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, December 7, 2009
ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTH YEAR, Issue 72
www.dukechronicle.com
Trustees Blue Devils ride out Storm hear plans for China
ST. JOHN’S 71
80 DUKE by Dan Ahrens The chronicle
Before Saturday’s contest against St. John’s, head coach Mike Krzyzewski stopped on his way from the locker room to the bench and waved his arms, yelling at fans on both sides of the court and imploring them to get louder. This rare show of pregame emotion brought the fans in Cameron Indoor Stadium to their feet and charged the atmosphere in the building to a level it hasn’t reached all season. The No. 6 Blue Devils (7-1) responded, riding the momentum of two lethal runs and inspired play inside to an 80-71 win over the visiting Red Storm (6-1). “To me this is one of the biggest games we’ve played in a couple of years,” Krzyzewski said. “I thought maybe they’d see in my face, ‘Hey, he’s pretty concerned today.’” Early on, Krzyzewski had reason to worry. St. John’s boasts one of the most athletic teams Duke is likely to see this season, and as play started the Red Storm quieted the rabid Duke crowd with six straight points to open the game. Then, with 17:25 left in the first half, seniors Lance Thomas and Brian Zoubek subbed in and completely altered the pace of play. Immediately, Zoubek grabbed a defensive rebound and scored on the other end. On Duke’s next possession Thomas knocked down an 18-foot jumper, showing See st. john’s on page 10
Financial aid faces challenges in recession by Emmeline Zhao The chronicle
The Board of Trustees met this weekend to hear updates on the University’s finances and plans in China. Board members approved continuing discussions with university and municipal partners in Shanghai and Kunshan, China to build a city-funded Duke presence in Kunshan. In its first phase, the initiative would require 200 acres and newly constructed facilities—funded by the Kunshan government—to house programs for the Fuqua School of Business. Finalized plans will be announced in early 2010, said Trustees Chair and Democratic state Sen. Dan Blue, Law ’73. “The continuing discussions in China fit in perfectly with projected international activities,” Blue said. “Our partners in China are being consulted so it’s a work in progress.” Under phase one of the China proposal, the Kunshan government would offer at least a 20-year lease and five years of utilities free of charge, according to a presenta-
melissa yeo/The Chronicle
Junior Nolan Smith and Duke rebounded from a loss to Wisconsin in the ACC/Big 10 Challenge with a 80-71 victory over St. John’s at Cameron Indoor Stadium Saturday as the Blue Devils improved to 7-1.
See trustees on page 14
About 60 monthly employees Departments in commit to early retirement Trinity see 10% cuts by Lindsey Rupp The chronicle
Tuesday is decision day for the monthly salaried employees offered an early retirement incentive. The University mailed individualized packages in mid-October to 198 employees who meet the Rule of 75 and were identified to central administrators by their department leaders as qualified for the package. As of Sunday, about 60 employees had decided to retire early, Executive Vice President Tallman Trask wrote in an e-mail. The retirees will save Duke “north of $5 million,” he said. Trask explained that it is difficult to estimate precisely how much the new retirees could save the University until de-
cisions are final. The monthly incentive has been offered to people with a wide range of salaries. The average salary is just under $70,000, Trask said, but including benefits and other costs the average amount each person could save the University is closer to $100,000. The early retirement of 295 bi-weekly employees this summer reduced Duke’s expenses by about $15 to $20 million, Trask said in September. Employees who accept the package will receive retiree health benefits, accrued vacation time up to 40 days and two week’s salary for every year they have worked at Duke, up
to 26 years. Although the deadline for accepting the package is Dec. 8 at 5 p.m., employees will have until Dec. 15 to change their minds. Board of Trustees Chair and Democratic state Sen. Dan Blue, Law ’73, said the latest round of retirements will “help tremendously” as the University tries to eliminate $70 million from its operating budget this year. “You’ve got to keep the employees in mind as you do these things,” Blue said. “It’s an effort to be fair to the employees and give them an opportunity that they would not have otherwise gotten and at the same time address the financial questions in the University.”
by Zachary Tracer The chronicle
As the economic downturn forces the University to become “a smaller Duke,” administrators have tried to shield academics. But the size of the shortfall has meant that academic departments have cut back—and more cuts may be coming. Every department in the Trinity College of Arts & Sciences has reduced its budget by 10 percent this Fall, George McLendon, dean of the faculty of Arts & Sciences, confirmed. This is the second cut academic departments in Trinity have made as the University works to reduce its spending—$2.12 billion last year—by $125 million over three
ONTHERECORD
Duke falls to Tennessee in NCAA tournament, Page 9
“I don’t think that’s something neither [Vice President for Student Affairs Larry Moneta] nor I would share with you.”
—Dean Sue Wasiolek on the Student Pharmacy’s deficit. See story page 3
years. In the Spring, the departments cut 5 percent of non-staff spending. “You know, the truth is that the University like everybody else in the world has to live within its means, and the art of creativity is figuring out how to do everything that’s important with whatever resources you have available to you,” said President Richard Brodhead. Department chairs said they were able to cut their budgets without affecting the student experience. Faculty and administrative retirements helped some departments balance their budgets and some have cut expenses such as faculty lunches, travel and printing costs. See budget on page 15
Look inside for a healthy dose of Sudoku and crosswords, EXAM BREAK