November 3, 2010 issue

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, NOVEMBER 3, 2010

ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTH YEAR, Issue 48

www.dukechronicle.com

Election 2010

Incumbents Burr, Price re-elected

by Alejandro Bolívar and Chinmayi Sharma THE CHRONICLE

incumbents, many of whom fell victim to their unshakable association with a sagging economy and an unpopular president. As The Chronicle went to press, the GOP had picked up 59 seats, more than enough to guarantee it will control the chamber for the next two years. Sixteen seats remained undecided,

Despite significant national change, North Carolina’s and Durham’s voters re-elected their incumbent political leaders in the 2010 midterm elections.

With 55percent of the vote, incumbent Republican Sen. Richard Burr defeated N.C. Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, who won about 43 percent. Rep. David Price, the 11-term Democratic incumbent, defeated Republican challenger B.J. Lawson in the race for the 4th District seat in the House of Representatives by a margin of about 15 percent.

Burr was predicted to retain his Senate seat, according to Public Policy Polling’s final survey for the North Carolina Senate election.

Burr and Marshall had conflicting views regarding Obama’s policies and different ideas about alleviating the economic crisis. Burr, whose election was part of a national Republican tide, has consistently advocated for the repeal of the new health care bill and has vocalized his discontent with the government’s stimulus bill.

A veteran of Congress, Price was also projected to win the House seat by a solid margin—his district, which includes Durham, is largely democratic.

See midterm on page 12

See election on page 12

A changing of the guard GOP takes House while Democrats retain slim Senate majority

by Ciaran O’Connor THE CHRONICLE

In a sharp rebuke of President Barack Obama and the Democratic Party, citizens across the country voted Tuesday to shift the balance of power in Washington, handing Republicans control of the House of Representatives and whittling down the Democrats’ Senate majority.

While the Grand Old Party made

significant inroads in the Senate, knocking out well-established incumbents like Arkansas’ Blanche Lincoln and Wisconsin’s Russ Feingold, Democrats won crucial races in California and Nevada that ensured they would retain control of the body.

In the House, Republicans took advantage of widespread voter discontent to beat a range of Democratic

michael naclerio/The Chronicle chronicle graphic by melissa yeo

Crude fraternity e-mails reignite debate on gender issues

by Ryan Brown THE CHRONICLE

At 6:10 p.m. Saturday, an e-mail message landed in the inboxes of more than 300 Duke women inviting them to a fraternity’s Halloween party at an off-campus apartment.

“Hey Ladies,” the message to the Sigma Nu fraternity social listserv began, “Whether your [sic] dressing up as a slutty nurse, a slutty doctor, a slutty schoolgirl, or just a total slut, we invite you to find shelter in the confines of Partners D.” According to several students interviewed for this story, on most nights that would have been the last anyone saw of the e-mail. The fraternity threw its party, students had a good time and everyone went home and fell asleep.

But when the sun rose the next morning, West Campus was plastered in bright yellow flyers printed with the full text of Sigma Nu’s invitation, as well as a similar e-mail sent by the unrecognized, off-campus fraternity Alpha Delta

Residents vote to bar felons from becoming sheriff, Page 4

Phi. Someone had scrawled a handwritten message across the bottom of each sheet of paper before making copies: “If you’re not outraged, you’re not paying attention” and,“Is this why you came to Duke?” The physical flyers soon disappeared, but scanned copies quickly circulated.

Many students noted that the e-mails are intended to be humorous. But just a month after a sexually explicit PowerPoint made by Karen Owen, Trinity ’10, became a viral internet sensation, Duke received another reminder of what can happen when a message sent via the Internet slips out of the control of its sender. And just three weeks after a Yale fraternity faced national scrutiny for a video of its pledges chanting, “No means yes, yes means anal,” the messages raised questions about gender and social culture on Duke’s campus.

“This e-mail was an isolated event,” said Sigma Nu President Sam Zakria, a junior. “It was a single individual who wrote it and it was a serious lapse in judgment on his part,

but it is not representative of the views of our organization as a whole.”

He added that he has since sent apology e-mails to recipients and the wider greek community, and that disciplinary action is being taken against the author of the e-mail, both within the fraternity and through the Interfraternity Council. Representatives from the Sigma Nu national chapter and the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life said no actions will be taken against the fraternity as a whole at this time.

Alpha Delta Phi President Tim Shaughnessy, a senior, Social Chair Will Geary, a junior, and the national chapter of the fraternity declined to comment on their organization’s e-mail, which joked, “Fear is riding the C1 with Helen Keller at the helm (not because shes [sic] deaf and blind, but because she is a woman).”

ONTHERECORD

“Pot is commonplace in California in a way that isn’t true for other states.”

­—Political Science Professor David Rohde on Proposition 19. See story page 4

See e-mails on page 6

Midterm elections draw less enthusiastic crowd, Page 3

2 | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2010 the chronicle

worldandnation onschedule...

Dr. Roland on Manned Flight Physics 130, 5-7p.m.

Duke’s Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics is hosting Dr. Roland, who will discuss NASA’s manned space flight program.

on the

Duke Women’s Basketball Cameron Indoor, 7-10p.m.

Come out and watch the Duke Women’s basketball team take on Wingate in an exhibition match tonight.

5550

THURSDAY:

5839

Study Abroad in North Korea Perkins Library 217, 7-9p.m.

The Pyongyang Project is the first and only American program operating in North Korea. Come to the info session to learn more.

web

“Is the momentum turning for Duke Football? Two days after upsetting Navy 34-31 in Annapolis, two Blue Devils picked up honors Monday as ACC players of the week at their respective positions. Tight end Cooper Helfet was named the league’s top offensive lineman, and kicker Will Snyderwine was named the best specialist. Helfet and Snyderwine both had crucial plays in last Saturday’s game.”

— From The Chronicle’s Sports Blog sports.chronicleblogs.com

Carol Guzy/The washington post

Pictured above is Alma Matthews-Coleman, a native of the District of Columbia, studying a ballot at her polling place at Garnet-Patterson Middle School Tuesday. Matthews-Coleman turned 100 in September, but her efforts are not reflective of the country at large. The United States has struggled with voter participation in recent decades.

tion Atten ear first-y s… nt stude

”

TODAY IN HISTORY

1394: Jews are expelled from France by Charles VI.

Did you know that you can apply to become a Robertson Scholar?

The Robertson Scholars Program invites you to an open information session to learn more about this opportunity!

Choose from one of two sessions:

Sunday, Nov. 7 at 4PM White Lecture Hall on East Campus Wednesday, Nov. 10 at 5PM Von Canon A/B • Meet members of the program staff • Discuss program benefits and expectations • Review important information about the application process

Please join us!

