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
THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 2010
ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTH YEAR, Issue 113
www.dukechronicle.com
Police name man killed in shooting
Trojans toppled
by Lindsey Rupp THE CHRONICLE
es, such as eliminating faculty and staff discounts and closing some eateries, will cover the remaining portion. Because of the recent economic downturn, the University announced that it could no longer support the deficit, Executive Vice President Tallman Trask said. “The fact of the matter is we were subsidizing the program, and now we lost the money to do that,” he said. “Our dining program has not changed. We’re just trying to figure out how to pay for it.”
Duke University Police Department officials identified 25-year-old Aaron Lorenzo Dorsey of Durham as the victim of the fatal March 13 officer-involved shooting. DUPD officers Larry Carter and Jeffrey Liberto responded to a report of a suspicious person in front of Duke Hospital at approximately 1:09 a.m. Saturday. Dorsey attacked the officers and attempted to gain control of one of their guns, DUPD Chief John Dailey wrote in a statement Wednesday afternoon. “After other options failed to stop the individual, the other officer discharged his firearm one time, fatally wounding Mr. Dorsey,” Dailey said in the statement. In an interview Wednesday afternoon, Dailey declined to comment further on the incident, including whether Dorsey was armed and which officer fired his weapon. Dailey said Saturday that there is no evidence Dorsey was a patient, employee or visiting family member or that the incident was gang-related. During the incident, one officer suffered minor injuries. He was treated and later released by the Duke University Medical Center’s Emergency Department. Dailey declined to say which officer was treated and did not comment on the extent of his injuries. The State Bureau of Investigation and DUPD are reviewing the incident as part of standard procedure in officer-involved incidents, Dailey said. Because those investigations are ongoing, Dailey said he
See dining on page 4
See shooting on page 6
kathy sell/special to the Chronicle
Members of the men’s tennis team celebrate their upset victory over third-ranked Southern California Wednesday at Ambler Tennis Stadium. Freshman Henrique Cunha defeated the Trojans’ Steve Johnson—the top-ranked singles player in the country—to clinch the 4-3 victory for the Blue Devils. See story page 9
Facing $2.2M deficit, Dining ups fee sharply by Sanette Tanaka THE CHRONICLE
Duke Dining and Duke Student Government concluded Wednesday to increase the current $19.50 dining plan contract fee by $70.50, raising it to $90 for the 2010-2011 academic year. The fee comes after about a year of negotiations between student leaders and University Kemel Dawkins officials. Late last month,
the Board of Trustees approved a 5.2 percent increase in all dining plans. “The fee is really unfortunate, but charging students is the best we can do,” said junior Mike Lefevre, Duke Student Government chief of staff. “It needed to happen.” The new student fee will pay for less than half of the current $2.2 million deficit, which Dining plans to reduce in its entirety over a two-year period, Vice President for Campus Services Kemel Dawkins said. Administrative and operational chang-
Struggles with addiction plagued Jeffrey until passing by Zachary Tracer THE CHRONICLE
special to the Chronicle
Jay Jeffrey poses with his father Glenn in front of the Duke Chapel. Jay passed away Sunday morning after a prolonged battle with drug and alcohol addiction.
Jay Jeffrey had big blue eyes. He loved philosophy and playing tennis. He was friendly and funny and he took the time to appreciate the little things around him. Jay, 21, also struggled with drug and alcohol addiction for years, and it was that addiction, his father said, that led to his death Sunday. “There was a wonderful young man trapped inside this disease that ultimately became more powerful than anything else in his life,” said his father, Glenn Jeffrey. “We will miss him every day of our lives.”’ Jay, whose given name was Jonathan, passed away Sunday morning in his Chapel Hill apartment. He was not attending
ONTHERECORD
“It’s annoying.... It was supposed to be done when we got back from winter break—it’s been extended so many times.”
—Senior Caroline Hanson on the delayed opening of Mill Village. See story page 3
Duke at the time of his death. Investigators have not yet determined a cause or manner of death for Jay, and his father said a toxicology report will not be ready for four to eight weeks. Glenn said no alcohol or needles were found in Jay’s room Sunday afternoon, but noted that police have told him a drug-related death appears likely. Glenn said that he and his wife, Linda Jeffrey, want to share the story of Jay’s life in the hopes that it will help others dealing with addiction. “We believe that he is at peace now and that God has rescued him from his demons, and so we’re just praying for that same kind of peace now that will come to us over time as we work through this,” Glenn said.
March Madness is here Pick up The Chronicle’s NCAA Tournament Preview on newsstands today
A long struggle Jay started smoking marijuana when he was 15 and gradually began to use harder drugs, keeping his habit secret from his parents. Glenn said Jay had already been assessed for substance abuse by his senior year of high school, when he moved from Minnesota to Chapel Hill to live with his older brother, Justin Jeffrey. Justin is a 31-year-old philosophy professor at Duke. Jay, Justin and their parents all thought the move would be a positive change. For a while, Jay seemed to be doing better at East Chapel Hill High School, but Jay started using drugs and drinking again
Tyra Banks welcomes Duke’s Simone to ANTM, RECESS 3
See jeffrey on page 8
2 | THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 2010 the chronicle
worldandnation
TODAY:
6642
FRIDAY:
7344
Clinton’s Russia trip agenda reflects improving relations
EPA to tighten restrictions New jobs bill clears Senate on tick-and-flea pesticides WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Senate cleared an $18 billion jobs bill for President Barack Obama’s signature Wednesday, a down payment on what Democrats hope will be a significant election-year investment in boosting the economy. The measure passed 68-29, with 11 Republicans joining all but one Democrat present—Sen. Ben Nelson (Neb.)—in support. The bill had already passed the Senate once but the House tweaked it, requiring the second Senate vote before it could go to the White House. President Obama has praised the legislation in the past and plans to sign it. Though relatively small compared to last year’s economic stimulus package, the measure represents the first clear legislative action in months aimed squarely at persistent unemployment, and a rare bipartistan achievement from Congress.
“
Nothing is really work unless you would rather be doing something else. — James Barrie
”
WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Barack Obama’s administration said Wednesday it will increase restrictions on tick-and-flea “spot-on” pesticides for pets because of a rise in adverse reactions, including seizures and death, in cats and dogs. “These are poisons,” Steve Owens, assistant administrator in the Environmental Protection Agency’s pesticides and toxic substances office, told reporters on a conference call. “They are products designed to kill fleas and ticks.” The EPA will start reviewing product labels to determine which require more information and will develop more stringent testing and evaluation requirements, the agency said in a statement Wednesday. Names must be different for products to treat cats and dogs to avoid confusion, the agency said.
TODAY IN HISTORY 1834: First railroad tunnel in U.S. completed in Pennsylvania
Full-time Research Assistant Position The IGSP Center for Genome Ethics, Law & Policy is seeking a Research Assistant to provide administrative and research support for a grant-funded project studying the intersection of genetic research and intellectual property. Tasks include compiling references for publications, following current events related to grant project, and organizing research files. There may be opportunities for collaborating with faculty on research projects and submitting articles for publication. Successful applicant will be energetic, reliable, and self-motivated, with excellent organizational and writing skills, and analytical thinking. Great job for recent college graduate looking for 1 to 2 years of work experience. Includes employee benefits and health insurance. Start date flexible: AprilJune. To apply, send resume and cover letter to Susan Brooks <susan.brooks@duke.edu> or fax to 919-6680799. No phone calls please.
MOSCOW — A year after Secretary of State Hillary Clinton presented a mock “reset” button to Russia’s foreign minister, the two nuclear giants have significantly improved their tattered relationship, making progress on U.S. priorities such as Iran and Afghanistan and closing in on a major arms-control agreement, officials from both countries say. But it has not been easy. As Clinton arrives in Moscow Thursday morning for a two-day visit, her agenda reflects the continuing fragility of the new partnership and lingering tensions between the former Cold War foes. Clinton plans to discuss negotiations on a replacement for the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), which have dragged on beyond the pact’s expiration in December. She will also talk about possible new sanctions against Iran, an idea that Russia has tentatively accepted but
in a milder form than that pushed by the United States and European allies. The two nations will also review their cooperation with regard to Afghanistan. A Russian agreement to allow the U.S. military to fly troops and equipment over Russian territory is beginning to bear fruit, after months of red tape. “I think the past year has been successful,” said Mikhail Margelov, chairman of the foreign affairs committee of the upper house of the Russian parliament. That’s particularly true, he said, if “we keep in mind what the level of bilateral relations was when Obama came to power. It was less than zero.” Relations became strained over George W. Bush administration’s support for democracy movements in former Soviet republics and plans for an ambitious missile-defense system. The Russian invasion of Georgia in August 2008 produced a deep chill.
sarah voisin/the washington post
Oscar Martinez, 54, of Guatemala, is shown above at a wage-theft workshop sponsored by Jobs With Justice—a national campaign for workers’ rights—in Washington. He is trying to track down his former employer so he can get two weeks’ of pay he is owed. Immigrants are more vulnerable to stolen wages as the recession seems to be prompting more bosses to shortchange their workers.
Korean Diner 5-7pm Show in Page Auditorium 7:30pm Panel Discussion on Korean Education System Monday, March 22nd Events on the Plaza: Dance Team • Free Giveaways • More! Food catered by local restaurant Booth to purchase tickets [Also join us for a Korean Movie on Sunday, March 21, 8pm, White Lecture Hall]
Tickets on sale March 15th - 19th
the chronicle
THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 2010 | 3
Storms, termites delay Mill Village DSG approves Duke Student Government
fund to help pay greek dues by Matthew Chase THE CHRONICLE
One-fourth of greek males at Duke are on financial aid, according to a Duke Student Government resolution. But that makeup may soon change. DSG Senate passed a resolution supporting the creation of a financial aid fund for greek dues at its meeting Wednesday night. If implemented, the fund would allow students on financial aid—who often cannot afford greek dues—to join greek organizations. The greek system is “stratified financially and divided racially because of a disparity in income on this campus,” said senior Steven McAlpine, a student affairs senator who presented the resolution. McAlpine said he hopes to form a joint committee between DSG and the Interfraternity Council to determine the exact logistics of the initiative. McAlpine said he ultimately hopes that a Web site called “Greek Connect” will allow each greek organization to market to alumni and parents for donations. “We are making it easier for greek organizations to target their alumni by creating a system and making it very easy,” McAlpine said. “It can be a unifying force, and it could do a better job rather than making each greek group do it on their own.” McAlpine noted that this “massive endeavor” would take a couple years to complete, adding that he hopes it eventually applies to selective living groups and clubs. McAlpine said he thinks the administration is supportive of his idea, noting that Alison Rabil, See dsg on page 5
kat shirrell/The Chronicle
Construction workers plow the grounds outside Mill Village Wednesday afternoon. Although the interior of the new buildings are finished, this winter’s inclement weather caused significant delays in the construction of the areas surrounding the new building. by Nicole Kyle THE CHRONICLE
The end of Central Campus construction is in sight. If weather permits, the Mill Village and the The Devil’s Bistro—the long-anticipated Central Campus diner—will be completed and open to students in early April, said Associate Dean for Residential Life Joe Gonzalez. The opening will follow about eight months of construction and weeks of delay. The four buildings in the Mill Village will be comprised of the new Uncle Harry’s general store, an exercise facility, an activity center and a conference room. A courtyard will be enclosed by the facilities. Devil’s Bistro will be located
at the former location of Uncle Harry’s, the store which closed last June. Termite damage and a harsh winter in Durham were the biggest factors in the delays, said Steve Nowicki, vice provost and dean of undergraduate education. “The original concept was to renovate the building that the old Uncle Harry’s was in,” he said. “When the engineers went in to renovate, however, they found extensive termite damage—so we couldn’t renovate, we had to rebuild.” Nowicki said the greatest cost of the Central project See central on page 4
Read My Lips: The Coming Battle Over Taxes David Leonhardt March 18, 5:00 p.m. Sanford Building, Room 04 Health care reform, the Great Recession, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the Bush tax cuts have all contributed to worries about the American economy. Growing deficits and sinking revenues are on a collision course in the federal budget. The New York Times columnist David Leonhardt discusses the coming political battle over taxes and how to pay for it all.
Sponsored by the
Leonhardt covers economic issues and writes a weekly column, “Economic Scene,” for The New York Times. Introduction by Duke University President Richard Brodhead. Leonhardt will answer questions from the audience after his talk. Free and open to the public. Metered visitor parking is available in the Bryan Center or Science Drive lots.
Contact: Shelley.Stonecipher@duke.edu (919) 613-7306.
LeonhardtChronad.indd 1
www.sanford.duke.edu 3/11/10 6:03 PM
4 | THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 2010 the chronicle
dining from page 1 The deficit accumulated over the last several years as a result of a series of decisions made during Dining’s transition from former caterer ARAMARK Corp. to Bon Appétit Management Company in 2007, Dawkins said. “We opted for a different provider that committed to local, sustainable dining,” he said. “We also made a variety of administrative changes that affected the quality of the dining halls, including improving service and extending hours. We knew that this would result in much higher costs.” DSG rejected previous suggestions to reduce the deficit, including “directed choice” and a “freedom tax.” Under directed choice, students would have had to spend 500 to 700 food points at non-contracted Bon Appétit vendors, including the Marketplace and The Great Hall. A freedom tax would have added a 6 percent tax at the contracted eateries that are not affiliated with Bon Appétit. DSG’s latest proposal would have allowed students
to choose whether to raise their student fee or subject all their food points to directed choice. The proposition was soon abandoned because students would unlikely opt for the latter, Lefevre said. DSG President Awa Nur, a senior, could not be reached for comment Tuesday and Wednesday. The current plan also means that some students will purchase more food points. The total cost of food points and dining fee for Dining Plan A, for example, will rise from 1730 to 1820 next year. Students on off-campus and Central Campus meal plans, however, will be paying more for their plans but receive fewer food points. Meal plans typically rise slightly every year due to inflation. “Our goal is to reduce the fee every year, hopefully entirely by next year,” Lefevre said. “We should by no means take this increase as permanent and the norm.” Many of the long-term solutions correspond with DSG’s list of student provisions for the administration, which also include renegotiating vendor contracts and conducting all catering through University eateries. Lefevre added that DSG still considers the fee a “student bailout” to account
Dislocated Performances:
p o H p i H o n i t a L y r g u n t i n n i e g C a t m s i r e i f R y t n e w T e h t n i March 19, 2010 East Campus Union, Upper East Side Duke University 9:30 am – 5:00 pm How does Hip Hop speak to the day-to-day existence of Latinos in the present age of multiculturalism, globalization, and Obama? How might we read Hip Hop in different ways now, examining how it also dislocates and recalibrates Latinidad? This one-day workshop will engage the work of activists and prominent scholars in performance and cultural studies, examining the performances of race, gender, sexuality and Latinidad within Hip Hop and the political possibilities of “dislocation.”
