvertently made your peers feel uncomfortable, unwelcome, and even unsafe, I invite you to reflect on allyship and the impact of your actions. You don’t need to fully understand something in order to empathize with others and make minor adjustments that take major steps toward inclusivity. Microaggressions have long-lasting consequences for marginalized individuals, and no one should have to feel like they need to conceal their authentic identity within a group that is supposed to be supportive and empowering. Last year when I was working on Greek Ally Week programming, a gender nonconforming student asked me if they are welcome in fraternities or sororities. I responded that the system inherently perpetuates the gender binary and cisheteronormativity, thus making it unwelcome to trans and GNC students simply by its structure. We also know that Greek life is exclusive for a whole range of other reasons, including high cost and lack of racial and ethnic diversity. Social change is achieved at multiple levels. I believe in fighting for the big picture— eradicating these oppressive systems— while concurrently treating symptoms by supporting current LGBTQIA+ students in Greek life, as it remains omnipresent on campus. Our programming provides space for LGBTQIA+ students in fraternities and sororities of all councils to confidentially

connect and discuss their experiences, as well as the opportunity for other folks to learn about how these issues manifest. Our Ally 201 training goes beyond introductions and definitions to provide an open discussion about intersectionality and allyship beyond Greek life, interrogating the implications of a binary, heteronormative system. I envision the goal of Greek Ally Week as pushing the Greek and broader Duke community to be more cognizant of LGBTQIA+ issues and more supportive of all individuals. Greek life as a whole is certainly not a welcoming space for LGBTQIA+ folks, especially not for trans and nonbinary students, and while I hope we can change that, I also know that a week-long initiative is not going to radically transform a historically exclusive institution—nor does this one area of advocacy work have the capacity to fully challenge all of the other discriminatory aspects of Greek life. In the meantime, I believe that if just one LGBTQIA+ Greekaffiliated person feels affirmed because of our efforts, or one chapter president initiates an inclusive organizational change, then Greek Ally Week is not in vain. Miriam Levitin is a Trinity senior. She would like to acknowledge that she does not speak for everyone involved with GAW or all queer individuals in Greek life or otherwise. Additionally, she uses queer as a shorthand umbrella term for the LGBTQIA+ community, while recognizing that some folks do not feel comfortable with this word due to its history as a pejorative term.

12 | MONDAY, APRIL 8, 2019

The Chronicle

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AVENATTI

the government’s investigation into grassroots basketball and the related extortion case.” FROM PAGE 1 In the New York federal case, prosecutors alleged Avenatti threatened to give Nike bad publicity before recruiting. On March 27, he tweeted “And Duke…” during a an earnings call and the beginning of the NCAA men’s stream of tweets about his allegations of recruiting impropriety. basketball tournament in March, according to the New “There’s nothing there,” Krzyzewski told Yahoo Sports when York Times. asked about the March 27 tweet. Avenatti allegedly told Nike that he would release evidence Avenatti, who rose to prominence while serving as porn Nike funneled money to college basketball recruits—such star Stormy Daniels’ attorney in her lawsuits payments would be in violation filed against President Donald Trump, was also of NCAA rules—unless he was recently charged in a separate California bank Avenatti used illegal and paid $22.5 million. and wire fraud case. He faces up to more than extortionate threats for the “Avenatti used illegal and 50 years in prison for the charges. extortionate threats for the “I’m still waiting for [Nike] to call me a liar purpose of obtaining millions purpose of obtaining millions and state they have not been bribing players of dollars in payments from a of dollars in payments from for years to go to ‘Nike’ colleges in violation of public company a public company,” Geoffrey countless federal criminal statutes,” Avenatti S. Berman, the United States tweeted Saturday morning. geoffrey berman attorney for the Southern Nike responded in a statement to The UNITED STATES ATTORNEY FOR THE District of New York, told the Oregonian Saturday night, declining to answer SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK New York Times. “Calling this specific questions. anticipated payout a retainer or “Nike will not respond to the allegations of a settlement doesn’t change what an individual facing federal charges of fraud and extortion it was—a shakedown. When lawyers use their law licenses as and aid in his disgraceful attempts to distract from the weapons, as a guise to extort payments for themselves, they athletes on the court at the height of the tournament,” the are no longer acting as attorneys.” company wrote. “Nike will continue its cooperation with Michael Model contributed reporting.

GOP

DRUG

CHAPEL

FROM PAGE 2 Democratic Party. The indictment comes not long after election fraud was reported in North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District election in November 2018. The North Carolina State Board of Elections determined “a coordinated, unlawful, and substantially resourced absentee ballot scheme” in two counties in the 9th district tied to Republican candidate Mark Harris. “What you saw in North Carolina Nine is very different than what we’ve seen reported this week. Having said that, we have to have some quick action on leadership and getting our message out as a state party,” said Sen. Thom Tillis, former N.C. House speaker, according to The News and Observer. With the Republican National Convention, two House special elections and many statewide races in the next foreseeable two years, the chaos within the N.C. Republican Party is less than desirable for the party’s upcoming political prospects. “We’re going to be the host of the 2020 convention, and you’re always trying to find ways to improve your brand and take away from any distractions,” Tillis told the News and Observer.

