February 15, 2011 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

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2011

ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTH YEAR, Issue 97

www.dukechronicle.com

Community reacts to DPS strategic plan

Uni narrows search for Trinity dean

Not your average lab

by Chinmayi Sharma

by Joanna Lichter

It takes a village to raise a child, as the proverb goes, and Durham is no exception.

Superintendent Eric Becoats’ ambitious strategic plan announced last month aims to revitalize the Durham Public Schools system by redirecting funding, broadening inter-school partnerships and developing systems of accountability enforcement. The plan, touted as the culmination of Becoats’ four-month long “listening and learning” tour, has prompted increased discussion and scrutiny of Durham public schools and how best to improve them. Many Durhamites attribute the system’s shortcomings—namely an increasing dropout rate, student apathy and low classroom performance—to broader problems that affect the community as a whole, like homelessness, drugs and crime.

“I’m optimistic about the plan, and the whole thing looks good on paper because he did what a good leader does­— he took a hot minute to sit down and absorb directly from the hearts and minds of people to see what they need,” said Pierce Freelon, an adjunct professor of political science at North Carolina Central University who runs a spoken-word program for at-risk high school students in Durham. “The superintendent can do

Almost a year after the departure of George McLendon, former dean of the faculty of Arts and Sciences and dean of Trinity College, the University has selected three finalists in the search for his permanent successor.

The Arts and Sciences search committee will announce the new dean within the next weeks, said Provost Peter Lange in a Feb. 7 interview.

“The University seeks for its next Dean an intellectual leader who has a strong reputation for published research..., an ability to articulate and implement a strategic plan... and a track record of working collaboratively with faculty colleagues across the university,” reads the posting for the position on the Arts and Sciences website.

The new dean will permanently replace McLendon, who departed last April to serve as provost of Rice University. As the head of academic and administrative affairs for Arts and Sciences, the dean oversees the 34 academic departments and more than 600 professors within Arts and Sciences. The dean is also the top authority on Trinity’s budget, and is responsible for making long-term cuts and developing revenue-generating programs.

As part of changes to the structure of the Office of Undergraduate Educa-

THE CHRONICLE

THE CHRONICLE

courtney douglas/The Chronicle

The addition of two humanities labs, which will open in Fall 2011, will provide further opportunities for undergraduates, graduate students and faculty to conduct research. SEE STORY, PAGE 3

See dps on page 7

See dean on page 6

Professors integrate iPads into classroom learning

by Brandon Levy The Chronicle

photo illustration by tracy huang

Richard Lucic, associate chair of the computer science department, has his students use iPads to learn the process of application development.

Apple’s newest sensation has made its way to Duke as administrators look to change the way students learn and instructors teach.

Through the Duke Digital Initiative, the University purchased 89 iPads last Fall for loan to faculty and students. The program is a joint effort between the Center for Instructional Technology, the Office of Information Technology and other technology-oriented entities on campus. CIT also has a smaller, separate loaner pool from which faculty can borrow equipment for a week-long trial to explore potential uses of the device for their classes. In addition, CIT has provided grants to several University programs to help them purchase their own iPads.

Several Duke professors have incorporated the iPad into their courses. Richard Lucic, associate chair of the computer science department, is using the devices for his computer science course to teach students how to develop applications for mobile devices like the iPad.

ONTHERECORD

“Well, let’s not get too caught up in the math. This is just a drinking game, after all.”

­—Senior Ryan Brown in “YT: The drinking game.” See column page 15

“The course is... termed a ‘software project management’ course where the students are learning the process of developing applications all the way from idea conception until delivery of the final project to a client,” Lucic said. “There is no other course in computer science that teaches the whole development process start to finish, and we believe there’s a need for the students to learn that process, and it just happened that we felt that iPad programming would be a hot topic with students.”

The students in the class were divided up into two teams, each of which is working with a client on a project throughout the semester. One team is working with doctors from the Duke University Medical Center to find a way to improve emergency medical care. The other is helping research scientist David Johnston create a multimedia textbook of videos, research papers and audio clips related to his course, Biology 127: “Marine Megafauna.”

“What we’re developing is an application that would allow students to use iPads in the classroom to interact with

DUSDAC takes Pauly Dogs for test run, Page 4

See ipads on page 6

Poet Mayda del Valle tackles ‘offlimits’ issues, Page 3

2 | TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2011 the chronicle

worldandnation onschedule...