FEATURING
Rosa Clemente • Pancho McFarland • Jose Muñoz Mark Anthony Neal • Raquel Z. Rivera • Alexandra T. Vazquez 9:30 am
Continental breakfast
10:15 am - 12:00 pm
Panel I: Over Turn-ing Tables: Sex, Gender, and Trespassing in Latino Hip Hop (Pancho McFarland, Jose Muñoz, and Alexandra T. Vazquez)
12:00 pm – 1:15 pm
Lunch
1:15pm - 3:00 pm
Panel II: Los Sueños de los fantasmas que marchan: The Liberation Dreams of an Un-seen Army (Rosa Clemente, Mark Anthony Neal, and Raquel Z. Rivera)
3:00 pm
Music and Reception featuring DJ Miraculous
For more information, visit: http://latino.aas.duke.edu/DislocatedPerformances.php
for the failure of communication between higher administration and Dining. “This fee is a band-aid, and we have only agreed to this because it came along with several stipulations,” said sophomore Pete Schork, DSG vice president for athletics and campus services. “They have wholeheartedly agreed to all of them, except for a few logistical issues.” Some of the money accumulated through the fee will be reinvested back into Dining to help fund the structural overhaul. A definite plan to correct the inherent issues has not yet been formed. “We are going to review the operations and budget issues for the next year to put Dining on a much more stable and firm footing,” Dawkins said. “[Director of Dining Services] Jim Wulforst is constantly looking to reinvent dining. That’s a commitment we make regardless of where we are in our budget.” Because the increases only concern students with meal plans, not all dining customers will be affected by the costcutting measures. “Grad students, faculty members and students not on the board plan—they’re the ones who got off easy,” Lefevre said. Additionally, the cost of the new fee for the more than 40 percent of students who receive need-based financial aid may circulate from the University, Dawkins said. Alison Rabil, assistant vice provost and director of Financial Aid, confirmed that the University will increase the financial aid budget to accommodate the fee increase. One of the DSG stipulations mandated that the fee will be in place for one year with more negotiations to follow. DSG representatives will reconvene with administrators every two weeks to work on the larger issues within the dining infrastructure, starting this year. “This is a good example of the administration working with students, but I don’t want to applaud them for doing something they already should have been doing,” Lefevre said. “[DSG] has been included in all the discussions, but the secrecy [regarding negotiations] has really been a shame. We told students as much as we could.”
central from page 3 was not financial, but a time cost and its impact on student life. “My vote was to have the restaurant open in the Fall— realistically, the very end of the Fall semester,” he said. “Having to tear down the old building added a couple of months.” Several students have voiced complaints concerning the Central construction delays. Senior Caroline Hanson said the delays will prevent her from experiencing the full benefits of Mill Village before she graduates. “It’s annoying” she said. “It was supposed to be done when we got back from winter break—it’s been extended so many times.” Starting from scratch, however, can also be a blessing in disguise, as it allowed the construction of better facilities and flexibility with building design, Nowicki said. After the discovery of termites prolonged construction last September, unexpected weather pushed the alreadydelayed opening date from March 1 to March 19 and most recently, to April 2. “Weather has unfortunately impacted the construction schedule in a very detrimental way” Gonzalez said. “We had consistent rainfall throughout the winter and there are certain types of work that can’t be done in those conditions.” Officials from LeChase Construction Inc., the company tasked with Central renovations, could not be reached for comment. LeChase was also the construction company in charge of last year’s renovations to Few Quadrangle on West Campus. Prolonged construction has done more than just disappoint students. Senior Reza Parang said construction has interfered with parking and has been an annoyance with constant noise from vacuums and pumps. “[Mill Village] looks good though,” he said. “Too bad half the people will be gone by the time it’s finished.” Other students, however, have more specific criticisms. Senior Jordan Fuson said he cares little about the restaurant. “I care about the grocery store being so small,” he said. The administration has acknowledged the disappointment resulting from postponing the grand opening. Officials have, however, expressed their appreciation for students’ patience, Gonzalez said. “Everyone would have preferred that this be something students on Central this year would have been able to benefit from for longer,” he said. “But we are very excited about what these additions will bring to Central.”
the chronicle
THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 2010 | 5
DSG from page 3 assistant vice provost and director of Financial Aid, is excited about the initiative. Financial Aid would oversee all students using the fund, McAlpine said. But the exact way in which the funds will be distributed to various chapters has not been determined, he added. “Once we see how donations come in, we can figure out information about allocations,” he said. McAlpine said he will present more detailed information about the committee at the DSG meeting March 24. He added that he would like the committee to begin working at the end of the semester. In other business: The Senate passed a resolution to establish a free fax machine that would be easily accessible to students. The resolution states that there are fax machines on campus, but that they are not always open to students. The machine will cost $870, including the cost of domestic and international tolls for one year. Senators also passed a resolution allocating $1,000 from the DSG programming fund to pay for food for “The Secret Game” basketball tournament between Duke and North Carolina Central University April 17. Students from the universities played these secretive games before anti-segregation laws were implemented, the statute states.
Tyler seuc/The Chronicle
At DSG’s meeting Wednesday, senior Steven McAlpine, a student affairs senator, presents a resolution to create a fund to help students on financial aid with their greek dues.
stressed Out? Depressed? Worried About Grades or Social Life?
Developing Minds can help! Depression, anxiety or ADHD may be holding you back!
Now accepting Duke Student Heath Insurance Get an appt today, see a doctor tomorrow!
Visit www.developingmindsnc.com or call (919) 794-3919 for more information and appointments. Duke_Chronicle_Ad_2.04.10.indd 1
2/4/2010 9:12:01 PM
6 | THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 2010 the chronicle
shooting from page 1 could not comment further on details of the shooting. “This is an incredibly significant incident in the community, so we are trying to strike a balance between what the community wants to know and maintaining the integrity of the investigation,” he said. Patient care services and regular operations were not disrupted by the Saturday morning shooting. The hospital’s main entrance was secured and blocked after the incident, and a mobile command center was assembled outside until between 8 and 9 a.m. The Durham Police Department provided additional officers to help DUPD secure the scene. Dailey said Carter and Liberto are receiving support through the employee as-
sistance program and seem to be doing well. Carter has worked for DUPD for 23 years and Liberto has served for two. Dailey added that DUPD morale remains high. “We appreciate the support we’ve received from the Duke community— people asking how the officers are doing and how the department is doing and things like that,” he said. It has been almost 28 years since Duke officers used deadly force, according to searches of several newspaper archives. The last time Duke officers were involved in a fatal shooting was Oct. 21, 1982, according to Chronicle archives. Two officers shot Danny Lee Winstead about a block from the entrance to Duke Hospital after he attacked the officers with a wooden board. A grand jury later decided not to press charges against the officers.
lawson kurtz/Chronicle file photo
Duke University Police Department Chief John Dailey identified Durham resident Aaron Lorenzo Dorsey Wednesday as the man shot dead by DUPD officers at the Hospital’s entrance last weekend.
The only local restaurant serving authentic African cuisine ~ Owned by a native Kenyan Come to our LUNCH BUFFET on SUNDAYS 11am-4pm Featuring LIVE JAZZ
• Full Bar • Vegetarian Friendly
Learn more about us: www.thepalaceinternational.com
Since 1985, we’ve taken pride in the fact that all our delicious treats are made from scratch. From tasty ices to our decadent desserts... Also serving sandwiches, wraps and vegan BBQ.
Let us CATER for you! Patio seating with Wi-Fi
Lots of room, comfortable space, more fun! Stop in...
1104-A Broad St., Durham • 416-4922
Tues-Sat 11am-2pm, 5pm-10pm Fri & Sat till 12mid
Duke University Chapel
DUKE PROVOST’S LECTURE SERIES 2009/2010 provost.duke.edu/speaker_series
Organ Recitals 2009-10 ROBERT PARKINS Sunday, March 21, 2010 5:00 p.m. Duke Chapel Free admission
Robert Parkins is the University Organist and a Professor of the Practice of Music at Duke. His recordings have appeared on the Calcante, Gothic, Musical Heritage Society, and Naxos labels, and his playing praised as “artistic, technically flawless, and imaginative” (The American Organist). This season’s recital program falls on the 325th birthday of Johann Sebastian Bach, and will feature works by Bach appropriate to the season of Lent, including a recently discovered chorale fantasy.
THE FUTURE OF THE PAST, THE FUTURE OF THE PRESENT:
The Historical Record in the Digital Age MONDAY, MARCH 22 5 :00– 6:30 PM SOCIOLOGY-PSYCHOLOGY BUILDING, ROOM 130
ORGAN RECITALS 2009-10
Duke University Chapel Sundays at 5:00 p.m. October 18, 2009 November 15, 2009 January 24, 2010 February 21, 2010 March 21, 2010
Catherine Rodland Gerre and Judith Hancock David Arcus Michael Radulescu Robert Parkins
DAVID S. FERRIERO Archivist of the United States National Archives and Records Administration ARE WE LOSING OUR MEMORY? The View from the National Archives The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is the independent agency of the U.S. government responsible for the records of all the agencies of the government. The shift to electronic records systems, extensive use of electronic mail, and the emerging uses of social media herald a paradigm shift in the work of the government, the definition of “records,” and NARA’s responsibilities. As Archivist of the United States, David Ferriero will share his agency’s strategies and challenges in creating the records program of the future.
7351
OrganRecital_Parkins.indd 1
3/10/2010 3:29:39 PM
7351_Provost_Ad_01.indd 1
2/26/10 9:16:32 AM
the chronicle
THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 2010 | 7
Obama optimistic as Rep. Kucinich changes health bill stance by Lori Montgomery and Paul Kane the washington post
WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Barack Obama claimed his first convert on health-care reform Wednesday, as senior Democrats, labor unions and an array of interest groups intensified their efforts to sway wavering lawmakers before a climactic vote in the House this weekend. House leaders expressed increasing optimism about pushing Obama’s top domestic initiative to final passage, even as they continued to tinker with the last element of the package and their day for a vote appeared to slip to Sunday. Taking a break from his face-to-face efforts to win support for the measure, Obama made a rare appearance on Fox News Channel to declare that, after a year-long battle, Congress is finally poised to deliver the far-reaching overhaul to his desk. “I’m confident it will pass. And the reason I’m confident that it’s going to pass is because it’s the right thing to do,” the president said in an interview with reporter Bret Baier, who repeatedly prodded him about special deals contained in the package that were used to win over recalcitrant lawmakers, as well as a much-criticized parliamentary maneuver that the House may use. The interview interrupted a presidential schedule packed with calls to Capitol Hill, where House leaders said Obama has focused on the 37 House Democrats who voted against health-care legislation in November but may be open to supporting the latest package. Over the past few days, Obama has met privately with at least half a dozen dissenting Democrats in the Oval Office, while lobbying others by phone. Those efforts paid off Wednesday, when Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio said at a packed news conference that he will back the still-unfinished package, even though the measure would perpetuate the for-profit insurance system that Kucinich, a former presidential candidate and die-hard advocate of government-provided coverage, views as the source of the nation’s health-care problems. “I have doubts about this bill. This is not the bill I wanted to support,” the lawmaker said, adding that “careful discussions” with Obama this week on Air Force One helped persuade him. “I know I have to make a decision not on the bill as I would like to see it, but on the bill as it is,” he said. Meanwhile, in an unusual schism within the Catholic Church over abortion, a consortium of 59,000 nuns waded into the debate, declaring their support for the emerging legislation despite the insistence of the nation’s bishops and antiabortion groups that it would open the door to federal funding of abortion. “Despite false claims to the contrary, the Senate bill will not provide taxpayer funding for elective abortions,” the group said in a letter signed by 60 female religious leaders. “It will uphold longstanding conscience protections and it will make historic new investments ... in support of pregnant women. This is the real pro-life stance, and we as Catholics are all for it.” The nuns’ announcement is expected to resonate among a clutch of House Democrats who voted for a health-care bill last fall but have raised objections to abortion provisions in the Senate measure, which the House must approve as part of a final compromise. The group is being closely watched by House leaders trying to put together a 216-vote majority; two of them—Reps. Dale Kildee of Michigan and James Oberstar of Minnesota—said Wednesday that they will continue to support Obama’s effort to enact the most ambitious changes to the nation’s health-care system in more than 40 years. A coalition of the largest labor unions also announced an ad campaign intended to get holdout Democrats behind the package. “People are looking at the substance of the bill and hearing more and more from their constituents that they have a choice between doing nothing, the status quo, or supporting this health-care legislation,” said Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., a member of House leadership. “A lot of people are taking a second look at what this legislation is about.” The day’s events seemed to boost the outlook of House leaders, even as they were unable for a second day to deliver on promises that they would present the package of changes intended to tailor the $875 billion health-care expansion the Senate passed on Christmas Eve to the demands of House members. Lawmakers were still waiting late Wednesday for a final cost estimate on the revisions, which must significantly reduce deficits over the next 20 years. After initially hoping for a Friday vote on both measures, senior Democrats said a Sunday vote looks increas-
ingly likely. But House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, said he remains doubtful that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, DCalif., and her lieutenants can persuade 216 Democrats to back a package that lacks support among voters and has united Republicans in opposition. In an interview, Boehner vowed to “do everything we can to keep the pressure on” Democrats in battleground districts. His first move will come Thursday, when Republicans will try to force a vote on a resolution that calls on House Democrats to abandon plans to use a parliamentary maneuver known as “deeming” to pass the Senate bill without explicitly voting on it. If approved, the Senate bill would go to the White House for Obama’s signature, while the revised package would be sent to the Senate under special rules that protect it from a Republican filibuster. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said the Senate could take up the
Join us for
changes next week, with a goal of approving the package before the Easter break. Because many House Democrats are deeply uncomfortable with the Senate bill—and because they do not trust the Senate, a graveyard for hundreds of pieces of House-passed legislation, to move the revised measure to final passage—House leaders have requested some assurance that the changes will win the votes of at least 51 senators. Senate Democrats on Wednesday discussed the form those assurances might take, and vowed to deliver it quickly to the House. Durbin attempted to inject some humor into the HouseSenate tensions that have arisen during the long debate. “They would like to have firstborn children from all 51 senators as a guarantee” that the Senate will pass the revised package, he said. “They want to hold them in a big room and treat them with loving kindness until we have a vote.”
