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, JANUARY 12, 2011
ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTH YEAR, Issue 74
www.dukechronicle.com
Record 29K Winter storm blankets Duke, Durham apply to join Dangerous conditions delay many students’ travel arrangements Class of 2015 by Alejandro Bolivar THE CHRONICLE
For the fourth year in a row, a record number of prospective Blue Devils worldwide submitted applications to Duke. Duke received a total of 29,526 applications from high school students this year, 2,806 more than last year—about a 10.5 percent increase, according to statistics released by Dean of Undergraduate Admissions Christoph Guttentag. The number of applications rose in both the early and regular decision application pools. In November, Duke received 2,287 early decision applications, a 14 percent increase from last year, according to a Duke news release. “[The record is] a strong affirmation of attractiveness and appeal of Duke’s institutions,” said Michael Schoenfeld, vice president for public affairs and government relations. In an e-mail, Guttentag attributed the increase in applications to a variety of factors, including greater efforts from the Office of Financial Aid and a growing number of international applicants. He also cited Duke Athletics and DukeEngage as having bolstered Duke’s popularity and visibility worldwide.
by Maggie Love THE CHRONICLE
Tenters in K-ville are sleeping on snow-covered ground, but as some delayed travelers may be thinking, at least they’re at Duke. In response to the snow—not quite enough to merit grace for Krzyzewskiville Monday or Tuesday night—the University canceled graduate classes Tuesday. Staff still reported to work Tuesday. “What’s most important right now is that you take all precautions to be safe and not take any unnecessary risks,” Vice President for Student Affairs Larry Moneta wrote in a Tuesday e-mail to
students. “Your safety is your priority!” Throughout the past few days, Moneta and the DukeAlert system updated the campus community via e-mail and text messages. DukeAlert discontinued its severe weather policy Tuesday at 7 p.m. and all bus routes resumed normal activity Tuesday amid lingering concerns over icy conditions. But several students may still miss the first day of class because of travel delays. Although both runways remained open, many flights arriving at Raleigh-Durham International See weather on page 7
See applications on page 11
melissa yeo/The Chronicle
Forum brings together diverse Report shows review group to discuss health crises potti investigation
by Chinmayi Sharma THE CHRONICLE
katie ni/The Chronicle
This year’s Winter Forum, hosted by the Duke Global Health Institute, focused on medical and media policy issues of a simulated pandemic.
What should be done if the world faces the crisis of a pandemic? Duke students tackled this question at the second annual Winter Forum: “Pandemic 2011: Are You Ready?” The two and a half day forum, hosted by the Duke Global Health Institute, began Jan. 9 and was held at the Fuqua School of Business. The event was a simulation of a pandemic complete with fake news broadcasts updating Duke students on the progress of a disease called “The Chinese Flu.” Students were asked to role-play policy makers, and in various panel discussions and activities they answered tough questions such as how to reduce medical costs, which members of the population deserved priority in vaccine administration and what jurisdiction the government had in its efforts to contain the disease. “At the end of the day, we all know that after this forum, when a pandemic strikes next, we will be more
ONTHERECORD
“Just as a funeral ought to be a celebration of life, senior year ought to be a celebration of your four years at Duke.”
—Senior David Wong. See column page 22
of Potti research was based on flawed data from Staff Reports THE CHRONICLE
A report obtained under the U.S. Freedom of Information Act by the academic journal Nature provides new insight into a panel that reviewed the findings of Duke cancer researchers. The document details a review completed in December 2009 of work by Drs. Anil Potti, William Barry and Joseph Nevins. The University had suspended trials based on their research and asked Duke’s Institutional Review Board to review the work after two biostatisticians challenged its ability to be reproduced. The IRB was able to replicate Potti’s results and Duke therefore resumed clinical trials, but the report released by Nature reveals that
See forum on page 5
Take That Back Researchers retract another paper, published in 2006, authored by Dr. Anil Potti, PAGE 4
See potti on page 8
Makoni discusses her work as a gender activist, Page 4