Learn more at www.robertsonscholars.org, or contact Kristin Miller, miller@robertsonscholars.org.

Midterm spending could Multiple small parcel potentially affect 2012 races bombs defused in Greece WASHINGTON—The midterms have shattered spending records for a nonpresidential contest, providing a likely blueprint for the frenzy to come when the White House is up for grabs in two years, according to political consultants, campaign-finance experts and activists from both parties.

Independent groups have reported spending $270 million so far, but that number does not include tens of millions of dollars more not disclosed to the Federal Election Commission. Much of the money has been spent by nonprofit groups such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce that do not have to reveal where they got the money.

“It’s the how-to for 2012,” said Ellen Miller, executive director of the Sunlight Foundation, which tracks money in politics.“It’s how to use corporate money, how to use secret money, to buy elections. . . It’s going to be no-holds-barred.”

off the

wire...

ATHENS—Greek police said small parcel bombs exploded at the Swiss and Russian embassies in Athens Tuesday and at least another three packages addressed to foreign missions in the capital were disarmed.

No injuries or damage were reported.

Two makeshift explosive devices were defused by police at Athens International Airport, a police spokeswoman said in a statement.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel was sent a package mailed from Greece two days ago containing a bomb, the German government said. If the explosive is “the same type of device as the package bombs in Athens, it could have caused not inconsiderable damage,” German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said. Greek police were on alert for parcel bombs after one exploded at a courier company in the Athens neighborhood of Pangrati, injuring an employee, and another three were detected in central Athens Monday.

Shots fired at Coast Guard recruit in Virginia

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the chronicle

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2010 | 3

Local voters share opinions on political landscape Duke students and local citizens headed to the polls yesterday to cast their ballots and elect the nation’s politicians. Durham County has approximately 166,000 registered voters, about 48 percent of whom participated in the election, according to preliminary results updated at 1 a.m. today. The turnout lagged behind the 2008 presidential election, when nearly 77 percent of registered voters cast ballots, but surpassed the 39 percent turnout of registered voters in the 2006 midterm election. The Chronicle’s Yeshwanth Kandmalla asked voters at local poll sites about the American political landscape and their thoughts on the 2010 elections.

—Gunther Peck, Fred W. Shaffer associate professor of history and public policy “[Obama] is not Superman.

He’s doing what he can.... [The outcome] is in God’s and the people’s hands.”

—Shelley Horsford, Durham resident

“I would vote for some change if there’s a viable option. I really want to check extreme agendas.”

—Sampath Rangaswamy, software consultant in Durham

“I’m not really familiar with the issues. I’m ignorant, but not apathetic—the least I can do is vote.”

—Aaron Sandel, Trinity ’10

“The tone’s changed a lot.

It’s much more negative, defensive.”

—Annelise Mesler, junior “There is definitely an enthusiasm gap. I can feel it—I am part of it.”

—Rodrigo Dorfman, Trinity ’89 “It’s going to be a lot more filibustering, a lot more nothing getting done.”

—J.J. Hoff, senior “Students have also realized the national stakes in voting. Even if they’re not familiar with local politics, they should make their voice heard.”

maya robinson/The Chronicle

With turnout for the 2010 midterm election lagging far behind the 2008 presidential election, some voters said there is a lack of enthusiasm for this year’s race.

help wanted NeuroCog Trials, a rapidly growing company

with close ties to Duke University Medical Center, has been involved in design and implementation of multi-site clinical trials, including rater training and data quality assurance, and neurocognitive test development, for 10 years.

We are looking to fill a full-time PhD-level position. This individual will assist in novel test development and validation, trial design, data analysis and interpretation, and business development, and will oversee neurocognitive rater certification and data quality control for multi-site pharmaceutical company trials. These clinical trials usually involve a large meeting of investigators and testers who require certification. Travel to US or international meetings is expected. The person filling the position should be proficient in Excel, SPSS and/or SAS. Expertise in visual design, presentation, and software development is a plus.

The starting salary will be competitive with pharmaceutical industry standards with medical benefits.

Management skills are essential. Additional requirements: PhD in psychology, neurosciences or related field; experience with neuropsychological or cognitive data collection and analysis; ability to travel on limited basis (average of 3-5 days per month); large-group presentation skills. Experience with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and dementia is a plus.

Contact: Dr. Richard Keefe email: PhDpsych@neurocogtrials.com phone: 919-401-4642

4 | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2010 the chronicle

Calif. voters extinguish act to legalize cannabis

by Samantha Brooks THE CHRONICLE

Hopes for the legalization of marijuana through Proposition 19 went up in smoke last night after Californians voted down the proposed act to regulate, control and tax cannabis.

The act was designed to permit the possession, cultivation and transportation of cannabis—a term often interchanged with marijuana—within the state of California for the personal use of individuals over the age of 21.The legislation planned to enforce regulations similar to those used to control alcohol distribution. The proposition prohibited users from possessing marijuana on school grounds, using it in public, smoking it in the presence of minors or providing it to anyone under 21 years old.

The New York Times projected that 54.8 percent of Californians voted against the proposition as of 3:30 a.m. this morning.

Supporters of the proposition touted monetary benefits for the state—approximately $1.4 billion annually, according to the Proposition 19 website. These funds would have resulted from the revenue gained from taxes on the production and sale of the substance and its related products and the redistribution of government funding originally used to penalize marijuana law offenders.

But because of the intangible nature of the estimations, state revenue gains should not have been a predominant factor for voters, according to Richard Schmalbeck, a law professor and a expert in federal taxation, law and economics.

“It seems to me like these numbers are

basically guesses,” Schmalbeck explained.

“Even if $1.4 billion were accurate, it would be only around a one percent change....

This [would] help, but not very much. I wouldn’t think that the revenue implications should be what determine the voters’ decisions on [the proposition].”

Instead, initial support more likely came from California’s uniquely accepting approach to the substance and from its potential ability to enable law enforcement to pursue more serious crimes, said David Rohde, professor of political science.

“Pot is commonplace in California in a way that isn’t true for other states,” Rohde said. “Proposition 19 has gotten a lot of support from law enforcement personnel, who argue that... by legalizing [marijuana], they can reallocate their resources.”

Indeed, the act received endorsements from more than 30 individual law enforcement officers. At the time of the election, the movement had acquired a total of 112 public advocates ranging from individuals such as California State Sen. Mark Leno, D-Ca. to numerous party-affiliated groups including the California Libertarian Party, the Republican Liberty Caucus as well as numerous district Democratic parties, according to the Proposition 19 website.

On campus, many Californian students obtained absentee ballots to vote for candidates in their home districts as well as for a chance to support or oppose the act.