Investing in Children
The Center for Child and Family Policy’s Ten-year Anniversary Celebration
Monday, March 29
1:45-3:00 PM Sanford Building, Room 04
Forum: Economic Investments in Children Moderator:
Marguerite Kondracke, President and Chief Executive Officer America’s Promise Alliance
Discussants:
J. Lawrence Aber, Professor of Applied Psychology and Public Policy Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development, New York University
Denise Forte, Director of Education Policy U.S. House Education and Labor Committee
Ron Haskins, Co-Director Center on Children and Families, The Brookings Institution
James B. Hunt, Jr., Governor of North Carolina (1977-1985, 1993-2001) Chairman, James B. Hunt, Jr. Institute for Educational Leadership and Policy Foundation Board of Directors
3:00-4:00 PM Rubenstein Hall, second floor
4:00-5:30 PM Sanford Building, Fleishman Commons
Open House ~ Poster Session Join us for refreshments and conversation to learn more about the Center’s research and policy work.
The Economics of Investing in Children: The Role of Cognitive and Non-Cognitive Skills James J. Heckman Winner of the 2000 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences Henry Schultz Distinguished Service Professor of Economics The University of Chicago
5:30-6:30 PM
Reception For more information and to register, please visit our Web site.
www.childandfamilypolicy.duke.edu
8 | THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 2010 the chronicle
jeffrey from page 1 toward the end of his senior year, his father said. Jay’s first semester at Duke was cut short by his addictions, and he went through several drug treatment programs before returning as a freshman for the second time in Fall 2008. This time, he lived in substance-free Brown Residence Hall and grew to love the community. “He was a very good friend, very dedicated to his friendships,” said sophomore Charlotte Stoute, who became close with Jay when she lived in Brown. “He brought a lot of joy to a lot of people’s lives.” Jay and Stoute became fast friends in Brown, talking about life and walking around campus together on sunny Sundays. Stoute said The Beatles’ “Strawberry Fields Forever” reminds her of Jay, as does “California Dreaming” by The Mommas and The Papas. Stoute noted that both songs are about searching for a place of comfort during difficult times.
“I hope there comes a day when I won’t be teary when I listen to The Beatles or the songs we used to listen to together,” she said. “I would like to think that he’s there, in Strawberry Fields Forever.” Stoute felt comfortable talking with Jay as soon as she met him, she said. She felt that he could understand her own struggles. “Its really sad when you see so many good things in a person and you see them struggle with a thing for so long and end up this way,” Stoute said. “It is a very very long struggle and... using is definitely not even near the top 10 things that I think about when I think about Jay. The first things that I think about are his personality, his jokes, his loving nature, how smart he was, my conversations with him. All these things are far more interesting and greater and stronger.” A family Jay was studying philosophy and psychology at Duke, in part because he looked up to his brother and in part because he wanted to understand himself.
2010 DUKE INDIA BUSINESS FORUM India: Turning The Lens On Tomorrow Sunday, March 28, 2010
Register @ dukeibf.com
Procrastination and Perfectionism: (Two Sides of the Same Coin?)
How to Make Them Both Work FOR You! This workshop, which will run for 3 sessions, will help you understand how procrastination and perfectionism are often two sides of the same coin. In addition to helping you understand your procrastination and perfectionism, the workshop will include helping you develop a personalized plan to use them BOTH to help you flourish.
Tuesdays March 23, March 30, and April 6, 2010 6:00pm - 7:20pm (Please plan to attend all three sessions.) For additional information or to register, visit the CAPS website at http://studentaffairs.duke.edu/caps
Discussing philosophy brought Jay and Justin together despite their 10-year age difference. “We actually talked about philosophy even when he was really young,” Justin said. “He was precocious and academic things came pretty quickly to him.” They shared their family’s love of tennis and played together frequently. The brothers had a similar witty sense of humor that when they were together led to “nonstop craziness and laughter,” Glenn said. Jay always enjoyed spending time with his extended family in Minnesota, especially his younger relatives. “He had a little child inside himself that he was not afraid to let out, and it particularly came out when he was around little children and it was always a delight to see that,” Glenn said. Glenn added that Jay was a good writer and prepared selections of poetry and interpretations for his one-year-old nephew Sky. He said the pieces showed Jay’s insightfulness and intellect, as well as his tenderness toward his nephew. “Even though Jay was lost in so many ways himself, he wanted to share whatever he was learning and had learned about life with his little nephew,” Glenn said. ‘He will truly be missed’ After relapsing in the Spring of 2009 just before final exams, Jay entered still more treatment programs and hoped to return to Duke in the Fall. But he did not come back to Durham until 2010, briefly residing in Crowell Quadrangle before leaving the University again. When Jay left Duke, he relapsed and spent a week at Duke University Hospital, his father said. Soon after, Jay moved to Chapel Hill, close to his brother and to an outpatient drug treatment program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Glenn said Jay had just begun the program at UNC’s Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies when he passed away. During his last weeks in Chapel Hill, Jay became close with his new roommates, Shanaye Barber and Naquita Yellock. He cooked frequently, and always offered food to his roommates, Barber said. “He would just want people to be happy, that’s what he wanted,” Barber said. “He will truly be missed. I mean, he was a great guy, an awesome person.” Jay’s brother Justin stopped by the townhouse often on his way to Duke or back from teaching, and all four would play Wii together, Justin said. Jay did not have a car, so Justin would take him shopping—a trip to Harris Teeter for groceries last Friday was the last time Justin saw his brother. Jay had recently started on a health food kick and bought a lot of chicken and other ingredients, Justin said. Jay was trying to develop his cooking hobby and come up with new recipes. That Sunday, Yellock called Justin to the townhouse because Jay’s alarm clock was sounding, he hadn’t gotten up and she could not open his door. Justin tried to force the door open with a card and a screwdriver—when he could not, he and Yellock decided to call the police. At 12:49 p.m. that day, Chapel Hill police forced open the door to Jay’s room and discovered his body. When Justin heard the police say “dead on arrival,” he went into shock and had to sit down, he said. And then he had to call his father. “My first reaction was just to question, ‘Are you sure, are you sure, are you sure?’ And then you know, you’re just overcome with grief,” Glenn recalled. Glenn said his family tried hard to help Jay with his substance abuse problems over the past five years. He said he appreciates the efforts of the administrators and deans at Duke who reached out to Jay and gave him so many second chances. “We tried everything we knew, you know, we tried everything we knew. We surrounded him with every resource we knew,” Glenn said. “But at the end of the day, you just want him to know that he was deeply loved.” A memorial service will be held for Jay at 11 a.m. Saturday at Wooddale Church in Eden Prairie, Minn. Jay’s friends can send thoughts to his family at their home, 2605 Willow Dr. Medina, MN 55340 or to Justin via e-mail, jdj10@duke.edu.
Check out the new and improved QDuke at www.qduke.com
Recess
volume 12 issue 23 march 18, 2010
PFIERCE BOOK
model? top
Sophomore Simone Lewis decides between follwing in the footsteps of Hillary or Tyra as she aims for Top Model gold
PAGE 3
photo illustration by maddie lieberberg/The chronicle
pierce
the former Bond comes back in two new films
page 7&8
coco fusco
the famed artist behind Amerindians comes to Duke
page 4
journalists
CDS hosts three speakers to talk the written word
page 4
recess
Page 2
theSANDBOX. With last week’s premiere of the CW’s High Society, New York City and its residents now have to suffer another 30 minutes of reality television ridicule (The City, NYC Prep and Real Housewives of New York were clearly not enough). Watching my hometown depicted as a farce and fellow residents painted as surface-obsessed caricatures only worried about what row they’ll sit in at this year’s Fashion Week, is more than painful. In order to balance out all this hate, my mind turned to what reality shows could be set in Durham. Durham: Because Portland Isn’t Real Anymore: Follow two hipster clothing designers who open up their own baja (read: drug-rug) shop at Golden Belt. Watch as they attend brunches at The Pinhook, listen to Megafaun, shop at the farmer’s market and mourn the loss of The Electric Blender. The Lofts: Jessie, a sexy and astute 20-something who works at a hot advertising agency downtown has just moved in with boyfriend Dylan, a surgeon-in-training at Duke Hospi-
tal. They quickly befriend the gay gymnast and trust-fund sculptor next door. Tensions arise when the four start swapping partners after one too many drinks by the pool. “The common and the ordinary have no place at the Lofts.” The Tobacco Life: Two privileged legacy Duke students fail a few classes and get caught face down in a mound of cocaine. Rather than expulsion, the deans send them to a local farm to learn the craft of tobacco farming. Eruditio et... Nicotiana? Bull City Burning: The life and times of Crystal Mangum. No Esse-vations: let Georgios Bakatsias guide you through the world of local Mexican food. Will the crazy fat guy from Cosmic win over his heart? Will the Dillo make him barf? Could the cow atop the Tacqueria La Vacquita come to life? Tune in. Welcome to Durham: an investigatory look into the violence caused by local gangs and—oh, wait, nevermind... —Charlie McSpadden
[recesseditors] Prostitution, hoes and sluts Andrew Hibbard.....................................................................maintains boundaries Eugene Wang......................................................................................call me in Jaco Charlie McSpadden............................................................but what is a prostitute? Kevin Lincoln...........................................................................a new slave to Recess Claire Finch....................................................................rape is NOT a relationship John Wall...................................................................cannot relate to single people Maddie Lieberberg....................................................................so sore from “yoga” Will Robinson...........................................................as long as they look like Tyra...
March 18, 2010
excessive compulsive
As my senior year comes to a close, it is time for me to finally start thinking about The Real World—please MTV, hire me. So far, it does not look good, so I have begun to search for a new calling. If spring break has taught me anything, it’s that I like sex with strangers and I don’t have any money. There seems to be only one solution to this problem. It’s time for me to get involved in the world’s oldest profession. This is my official listing as a male escort. Let’s take a quick look at my resume. First of all, I’m a self-made man having worked my way from the bottom to the top. That said, I am willing to go on bottom again, especially when I get tired. My best work experience came this past summer when I interned at GoldManSacks. Lastly, I’m proficient with Microsoft Office, Final Cut Pro and reverse cowgirl. With a resume like that, many would say I am overqualified to just walk the streets, and I would agree. That’s why I’m not going to be just any man-whore willing to screw the wife while the husband sits in the corner watching. I want to be wined and dined, you know, real high-class like. I aspire to be the male Belle from Secret Diary of a Call Girl. In this last episode, she actually hired a male escort just for “research.” Psych Department, will this count towards my research methods course? Turns out, this male escort got his start at “uni.” Well I got my start in elementary school, when that babysitter…I don’t want to talk about it, but it sounds like I’m already on the career path. It’s too bad Heidi Fleiss abandoned her idea of a stud farm. At one point Mike Tyson supposedly was on board. How the hell could I compete with Mike Tyson in a line-up? “Excuse me ma’am, would you like to be sexual ravaged by the little
white boy or the huge, monstrous, tattoo-faced black man?” Who would you choose? “I’ll take the short kid who looks like Jude Law, if Jude Law was thrown through the windshield of a car.” This summer, a gem of a flick came out entitled The Girlfriend Experience. Well ladies, I bring you The Silk Experience. Seeing as I have no car, the day begins with you picking me up at my house. Then we stand in my backyard and yell for a while. We then manically walk around campus. I’ll tell you horrible jokes, then we’ll hit the bar. I’ll black out, try to grope you, but you’ll be OK with it because “he’s harmless,” and that’s when I pass out and pee on you. I’m charging one dollar per hour, plus food and booze. If the full Silk Experience isn’t your thing, I’m going to have to insist on some sort of kinky role playing. Why hire someone for sex if you’re not going to get real weird about it? That’s like hiring someone to burn down your house, and they only burn down the garage. You have to spread the heat all over the place. Hopefully there’s minimal burning in the morning. Either way, drink some cranberry juice just to be sure. Should you want to role play, keep in mind what I am suited for. NBA star? No. Jockey? Yes. Frankenstein sex? No. Leprechaun sex? Yes. If you’re in need of some loving and have $20, please dial (781) 223-111# and ask for the Silk Shamrock. You can also find me, under the same name, in Second Life. Seriously. I like to hang around Orgy in the Forest. I like to cuddle too, less of a spooner and more of a nooker though. Jack Wilkinson is a Trinity senior. His column runs every other Thursday.
