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, JANUARY 13, 2011
20 apply for undergrad YT position
ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTH YEAR, Issue 75
www.dukechronicle.com
Central to add four new SLGs
TALLAHASSEE STUNNER
by Anna Koelsch
by Nicole Kyle
More students have applied for undergraduate Young Trustee than in recent years following the first student body election of the position instituted last year. Twenty students applied to be Young Trustee for the 2011 election cycle, up from 15 last year. In 2009, 14 students applied and 16 applied in both 2008 and 2007. Applications were due Jan. 9. Junior Pete Schork, Duke Student Government executive vice president, attributed the rise in applicants to a strong senior class and the new election process. Previously, a nominating committee of students selected the Young Trustee, but DSG chose to add an student-wide election to the final selection of the Young Trustee last Fall. “I think that people are more comfortable with the election process,” Schork said. “Any hesitation with last year could have subsided.” Along with the addition of an open election to last year’s Young Trustee selection process, DSG also discussed the need for seniors to apply who are not necessarily affiliated with major campus organizations such
New groups with space on Central hope to attract rushees this Spring. Four new selective living groups’ requests for residential sections were approved by the administration over Winter Break. The Nexus, InCube, JAM! and an unnamed group focusing on research were given space on Central Campus, though the locations of their sections have yet to be determined, said Joe Gonzalez, associate dean for residence life. He added that deliberations with the groups will begin this week. “We’re definitely hopeful that these groups will add to the flavor of Central,” Gonzalez said. “I think that these groups are very unique in their focus, [and] I really think it adds some greater options to students in general.” Each of the groups is focused on a specific interest or theme, Gonzalez noted. The Nexus defines itself as a discussion society whose goal is to allow members to talk about their “big ideas,” said sophomore Elena Botella, one of the Nexus’ eight founding members and its interim executive chair. InCube’s focus is
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caroline rodriguez/The Chronicle
Hampered by a poor shooting night, the Blue Devils fell to Florida State, 66-61 in Tallahassee, Fla. The loss, No. 1 Duke’s first of the season, ended a 25-game winning streak.
See yt on page 6
See slg on page 5
Panhel sees record registration numbers for third year by Fei Chen
THE CHRONICLE
More than 500 women registered for Panhellenic recruitment this year, surpassing last year’s mark by 76 students. For the third consecutive year, the number of registered women has set a record. Last year, 434 girls signed up for recruitment, which was an 18 percent increase over the previous year. Of the 510 women who are signed up this year, 46 are sophomores. Recruitment begins tomorrow and will conclude Jan. 23. Administrators and students attribute the increase to better communication and public relations on behalf of the Panhellenic Association. The later registration date also gave women more time to sign up, said Dean of Students Sue Wasiolek. “In the past years, after the window closed, there were a number of women who wanted to register and had missed the deadline,” Wasiolek said. “Panhel did a better job of capturing all the interested women this year.” Delta Gamma President Becki Feinglos, a senior, also noted that sorority philanthropic events on campus may have played a part in increasing freshmen interest. “I would love to think that the positive things that sororities have been doing on campus such as better PR for philanthropic events... might have been better seen by
Repeal of DADT may affect ROTC programs, Page 3
freshmen and sophomores planning on going through formal recruitment,” Feinglos said. “My hope is that that has had a positive effect this year, that we’ve done better jobs of getting our names out there.” Pi Beta Phi President Rose Sheela, a junior, said that the increase may be due to positive word of mouth, as many freshmen come to Duke knowing girls in sororities nationwide. She noted that their positive experiences may have encouraged other students to join a sorority. Panhellenic Association President Bogna Brzezinska, a senior, wrote in an e-mail Wednesday that she is not surprised that interest has increased. “The Panhellenic community at Duke has grown stronger and more prominent on campus, particularly over recent years,” Brzezinska wrote. “We are involved in many visible ways on campus.” Sheela also said one of the strengths of the recruitment process is that it brings women together and gives them the opportunity to meet new people. “I just realized the majority of my friends are in my class [are participating], and joining a sorority would allow me to meet upperclassmen and underclassmen,” said sophomore Gini Li, who is currently registered. See recruitment on page 5
Students of the World uses media to confront issues, Recess
Chronicle file photo
510 women signed up for Panhellenic recruitment this year, an increase attributed to improved public relations and positive word of mouth.
ONTHERECORD
“I live in Chapel Hill, so I know the UNC [ticket] system and ours is a lot better in comparison.”
—Senior Chris Venters on K-ville. See sound-off page 4