Sophomore Jake Sganga, who said he voted in favor of the proposition, said one of the See prop19 on page 12

Election Digestion: What the Midterm Results Mean Join Frank Hill, former chief of staff for Sen. Elizabeth Dole, and Pope “Mac” McCorkle, adjunct professor at Sanford and political consultant, to discuss the implications of the 2010 midterm elections. This event is part of the new Sanford program on American politics, “Gridlock: Can Our System Address America’s Big Problems?”

Wed., Nov. 3, 2010 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm Sanford 05 Sanford Building Free and open to the public Contact: ppscomm@duke.edu

www.dukegridlock.blogspot.com

Felons barred from running for sheriff

by Yeshwanth Kandimalla THE CHRONICLE

A convicted felon can no longer serve as sheriff in North Carolina.

The state’s voters approved a constitutional amendment Tuesday that bans convicted felons from running for or serving as county sheriff. More than 85 percent of voters approved the referendum, according to preliminary results.

The bill worked its way through the North Carolina Senate and then through the House of Representatives

in a unanimous vote. It received major support from the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association.

“The irony of the current situation is that the deputy sheriffs and police officers can’t be convicted felons, but their bosses can be,” said Eddie Caldwell, executive vice president of the N.C. Sheriffs’ Association, in a September interview with The Chronicle.

In the May 4 primary elections, six convicted felons ran for sheriff in various counties in the state, but all were defeated.

Sanford watch party sees low undergraduate turnout

by Julian Spector THE CHRONICLE

On a night when Republicans took control of the House of Representatives and gained seats in the Senate, some undergraduates and many graduate students gathered in the Sanford Building’s Fleischman Commons for an election night watch party.

Scattered conversations competed in volume with a projection of CNN’s election coverage as viewers collected sushi, fruit salad and cheese and sat down to watch Anderson Cooper moderate CNN’s Election Center panel of experts.

In rooms off the atrium, attendees could watch the news on Fox, C-Span and local station WUNC. “The food sure seemed popular,” said junior George Pearkes, who helped plan the event. However, “undergraduate turnout was not very good. Student engage-

ment [in the election] was in the tank this year. I think people don’t see a stake in the elections.”

Attendance at Sanford skewed largely toward graduate students with minimal undergraduate attendance. The atrium was fullest early on, while the food lasted, but by 9 p.m. the number of people dwindled to a handful, with some viewers scattered among the other rooms.

Few Blue Devils were still around to see former Dukie and Tea Party Republican Rand Paul, Medicine ’88, deliver his acceptance speech upon winning the Kentucky Senate race. As he spoke, the event organizers began taking down decorations and rearranging the tables and chairs.

Freshman Michael Elgart arrived at the Sanford watch party from the Duke Political See watch party on page 5

the chronicle

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2010 | 5

duke university union

Group discusses potential changes to Joe College Day

by Anna Koelsch THE CHRONICLE

At its meeting Tuesday night, Duke University Union reviewed proposals to improve Joe College Day. Members approved a request by Joe College Day Chair Nathan Nye, a sophomore, to change the way the next chair is chosen in order to allow a longer period of time for committee development and artist selection. He said the date of chair selection should be moved up to the first Friday of the Spring semester.

“It’s a lot of time but I’d rather be on that side as opposed to not enough time,” Nye said.

Nye also proposed splitting Joe College Day into two smaller “welcome back” events at the beginning of each semester. The idea generated some criticism as DUU members doubted the success of a second-semester welcome back event.

Union members said an event in the beginning of the Spring semester would take place in cold weather and would happen during time-consuming events like rush and tenting.

Sophomore Alex Shapanka, chair of the Speakers and Stage committee, suggested combining the Freshman Intern Program with Joe College Day. Other executive board members questioned the suggestion’s viability.

“I don’t think people who have no experience should take on an event that has failed,” said senior Jeremy Steinman, Freewater Presentations chair.

Members said one of the reasons for this year’s low attendance was because students were preoccupied with midterms. Certain potential dates for Joe College Day were ruled out because of their proximity to midterms, they added.

“This is a school where kids have midterms eight days away and are at the library on a Sunday,” Nye said. “[At this year’s Joe College Day] people left the library, got Bulkogi and went back to the library.”

In other business: The presale for Matisyahu started Tuesday. Major Attractions Chair Karen Chen, a senior, said DUU reported selling 516 tickets and have 716 tickets left to sell. The general public ticket sale begins Thursday.

Matisyahu will perform Nov. 17 in Page Auditorium.

Student tickets are being sold for $15, and tickets for the general public will cost $30.

“The tickets went pretty steadily throughout the day today,” Chen said. “Hopefully we’ll reach a lot more community members.”

addison corriher/The Chronicle

Members of DUU discussed the upcoming Matisyahu concert and ideas to improve the quality of Joe College Day at its meeting Tuesday.

watch party from page 4 Union viewing party in McClendon Tower, which he said was more crowded. He identifies as a libertarian and said he was excited by Paul’s victory.

“A popular movement against the government is always exciting for a libertarian,” he said. “Now there’s probably going to be a lot of government gridlock. As long as the government is stuck in gridlock, they can’t take away our rights—a restricted government is a good government.”

Senior Amanda Morrall, president of the Public Policy Studies Majors Union, said she was glad to see the students who came to the event but wished more undergraduates had participated.

“Our biggest goal was to make people understand how important this election is,” she said. “Students need to realize that they do have a voice and by voting for your representative or senator, you are voting for laws.”

Evan Krasomil was one of the Sanford graduate students in attendance. He described a high degree of political awareness among his peers.

“I feel like I know what’s going to happen to a certain extent,” he said. “But I’m interested in taking it in with other people who are interested in politics.”

Daniel Raimi, a first year master’s in public policy student, said that with a split Congress, one possible scenario is that “no one gets anything big done in the next two years.” But, he added, “politics has a way of doing exactly the opposite of what we think it’s going to do.”

qDUKE.COM Make it your homepage.

6 | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2010 the chronicle

e-mails from page 1

chronicle graphic by melissa yeo

Fliers containing recent offensive e-mails sent to fraternity social listservs have prompted campus discussion of gender issues.

“To push the limits” The e-mails stunned many on campus.

“I can’t even describe how angry I was when I read them,” senior Jessica MacFarlane said. “I thought they were incredibly degrading.”

MacFarlane said a friend forwarded her scanned copies of the e-mails Sunday afternoon, which she passed along to friends and members of the administration.

Clarybel Peguero, assistant dean of fraternity and sorority life, received copies of the e-mails Sunday, as did Dean of Students Sue Wasiolek.

“I found them deplorable,” Wasiolek said.