Duke Performances in durham, at duke, the modern comes home. Farber Foundry TheaTre’s molora adapTed From The oresteia Trilogy Friday & Saturday, March 19 & 20 • 8 pm | Reynolds los lobos + leo koTTke Thursday, March 25 • 8 pm | Page anTares quarTeT Friday & Saturday, March 26 & 27 • 8 pm | Nelson ciompi quarTeT
lunchTime classics: Bartok
Tuesday, March 30 • 12 pm - 1 pm | Rare Book Room
kronos quarTeT
FeaT. The World premiere oF a neW quarTeT by maria schneider
Saturday, April 10 • 8 pm | Page student $5 duke tickets
10% discount
duke employee
k this wee
farber foundry theatre
Molora • 3/19 & 3/20
for tickets & info 919-684-4444 dukeperformances.org
recess
March 18, 2010
Page 3
Sophomore Lewis vies for Top Model status by Kevin Lincoln THE CHRONICLE
Most viewers hope their favorite TV show will stay on the air because they just like watching it. But when sophomore Simone Lewis followed America’s Next Top Model, she was invested in its success for another reason—one day, she wanted to be a part. Good thing it lasted. Lewis is one of 13 finalists on the 14th iteration of The CW’s America’s Next Top Model, the reality show hosted by Tyra Banks that regularly crowns a fresh face for the modeling industry. Filmed last semester, the season will unfold over the course of the spring. For Lewis, participating in the show is the product of both prior experience in modeling and long-standing ambition. “I’ve been dabbling in modeling since sixth grade, but I didn’t do anything serious as far as industry representation until this past summer,” Lewis said. “I’ve always wanted to do it... but it wasn’t ever my main priority until last summer.” Hailing from Lenexa, Kan., it took Lewis some time to find a foothold in the world of fashion—after all, where she grew up wasn’t exactly a hotbed of haute couture. In hindsight, however, she said this might have actually been a positive. “In a way, I think that [being from Kansas] is a good thing, because it gave me the opportunity to focus on some of my other strengths,” she said. “But now that I know more what they are, I know more of where I want to be and why the fashion industry is for me and that I’m a big city girl at heart, even though I’m from the suburbs of Kansas City.” As for being a Duke student and the preconceptions that come with it, Lewis said she’s far from the stereotypical private college undergrad or sorority girl (she’s a member of Delta Gamma), so this was not an issue. And it turned out that being among the other contestants wasn’t that far from being at school. “The group of girls this cycle was so diverse, and I could definitely tell that each of them had something very different about them,” Lewis said. “So in a way, it kind of reminded me of being at Duke, as far as having this mishmosh of people with different experiences and different backgrounds. Lewis added that although heads clashed, she had a great time getting to know all of the girls and ended up connecting on a particular level with Brenda Arens. She managed to distance herself from most of the drama that often consumed the other girls and sucked up camera time. This didn’t surprise those who know her well. “From what everyone’s been telling me, she hasn’t been given that much screen time [in the first few episodes] because she’s not dramatic, she doesn’t throw any hissy fits,” Lewis’ friend Lizz Yeh, a sophomore, said. “She’s naturally a very calm, not dramatic person.” This levity is even more of a surprise after considering what the show requires from its contestants. To begin with, Lewis underwent an “edgy” makeover that saw her head
partially shaved and a change in her entire style. “It’s definitely really difficult, having a certain persona forced on you that doesn’t come naturally,” Lewis said. “But thankfully, I only have to live that super-edgy style when I’m in front of a camera.” Part-time or not, the change took some getting used to. “It was definitely jarring at first when they shaved my head because I’m so girly, but I think I’ve just joined the two as far as, like, embracing the more edgy model while still being my feminine, girly self,” she said. Adjusting to such a drastic change in her appearance might have even been a chance to grow for Lewis, if the comments of her friend Leigh Libling, a sophomore, are any indication. “After coming back from this experience I definitely saw a change in Simone,” Libling wrote in an e-mail. “I feel like this definitely put things in perspective for her and made her an even more driven, intelligent and strong woman.”
“It’s definitely really difficult, having a certain persona forced on you that doesn’t come naturally.... But thankfully, I only have to live that superedgy style when I’m in front of the camera.” — Simone Lewis, sophomore On another level, one of the most significant perks from participating in America’s Next Top Model is the chance to interact with its host, legendary model and television personality Tyra Banks. And Lewis was not disappointed. “I’ve been admiring Tyra since I was so young, and to finally see her in person was amazing,” Lewis said. “She’s even more gorgeous in person... and she just really seemed to care. Even though she kind of mocked the way I talked and stuff, I knew it was just for fun, and I knew that in the end she really does want to see us succeed.” Banks’ input meant so much that Lewis would write down the host’s feedback, allowing her to go back to the advice any time she wanted. “Rereading over them, I feel like she does enough boosting your confidence while also telling you where you need to improve, and that’s the part I need to hear the most,” Lewis said. Although the first figure that viewers associate with the show is Banks, Lewis also had something in common with another fashion luminary who helped judge this cycle: An-
special to The Chronicle
Sophomore Simone Lewis is one of the 13 finalists on the new season of the CW’s America’s Next Top Model. Supporters of Lewis at Duke have been circulating the above promotional online via Facebook. dre Leon Talley, the editor-at-large of Vogue and a Durham native. Seeing that such an influential voice in the industry, who Lewis described as “like the number one fashion opinion in the world,” grew up in a lesser-known town like Durham made her feel more confident about her humble Midwestern home in the suburbs of Kansas City. After having such a brilliant experience, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see someone take on airs or have an inflated ego. In fact, it might even be expected—and not unjustified. But it appears that Lewis has had an opposite reaction, one that will likely serve her well as she goes on to finish Duke and pursue a career in modeling. “I think I take myself less seriously. Before ANTM, I was very very type A,” she said. “[Now] I’m better able to kind of take a chill pill and really prioritize the way I spend my time and the parts of my life where I place the most importance.”
TIME WARNER CABLE MUSIC PAVILION BOX OFFICE | SELECT BLOCKBUSTER STORES CHARGE BY PHONE 800-745-3000
A Food Drive Event www.widespreadpanic.com All dates, acts and ticket prices subject to change without notice. *Subject to applicable service charges & fees.
recess
Page 4
March 18, 2010
C
special to The Chronicle
Artists, theorist Coco Fusc talks her new work, t
by Claire Finch THE CHRONICLE
Coco Fusco, a now-canonical performance artist and feminist theorist, is coming to Duke to deliver a keynote address at this weekend’s Feminist Theory Workshop. Recess’ Claire Finch interviewed Coco Fusco through a series of e-mails about her recent work, the elite maintenance of the fine art world and performance art’s burgeoning commercialization. What issues particularly interest you in terms of your current artistic practice? In terms of current work, I am developing some new projects at present—one for the Liverpool Biennial, which will be a performative lecture about contemporary responses and non-responses to social injustice. Another is a performance I will do in Brazil in the summer that revisits W.E.B. DuBois’ transcription of the Black Codes of Georgia for the 1900 Paris Exposition. Finally, I will soon undertake research on the experience of incarceration by teaching inside a women’s correctional facility. In terms of your upcoming work on W.E.B. DuBois’s transcrip-
tion of the Black Codes: what is the role of the American South in a global context? The American South is an abstraction—so is “the international audience.” Audiences vary from place to place, from institution to institution, trying to classify them as national or international just leads to false generalizations. My historical references to Georgia’s Black Codes are very specific and relate to what DuBois did in 1900 for the Paris Exposition where he was very specifically creating a sociological exhibition using photographs and material culture to represent the conditions of Black Americans at the turn of the century. It seems to me that performance art is still widely misunderstood and is often still viewed as illegitimate. As a sometimes-performance artist, what do you think are the particular strengths of the medium? Regarding public misperceptions of performance—I think you are right that there is not a great deal of understanding. However, I would say the general public has very little familiarity with any kind of contemporary art because American public education pays little attention to art and a very small percentage of people in this country visit any kind of art exhibition with any regularity. The general public relies on cliches about the fine arts and on marketing efforts by major museums for deriving a very basic understanding of what a masterpiece is. In the worst sense, the populist values of entertainment culture are applied to fine art in the mass media—thus what the general public learns about are artworks that are famous masterpieces (“the classics”) and ones that sell for millions of dollars. The economics of the fine arts contribute to the public’s lack of familiarity as well. The fine arts constitute the least populist area of culture. Fine art relies on investment by a tiny elite class that buys art and runs museums and major exhibitions. While film, television and popular fiction can be sustained by market success without critical approval, the fine arts’ place in history and its institutionalization rely on critical approval from yet another tiny elite—the art press and powerful art historians in a handful of universities around the world. At present there are many museums of modern and contempo-
rary art that are trying to figure out wha and this may bring about a shift in pub form. There are no more masterpieces t majority of valuable modernist works are a private collections. Thus, there is a move porary work. Accompanying that move i research on contemporary art practices, When I was in college, it was virtually imp tion in art history on a living artist—now
“The general public rel about the fine arts and on forts by major museums very basic sense of what a
What this new focus on contempor institutional effort to make performanc for the general public through “user-fr articles about Tino Seghal’s performan recently, or all the press around Marina rospective). A parallel effort is made to tion boards so that they consider acqu (by buying documentation or buying th
Coco Fusco will speak at 10 a.m. in the S icy’s lobby. Her lecture is titled “Invasion of Weapon in the War on Terror.” For more on ence, visit web.duke.edu/womstud/theory201
CDS brings top journalists to speak on long-form writing
W by Kevin Lincoln THE CHRONICLE
When someone throws around the term “documentary,” chances are the following word will be “film,” maybe “radio” if the conversation concerns public radio programming. But because of the efforts of Duke’s Center for Documentary Studies, including this month’s Documentary Speakers Series, the phrase “documentary writing” should soon look far more familiar. The series—which began March 5 with a lecture from Roger Hodge, the recently dismissed editor of Harper’s Magazine—sheds light on the current practitioners of longform journalism: the 3,000-word-and-longer features that usually end in the back pages of a magazine, boxed text introduced with a curt “continued from page 45.” In addition to Hodge, medical ethics writer Rebecca Skloot will be speaking on March 24 in collaboration with the Sanford School of Public Policy, and journalist/fiction author Wells Tower will be appearing on April 23 to talk about the interplay between non-fiction and fiction. Tower was initially slated to come to CDS this Friday, but his appearance had to be rescheduled. CDS Director Tom Rankin broke down the series as a zeroing in on the nature of documentary writing, from macro to micro. “Roger comes from the editorial angle and has been hiring people like Wells, so in a way Roger has been flying at 30,000 feet when he’s working at Harper’s—he’s been seeing the big picture,” Rankin said. “Wells on the other hand is an active writer and going out and doing pieces and he’s also writing fiction. So with Wells, I think one of the interesting things you get is this: where is the line between non-fiction and fiction, where is the line between the personal/ subjective and the more cultural/objective.” Skloot brings a more intensely focused
perspective. Her recently released book, titled The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, is a product of 10 years researching one subject and an authorial fascination that can be traced back to high school. “While [Skloot] is talking about something historical, it’s relevant to the here and now,” Rankin said. “That’s something that documentary is often about: taking some particular story that might’ve happened in the past and bringing it into the present and making it part of the conversation about, in this case, current issues in medicine and ethics.” In a time of shrinking magazines and an endangered newspaper industry—a topic that comprised the bulk of Hodge’s lecture—CDS’ programming demonstrates an alternative reaction. Although filmmaking and radio programming in a documentary vein are household concepts, Rankin said the vague connotations of documentary writing have discouraged a similarly acute definition. He hopes the efforts of CDS can change that and allow for greater academic attention on the subject. “I see it as going against the grain somewhat, but I also am a real believer that we’re in the midst of an evolution and not an eradication,” he said. “I do believe that really artful, relevant, both deeply personal and connected to larger issues—that kind of writing will have a place...” This type of writing is what CDS seeks to promote with both the series and the class Documentary Writing, taught by CDS instructor Duncan Murrell. Murrell’s course covers the top long-form writers working today and helps students complete their own documentary piece, some of which, Murrell said, turn out to be of professional quality. The lecture series was actually a brainchild of Murrell’s, and the featured individuals visit his class in addition to the public events.
Former Harper’s editor Roger Hodge, right, spoke at the Center for Documen one of three speakers discussing long-form journalism in conjunction with a d The stories that students end up with are in the 5,000 word range, Murrell said, and the course prepares them for the tasks of developing and refining ideas, establishing sources, going out and doing the research and finally writing the story. Several of the students are pursuing documentary studies certificates but come from the video or audio aspects, and the class gives them the opportunity to diversify as documentarians. “Let’s just say you’re training journalists.... These days, if you’re not able to tell a story in a variety of media and also have a network to find the best place to put that story, you’re really at a disadvantage,” Murrell said. “Teaching a greater variety of skills, and not just writing, and not just film, and not just audio, is pretty smart preparation.” Murrell works to instill in the students a respect for deadlines and a sense of discipline in advancing their work, something that’s useful for a student in any field, but especially journalists. He functions as the class’ editor, an area in which he gained experience after
working for Algonqui And the students get opinions from across t the optimistic—like S bestseller—and the p who recently lost his e Along with the ac curricular, Murrell an at another way to ad on documentary writi journalism. Murrell i a proposal for a boo discipline, and the e headed by the center is approved. Such a w definition the practic subsequent recognitio “The vibe I pick up mane: we’ll let you te ing to spend the requ and we’re going to ge deeper from people, Murrell said. “I think about as a writer.”
recess
March 18, 2010
at to do with performance blic perception of the art to sell at auction—the vast also settled in museum and e to acquire more contemis a new wave of academic , including performances. possible to write a dissertait is quite common.
lies on cliches n marketing efs for deriving a a masterpiece is.” — Coco Fusco, performance artist
rary practice yields is an ce palatable. This is done riendly” press (see all the nces at the Guggenheim a Abramovic’s MoMA reteducate museum acquisiuiring performance works he work itself).