FROM PAGE 3

FROM PAGE 1

brexanolone must be administered to patients via IV infusion over the span of 60 hours. Beyond the long time commitment required, administration of the drug also comes at the steep price of over $34,000, which doesn’t include the cost of inpatient care for the two-and-ahalf day treatment. “Trying to work on longer-acting formulations of this particular molecule would be a very fruitful undertaking,” the researcher said. “We’re working in that particular area now—looking at longer-acting formulations of allopregnanolone.” Wald explained that research is also ongoing to assess an oral, at-home administration of the medication, as well as to explore the utility of this medication for more moderate degrees of PPD, which are more frequently seen clinically. Allopregnanolone has great therapeutic value not just for postpartum depression. It can help combat symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia and pain. Marx’s research at Duke and the Durham Veterans Affairs Health Care System is focused on developing longer-acting formulations of allopregnanolone to enhance adherence and access to these promising treatments. Although there is still progress to be made to address the accessibility and cost of the drug, the FDA approval represents a promising step forward. “While it takes 60 hours in a hospital setting to administer brexanolone at this point, the benefit to those mothers is clear,” Wald noted. “They are able to get back to their babies within a few days and function much better. This is in contrast to the weeks of oral antidepressant treatment needed to see similar benefit.” The buzz generated around the approval of the medication has stirred conversation in a way that helps de-stigmatize maternal depression, Marx explained. She elaborated that people discussing PPD more as “a neurobiological occurrence” clarifies that PPD is not viewed as “a sign of weakness.” “It’s not something you did. It’s not your fault,” Marx said. “I think that will go a long way to trying to combat the disorder overall.”

lights for more than half a decade, the lights had not been installed in existing buildings until more recently. Duke Facilities Management installed the initial wave of LED lights in 14 buildings in spring 2018. The project cost $2.2 million, but Duke projected that energy savings that came with the project would pay for itself within four years. “LED Lighting has been growing for the past decade in terms of the product options that are out there,” Casey Collins, Duke Facilities Management energy manager, told Duke Today. “It’s really been a silent revolution in the building technology world.” The new lights add to a year of change for the Chapel, after longtime carillonneur J. Samuel Hammond stepped down from his role in November. The lighting overhaul also comes less than five years after the University improved the Chapel’s electrical system and replaced the roof after a piece of the ceiling collapsed in 2012. That round of renovations closed the Chapel for a year between May 2015 and May 2016. The yearlong construction was the first major restoration of the University’s Chapel since it was built in the 1930s. Though not as major, the new lights will help Duke save energy and costs, while adding a splash of color to the campus icon.

EYES

FROM PAGE 3 time to see how retinal structures change as people age, but this goal is reliant on the amount of funding that the team can secure. Ultimately, Fekrat explained that retinal scans may allow for early detection of Alzheimer’s, letting patients enter clinical trials before it is too late for the potential drugs to be effective. This type of detection could also be used for other neurological degeneration diseases such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease. The study found Alzheimer’s to be statistically significant even after testing for potential significance of factors other than the disease, such as age, sex and years of education.

TECH FROM PAGE 2

Ian Jaffe | Special Projects Photography Editor Most nights, the Chapel is not lit up in special colors.

Fekrat also noted that, because the study excluded 22% of their original participants for better data, the research team might need to test more people. For example, they excluded scans of patients that had existing conditions that could show similar findings, such as diabetes or glaucoma. There will be a continuation of tests in August that will study such parameters, as well as include patients with diabetes and glaucoma. Additionally, the researchers want to learn more about the connection between MCI patients and Alzheimer’s. “Looking forward, we need to image many more patients,” Fekrat said. “These people were just from North Carolina, and the majority were Caucasian. We need to study more diverse populations. We need to validate our data in larger populations.”

“The problem is still here,” Liu stated. “We always knew it was there and now we have the statistics to back it up.” For Liu and DeVeaux, the conclusions of the Percentage Project validate what they’ve seen in their own classroom experiences at Duke. “If you’re female, if you’re a person of color, these number are not surprising because these are actually your lived experiences,” Liu said. Liu said that she hopes the Duke community will act on these results to actively reduce the disparities faced by underrepresented groups in technology. However, she said the burden is on the groups in power to make spaces more inclusive of others. “I don’t think that you should put the burden on the people who feel marginalized to make these spaces welcome to them,” Liu said. Liu and DeVeaux said the WiT community is part of the solution with its in-group mentorship. DeVeaux came into Duke without computer science experience and credits WiT with providing her the initial support she needed to pursue her interdepartmental major in computational media. However, Liu and DeVeaux both expressed concerns that although progress is being made, Duke and the broader technology community have much further to go in making sure that diversity in representation is actually occurring. “You can have like 50% of your board all women, or you can have representation from different racial and ethnic groups, but at the end of the day, if these groups don’t feel comfortable in these spaces, your organization is still not diverse,” Liu said.