For many in the greek community, however, the only surprise was that the messages surprised anyone at all.

“Honestly, when I first received those e-mails [Saturday night] I didn’t think anything of it,” said senior Emily Fausch, secretary of Delta Delta Delta sorority. “This is the kind of thing I’ve come to expect from fraternities.

In my heart, I know it’s a problem but I’ve really gotten used to it.”

Junior Isaac Mizrahi, who recently co-hosted a forum on gender and greek life and asked not be identified with his fraternity in this article, said the e-mails are products of an arms race among fraternities who use crude humor to catch the attention of their social circles.

“They want to send the funniest e-mails so they can have the best parties so they can get the quote unquote best girls so they can get the quote unquote best pledge class,” he said. “That competitiveness drives people to push the limits.”

These e-mails do not come only from the fraternities implicated in this weekend’s flyer campaign. Approximately 20 e-mails obtained by The Chronicle reveal party invitations of similar tone and content sent by several other Duke fraternities in the last year.

Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity used their organization’s social listserv Jan. 16 to invite a group of Duke women to a party titled “Culture Shock.”

“Thinking we should make that fence down south a little taller?” the message asked. “Pissed about a certain group of easterners f—ing up the curve in Econ 51?... Well it’s time to get over your fears and join the brothers of Pi Kappa Alpha for a truly unique tour of the world.”

“Sup BabyGurlz,” opened an e-mail from the Kappa Alpha Order March 17. “Do you want to get your eagle on Saturday March 27th? Do your loins pulsate and throb at the very mention of KA?... Does the idea of a day with the Order make you throw up a little bit in your mouth? If all of the above is not enough, we propose a contest. First to the ER WINS.” Boys will be boys?

Although Pi Kappa Alpha eventually issued an apology to its invitees, many other crude fraternity party invitations fly under the radar, said Alice, a sorority member who requested anonymity because she feared losing friends in the greek community.

She added that women often shrug off these messages because the men who send them are their friends, and the jokes do not generally reflect how they interact with their female friends face-to-face.

“I don’t take it too seriously,” she said. “I think that college boys will be college boys.”

But separating the men from their message allows fraternities to get away with expressing distasteful sentiments without any fear of repercussions, said Pi Beta Phi sorority President Rose Filler, a senior. To the contrary, she said she has known greek women who were dis-invited to parties or shunned by close male friends after expressing anger over the way fraternity party invitations addressed women.

For Panhellenic Association President Bogna Brzezinska, a senior, the fact that women receive these e-mails but do not often complain is a major problem.

“Women get invitations that call them sluts and hos... and they still go to the parties,” she said.

To respond to issues of gender disparity, Panhel is working with the newly-formed Greek Women’s Initiative, which aims to create a space for dialogue about gender and includes representatives from all four fraternity and sorority governing councils.

As Filler and several others noted, gender issues on campus and the people who care about them are not limited to the greek community. One of the students who posted the flyers, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, said their effort was not on behalf of any specific campus organization.

“If we remain anonymous, it could be any Duke student,” the individual said. “And with the power of that realization—that it’s many of us who are upset, and not just some of us—well, that’s a pretty powerful realization.”

Sports

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WEDNESDAY November 3, 2010

Duke played against TCU yesterday in Fort Worth, Texas. How did the team do?

We look at impact freshmen around the ACC expected to make a splash

www.dukechroniclesports.com

women’s soccer

Duke faces tall task with tourney matchup

by Jay Vitha THE CHRONICLE

The ACC Tournament begins today—and the Blue Devils will have their work cut out for them right away.

Up first for Duke (10-6-3, 4-5-1 in the ACC) will be No. 4 Maryland (15-2-1, 7-2-1), the second seed in the tournament. Maryland is the favorite in the matchup, coming off three consecutive wins and only two losses and one tie all season. That one tie, however, came against Duke in College Park.

“Maryland is a team we felt like we probably should’ve beaten,” freshNo. 4 man Laura Weinberg said.

UMD In the regular season matchup, vs.

Duke got on the board first but couldn’t hold the lead. The defense played well, Duke though, only allowing the one goal.

After the offense failed to capitalize on WEDNESDAY, 5 p.m. its scoring opportunities in the second WakeMed Soccer Park half, the game ended in a 1-1 tie.

“We’re focused on us now,” freshman Mollie Pathman said. “We’re not worried about them. We know we have what it takes.”

Head coach Robbie Church explained that he is satisfied with the way the team played during the regular season and that the Blue Devils are better than their record indicates. He said the confidence level hasn’t wavered, and he believes that his team is capable of playing with the best in the country.

“Our kids have got a lot of respect for Maryland; they’ve had an unbelievable year,” Church said. “Hats off to them, but we also feel that we can play with anybody in the country.”

Church noted that the Blue Devils had a lot of energy during the first match against the Terrapins and that they sabreena merchant/Chronicle file photo

See w. soccer on page 8

Freshman Natasha Anasi, who played 46 minutes during Duke’s last game against Maryland, will face the Terrapins again tonight in Cary, N.C.

Now is the time to prepare for future

It’s (Karima) Christmas time

Outside of the locker room following Saturday’s upset win in Annapolis there was a noticeable difference in the attitudes of everyone associated with Duke football.

There was a palpable sense of happiness and relief that Jason permeated from head coach David Cutcliffe, his On Football coaching staff and players all the way down to the student managers, who were upbeat, rushing around and rounding up equipment. The Duke football family had good reason to be in such a mood.

Entering the tilt with Navy, Duke sat at 1-6 with the very distinct possibility of winning just one game in 2010, the season-opener against FCS opponent Elon. Duke, however, would jump out to a surprising yet convincing 24-0 halftime lead. Even though the Blue Devils almost found a way to give away the game late, the end result was all that mattered.

Palmatary

julia may/The Chronicle

Duke plays its first preseason game of the year today against Wingate in Cameron at 7:00 p.m.

Had Duke dropped its seventh game in a row, it would have fallen further into its rut, and playing with purpose is difficult when there is an expectation of losing games. Instead, Cutcliffe got what I would call a signature win for his program.

Although his signature win last year against heavily favored N.C. State bumped Duke to 3-3, with a bowl berth a possibility, last weekend’s win is equally as important. Halting the losing mentality and creating a new sense of optimism suddenly gives Duke a real chance to win its next two games, home matchups against Virginia and Boston College.

More importantly, though, the win gives the season more purpose. And the purpose gives an opportunity to develop talent and build momentum going into next season.