Sanford School of Public PolSpace by a Female: Sex as a the Feminist Theory Confer10.html
special to The Chronicle
ntary Studies March 5. Hodge is documentary writing course.
in Books in Chapel Hill. t a look at journalistic the spectrum, including Skloot, whose book is a pessimistic—like Hodge, editorship. cademic and the extrand Rankin are looking dvance the conversation ing: their own piece of is currently working on ok-length study of the endeavor will be spearr’s publishing arm if it work could provide the ce now lacks, and some on. p from [CDS] is very huell your story, we’re gouisite time to build trust, et something a little bit from ordinary stories,” k that’s useful to think
Greek tragedy goes South African
P by Brian Contratto THE CHRONICLE
Post-apartheid South Africa sets the stage for MoLoRa, a Farber Foundry Theater production presented by Duke Performances. This tale of vengeance and suffering is adapated from an ancient Greek tragedy, Aeschylus’s Oresteia, and updated in the context of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission tribunals, whereapartheid victims would face their tormentors. An unusual feature of the play is the live accompaniment of an exotic musical chorus. The Ngqoko Cultural Group, comprised of one man and six women representing the Xhosa tribe of rural South Africa, plays traditional music that is “very integral” to MoLoRa, said director Yael Farber. “It’s a very real kind of soundscape they provide and a very grounding emotional quality they bring to the work that really brings the spiritual aspect of the work alive,” Farber said. The Ngqoko Group’s music is not lyrical in the sense of a conventional musical choir, but rather an incorporation of ancient, traditional instruments and a haunting split-tune vocal technique akin to the guttural elements of throat singing. “The sound has the weight that choruses brought in ancient Greece,” Farber said. “I often say to the actors that the clue to everything you need to know about what’s moving beneath the words and stories is manifested in the music. It’s almost the heartbeat of the production.” Oresteia is the surviving section of Aeschylus’s epic trilogy, which chronicles the bloody aftermath of King Agamemnon of Argos’s return from the Trojan
War. MoLoRa instead captures the atmosphere of 1990s South Africa, still volatile after years of turmoil. The narrative closely parallels the violent plot of Oresteia, but echoes transcendent themes that audience members of all generations can relate to. “When we opened in Germany, we had one particular man whose father had been a member of the Gestapo,” Farber said, “and the play brought to life for him the pain of a man whom, for so long, he’d longed to engage in dialogue with and understand better.” The cast is sparse, focusing on three characters: Dorothy Ann Gould plays Klytemnestra, a white, middle-aged mother of two black children, Elektra (Jabulile Tshabalala) and Orestes (Sandile Matsheni). The three characters engage in macabre quarrels, enumerating each other’s misdeeds in the format of the South African tribunals and ultimately coming to terms with their wrongdoings in a fiery catharsis—molora means “ash” in the Sesotho language. “There was a particular point in time that I felt I needed to tell stories about the country I come from,” Farber said. “To give joy and art...to give a voice to the silence of what happened over the years and express what the community—certainly what Greek theater—is about.” The blending of ancient myth, contemporary political relevancy and notions of justice creates what Farber describes as a “powerful metaphor.” “I took the Oresteia, which is a great examination of the spirals of revenge [and adapted it] to represent, in a microcosm, the system of apartheid,” Farber said. Farber is an accomplished
playwright and director whose company bears her namesake— but though she has orchestrated a variety of accomplished works, MoLoRa holds special relevance given her South African ancestry. “The theater is a very communal event,” Farber said. “I was interested in better engag-
Director of Duke Performances. “We’re really incredibly fortunate to have this remarkable piece of theater here.” Beyond the double showing of MoLoRa this Friday and Saturday, Farber Foundry has presented a variety of lectures free and open to the public
ing with material [that is] deeply personal.” Farber Foundry’s residency at Duke represents MoLoRa’s sole American performance this year, after runs in Greece, Johannesburg and the Barbican in London. “It’s really spectacular—it’s a brilliant piece of theater and it’s never run in the American South,” said Aaron Greenwald,
this week. Tomorrow afternoon, Farber and University of California Berkeley professor Catherine Cole will host a LunchBox Conversation in Bryan Rehearsal Studio.
photos special to The Chronicle
co theory
Page 5
MoLoRa will be performed in Reynolds Industries Theater Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. Tickets are $5 for students and $22-28 for general admission.
recess
Page 6
ted leo and the pharmacists
March 18, 2010
gorillaz plastic beach virgin
eeEEE
the brutalist bricks matador
eeeEE
After the disappointing 2007 release of Living with the Living, it’s nice to see powerpop auteurs Ted Leo and the Pharmacists back on form with The Brutalist Bricks. This is the band’s first record for famed indie label Matador, and it delivers another solid batch of energetic guitar-bass-drums tracks. Leo is his old wild self on Bricks; the impassioned vocals and razor-sharp guitars recall Pharmacists records like 2003’s Hearts of Oak and 2004’s Shake the Sheets which gained his group a dedicated following. This record is at its best when embodying Leo’s high-octane, punk-influenced songwriting. “Ativan Eyes” gallops toward a soaring sing-a-long chorus, and “Even Heroes Have To Die” pairs a driving staccato drumbeat with bristling electric guitar. Then, call-andresponse anthem “Bottled in Cork” finds Leo taking a page out of Spoon frontman Britt Daniel’s book. The song builds into a gorgeous harmony, with various voices singing, “Tell the bartender/I think I’m falling in love.” Oh, Ted, you’re in love? Well done, mate. Leo shirks romance on “Woke Up Near Chelsea,” a rallying punk stunner that features seething lines like, “Well we all got a job to do/We all hate God!” and “We are born of despair/We long for what’s fair.” Although it’s unclear who or what Leo is inciting when he shouts “we’re gonna do it together!” (perhaps soccer hooligans?), the abrasively catchy song convinces you to drop your office job and help him burn down the building. The Brutalist Bricks finds Ted Leo and the Pharmacists red-faced with love and furor, and the record goes down like a couple of taurine tablets. —Jake Stanley
broken bells broken bells columbia
eeeEE
Broken Bells’ self-titled debut arrives with much fanfare—it is the collaboration between producer and multi-instrumentalist Danger Mouse and the Shins’ frontman James Mercer. Though the pair settles for a quiet, almost complacent mediation between their two styles, they’ve produced a cohesive album heavily influenced by psychedelia and acid rock. Danger Mouse’s pedigree includes work with trip-rockers Gorillaz and the hip-hop influenced Gnarls Barkley. With Broken Bells, his electronic funk takes a backseat to his instrumental talents and dynamic sound mixing. This band is built on traditional instruments and minimal electronics, creating a lush, sonic landscape out of keyboards and acoustic guitars. The cheery music belies acerbic, cynical lyrics, however,
almost glibly delivered by Mercer in one of the best vocal performances of his career. The first half of the album is by far the strongest, beginning with its singles. Opener “The High Road” is Broken Bells’ most powerful track; unfortunately, this establishes an anticlimactic tone for the rest of the LP. Mercer’s full vocal range is utilized here, floating above a churning bassline and sweeping arrangement of piano and guitar. On “Vaporize,” Mouse and Mercer use keyboard reverb and a powerful horn section reminiscent of surf rock, producing a more psychedelic sound. As the album progresses, though, the duo falls into a holding pattern, with few standout moments. The second half is a poor imitation of the first, with the exception being the dark, frenetic closer “The Mall & Misery,” the most unexpected track on the album. Although Broken Bells is a strong first effort, it seems awfully reserved for two collaborators known for their frequent innovation. —Jeff Shi
It isn’t often that one sees a high-concept, virtual pop band that can make the Top 40, but that seems to be the niche Gorillaz have created for themselves since their emergence onto the music scene in 2001. Their latest release, Plastic Beach, is simultaneously their poppiest work and yet their most inaccessible. The album begins with a swelling, cinematic orchestral piece that is well-crafted and lush. Similarly gorgeous arrangements recur in tracks like “White Flag” and “Rhinestone Eyes,” with Gorillaz creative mastermind Damon Albarn showing his intimate knowledge of music. These layers of sound are the album’s one absolute positive. Another marking characteristic of Plastic Beach is its use of guest artists. Snoop Dogg appears on “Welcome to the World of the Plastic Beach,” and although the song brims with typical Snoop swagger, it lacks follow-through from the band. Brit-Hop artists Bashy and Kano lend their idiosyncratic sound to “White Flag.” Mos Def raps on two tracks of varying quality. The first half of Plastic Beach shows promise. “Superfast Jellyfish” is the crowning achievement of the album, sporting super clever, super fun lyrics that comment on modern consumerism. “Stylo” jarringly melds Mos Def and Bobby Womack, but the unique song still connects with the listener. By the second half of the album, however, Plastic Beach becomes nothing but a platform for self-indulgent musical farce. Every song is too long. Every song lacks direction. Every song is Albarn & Co. rocking out in the studio with no concern for the listener. There seems to be no regard for the audience in any of the later tracks, leaving the listener disconnected and marooned. —Nathan Nye
green in 3
Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment presents
green in 3
1
Pick 3 words that best describe how you would make the environment better
find out more at
2
Be creative: Write them in sand, spell them out with cereal. … Film them with your digital camera, cell phone or Webcam
3 Win $500!*
greenin3.org
*There will be 15 first-place winners chosen in 3 contest periods between Jan. 19 and April 9, 2010. Winners receive $500 each.
recess
March 18, 2010
the ghost writer
dir. r. polanski summit entertainment
eeeeE
Roman Polanski is a name synonymous with controversy. The Ghost Writer, however, transcends his name and reaffirms his status as one of the world’s best directors. Intelligently written and superbly acted, the film manages to deliver all that Polanski’s hiatus promised—as well as a muchPilobolus Ad-DTH-Duke:Layout 1 3/14/10 1:23 AM Page 1 needed message for our society. Hired to write the autobiography of former British Prime Minister Adam Lang (Pierce Brosnan), the protagonist, known simply as The Ghost
(Ewan McGregor), is plunged into a world of suspicious deaths, hidden affairs and potential war crimes. Lang is under investigation by international human rights organizations for supplying names of Iraqi suspects to the CIA for torture. Over the course of his research, The Ghost uncovers secrets about Lang’s involvement, which have the potential of ruining his career and threaten his life. Further complicating his situation are Lang’s adulterous secretary (Kim Catrall) and seductive and calculating wife (Olivia Williams). Co-written by Polanski and Robert Harris and adapted from Harris’ 2007 novel The Ghost, the film keeps you guessing with each discovery. Polan-
Page 7
ski’s experience shows in his effortless control over the narrative, and his and Harris’ multidimensional characters on paper become even more impressive on screen. The exchange between Brosnan and McGregor is scintillating and fastpaced—a true demonstration of their talent. Even the smaller players, especially Catrall and Tom Wilkinson as Lang’s old friend, are striking. Adding a realistic layer of controversy to the story is the fact that the Langs are more or less fully based on former Prime Minister Tony Blair and his formidable wife Cherie. Forget about Polanski’s public scandals and see this movie—it’s one of 2010’s first greats. —Sabrina Hamilton-Payne
Check dukechronicle.com for a reviews of the film “The Green Zone” and the new jj.
300 E. Main St. Carrboro
967-9053
MIDLAKE
Pilobolus MAR 22
@ CAT’S CRADLE
saturday, april 3
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
MARCH 2010
ARCTIC MONKEYS @ DISCO RODEO, RALEIGH
Tuesday, April 6
22 Pilobolus 23 Lang Lang, piano, and Christoph Eschenbach, conductor, with the Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra 25 Brooklyn Rider and 2 Foot Yard
NEEDTOBREATHE
WORLD PREMIERE
@ CAT’S CRADLE
31 Uncle Vanya – Maly Drama Theatre of St. Petersburg
THURSDAY, APRIL 22 Uncle Vanya
www.carolinaperformingarts.org
Order tickets online or at the Box Office, (919) 843-9862 M–F 10am – 6pm
Advance sales at CD Alley (Chapel Hill) Charge by phone at 919-967-9053 Or on the web at WWW.ETIX.COM www.catscradle.com
CAT’S CRADLE 300 E. Main St. Carrboro (919) 967 9053 www.catscradle.com
MARCH 2010 18 TH: BLACK LIPS w/ Box Elders* 19 FR: CUNTRY KINGS** 21 SU: DEERHUNTER w/ Schooner, Free Electric State** 23 TU: RX BANDITS 25 TH: THE XX w/ JJ and Nosaj Thing [ sold out ] 26 FR: THE SOFT PACK w/ Nodzzz and Beaters 27 SA: Reggae Relief For Haiti: dub Addis, Mickey Mills, Jamrock, Truth & Rights 29 MO: KING KHAN & SHRINES w/ Fresh And Onlys 30 TU: MAJOR LAZER w/ RUSKO APRIL 2010 1 TH: CAROLINA CHOCOLATE DROPS 2 FR: THE BIG PINK w/ A Place To Bury Strangers 3 SA: MIDLAKE w/ John Grant Cat’s Cradle is at: 300 E. Main St 4 SU: YEASAYER w / Javelin ( Sold Out) Carrboro 27510 5 MO: TED LEO AND THE PHARMACISTS 919 967 9053 6 TU: WIZ KHALIFA w/ Yelawolf NOW SERVING CAROLINA BREWERY 7 WE: MANCHESTER ORCHESTRA BEERS ON TAP! 8 TH: THE TEMPER TRAP w/ Kissaway Trail 9 FR: BOWERBIRDS w/ Midtown Dickens and Veelee Show at Disco Rodeo, April 6: ARCTIC MONKEYS w/ Sleepy Sun Show @ Millennium Center (Winston Salem), April 7: WEEN **BUY TICKETS ONLINE! at WWW.ETIX.COM For phone orders call 919 967 9053 Visit www.catscradle.com for more listings!
