The Chronicle 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
Tuesday, january 26, 2010
YT candidates have ties to DSG, ICC
Disaster in Haiti: Two weeks later Nation still struggling to recover from Jan. 12 earthquake How you can help Visit www.duke.edu haiti to find information on ways to give time and money to aid victims in Haiti.
by Lindsey Rupp and Zachary Tracer The chronicle
The new Young Trustee selection process has yielded its first crop of semifinalists. Six of the seven semifinalists have ties to Duke Student Government or the former Inter-Community Council, now known as the Council for Collaborative Action, and four are leaders of student organizations. The Young Trustee Nominating Committee will interview semifinalists today and release a list of three finalists news Thursday night. Special Secretary for analysis the Young Trustee process Amanda Turner, a junior, said the list of semifinalists to hold a spot on the Board of Trustees did not surprise her. “I guess that’s kind of indicative of the process and how it’s a similar issue that was brought up before, that only people who know about the process care enough to run,” said Turner, who is also president of the Black Student Alliance. “Hopefully, the general election may encourage more people beyond the DSG and ICC circles [to run].” At least 12 on the nominating committee are current members of DSG or ICC, and most of the at-large members disclosed some connection to semifinalists. Still, members of the selection committee said they are working to limit the potential for conflict of interest. “I’m not evaluating them on, ‘Do I like them?’” said DSG Executive Vice President Gregory Morrison, a junior. “I’m evaluating them on, ‘Can they do a job? Will they be good for Duke?’” To minimize bias in selecting semifinalists, all identifying information was supposed to be removed from individuals’ applications by a non-voting chair. Students submitted applications to Morrison before a chair could be elected, leaving him to redact the applications and exposing him to the identities of all the applicants. YTNC Chair Lauren Moxley, a sophomore, said that although the situation was not ideal, Morrison did not voice any partiality in discussions. “It was unfortunate that that had to happen this time, but we will make sure that doesn’t happen in the future,” she said. Turner said she was pleased to see three women on the list of semifinalists, but said the lack of racial diversity was an issue. “It’s disappointing, but as someone who worked on this last year, you have to reach out to them,” Turner said. “It’s not an apathy about the position, but you need to make the position more relevant to people.” See YT on page 9
ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTH YEAR, Issue 81
www.dukechronicle.com
How to give You can donate $10 to the American Red Cross by texting “HAITI” to 9099. The donation will be charged to your cell phone bill. Students can also use their DukeCard account to make donations on FLEX by visiting http://dukecard. duke.edu/studentdisasterrelief/. How you can get involved The Chaplain’s Office of Duke Divinity School is sponsoring a “Hope for Haiti” benefit concert in Page Auditorium Feb. 5 at 7:30 p.m. Performers will include dancer Gaspard Louis, violinist Reginald Patterson and blues guitarist Toby Bonar. Attendees are asked to donate $10 at the door and all proceeds will go to charities that aid victims in Haiti. If you want to make yourself available to travel to Haiti as a volunteer, sign up to join the Duke University Hospital State Medical Assistance Team by visiting ServNC.org. If the federal government requests assistance from North Carolina, Duke’s SMAT could be asked to travel to Haiti.
Carol Guzy/The washington post
Home dedication, court ruling bring closure in UNC senior’s passing A ceremony in Chapel Hill Saturday marked the dedication of the Courtland Benjamin Smith Memorial House, which will honor the memory of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill senior who was shot and killed last Fall. The house will be constructed by members of UNC’s chapter of Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity and other Habitat for Humanity volunteers. Courtland Smith was the president of UNC’s DKE chapter at the time of his death. The Houston, Texas native was pulled over and shot by Courtland Smith Archdale, N.C. police officers Aug. 23, 2009 after he called 911 intoxicated to ask authorities for help, discussing thoughts of suicide and saying he had a gun. Randolph County District Attorney Garland Yates ruled last month that the actions of Archdale police officers during the incident were justified. Smith repeatedly ignored officers’ warnings to retreat back to his vehicle with his hands up and continued to approach the police holding a concealed black object, WRAL reported Dec. 4. Investigators later discovered that Smith possessed a Blackberry cell phone, but no weapon.
ONTHERECORD
“The workers are so regimented about their portions.... I keep thinking, ‘I’m paying $8.69 for this?’ It’s frustrating.”
—DUSDAC co-Chair Jason Taylor on the Great Hall. See story page 3
The (Raleigh) News & Observer and several other news organizations filed a public records lawsuit requesting the release of video footage of the shooting captured on a police car camera. A Randolph County Superior Court judge ruled Friday that the video would not be made public. “[The sealed video] allows us to concentrate on the home,” Smith’s father, Pharr Smith told The (Durham) Herald-Sun during Saturday’s memorial. “We are celebrating a life rather than mourning a life.” The Smith House will serve as a home for a refugee family from Myanmar. Lion and Zar Ree Wei fled the country’s oppressive military regime to settle in the Chapel Hill area. Both are now employed as housekeepers at UNC and they will live in the house with their six children, the (Raleigh) News & Observer reported Sunday. “We see this project as an important opportunity for DKE to contribute meaningfully to the community and give the chapter, parents and alumni a constructive way to cope with the enormous loss we suffered after Courtland’s death,” said UNC junior Davis Willingham, DKE’s new president. —from staff reports
From nursing to deanship Catherine Gilliss, Trinity ’71, was recently named Dean of the Nursing School, SEE Q&A PAGE 4
Cohen: Allow Smith to reintroduce himself, Page 10