Even though head coaches don’t like to admit it, Cutcliffe acknowledged at his press conference Tuesday that he is constantly thinking about the future in conjunction with the tasks at hand. So, I hereby offer him a priority list on how to get the most out of the rest of season but, primarily, to prepare for a realistic shot at See palmatary on page 8

8 | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2010 the chronicle

men’s golf

Blue Devils survive the TCU heat, take Oven Experience

by Danny Nolan THE CHRONICLE

The tournament may have been called the Oven Experience, but the Blue Devils handled the heat yesterday to beat the Horned Frogs.

No. 20 Duke won their only match play tournament of the season 3 1/2 to 2 1/2 thanks to the dominant play of senior Wes Roach and freshman Austin Cody. Roach, who only lost one hole over the course of the entire match, had a solid win, besting TCU’s Ian Phillips 4 and 3. Cody also cruised to a solid victory, defeating Johnny Antle 6 and 4 by winning four holes outright on the back nine to secure the victory.

Sophomore Julian Suri started off on a tear in his match, holding a 4-up lead through 11 holes played; however, TCU’s Matt Johnson fought back, cutting the lead down to one with two holes remaining. Suri then finished with back-to-back pars and closed out the match to secure the point for the Blue Devils.

Yaroslav Merkulov, a freshman who is leading the team in scoring with an average of 71.5 this season, participated in a wild back-and-forth match. Merkulov dropped the first hole, but answered quickly, winning both the fourth and fifth hole to take a 1-up advantage. Johan DeBeer responded on the back nine, winning the 11th and 12th holes to reclaim the lead in the match, only to see Merkulov win the next three holes. Despite leading 2-up with two to play, Merkulov lost the final two holes and received a half point for his efforts.

Adam Sumrall and Brinson Paolini each lost 3 and 2, due in large part to the giant deficits both faced early in their matches. Sumrall won his first hole, but then struggled for the rest of the front nine, making the turn 5-down in the match. He did win two holes on the back nine before Eduardo Perez finally closed him out on the 16th hole to win it. After his first 11 holes, Paolini stood 4-down. He then won two of the next four holes, only to fall late to Scott Roudebush.

This was Duke’s final match of the fall season and the team will be back for more golf in March for the Lexus Classic.

Sophia Palenberg/Chronicle file photo

Adam Sumrall and the Blue Devils topped TCU 3 1/2 to 2 1/2 yesterday.

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a bowl game, which won’t occur until next season.

1. Figure out the quarterback situation Cutcliffe is well respected when it comes to managing signal callers. Clearly, current starter Sean Renfree—a redshirt sophomore—is a young, talented prospect who has had an up-and-down campaign due to his inconsistent decision making. Determining if he can build off of his career performance against Navy and demonstrate some consistency down the stretch is crucial.

If his erratic play continues, it might be worth giving running specialist Brandon Connette, a true freshman, more snaps to determine if he is a capable passer. The best situation would be to have Renfree separate himself as the clear-cut starter going into the spring, but if opening up the competition is necessary, Connette and redshirt Anthony Boone—who still has four years of eligibility—will be more than ready to push Renfree.

2. Shore up the secondary Since the beginning of the Cutcliffe Era, a continual theme has been the cornerbacks’ inability to play balls in the air. These struggles have led to far too many big plays being yielded in the passing game. While senior Chris Rwabukamba has played well at times this year, it may be time to give increased looks to the younger corners. Redshirt freshman Ross Cockrell has started all season and has shown an improved ability to break on the ball the last few weeks. Backups Johnny Williams and Garrett Peterson are both athletic but unproven, and the coaching staff needs to see how the pair fits into next year’s plans. Get them on the field more.

Duke Basketball’s regular season hasn’t started yet, but our Twitter has: @dukebasketball

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3. Establish a running back rotation A glaring weakness in Cutcliffe’s first two years, the rushing game, has proven competent this year.

In many ways, the improvement can be attributed to the offensive line, a unit that will return three starters next year. But the question remains: who will run behind these guys? Sophomore Desmond Scott has gotten the bulk of the carries lately, but he still needs to improve as both a rusher and receiver before he can be considered a lead back. Behind him, freshman Josh Snead, junior Jay Hollingsworth, and freshman Juwan Thompson have all seen action this season. If Cutcliffe establishes a defined rotation, more progress could be made on the ground.

4. Determine who will be rushing the passer The victory over Navy marked the best job that Duke has done pressuring the quarterback all season. Still, the Blue Devils have just a paltry seven sacks in eight games, good for 116th out of 120 FBS teams. The starting defensive ends, Patrick Egboh and Wes Oglesby, are both seniors whose performances have been pedestrian. As a result, it’s time to start giving younger ends Kenny Anunike and Justin Foxx more repetitions and experimenting with blitzes to get the linebackers and safeties into the opposing backfield.

Though the win Saturday was inspiring for fans and players alike, hopefully it doesn’t create the illusion that a .500 record is attainable this year. Continue giving younger players more reps, and the future for Duke brightens.

w. soccer from page 7 must keep the energy high tonight, a sentiment seconded by his team.

“We are definitely ready to get revenge,” Weinberg said. “We finished the ACC very positively, so I think we have a very good mindset going into the tournament.”

Duke will have the added advantage of playing tonight’s matchup in Cary, N.C.—a much more familiar atmosphere than College Park.

Last season, Duke had the eighth seed and fell in the first round of the tournament to Florida State. The Blue Devils, however, had seven of their starters missing due to injuries.

This year’s team is at full strength for the tournament. And the players relish the chance at retribution.

“We’re healthy, we’re hungry, we’re rested and we’re really looking forward to the tournament,” Church said.

NOTES: Freshmen Mollie Pathman and Laura Weinberg were both named second-team All-ACC yesterday. Weinberg, Pathman and teammate Kaitlyn Kerr were also recognized as All-ACC freshmen.

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2010 | 9

Diversions Shoe Chris Cassatt and Gary Brookins

Dilbert Scott Adams

Doonesbury Garry Trudeau

The Chronicle election night at duke!: how BOUT that crowd at sanford?!: �������������������������twei, anthony having my special night overshadowed :(: ��� BIRTHDAY BOY, rupp unbelievable that convicted felons can’t run for sheriff: ������ shaoli popped a bottle for the red wave: �������������������������������������bus stop poured one out for the delaware witch: ������������������ andyk, keeley the rent is still too damn high: ������������������������� yeo, c-rod, fradisan no one polling booths at duke means #whitewhine: ������������ xtina prop 19 needs to make a valiant comeback: �������������������������������ian Barb Starbuck says vote or die: ������������������������������������������������ Barb

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Sudoku October 22- November 7

Today…

Noon – Tony Yan (piano) @ the BC 4:30 PM – Andrew Rohm Sax + Djembe Ensemble @ the BC Plaza

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The Independent Daily at Duke University

The Chronicle

10 | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2010

“

Exemption timeline needs review This year, only 66 of the 220 ensure students understand students who applied for an their chances of obtaining an exemption to live off campus off-campus exemption. upon returning from abroad Frustrations with the housreceived one—consigning ing process is nothing new— many juniors to Spring semes- this outrage was the topic of ter on Central an editorial in Campus.