Page 8
recess
remember me
dir. a. coulter summit entertainment
eeEEE
It has always been easy to feel faceless in New York City and to question one’s place in the bigger picture. Allen Coulter’s Remember Me explores this existential dilemma but unfairly exploits people’s vulnerability. Tyler Hawkins (Robert Pattinson) struggles with the recent suicide of his older brother Michael, which he blames solely on his estranged father (Pierce Brosnan). Tyler’s personal life becomes increasingly complicated when he falls for Ally (Emilie de Ravin), the seductively beautiful daughter of a widowed policeman (Chris Cooper) who seeks revenge for his wife’s murder through his detective work. As the boyfriend and father fight for Ally’s affection, the situation becomes exacerbated by an unpleasant episode between the two. The young couple’s distraught if convenient relationship
March 18, 2010
is—ironically—forgettable amidst the more complex but unfinished side storylines. Behind Pattinson’s brooding exterior are the qualities of a versatile actor, but he has resigned himself to the now stale image of deprived youth. A cliche as the rebellious privileged son, he fails to realize the story’s subtler moments, instead squandering them with his trademark far-off stare. Though Ravin lends endearing vulnerability to Ally, she is unable to fully develop her psychologically torn character. Tyler’s relationships with his defenseless younger sister (a heart-wrenching Ruby Jerins) and neglectful father, compellingly personalized by Brosnan, are what solicit genuine interest. Unfortunately, first-time screenwriter Will Fetters forgets to infuse this level of depth into his main characters. I was wholly unprepared for the ending, an inconclusive final chapter that elicits the rawest of your emotions. A devastating reality for us all, it is for better or for worse one that you will remember. —Michael Woodsmall
Sports
>> MEN’S SOCCER
The Chronicle
ONLINE
THURSDAY March 18, 2010
Duke tied the MLS’s New England Revolution 1-1 Wednesday in Cary Does President Barack Obama’s bracket look at all like yours?
www.dukechroniclesports.com
women’s lacrosse
Men’s tennis
Duke continues Cunha seals upset of USC Freshman defeats nation’s No. 1 to give Duke the win streak, routs Virginia Tech by Stuart Price THE CHRONICLE
by Jacob Levitt THE CHRONICLE
Coming off three straight wins against nonconference opponents, the Blue Devils were still DUKE 18 l o o k i n g for their 6 first ACC VT victory Wednesday afternoon. No. 6 Duke (8-1, 1-1 in the ACC) was more than up to the task, cruising to an 18-6 blowout win at Virginia Tech (26, 0-2) in Blacksburg. Senior midfielder Lindsay Gilbride led Duke with five goals, but 10 different Blue Devils were able to score against the Hokies— including four who notched their first tallies on the year. “The fact that we had so many different kids score is a testament to the offensive firepower that we have on the team,” head coach Kerstin Kimel said. “I was really pleased that, number one, so many people scored and that we were able to play a lot of people.” The numbers Duke ran up on the offensive end belied a strong performance on the other end of the field. Kimel credited the defense’s ability to generate turnovers for much of
Duke’s offensive success on the day. The Blue Devils’ defense made life easier for freshman goalie Kaitlin Gaiss, the replacement for injuried sophomore starter Mollie Mackler. Gaiss took advantage of the good defensive performance and let in only six goals in her second career start. Duke’s strong performance came at a good time—the game was one of only five ACC matches the Blue Devils will play this year. “Every ACC game we play is really important,” Kimel said. “Coming up here we were 0-1 in the conference, and [the game today] was on the road—these were all factors that we handled really well today.” After her team’s performance against Virginia Tech, Kimel is looking forward to the rest of the season. “I really wanted us to come away from the game with a really solid performance and I think we did that,” she said. “In doing that, we were able to play a lot of kids and come away with a double-digit win, and any day you can do that is a good one. We’re really happy—we’ll enjoy the day off and then start getting ourselves ready for Navy on Sunday.”
It all came down to No. 1 singles. With the team score tied at 3-3, Duke freshman Hen3 USC rique CunDUKE 4 ha calmly disposed of the top-ranked singles player in the
country, Southern California’s Steve Johnson, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) to propel the Blue Devils (6-5) to a crucial 4-3 victory over the third-ranked Trojans (13-2). Cunha’s gritty performance allowed him to overcome a 3-2 second-set deficit and finish off Johnson in front of a large crowd at Ambler Tennis Stadium, which included his own personal cheering section.
“[It was] the best player in the country versus the best freshman in the country,” head coach Ramsey Smith said. “[Cunha] just showed unbelievable heart out there, especially for a freshman.” Throughout the final set, it seemed Cunha was in fact the top player in the nation and a reigning national champion. While Johnson was visibly frustrated by Cunha’s consistency and impressive shots, Duke’s top singles player never lost his composure and showed no outward emotion until a victorious gesture to the crowd after he won the match’s final point. “I was trying not to think too much—just think[ing] about winning and the points I had won. I just believed in myself,” Cunha said. Cunha’s gut-wrenching performance came at just the right time for the Blue Devils. Coming off a disappointing spring break trip which featured defeats against UCLA and Pepperdine, Duke’s ranking plummeted to No. 50 after being as high as 18th earlier this season. Despite playing solid tennis against high-quality opponents, the Blue Devils simply could not get in the win column during their three-game losing streak. “I told the guys before the match, ‘Why not win this one, the toughest match of the
kathy sell/special to The Chronicle
Henrique Cunha took down the best player in the country to win the match for Duke.
See m. tennis on page 11
If it ain’t broke...
Two Chronicle columnists debate the merits of expanding the Tournament to 96 teams Expanding the NCAA Tournament to 96 teams is not a bad idea. This is not a very popular opinion. The tournament, as it is, is an institution, as American as fast food, Chevrolet and Vegas. Millions of people, from the west coast to the east, fill out their brackets evAndy ery March, while billions of dollars are lost from the economy due to the subsequent decrease in worker productivity. To suggest that the NCAA Tournament needs to be changed is to commit sports fan heresy. But, that’s exactly what Mike Krzyzewski did a few months ago. At
Moore
See expansion pro on page 10
Just as Bud Selig, David Stern and Gary Bettman would gladly attest, expansion in sports is not always a bright idea. Expansion could soon come to yet another one of America’s most cherished sports entities—the NCAA Tournament. Proposals to expand its current field of Will 65 teams to 96 entrants have garnered significant praise from those in the basketball world, including Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski. Although it’s easy to dismiss this idea from the get-go, for all due diligence let’s work under the assumption that the model advocated by Krzyzewski is adopted, in which conferences
Flaherty
melissa yeo/Chronicle file photo
Virginia Tech’s lackluster schedule prevented the team from punching its ticket to the Tournament.
would pick up additional at-large bids. Conference tournaments would be scrapped in favor of regular season standings as the determining factor for such slots, making it possible to project the sort of teams that would be additions to the March mix. It doesn’t take much examination to see that the new additions to the tournament field are far from Belles of the Ball. A cursory glance at last season’s regular season standings and the second-place finishers that might now be locked into bids in a 96-team tournament yields a list of schools that wouldn’t excite any fans outside their respective student bodies. Delaware State, Jacksonville and Bucknell—with its 14-17 record—all finished second in their respective conferences this year. See expansion con on page 10
10 | THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 2010 the chronicle
expansion pro from page 9 the time, I found his argument at best inane and at worst dangerous to the future of the tournament. Now, I’m beginning to see the upsides of what he said. To backtrack, it might be wise to show what Krzyzewski told reporters after the Gardner-Webb game December 15: “What I propose, is that you combine the [NCAA Tournament and the NIT] and come up with a field of 96. You would have 64 teams play. 32 teams get byes, and then it would be the same tournament, but with 96 teams.” So, under Krzyzewski’s plan, only one more game would be played. The bottom 64 teams would have to play, while each region’s top eight seeds would get a day off. It would essentially be the same tournament, only with one more day of basketball. Here’s what the typical detractor says: “If we expand it, you get rid of the end-of-season tournaments, and I’d rather have the end-of-season tournaments. It’s a celebration of each conference…. To keep expanding it would dilute what we already have, and what we have is a great product right now.” That was Coach K back in October. Obviously, he’s had a bit of a change of heart. But for good reason. For one thing, I feel Krzyzewski came to the conclusion that his worries about end-of-season tournaments becoming irrelevant were really already true. Events like the ACC championship, while fun and a great excuse for a four-day holiday in many parts of North Carolina, are ultimately pointless now. There once was a day where they made sense, but now the possibility of a team, which wouldn’t have an at-large bid otherwise, winning, is so low as to make the tournament not worth playing. Duke won the ACC championship this year. Its only reward is a tired team going into the NCAA Tournament. Conference tournaments exist only to enlarge conferences’ coffers. The arguments that the purity of the tournament is being spoiled, and that expansion dilutes the tournament in any way, are also unfounded. If the tournament were truly pure, then it would only have eight teams, its format back in 1939. It would also not have any at-large bids—until 1975, only one team from each conference could go to the Big Dance. Do the people who argue that expansion would dilute the “greatness” of
the tournament want to go back to this way of organizing? This is a fact: the NCAA Tournament has expanded 10 times since its conception. Each and every time, it has only gotten better. Yes, change to 96 teams may seem frightening. But it’s a winning scenario for all involved. It means more money to smaller schools that need it, by getting rid of the unprofitable NIT and by signing what would inevitably be a record-breaking TV contract. And, more importantly, it means more enjoyable basketball for the fans. Bubble teams like Davidson last year have the chance to make long runs, and mid-majors like Cornell this year could get deserved at-large bids, allowing them to prove their worth against the big boys. Think about this, as well. According to an article done in the Wall Street Journal, college basketball lets in a smaller percentage of its teams into the postseason than any other major sport. College football lets in more than half of its teams, as do the NBA and NHL. The NFL and MLB permit 37.5% and 26.7% respectively. College basketball? 19.5%. Expansion would put that number at 28.7%. Coach K’s change of heart was for good reason. Expansion makes sense.
michael naclerio/Chronicle file photo
Even UNC would be dancing if the Tournament expanded to 96 teams.
Take your taste buds where no man has ever gone before. 10% off
with Duke ID
expansion con from page 9 Those teams would thus be on the fringe or included as part of a 96-team tournament field. But consider the following: If the annual Fall guarantee games that major basketball powers like Duke play against these sort of teams are consistently snoozers that struggle to retain a fruit fly’s attention, how would anyone apart from a compulsive gambler enjoy a game between two of these teams? Krzyzewski’s version of expansion allows for the top 32 teams in the tournament to receive first-round byes while the bottom 64 schools play a round to whittle down the field. In effect, the current NCAA Tournament play-in game that has given us such classic matchups as Oakland-Alabama A&M and Monmouth-Hampton would morph into a massive play-in weekend, presumably composed of similarly uncompelling games. And even if some fringe-bubble “power conference” teams like Illinois or Virginia Tech (both participants in the 2010 NIT) were to slot into this first weekend, its hard to see how expansion would strengthen the Tournament as a whole. Adding another round of games against favored foes would raise the gauntlet for Cinderella teams to spring a big upset—the key element that year after year makes March Madness such compelling television. David might have taken five stones with him into his duel with Goliath, but adding another early game would in effect mean that the Davids of the college basketball world would have to waste all five shots on lesser foes before even getting a crack at the big target. Furthermore, the most vocal chorus in advocacy of a larger tournament is of head coaches themselves. With tournament appearances or the lack thereof often a key decisional factor in whether to retain or relieve a coach on the hot seat, it should come as no surprise that coaches are calling for an expanded tournament. It’s not hard to make the assumption that their support is far less about of improving the overall quality of the NCAA Tournament and far more steeped in motives of self-preservation. For the sake of college basketball and the sanctity of the NCAA Tournament, let’s hope that March Madness remains as currently composed.
Karl von der Heyden Distinguished Lecture
Soft Power and Obama’s Grand Strategy Joseph Nye March 23, 5:30 p.m. Fleishman Commons Reception to follow World power has traditionally been framed in terms of military and economic might. Harvard Professor Joseph Nye, former Assistant Secretary of Defense, pioneered the concept of “soft power,” the power of influence. He is the author of “Soft Power: the Means to Success in World Politics.”
MENU SAMPLING Old School Veggie Burrito Regular Chicken Burrito Cheese Quesadilla Chicken Quesadilla Veggie Nachos Chips & Salsa *Price valid in-restaurant only.
$2.86 $5.65 $1.41 $3.59 $4.12 $2.06
Great food. Low price. Open late.
This lecture is made possible by the von der Heyden Fellows Program Endowment Fund and co-sponsored by the Duke Program in American Grand Strategy, the Triangle Institute for Security Studies and the Sanford School of Public Policy.
