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
Monday, October 19, 2009
ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTH YEAR, Issue 40
www.dukechronicle.com
University gets B+ on sustainability
Dunk contest, Smith’s play highlight Countdown event by Taylor Doherty The chronicle
From the use of a Mike Posner tune in the introduction videos to the appearance of Duke greats Christian Laettner and Bobby Hurley, Friday night was all about celebrating Duke. The Countdown to Craziness event combined the Blue-White game with videos featuring players, a dunk contest, an awards show and even an outdoor concert, creating a lively start to the season. “It was amazing, a great atmosphere,” junior Nolan Smith said. “The team was very excited and the coaches [were too], and I think we went out and played a great game.” Following player introductions, the Blue Devils tipped off for the first time this season in front of a expectant crowd. The BlueWhite game had players divided among two teams that competed in two 12-minute halves. A brief halftime and the presentation of awards for past Duke moments during timeouts helped keep the scrimmage from dragging or slowing down the action. Smith stole much of the spotlight on the floor, showing off a visibly improved jump shot. The junior guard shot 10-of-14 from the floor—including 3-of-6 from 3-point range—en route to an efficient 25 points. In the first half, Jon Scheyer, Kyle Singler, Mason Plumlee and Miles Plumlee joined Smith in the starting lineup for the White team. That group of five would start
by Jeremy Ruch The chronicle
Duke students may prefer As, but when it comes to the environment, their university is stuck in the B range. For the third time in as many years, Duke earned a B+ on the Sustainable Endowment Institute’s 2010 College Sustainability Report Card, released earlier this month. The University received As in seven of the report card’s nine categories, including green building, transportation, and climate change and energy. According to its report card, Duke did well in these categories in part because of its environmentally friendly buildings, carpooling and bike-sharing programs and commitment to carbon neutrality. “Obviously, we don’t like to get anything but As,” said Bill Chameides, dean of the Nicholas School of the Environment. “But when it comes to the tangible things, it’s clear we do A work.” For earning As in all six “campus categories,” SEI named Duke one of 80 Campus Sustainability Leaders. SEI has released College Sustainability Report Cards since 2007 and now evaluates more than 300 universities for their efforts emily eshman/The Chronicle
See sustainability on page 4
Sophomore Olek Czyz’s performance in the dunk contest stole the show Friday at Countdown to Craziness.
See blue-white on page 9
First shipment of H1N1 vaccine Budget concerns will be offered to pregnant women prompt Earth by Toni Wei
The chronicle
Duke is offering a limited amount of injectable H1N1 vaccine to high-risk groups within the Duke community. Priority for the first doses of the vaccine will be given to pregnant University employees, students and hospital patients, in accordance with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the North Carolina State Health Department. An e-mail was sent to the Duke community Sunday afternoon informing recipients of the vaccine’s limited availability. Pregnant students and employees can receive the vaccine starting today through employee health or their Duke University Health System Ob/Gyn provider, according to the
e-mail. Unlike the inhalable FluMist, which is not recommended for pregnant women, the injection is projected to have a safety record similar to that of the seasonal flu vaccine. Dr. Bill Purdy, executive director of Duke Student Health, said Student Health will receive few doses to administer to students, but is unclear on the exact number. “We will get some, but we don’t expect a lot because we don’t really follow pregnant women,” he said. “But we’ll have some in case there are some [pregnant] students who haven’t signed up with an Ob/Gyn.” According to the CDC Web site, pregnant women are at a higher risk for serious illness and death from contracting H1N1, commonly known as swine flu.
Field hockey wins 2 on trip through Virginia, Page 8
Purdy said any additional vaccine would be distributed to other high risk groups—such as frontline health care providers and people under 25—according to CDC guidelines. “I think there should be enough [to cover pregnant women],” he said. “We’ll hopefully get more within the next week or so, but nobody really knows—it’s a strange situation.” The e-mail sent to the Duke community stated more updates will follow as the University receives more shipments of the H1N1 vaccine. Student Health will be notified of additional shipments of the vaccine a day or two prior to their arrival, Purdy said. “We just have to make the best of it,” he said.
Men’s Golf: Long road ahead Roach, Long lead Blue Devils to fifth-place finish in Tennessee, PAGE 9
Jam cancellation by Jinny Cho The chroniclE
Students hoping to split geodes and glimpse marine animals at this year’s Earth Jam may will to wait at least another year. The free, interactive environmental festival that takes place annually in conjunction with the Majors Fair will not be held Tuesday due to recent economic strain, officials from the Nicholas School of the Environment announced. “Earth Jam has been a great success helping us raise awareness of our programs and reach thousands of students, staff and faculty members with key environmental messages,” said Bill Chameides, dean of the Nicholas School. “In future years, we will definitely revisit the possibility of sponsoring it once again. This year, however, the most responsible decision was to cancel it.” Earth Jam introduces undergraduates to academic programs at See earth jam on page 5
ONTHERECORD
“Many of the delegates are simply stumbling around the drylands of their respective countries with blinders on.”
—Professor James Reynolds on a UN convention. See story page 3