Al2004. Yet deeditorial though assignspite previous ing juniors to Central is in line awareness of the difficulties of with existing University policy, this process, RLHS has failed to students deserve earlier, more address them. accurate information from Student dissatisfaction Residence Life and Housing with this aspect of the housServices to help navigate the ing process stems primarily housing process. from the mixed messages reCalculating the number of ceived from RLHS about the beds that need to be filled is chances of being granted an an inexact science, and wait- off-campus exemption. Deing until the Fall to make that spite receiving assurances that calculation helps RLHS make the lottery process was a fora more precise determina- mality, acquiring an exemption. However, RLHS needs tion to live off campus was far to vastly improve its com- from guaranteed this year. munication with juniors to The deleterious effects of

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I

this breakdown in communication are extensive.

Considering the logistics of securing off-campus housing while living abroad, students understandably make housing arrangements as early as possible. Statements from RLHS that an exemption is guaranteed diminishes the perceived risk of making a deposit on off-campus housing before the lottery is held, contributing to the sense of outrage when an exemption is denied.

Disappointment in juniors who don’t receive an exemption highlights an underlying housing issue—the undesirability of living on Central. While we commend the administration for its efforts to instill community, Central is often viewed as an integral part of Duke’s campus in name only. Return-

ing juniors have little choice as to where on Central they live, further undermining the chances of establishing any real sense of community during their Spring semester.

The need for RLHS to make determinations on housing availability is important, but we believe a reevaluation of the housing timeline is necessary.

Aligning the lottery with the existing Room Pix process in the Spring would allow students to know their housing status before they leave campus, reducing the stress of being surprised by a decision while abroad.

Although it may not be possible for RLHS to make an exact estimation of the number of beds to be filled so far in advance, trading some precision for a more unified timeline should be consid-

ered. Through the use of surveys and analysis of past data, RLHS should be able to make a close estimate of how many beds it will need to fill.

Should the numbers fluctuate greatly, RLHS could reserve the right to change the number of exemptions it grants, as it does currently. As long as RLHS conveys a reasonable estimate to students in the Spring, juniors can make more informed decisions in regard to securing housing based on their assigned lottery number.

Guaranteeing a year in advance where students returning from abroad can live may be impossible. But a reevaluation of the housing timeline and an increase in dialogue between students and RLHS would go a long way in resolving this continuing problem.

The price of life

have spent the last four weeks rotating through with my own ICU experience, the patients did not Duke Hospital’s medical intensive care unit, do well. or, as it has so often seemed, The Saddest At one year, 44 percent of patients were dead, 21 Place on Earth. percent of patients were entirely deThe MICU is where one finds pendent on others to help with even the sickest patients at the hospital. the most basic tasks and 26 percent To buy a ticket to the MICU, a pawere somewhat dependent on othtient generally needs to have at least ers. Only 9 percent of the patients one failing organ system that is bewere alive and living independently. ing supported by a machine­—a meBut the most staggering results chanical ventilator for respiratory from the paper dealt with costs. The failure is most common, and many average cost per patient was more alex fanaroff patients also need dialysis for kidthan $300,000 for the year of care. ney failure. Nearly every patient in Given how poor most patients’ outfarewell tour the MICU depends on at least one comes were, the average cost per machine to keep him or her alive. independently-functioning survivor As one might expect, a failed organ system was $3.5 million. requiring life support generally points toward a Health care economists have devised ways to poor prognosis. Even under the care of some of put a dollar value on human lives. To be honest, the world’s top doctors, nurses, respiratory thera- I don’t know how I feel about the idea of treating pists and pharmacists, the mortality rate in the health like a commodity that can be bought and MICU is high. In one study of more than 20,000 sold. If it were my life, or the life of someone I patients from 37 American hospitals, somewhere loved, I would want my insurance company or the between 25 and 34 percent of all patients admit- U.S. government to spend that $3.5 million. ted to an ICU died before they could leave the But the politicians and talking heads conhospital. tinually remind us that the amount we spend on After a month of firsthand experience in the health care is not sustainable. As our technology ICU, it seems the situation may be worse. Many improves, it seems that modern medicine is caof the patients in the ICU who survive to hospi- pable of maintaining critically ill patients on life tal discharge are sent home with palliative care, support almost indefinitely. Three hundred thouwith the expectation that the illness that brought sand patients were the recipients of prolonged them to the ICU in the first place will kill them mechanical ventilation in the last year; by 2020, it fairly soon. Even if a terminal cancer patient, for is projected that 600,000 patients will do so—at a example, survives his episode of acute respiratory cost of $50-60 billion per year. failure brought on by an infection caused by tuAnd of course, prolonged mechanical ventilamor compressing his lung, he still has a matter of tion is just a fraction of the $2.3 trillion dollars we days or weeks left to live. Still, compared to the spend on health care each year, with nearly half of patient who dies in the hospital, tubes and intra- that money paying for the health care of the sickvenous catheters coming out of every orifice, the est 5 percent of the population. patient who can go home to die would seem to I’m a medical student, not a policy maker, and have a better outcome.

I don’t have the answers. Is it fair to put a dollar The sad stories one sees on the general medi- value on life? Is it fair to use a model to predict cine floors pale in comparison to those in the the 9 percent of patients that will survive their proICU. When the best possible outcome involves a longed ventilation and live independently and to young parent dying, there are no good outcomes. deny care to the other 91 percent? On the other But all of this is not to pass along sad stories or hand, is it fair to spend half of our health care dolto convince you of how awful cancer is. Rather, it’s lars on 5 percent of the population? the only way I know how to introduce a discussion These are choices that we, as a society, will have of health care spending. to make. We can choose the status quo, or we can A recent study followed 126 Duke ICU patients choose something different, but it’s best to make requiring mechanical ventilation for a prolonged that choice consciously. period of time (at least 21 days). The study reported how the patients were doing one year after Alex Fanaroff is a fourth-year medical student. His their initial admission to the hospital. Consistent column runs every Wednesday.

www.dukechronicle.com

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commentaries

A little pumpkin carving

emember the time when we were still 4-foot-6?

Yet there are also other reasons besides reminisWe used to go door to door wearing strange cence behind why grownups’ celebration of Halcontraptions that we deemed pieces of fine loween proliferates. More than a celebration of the art. We skipped and raced from house inner child, Halloween has become to house doing exactly what our paran opportunity to wear revealing cosents had days ago warned us against: tumes en masse. It has become an outasking strangers for candy. let that partygoers normally would not We had nothing to worry about. be able to enjoy.