THE SaNFoRD SCHooL oF PubLIC PoLICy
1920 1⁄2 Perry St. at Ninth St. 1 block from E. Campus
Inaugural Series
This event is free and open to the public. Metered parking is available. Contact Nicole McWhirter, nicole.mcwhirter@duke.edu, or call 919-613-9301. LeonhardtChronad.indd 2
3/16/10 12:05 PM
the chronicle
THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 2010 | 11
M. tennis from page 9
Freedom preserved!
stretch against the defending champions?’” Smith said. “It just felt like we were due for a win.” Throughout the match, Duke seemed to embrace its coach’s message and was hungry for victory. After his 6-1, 6-2 manhandling of No. 84 Peter Lucassen, sophomore Torsten Wietoska even screamed to his teammates and crowd, “Come on! Let’s go!” David Holland’s efficient 6-2, 6-3 victory at No. 5 singles gave the Blue Devils even more momentum, and put them one singles win away from team victory. “Holland did an amazing job in the second set, [and] it gave us a lot of momentum. Positive energy is contagious,” Smith
said. “We had a great crowd and a beautiful day and the rest of the team fed off that.” While Duke’s singles players finished off the match, the Blue Devils’ 2-1 victory in doubles play gave them the decisive fourth point for victory. Notably, the third-ranked team of Cunha and sophomore Reid Carleton earned its ninth straight victory in an 8-6 clinching victory over the Trojans’ No. 1 team. “Our doubles have been phenomenal starting with the No. 1 team. They’ve been so clutch for us and really set the tone {for singles],” Smith said. With a marquee victory under their belt, the Blue Devils now seem prepared to be serious contenders in the ACC, and Duke kicks off conference play March 26 when it faces Boston College and Harvard in a doubleheader in Boston.
faith robertson/Chronicle file photo
Sophomore Will Piwnica-Worms ran out an infield single in the 11th inning to drive in the winning run in Duke’s 3-2 victory over Liberty Wednesday at USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary.
margie truwit/Chronicle file photo
Torsten Wietoska won Duke’s first singles match in straight sets to help the Blue Devils top No. 3 USC 4-3.
All applications for the SOFC Annual Budgeting Process are due Wednesday, March 24 at 5PM.
graduEAT in STYLE Large Groups Welcome Private Rooms Available Make your reservations NOW,
Information about the 2010-2011 Annual Budgeting Process for Chartered Organizations is now online on the SOFC website:
call 919.489.2824 or e-mail spartacus1nc@aol.com
• Lunch • Dinner • Catering • Delivery
http://student.groups.duke.edu/ Student_Organization_Finance_Committee
www.spartacusrestaurant.com
12 | THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 2010 the chronicle Classifieds
Announcements SOPHOMORES AND JUNIORS
Make a teaching license part of your undergraduate studies and earn a Minor in Education at the same time! The Program in Education at Duke offers students the opportunity to earn a teaching license at the elementary level (grades K-6) or at the high school level (grades 9-12 in English, math, social studies, or science). Students in the Teacher Preparation Program also qualify for the Minor in Education. Applications for admission are now being accepted. For elementary licensure, contact Dr. Jan Riggsbee at 6603077 or jrigg@duke.edu. For high school licensure, contact Dr. Susan Wynn at 660-2403 or swynn@ duke.edu.
STUDYING ABROAD?
Fall 2009 / AY 200910
If you are an undergraduate who plans to study abroad anywhere in fall 2010 or academic year 2010-2011 and you have not submitted the MyGlobalEd Online Application at global. duke.edu/geo, please be aware that you need to do so ASAP. All undergraduate students studying abroad next semester need to complete required forms and the Duke Travel Registry at https:// eruditio.aas. duke.edu/ international/ index.php before leaving Duke. Forms are available through the online application. Please contact the Global Education Office for Undergraduates with questions. 919-684-2174
SUMMER SESSION DISCOUNT
Duke alumni, including current Duke seniors graduating this May, can attend Summer Session and receive a significant discount. View projected summer course offerings on ACES. Questions? Contact us at summer@duke.edu. or visit www.summersession.duke. edu. Registration for Summer 2010 is now open 919-684-5375
Help Wanted BARTENDERS ARE IN DEMAND!!!
Earn $20 - $35 per hour. 1 or 2 week classes & weekend classes. 100% Job Placement Assistance. RALEIGH’S BARTENDING SCHOOL. Have Fun! Make Money! Meet People! CALL NOW (919)676-0774 www.cocktailmixer.com
Durham Academy, an inde-
pendent private school, seeks an Upper School speech and debate coach. The debate team competes locally and nationally, with an emphasis on public forum debate, Lincoln-Douglas debate, Congressional debate, and extemporaneous speaking. Practices are in the afternoons and evenings. Tournaments are on weekends. The ideal candidate will have substantial speech and debate experience, excellent organizational skills, and the ability to relate well to a wide range of students and parents. To apply, send a resume and cover letter to jeffwelty@yahoo. com. Earn Extra Money Students needed ASAP. Earn up to $150 per day being a Mystery Shopper. No Experience Required. Call 1-800-722-4791
summer staff Stoneridge Swim
Club in Chapel Hill is now hiring lifeguards and swim instructors. Great work environment. Application is on website. Email sssrc@ mindspring.com 919-967-0915
Egg
Donor Needed Duke alumni couple (T’96) need help to make their family complete. Loving couple seeks female age 21-29 open to donating her egg. $8,000 compensation. Must be in/ near New York City summer 2010. Contact Porscha, 212-263-0054 or porscha.shaker@nyumc.org. Use reference code “DUKE”. Tell a friend! –Thank you!
Apartments for Rent Partners Place 3 BR, 3 bath apartment for lease starting June 1, 2010. Top floor. Recently refurbished. Very convenient to West Campus. 1650/mo. e-mail JANANCECO@lexcominc. net or call JIm Nance 336-2490296
Homes for Rent DUPLEX FOR RENT Large 4br, 2 1/2 bath in American Village. 2 miles from Duke. Ideal for residents or grad students. 3 level home provides lots of privacy. Utility room and deck off main floor. Appliances include washer & dryer. Contact Matt - 919-201-2265
For Sale Students Own Your Tuxedo! $85 includes: Tuxedo jacket,
pants, shirt, tie, cummerbund or vest, studs and cufflinks. You OWN it, this is not a rental. Ladies, we’ve got new cocktail and evening dresses for just $95 each! Formalwear Outlet, 415 Millstone Drive, Hillsborough, just 15 minutes from campus. 644-8243.
Answer to puzzle
The Chronicle classified advertising
www.dukechronicle.com/classifieds rates All advertising - $6.00 for first 15 words 10¢ (per day) additional per word 3 or 4 consecutive insertions - 10 % off 5 or more consecutive insertions - 20 % off special features online and print all bold wording - $1.00 extra per day bold heading - $1.50 extra per day bold and sub headline - $2.50 extra per day online only attention getting icon - $1.00 extra per ad spotlight/feature ad - $2.00 per day website link - $1.00 per ad map - $1.00 per ad hit counter - $1.00 per ad picture or graphic - $2.50 per ad deadline 12:00 noon 1 business day prior to publication payment Prepayment is required Master Card, VISA, Discover, American Express, cash or check ad submission
online: www.dukechronicle.com/classifieds email: advertising@chronicle.duke.edu fax to: 919-684-8295 phone orders: (919)-684-3811
No refunds or cancellations after first insertion deadline ADVERTISERS: Please check your advertisement for errors on the first day of publication. If you find an error, please call 919-684-3811. The Chronicle only accepts responsibility for the first incorrect day for ads entered by our office staff. We cannot offer make-good runs for errors in ads placed online by the customer.
the chronicle THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 2010 | 13
Diversions Shoe Chris Cassatt and Gary Brookins
Dilbert Scott Adams
Doonesbury Garry Trudeau
The Chronicle tournament sleepers: shanghai sharks: ������������������������������������������������������������������������� hon unc... oh wait?: ��������������������������������������������������������� will, emmeline vandy cheerleaders: ���������������������������������������������������������������������ray hibbard: ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������austin usc athletics: ������������������������������������������������������gabe, archith, hoco corn fields: ������������������������������������������������������� maya, addison, larsa geno auriemma: ������������������������������������������������������������ klein, carter definitely not us: ������������������������������������������������������� jessica, lindsey Barb Starbuck is a Cinderella: ��������������������������������������������������� Barb
Ink Pen Phil Dunlap
Student Advertising Manager:...............................Margaret Potter Account Executives:.................... Chelsea Canepa, Phil DeGrouchy Liza Doran, Lianna Gao, Rhea Kaw, Ben Masselink Amber Su, Mike Sullivan, Jack Taylor Quinn Wang, Cap Young Creative Services Student Manager............................Christine Hall Creative Services:................................Lauren Bledsoe, Danjie Fang Caitlin Johnson, Megan Meza , Hannah Smith Business Assistant:.........................................................Joslyn Dunn
Sudoku
Don’t Get Your Feathers in a Twist!
SAVE 20% on your next
CUSTOM FRAMING ORDER Must present coupon when placing order. Expires April 11, 2010
Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9. (No number is repeated in any column, row or box.)
www.theprintshopchapelhill.com
www.sudoku.com
The Independent Daily at Duke University
The Chronicle
14 | THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 2010 the chronicle commentaries
LGBT recruitment? Fine by us With undergraduate ad- Pennsylvania and Dartmouth missions decisions set to roll College are taking the tactic out in the coming weeks, one step further. If admitted the tables have turned. Ad- students overtly identify themmissions offices across the selves in their application’s country will now make their personal statement or activicase to acceptties description ed students in as Lesbian, Gay, editorial hope of luring Bisexual and the best and the brightest to Transgender or as an LGBT accept an offer for admission ally, active members of the and enroll at their university. school’s LGBT community will The practice of using tar- reach out to these prospective geted recruiting tactics to students and speak to them convince specific types of about LGBT life on campus. admitted students to enroll In the wake of the decision is not new in the landscape to incorporate sexual orientaof American higher educa- tion into admissions recruittion. Many colleges and uni- ing, Campus Pride—a nationversities encourage current al organization that works on students to reach out to pro- behalf of LGBT students—is spective students with similar lobbying the Common Appliacademic interests or extra- cation to include an optional curricular activities. question about sexual orientaBut now, the University of tion, similar to existing ques-
“
onlinecomment
I don’t think this was meant lightly, and will probably garner some votes! —“Sam Pollock Trinity ’76 UK ’80 Med” commenting on the blog post “The NCAA Tournament Goes to Washington.” See more at www.dukechronicle.com.
Letters Policy The Chronicle welcomes submissions in the form of letters to the editor or guest columns. Submissions must include the author’s name, signature, department or class, and for purposes of identification, phone number and local address. Letters should not exceed 325 words; contact the editorial department for information regarding guest columns. The Chronicle will not publish anonymous or form letters or letters that are promotional in nature. The Chronicle reserves the right to edit letters and guest columns for length, clarity and style and the right to withhold letters based on the discretion of the editorial page editor.
Est. 1905
”
Direct submissions to: E-mail: chronicleletters@duke.edu Editorial Page Department The Chronicle Box 90858, Durham, NC 27708 Phone: (919) 684-2663 Fax: (919) 684-4696
The Chronicle
Inc. 1993
will robinson, Editor Hon Lung Chu, Managing Editor emmeline Zhao, News Editor Gabe Starosta, Sports Editor Michael Naclerio, Photography Editor shuchi Parikh, Editorial Page Editor Michael Blake, Editorial Board Chair alex klein, Online Editor jonathan angier, General Manager Lindsey rupp, University Editor sabreena merchant, Sports Managing Editor julius jones, Local & National Editor jinny cho, Health & Science Editor Courtney Douglas, News Photography Editor andrew hibbard, Recess Editor Austin Boehm, Editorial Page Managing Editor Drew sternesky, Editorial Page Managing Editor ashley holmstrom, Wire Editor chelsea allison, Towerview Editor eugene wang, Recess Managing Editor DEAN CHEN, Lead Developer zachary kazzaz, Recruitment Chair Taylor Doherty, Sports Recruitment Chair Mary weaver, Operations Manager Barbara starbuck, Production Manager
zachary tracer, University Editor naureen khan, Senior Editor toni wei, Local & National Editor rachna reddy, Health & Science Editor Ian soileau, Sports Photography Editor Maya Robinson, Multimedia Editor Emily bray, Editorial Page Managing Editor Rebecca wu, Editorial Page Managing Editor Charlie Lee, Design Editor Ben cohen, Towerview Editor Maddie Lieberberg, Recess Photography Editor Lawson kurtz, Towerview Photography Editor caroline mcgeough, Recruitment Chair Andy Moore, Sports Recruitment Chair CHRISSY BECK, Advertising/Marketing Director REBECCA DICKENSON, Chapel Hill Ad Sales Manager
The Chronicle is published by the Duke Student Publishing Company, Inc., a non-profit corporation independent of Duke University. The opinions expressed in this newspaper are not necessarily those of Duke University, its students, faculty, staff, administration or trustees. Unsigned editorials represent the majority view of the editorial board. Columns, letters and cartoons represent the views of the authors. To reach the Editorial Office at 301 Flowers Building, call 684-2663 or fax 684-4696. To reach the Business Office at 103 West Union Building, call 684-3811. To reach the Advertising Office at 101 West Union Building call 684-3811 or fax 684-8295. Visit The Chronicle Online at http://www.dukechronicle.com. © 2010 The Chronicle, Box 90858, Durham, N.C. 27708. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior, written permission of the Business Office. Each individual is entitled to one free copy.
tions about race and ethnicity. Reaching out to LGBT students based on the content of their personal essays after they have been admitted is a good idea. Colleges and universities have the prerogative to enroll the best students, and reassuring the potential concerns of LGBT students is wholly appropriate. Like Penn and Dartmouth, Duke ought to reach out to admitted selfidentified LGBT students to convince them that Duke is an LGBT-friendly community. By contrast, institutionalizing an application question focused on sexual orientation is misguided. Putting a question about sexual orientation on a college application like the Common App will lead students to believe that sexuality
will be a factor in admissions decisions that will either positively or negatively impact an applicant’s candidacy. Colleges and universities are bound to federal civil rights laws, so they are prohibited from discriminating against applications based on a number of criteria. But on the flipside, incorporating such a sensitive question could create the perception of a “quota system” for LGBT students. There is nothing wrong with the current application process. It allows those who are comfortable disclosing their sexual orientation to include it in their essays and personal statements. Adding a question about sexual orientation on the Common Application would put undue pressure on appli-
cants who have not fully determined their own sexuality or who have not yet come out to their families and friends. Ultimately, Campus Pride’s proposal seems to solve the wrong problem. The biggest issue for LGBT students at universities like Duke is not that they are being denied admittance. Instead, the largest concern is that once LGBT students matriculate, they are not effectively supported. This problem will not be solved by adding a box to a college application. Reaching out to accepted applicants is a good place to start, but the best way to convince LGBT students to matriculate at any university is to create an environment that is welcoming, nurturing and inclusive.
