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
wednesday, september 29, 2010
ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTH YEAR, Issue 25
www.dukechronicle.com
Study gives FEMA admin discusses emergency response analysis of grad schools by Alex Bloedel THE CHRONICLE
by Maggie Love THE CHRONICLE
The National Research Council publicized its extensive Data-Based Assessment of Research Doctorate Programs Tuesday. Duke is among the 212 U.S. universities included in the study. Thirty-nine Duke graduate programs were included in the report. The departments will use the data to compare Duke programs with those of other universities, Graduate School Dean Jo Rae Wright wrote in an e-mail Tuesday. “My top priority is to discuss the data with our departments,” Wright said. “We will help them look through the data and understand how the information can be used to think about ways to strengthen our programs even further.” Rather than a definitive list, the report provides ranges of the middle 90th percentile ratings that rely on characteristics faculty in specific fields deemed important. The report provides data on schools based on ranges, which were created to be more accurate than clear-cut rankings, according to the report’s methodology guide. Because schools have yet to review the data extensively, Wright declined See graduate schools on page 12
irina danescu/The Chronicle
Jason McNamara, chief of staff of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, spoke Tuesday on the benefits of a more holistic, less bureaucratic approach to national emergency management.
In emergency situations, bureaucracy and inefficiency hamper traditional relief efforts, FEMA Chief of Staff Jason McNamara said Tuesday night. The Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator spoke about the organization’s “whole community approach to emergency management.” The approach is an alternative to traditional topdown command, which he said he sees as too generalized of an approach. The speech was the first event of this year’s Provost’s Lecture Series, which is titled “Natural Disasters and Human Responses.” “A lot of times, we look at emergency management as a generic approach,” said McNamara, who has more than 15 years of emergency management experience. “[We need to get] out of the mind set of an overly centralized, bureaucratic kind of one-size-fits-all approach to recovery.” His proposed “whole community approach” alternative is a more decentralized method that better fits a community’s specific needs. He added that FEMA began to integrate it during the past six to eight months. The philosophy focuses on fostering partnerships between local institutions and communities, governmental organizations and private sector groups. The approach accounts for issues sometimes overlooked by federal
See mcnamara on page 12
Spiral staircase to connect third and Jimmy Carter fourth floors in McClendon Tower falls ill, cancels Regulator visit by Dana Kraushar THE CHRONICLE
david chou/the Chronicle
Residence Life and Housing Services refurbished McClendon Tower over the summer and will add a spiral staircase this year.
Renovations to McClendon Tower aim to connect the third and fourth floors in a more intimate way. Residence Life and Housing Services announced plans to add a spiral staircase to connect the floors to create an open space conducive to individual and small group study. Since its opening in 2003, the third floor of the tower has housed a game room while the fourth floor is occupied by Bella Union. Although the coffee shop is a popular venue for students to work, requests from undergraduates for more study space led RLHS to consider options to increase utilization of the third floor, said Joe Gonzalez, associate dean for residence life. Renovations over the summer and the addition of new furniture aimed to convert the area to a more comfortable study space. “We installed some additional outlets for computer use as well as painted the room,” Deb LoBiondo,
Former President Jimmy Carter canceled his scheduled book signing at Durham’s Regulator Bookshop Tuesday after spending much of the day in the hospital with a stomach ache. Carter, who was to appear at the Ninth Street bookstore to sign copies of his new book, “White House Diary,” reportedly fell ill during a flight to Cleveland Tuesday morning. Upon his arrival, the former president was taken to MetroHealth Hospital for observation, CNN reported. As part of his national book tour, Carter was scheduled to do a signing in suburban Cleveland Tuesday afternoon before coming to the Regulator, where 1,000 people were expected to attend the 7 p.m. event, according to WRAL.
See mcclendon on page 6
See carter on page 6
ONTHERECORD
“According to the DUU constitution, if you miss two meetings... and you can lose your position.”
—DUU President Yi Zhang, a senior, on DUU attendance. See story page 4
Durham chosen to take part in national health study, Page 3
from Staff Reports the chronicle
New plant will turn hog waste into energy, Page 3