The Chronicle T h e i n d e p e n d e n t d a i ly at D u k e U n i v e r s i t y
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2010
ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTH YEAR, Issue 42
www.dukechronicle.com
Mayer discusses CIA interrogation tactics by Praveen Tummalapalli THE CHRONICLE
Prize-winning investigative journalist Jane Mayer spoke in the Sanford School of Public Policy Monday night about covering the war on terror. Mayer said she began investigating the legality and effectiveness of extraordinary rendition—in which prisoners are transferred to other countries—after she became aware that the practice was being used by the CIA to torture prisoners. During her reporting, she was surprised to find numerous military and FBI officials opposed to the use of renditions and torture, she said. In fact, one of the first experts Mayer interviewed on the subject was Dan Coleman, an FBI agent who worked with the CIA’s bin Laden unit and was vehemently opposed to the practice. According to Mayer, Coleman told her that torture would yield bad information because prisoners were willing to say anything to stop the interrogations. Mayer’s appearance, presented as a discussion between her and Philip Bennett, Eugene C. Patterson professor of the practice of journalism and public policy and former managing editor of The Washington Post, was this year’s Ewing Lecture on Ethics. The discussion centered on her coverage of the war on terror and the legally and ethically questionable actions committed by the CIA and the administration of former President George W. Bush. Mayer is a staff writer for The New Yorker magazine See mayer on page 7
by Nicole Kyle THE CHRONICLE
margie truwit/The Chronicle
Jane Mayer spoke at the Sanford School of Public Policy Monday. The investigative journalist offered her thoughts on the war on terror and disputed the effectiveness of FBI and CIA interrogation tactics.
DUke University student dining advisory committee
Plate & Pitchfork adds new menu options by Ray Koh
THE CHRONICLE
Plate & Pitchfork revamped its menu in an effort to attract more students to the restaurant, adding 10 new items to its menu. At its meeting Monday night, the Duke University Student Dining Advisory Committee sampled the eatery’s new food and discussed ways in which the venue could further improve the dining experience. “We are listening to students and taking in suggestions and advice,” said Plate & Pitchfork pastry chef Amelia Lindsey. “We want to make sure students feel comfortable and taken care of.” The Faculty Commons becomes Plate & Pitchfork during dinner hours and is open Monday through Friday. The restaurant promotes healthy and locally grown dining options. Lindsey noted that the restaurant’s meat is freshly ground and from local areas, adding that Plate & Pitchfork provides gluten-free and vegan choices. The dishes DUSDAC members sampled included pork buns, two different pizzas, vegan stuffed pumpkin and various desserts. The restaurant’s new menu items include an appetizer, six main menu dishes and three desserts. New dishes include a seared salmon hotpot, braised beef short ribs and a seafood pasta
Duke athletics implements sickle cell testing policy, Page 9
RLHS will consider new living options
bowl. Pumpkin chocolate chip bread pudding and vegan apple crisp are two of the new desserts. In addition to tasting the food, committee members gave a number of suggestions to improve Plate & Pitchfork’s visibility among Duke students. DUSDAC co-Chair Alex Klein, a senior and former online editor for The Chronicle, recommended that the group provide suggestions for new ways to advertise. Members noted that although the food is high-quality, many students are not especially familiar with Plate & Pitchfork. The committee noted the importance of prominent signs bringing attention to the new menu. Franca Alphin, director of nutrition services at Student Health, suggested that Plate & Pitchfork focus on a signature dish with a name that could spread among students. The committee also recognized the positive effect that serving beer, liquor and cocktails could have on the restaurant’s business. DUSDAC dedicated its meeting to Drew Everson, a senior who passed away Saturday after sustaining severe head and body trauma from an accidental fall. Everson served as Campus Council liaison for the group last year. At the start of the meeting, Klein and rest of the committee members held a moment of silence for Everson. See dusdac on page 6
ONTHERECORD
“[The park] is intended to foster Franklin’s approach to history: acknowledge the past, learn from it and look to the future.”
—Tulsa officials on John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park. See story page 3
The house model is not the only residential reform in Duke’s near future: RoomPicks may offer gender-neutral and coed housing options as soon as 2011. Campus Council recommended policies for Residence Life and Housing Services to review at its last meeting Thursday. Genderneutral housing will allow male and female students to live in the same apartment on Central Campus. Coed housing allows males to live next to females with singlegender bathrooms. RLHS will consider the proposals immediately, said Joe Gonzalez, associate dean of residence life. “We’ll begin the discussion [Tuesday],” Gonzalez said. “[This] is a topic we are genuinely interested in supporting, but now comes the real conversation to formalize our support level. I’m hopeful that we will be able to respond fairly quickly.” Participants in gender-neutral housing would be placed in the same housing lottery as all other Central residents, according to the policy proposals. Coed housing is currently proposed as a small, opt-in program on West Campus, similar to the Women’s Housing Option and the Wellness Community. If passed, coed housing will likely be offered in See housing on page 7
eliza bray/The Chronicle
RLHS will begin considering new proposals for gender- neutral and coed housing options.
Sarkozy faces criticism, Page 4