Make way for the destructors
I
can count on one hand the number of times I’ve been really upset about something since I came to Duke. There was the time I wanted to watch a Keanu Reeves movie, and I dug all the way to the bottom of the Wal-Mart $5 DVD bin to get my hands on a copy of “Johnny Mnemonic” only to get to my room and discover I’d been sold an empty case. There was the time I was craving Honey dan flavin Bunches of Oats, and in real life I poured myself a giant bowl and then opened the fridge to an empty milk carton. There was the morning last year when I would’ve bet my life that it was Saturday when I first opened my eyes, but really it was Friday and I was late for physics lab. Add to those three fingers the week I think I had the swine flu and the terrifying hour I spent after a hornet snuck in the crack in my window, and you’ve got my one hand’s worth of bad times at Duke. That was how I was supposed to graduate, with a dump truck full of good memories and a handful of bad ones. My quota was met. Until two weeks ago that is, when I had to start counting on my other hand. On the first day of spring break I awoke to find my group’s tent, a lovely green six-sleeper, lying in a crumpled heap in the middle of K-ville. Its poles were broken, its stakes were uprooted and its rain fly was flapping in the breeze. Before you suggest that my group’s tent was structurally unsound or pitched improperly, consider the following facts. I would venture to say that students at this University know quite a bit about pitching tents. Aside from the tent itself, all you need is a tarp for the ground, some stakes that will hold and some guy-line to make sure it all doesn’t blow away in the wind. My group’s tent had all those things. My group even had an Eagle Scout pitch the tent for us. Our tent was as sound as a bell and as safe as the Bank of England. At least we thought it was, until a random stranger decided to jump on top of it. Our tent did not die of natural causes. Neither did the several other tents I saw that met the same fate. There is only one way to describe what hap-
pened. It was wanton destruction of property. I’m not talking about anything I saw in “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.” This wasn’t the kind of destruction that happens when jumbo-sized dumplings rain down from the sky. And it wasn’t the cool kind of wanton destruction that happens in the movies either, like in “Godzilla vs. King Kong” or “Attack of the 50 Foot Woman.” I’m talking about the kind of destruction that has become an all-too-common occurrence on campus. The guy who has nothing better to do in the middle of the night than rip down all the flyers and door decs in the dorm hallway. The gate-arms that get snapped off on a daily basis in all the campus parking lots. The light by the flagpole in front of Wilson Gym that someone put out with a brick. The paper towel dispenser that got ripped out of the wall in my hall’s bathroom. The fire extinguishers that get discharged, the trashcans that get knocked over and the chairs that get tossed off the Plaza—and these are just the things I’ve seen with my own eyes. Try as I might, I can’t make any sense of this phenomenon of wanton destruction. Certainly, no one would happily skip around their own home smashing out lights and stomping trash into the carpet. And yet, exactly this happens in the dorms every weekend. Isn’t Duke our home? Whatever happened to stewardship? Oh sure, we pledge to be good stewards of society. We even pledge to be good stewards of the planet itself. In clubs and classes and retreats we talk about caring for our environment. We talk about caring for ourselves and each other. But talk is cheap. Perhaps it’s time we start making good on our pledges. Remember the scene in the Disney adaptation of “Pinocchio” when the boys run off to Pleasure Island? In the quintessential depiction of wanton destruction, Pinocchio and his friends giddily smash away at their surroundings. Sure, they have a good time doing it, but do you remember what happens to them as their behavior grows increasingly asinine? Sooner or later, we must realize that we are defined by our actions. Words mean nothing. GPAs mean nothing. What you’re doing next summer means nothing. How we behave is who we are. And sometimes who we are ain’t very pretty. Daniel Flavin is a Trinity senior. His column runs every other Thursday.
Visit www.dukechronicle.com for the newest “Seeds of social innovation” column by Lina Feng and Cami Ratliffe
the chronicle
I
Loves me, loves me not
f I see one more of those “do you have a boyfriend or girlfriend” surveys, I think I’m actually going to Tasmanian devil rip it up to shreds. They’re literally everywhere. In the bathroom stalls. Littered up and down my hall. On my door even, which I’m pretty sure is an invasion of personal space. And they’ve been up for a long time now, which leads me to believe that the study is over and done with—but I’m positive that someone, the anti-Cupid, is going around reposting them on a daily basis. To top it off, I recently got the metty fisseha e-mail about participating in the i’m just saying Duke Social Relationships Project, which examines the social lives of Duke students. Although it seems harmless enough as a scholarly study, I know better than to believe that it’s not all about dating—because it is. I made the mistake of filling one out last year and laboriously going through pages and pages of “on a scale of one to 10” questions that made me reassess my love life, or at times lack thereof. It’s nowhere near Valentine’s Day so I know I’m not just caught up in post Hallmark/Russell Stover chocolate bitterness. I really just am so intrigued by the way that relationships are perceived at Duke, because somewhere between rumors that Duke is a non-dating school to the endless couples doing coupley things on the Plaza, I just don’t get it. I need the birds and the bees conversation again, only this time the Blue Devil edition. Can you blame me? We’ve all been at Shooters and witnessed the sloppy and questionable physical interactions that occur all over the dance floor (and the cage, bar, mirror, etc.). Contrary to popular belief, we can’t just dismiss romance at Duke as being characterized by such a casual hook-up culture because— and correct me if I’m wrong—it seems like there are new couples coming out of the woodwork all the time. Even within my own life I can name a few friends who just since the semester started have settled down with that special someone whom they exclusively bring to formals or with whom they share romantic Loop dinners. Hence my confusion. Has Duke recently evolved into a school for lovers? Or has the “Duke is for singles” mantra been a facade this whole time? It’s not that I want to understand the rules of the game that I’m playing. I want to know if Duke students are exceptionally horny and/or polygamous, or if, on the other end of the spectrum, we are all prowling around, making eyes with strangers, hoping that the boy/girl sitting two seats away on the C-1 is the one. Ask yourself: What do you want? And then ask yourself: What are you getting? If these two answers aren’t matching up—given that you’re not antisocial or a nymphomaniac—then I have a suggestion for you in figuring out why: It’s not you, it’s Duke. I have a theory that love at Duke is a huge paradox. According to www.collegeprowler.com, our male-to-female ratio (1.08:1) is perfectly conducive to dating because it maximizes the potential to find a mate. Additionally, there are more than enough opportunities to find romance between the endless mixers, formals and even Fuqua speed-dating events (which in theory are meant to pair up mentors with mentees, yet end up achieving everything but). So, why are all the aspiring boyfriends- and girlfriends-tobe still single? I already mentioned the pro-single dynamics of Shooters, but I would suggest that the answer is deeper than that. It is entwined in the very framework of what it means to be a Duke student, of always feeling like you should be working out or constantly complaining about the midterm you have next week. These aren’t bad things, they’re common realities so instilled in our day-to-day lives that we don’t even realize them. Therefore, while on the outside looking in Duke looks perfectly conducive to couples doing those coupley things on the Plaza (I mean, spring time at Duke with budding flowers + Gothic architecture = wonderland for love), in reality the values and practices instilled in us by our lifestyle suggests the exact opposite: That there is no room for love in the midst of the competitive and overachieving world that is Duke University. I’m not saying that relationships aren’t worth it—actually they are, and I appreciate them. However, despite what College Prowler says, companionship at Duke is more accurately defined by dancing the night away with your girlfriends than schmoozing a candlelit meal at Chamas. So next time you feel unsatisfied with your love life, blame it on Duke, then go read a few chapters in your textbook. I guarantee you’ll thank me for it later. Metty Fisseha is a Trinity junior. Her column runs every other Thursday.
commentaries
THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 2010 | 15
No more free yearbooks
I
f you ask students how many times they’ve opened their Chanticleer yearbooks, periodically handed out free on the West Campus Plaza, it’s safe to say a substantial majority will give you a number in the low single digits. For many, that digit will be zero. But for such a sparsely used product, The Chanticleer receives a colossal amount of funding and seems to be sub- vikram srinivasan ject to a different set uncommon of funding rules than conviction other student groups. With more than $109,000 allocated for the 2009-2010 school year, the yearbook receives 17.2 percent of all Student Organization Finance Committee allocated funds (and that was after a budget cut!). In recent years, Duke Student Government has made repeated attempts to gradually cut the yearbook budget. As we approach this year’s SOFC budgeting season, DSG needs to finally wield the fiscal axe to cut The Chanticleer budget dramatically and make students pay for their yearbooks. The reasons why are simple enough. For one, students value a free product less than one they buy. To that end, student activity fees should be spent on experiences students value while they are still at Duke, rather than on keepsakes which students may or may not actually keep. Campus life could be visibly improved by reallocating the massive chunk of funding The Chanticleer receives to student groups with a record of producing consistent and effective programming. The Chanticleer prints 4,500 copies a year, according to an April 2009 Chronicle article. Yet many of those go unclaimed. Stacks remain piled in the Undergraduate Publications Board office in the Bryan Center, on the supposition that someday alumni who never got one will come by to pick one up. Meanwhile, put The Chanticleer’s funding numbers in perspective: Club sports received $80,000 this year; the four big campus cultural groups (Asian Students Association, Black Student Alliance, Mi Gente and Diya) received $37,619.65 combined. Both sets of organizations have a much broader impact in engaging the student body on a day-to-day basis, which is what the student activities fee is intended to support. DSG needs to take this funding issue seriously. There are only about $640,000 accessible to all student groups. Organizations big and small spend the year jockeying for funding from various entities. Yet more than 100 grand of funding is walled off to generate a product few use. Students should take offense at this. The Chanticleer is not entitled to current funding levels simply because they have always been this high.
Chanticleer editor-in-chief Taylor Martyn, a senior, defended the practice of giving away free yearbooks on the grounds of “equal access,” a goal he suggested could best be accomplished through the student activities fee. Among the arguments leveled in support of free yearbooks, I find this egalitarian one the most unconvincing. Charging students to pay for the yearbook, the thinking goes, discriminates against lower income students in favor of those who can afford to pay. This is well and good, except for the fact that this reasoning could apply to pretty much everything. Should class rings be free? Diploma frames? It’s unclear when and why the yearbook was anointed the keepsake king. Even if not all students will be able to afford a yearbook, that is not so much worse than handing them out for free to serve as bookends. Instead, students who do not purchase a yearbook up front could obtain one later from The Chanticleer, just as they may order a class ring even after they have graduated. At some point, it’s just not fair to other student groups to continue funding The Chanticleer at these levels without requiring serious fiscal reform. According to SOFC Chairman David Hu, the Chanticleer should expect another $25,000 cut this year. That’s a step in the right direction. But gradual cuts won’t do, and other student groups should not tolerate them. This is their funding which is being monopolized and the strategy of delay has clear opportunity costs. The only way the yearbook will find another business model is if DSG cuts its funding, in the order of some $90-100,000 on par with other student groups with high expenses, and The Chanticleer is forced to adapt. And it’s not like yearbooks won’t exist if they’re not subsidized and handed out. Few other universities give away yearbooks for free. Most of us who went to high school in the U.S. had to buy our yearbooks. I still look fondly back on mine from time to time. But I always had to pay for them, and the purchasing of the yearbook was embedded within a larger social experience of signing books of friends. Ultimately, it was this experience that gave it the most value. Requiring students to buy their yearbooks could not only see the rise of a similar culture at Duke, but it could also see the added benefit of a more marketable final yearbook. If The Chanticleer is a product to be sold it could become more user-friendly, designed for students to create memories with, rather than to collect dust on a shelf. So in this year’s SOFC’s budgeting process, student leaders should resist the temptation to romanticize the yearbook. The Chanticleer is a student organization like any other. It should be subject to the same rules. Vikram Srinivasan is a Trinity senior. His column runs every other Thursday.
16 | THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 2010 the chronicle
R U O Y S DOE E C N A D I U G L A I C N A FIN ? E D A R G E H T MAKE ty. li e id F h it w s cu into e r u t ic p l ia c n tal fina o t r u o y g in r B
fo
Expect More — And Get It Free With Fidelity
It takes a deep understanding of both personal investing and retirement planning to give higher education professionals like you the full picture. We’ll guide you with the benefit of over 60 years of experience to help you create a more complete plan for your goals. Why settle for less?
On-site Meetings
For your convenience, we’ll come right to you at work.
One-on-one Consultation
To review both your workplace and personal savings as part of a comprehensive plan.
Investment Help
To choose low-cost investments, from bonds and annuities to stocks and mutual funds.
Professional Guidance*
From retirement income planning to charitable giving and estate planning.
NEVER SETTLE SCHEDULE YOUR COMPLIMENTARY CONSULTATION TODAY.
800.823.0172 FIDELITY.COM/RESERVE
Before investing, consider the funds’ investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. Contact Fidelity for a prospectus containing this information. Read it carefully. Products or services mentioned above may not be applicable depending on your particular financial situation. Restrictions may apply. Please contact Fidelity for additional information. *Although it may be provided in one-on-one consultations, guidance provided by Fidelity is educational in nature, is not individualized, and is not intended to serve as the primary or sole basis for your investment or tax-planning decisions. Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, Member NYSE, SIPC. © 2010 FMR LLC. All rights reserved. 545542
101057_04_AD_Chroncle_TEM.indd 1
3/9/10 8:08:11 AM