The only homework due the next day It is a time to party. was to donate a little bit of the night’s Theoretically, there’s nothing wrong loot into the class jar. Our throats with parties. Parties are supposed to let were sore by the end of the night from off the steam that we have cooped up rui dai laughing and screaming, but it didn’t all week from studying. matter. All of that was well compensatYet, given the atmosphere at Duke a picture’s worth ed by the amount of candy in our induring the past few months, we have to dividual bags. We had scrapes and falls wonder if parties are becoming more from wanting to run faster than our short legs could of a problem than a solution. carry us, but we never noticed until morning.

Regardless of your opinion about the Duke party It was Halloween, filled with candy, witches and scene, there are better ways to blow off steam. pumpkins.

On Saturday night, with the pumpkins and carvFast-forward 10 years. Everything has changed. ing supplies bought by my RA in Few GG, Yamini MisYet, in some ways, nothing has. Halloween is still for ra, I stabbed and sawed an image of a wolf into the candy, ghosts and pumpkins, just not how we per- side of a foot tall pumpkin. Not many people were ceived them as nine-year-olds. able to recognize the wolf in the image I carved, but Candy is no longer for your mouth, but your eyes. that didn’t matter. I’d carved a pumpkin.

Witches are not meant to be scary, but enticing. And It was glorious. I felt as though I was five again. pumpkins, well, let’s just say they no longer grow on There was no peer pressure to conform. No one vines. We still go from house to house on Halloween. was judging me—only my pumpkin. It didn’t matter But instead of trick-or-treating, we go to parties. what I was wearing. I wasn’t covered in other people’s We have grown up. sweat in an uncomfortably hot common room, or beOn Saturday, the beloved children’s horror au- ing jabbed and jostled while couples next to me tried thor of the Goosebumps series, R. L. Stein, wrote an to dry hump each other. op-ed piece in the New York Times titled, “Scariest By the end of it, I felt revived.

Sight on Halloween? Grown-ups.”

In light of the events over the past few months, I say we Uh-oh. Adults are destroying Halloween. all need something that will lessen the burden. However, The editorial points out that a majority of the intense partying is not the solution; it is the problem.

Halloween industry increasingly targets adults. More College students don’t have to destroy Halloween. and more haunted houses no longer allow children We don’t have to wear scantily clad costumes. We can to enter. Adult clothing is becoming the larger por- make our own, not to show other people how well ention of the costume section in party stores. The spar- dowed we are, but for the sake of fun and creativity. kling plastic tiara attached to an almost equally shinThink back to the carefree Halloween from when ing princess dress is no longer the centerpiece of the we were 9 years old. Maybe that’s the answer: a little costume aisle. Instead, it’s buried underneath the reconnection with our inner child, a little skipping Playboy bunny, BP oilman and Lady Gaga’s decep- instead of walking, a little mischief instead of the partively dangerous meat dress. tying norm.

An escalating proportion of the adult population Who said that we have to blackout so we’ll never is unwilling to give up their inner child. I know I’m remember what we did on Halloween? There are reluctant to let go, and I’m only a sophomore in col- other ways to enjoy a perfectly wonderful weekend, lege. I still remember putting on my first princess like a little pumpkin carving. costume and strutting back and forth all over our apartment until my parents told me to put it back or Rui Dai is a Trinity sophomore. Her column runs every it would be ruined. other Wednesday.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2010 | 11

The global culture of excess It is no secret that alcohol abuse and binge drinking pose major health risks for college students throughout the U.S. Over the past several weeks, the health consequences of binge drinking have risen to the forefront of public debate, in particular the dangers of caffeinated alcoholic drinks such as Four Loko, which was responsible for the hospitalization of nine Central Washington University students earlier this month.

The headlines of the past two lauren moxley weeks include Huffington Post’s la vita e bella “Four Loko Sickened Several Central Washington University Students,” The Seattle Times’ “Attorney General Wants to Ban Drink that Hospitalized CWU Students,” MSNBC’s “Student Illnesses at Party Blamed on Four Loko” and Time Magazine’s “4 Reasons Binge Drinking Is a Public Health Problem,” not to mention The Chronicle’s “Despite Dangers, Students Mix Caffeine and Alcohol.”

While these articles render little surprise in the land of Tailgate, shotgunning and Karen Owen, I have been surprised while abroad this semester to see that American college students are not the only ones drinking in excess.

Perhaps the most shocking headline of late was published on the front page of Monday’s society section of the UK’s Guardian, “Alcohol More Harmful than Heroin or Crack.” The article was published in the wake of new research by British neuropsychopharmacologist and former chair of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, David Nutt. He conducted a study assessing the risks of death and injury when recreationally abusing alcohol and other drugs. He found that alcohol ranks alongside heroin and crack cocaine as a Class A drug in terms of potential harm.

Nutt advocates for tougher economic disincentives on alcohol sale in the UK, lamenting the lack of government intervention despite rising alcohol related deaths and injuries in the country. “Alcohol misuse has been exacerbated in recent years as government failed to accept the link between cheap prices, higher consumption and resultant harms to individuals and society,” he writes.

During the orientation to our program here in Italy, our director advised the students in my program against drinking in excess, warning that Italians do not drink to get drunk because it is socially unacceptable and makes you a sure target for assault or theft. While she was certainly correct that being drunk in a foreign country makes one more vulnerable, among young people here in Florence I have found that it is no longer a social faux pas to drink in excess. Almost any given night, Florentine discotecas and bars are full of study abroad students and locals alike, all of whom are likely to drink past the recommended limits.

Florence seems mild in comparison to other Western European cities, however. This past week I spent my fall break in Barcelona and London, both of which boast predictably more vibrant nightlife than Florence. In the discotecas and bars that light up the energetic Barcelona nightlife, young Spaniards take shots of whiskey and vodka late into the night, stumbling into cabs or in cars as the sun rose in the morning.

While Barcelona’s predilection towards binge drinking was less surprising, I had always pictured English pubs in a relaxed, Cheers-esque gathering of friends. Instead I found young Londoners celebrating the Halloween weekend by donning costumes and chugging beer or strongly spiked cider in the pubs and clubs of London, traditions strongly reminiscent of our Duke tailgates.

So while a study abroad student in Florence, Barcelona and London may stand out from the crowd because of accent or dress, it seems that excessive alcohol consumption is no longer unique to Americans. For example, an EU survey conducted in October 2009 found that 44 percent of Irish people have five or more drinks on one occasion a minimum of once a week, compared with 34 percent of British and Spanish people. A similar study by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health in 2007 finds that 44 percent of Americans ages 18-25 have drank excessively in the past month.

While the traditions of young binge drinking may be newer to European culture than American culture, the question remains the same: What is next? For the U.S. the answer may be tougher regulations on “blackout in a can” like Four Loko, while for the UK it may come in the form of sin taxes on alcohol sales. Whatever the consequences may be, there seems to be a general acknowledgement that the young people of Europe are abandoning their parents’ strong traditions of alcoholic moderation to mimic the binge drinking that is so often represented in pop culture depictions of young American life.

Lauren Moxley is a Trinity junior. She is abroad in Italy for the semester. Her column runs every other Wednesday.

12 | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2010

election from page 1 Republican candidate Lawson, Engineering ’96 and Medicine ’00, challenged his opponent by running a series of advertisements on YouTube, Facebook and other sites that negatively portrayed Price. Lawson also had substantial financial backing from the Tea Party and an endorsement from conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh.

David Rohde, Ernestine Friedl Professor of Political Science, said the results reflect North Carolina’s political climate. He said he believes the only thing that Marshall could have done to be successful would have been to run in a different year.

“At the national level, North Carolina tilts Republican even if it did vote for Obama,” he said.

Senior Ben Bergmann, president of Duke Democrats, said the election results brought a “terrible blow” to North Carolina because it returns Burr to Washington, D.C.

midterm from page 1 according to The New York Times.

“The American people’s voice was heard at the ballot box,” said Rep. John Boehner, the House Republican leader, in declaring victory. “For far too long, Washington has been doing what’s best for Washington, not what’s best for the American people.

Tonight, that begins to change.”

In perhaps the most important Senate race, Majority Leader Harry Reid defended his seat against Republican challenger Sharon Angle, who was supported heavily by the Tea Party. And though candidates endorsed by the movement bested their opponents in both Florida’s Senate contest and the race for governor in South Carolina, Delaware Sen.

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where he can disrupt the Obama agenda.

Bergmann called Burr “one of the most beatable incumbents” in the election, but he added that Marshall’s campaign did not have as much financial backing as Burr’s.

Sam Schwartz, communications director for Marshall, said Marshall will continue to work for North Carolina through her role as secretary of state. At the same time, Schwartz expressed his desire that Burr focus on improving the economy.

“I hope that now that Republicans have more power, they take responsibility in the mess they helped create,” he said. “We gain nothing from the Republicans standing on the sidelines rooting for failure.”

At the local level, similar trends of the Republican surge were exhibited in the race for the House seat.

Bergmann noted the main goal of Price’s campaign was to combat the trend of reactionary voting against Democratic incumbents.

Jennifer Ellis, Lawson’s meeting manager and event planner, said his campaign was tai-

lored to citizens disappointed with the Democrats’ decisions. Lawson’s campaign manager, Martin Avila, added that the events of the past two years created a political atmosphere that pushed moderates to lean Republican.

Lawson’s platforms directly contradicted Price’s, as Lawson supported cutting back on spending and reforming the existing health care system by removing it from government control. Price, on the other hand, promoted spending on education and research.

Despite the circumstances, Price held onto his House seat on an Election Day that saw many Democratic incumbents lose their positions in Congress.

Avila said he wants to remind Durham and the state that although Republicans took a fall in the House election, they will not surrender.

“Just because we lost this one race doesn’t mean we’re willing to lose the country,” he said. “Our message is not something we will give up and as you can see from the strong republican push nationally. We’re here and we’re not going anywhere.”

Chris Coons easily beat out the Tea Partybacked Christine O’Donnell, a Republican.

Still, the Tea Party proved Tuesday it is a force to be reckoned with. In a race pitting two Duke graduates against one another, Rand Paul, Medicine ’88, overcame criticisms of extremism to take Kentucky’s Senate seat over Democratic candidate and state Attorney General Jack Conway, Trinity ’91. Paul enjoyed an enormous advantage in outsider money, much of which came through the Tea Party.

“We’ve come to take our government back,” Paul told a raucous crowd in his victory speech. “They say that the U.S. Senate is the world’s most deliberative body. I’m going to ask them to deliberate on this: The American people are unhappy with what’s going on in Washington.”

Although it was an extraordinary election

for Republicans, who just two years ago found themselves on the losing end of a historic Presidential election, Democrats in the Senate were breathing sighs of relief Tuesday night.

California Sen. Barbara Boxer fended off a forceful challenge from Republican Carly Fiorina, and West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin managed to hold on to the seat vacated by Sen. Robert Byrd upon his death. And in Connecticut, Democratic Secretary of State Richard Blumenthal overcame an early campaign gaffe—he falsely claimed to have served in the Vietnam War—to win his Senate bid.

Republicans also took control of the nation’s governorships, winning important races in Michigan and Tennessee, and notably knocking out Gov. Ted Strickland in Ohio. In a rare bright spot for Democrats, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick retained his seat.

prop19 from page 4 movement’s apparent benefits would be its ability to enable government restriction of marijuana abuse among minors.

“I think that the costs of it as opposed to the benefits don’t justify its illegality,” he said. “No matter which way you look at it, marijuana is entrenched in our culture. Getting rid of it cannot be done by prohibition—clearly this isn’t working.”

Sophomore Spencer Peterson, another Californian student in favor of Proposition 19, said that even though the act was not passed in yesterday’s election, he believes a similar measure will eventually pass.

“It’s one of those things that people think will happen eventually... it’s just a matter of when. I think the sooner the better,” he said. “California tends to be a trend-setting state, and that will probably help change the federal laws to stop the ban altogether.”

For other voters, the legalization of marijuana had little appeal. N.C. voter Sampath Rangaswamy said he thought that there was “not enough foundation for medicinal use,” adding that if a movement similar to Proposition 19 came to North Carolina, he would not vote in its favor.

Rohde added that because Proposition 19 is a social movement and not based on partisan preferences, it is almost impossible to predict future long-term changes.

“These kinds of social things have the potential to change so quickly,” he said.

“You think about gay marriage—a decade ago [it] was inconceivable, yet now it’s legal in a number of states and the public is becoming much more acceptant of it.

I’d be very surprised, given the substantial amount of support for [the act], if it didn’t come back again. The kinds of people who are behind this aren’t going away.”

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Researcher discovers happiness enzyme in off-campus food

Spring Course

Germany Confronts the Holocaust

A quesadilla so loaded, It might just buy you dinner.

great food. low price. open late.

10% off with Duke ID! 1920 1/2 Perry St. at Ninth St. Just a block from East Campus

W. Donahue Tu/Thu 10:05AM-11:20AM German 188 / Jewish Studies 164 / Lit 163N