Comedy in Chicana/o Theatre Page 106, 9:30-11:30a.m.

Come listen to author and authority Jorge Huerta lecture on Chicana/o and US Latina/o theatre and drama.

on the

Emotions in Motion Workshop Page 217, 6-7:15p.m.

This workshop will cover stress management and techniques to promote emotional stability.

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WEDNESDAY:

6040

Ethics Film: “Restrepo” Griffith Film Theater, 7-9p.m.

Co-director Tim Hetherington presents his documentary film about spending a year with troops in Afghanistan.

web

“The Chronicle just received a press release from ESPN that actually is interesting (this is a rarity in the press release world). On ESPN3 Wednesday, Duke fans will be able to watch a special “Isocam,” that will be directed at Nolan Smith the entire game. Every move, every shot, everything he does on the court...Smith is one of the few big-name college athletes known for showing his personality on the court.”

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

Margaret Webb Pressler/The Washington Post

As old-fashioned as manners may seem, they are still a big part of society and still start early. Becca Czarniecki runs a business, Tea With Mrs. B, with the objective of teaching kids better habits. Manners can go a long way towards making others feel appreciated and respected, Czarniecki explains. “It’s a natural, built-in reward system...It makes you, and those around you feel good.”

“

TODAY:

The best way to prepare for life is to begin to live.

— Elbert Hubbard

”

TODAY IN HISTORY

1764: The city of St. Louis, Missouri is established.

Concerns raised over FDA Palestinian officials control of medical devices resign amidst turmoil WASHINGTON — A new analysis is raising questions about how good a job the Food and Drug Administration is doing at protecting Americans from faulty medical devices.

The agency has come under mounting criticism for failing to prevent defective medical devices from getting on the market, putting patients’ lives at risk.

In a new analysis released Monday by the Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers examined the 113 devices that the FDA recalled between 2005 and 2009 because they posed serious health risks, including potentially deaths. Most of the devices--71 percent--had been approved using a process designed to get products on the market as soon as possible by forgoing a requirement that they undergo testing in people, the researchers found. That’s because they were deemed to be similar to another product already on the market.

off the

JERUSALEM — The Palestinian Authority cabinet in the West Bank resigned Monday following ministerial reshuffles in Tunisia and Egypt that failed to quell public discontent or prevent the ouster of those countries’ presidents.

Shortly after the cabinet convened Monday morning and decided to collectively resign, Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad submitted the resignations to President Mahmoud Abbas, who immediately reappointed Fayyad premier and directed him to form a new cabinet.

The West Bank has seen high economic growth accompanied by new investment in recent months. But some Palestinians have felt disenchanted with the lack of progress on the peace process with Israel or with steps Abbas has taken to curtail criticism of his leadership.

wire...

ING l R SP ecIa SP

Egypt plans a stimulus package

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2011 | 3

Humanities labs offer new, unique research opportunites

by Michael Shammas THE CHRONICLE

tyler seuc/The Chronicle

Poet Mayda del Valle addresses a Reynolds Theater audience Monday night, discussing themes of famiy, relationships and bad pick-up lines. Del Valle said that “off-limit” subjects are often the most captivating.

Del Valle speaks on heritage, relationships

by Maggie Spini THE CHRONICLE

In light of Valentine’s Day, poet Mayda del Valle told the large audience gathered in Reynolds Industries Theater Monday evening that although she thinks love is great, it is also the most gut-wrenching thing on earth.

“I think being in love could be described as a mental illness sometimes,” she said.

Relationships were a central theme in

the Def Jam poet’s performance—along with family, bad pick-up lines, spirituality, food and her Puerto Rican heritage.

Del Valle, who was invited to perform at the White House in 2009, assumed the stage with an air of informality that fostered engagement with her audience.

“I’m just gonna tell you guys some stories tonight,” she said.

And indeed she did. Her first poem— See del valle on page 5

As some Duke students have already learned, labs have a place outside of the sciences.

The John Hope Franklin Humanities Institute’s humanities laboratories are intended to facilitate research across departments and provide new opportunities for undergraduates, graduate students and faculty. FHI launched the first of the labs, the Haiti Lab, last Fall, and two others­— BorderWorks(s) and GreaterThanGames—are expected to launch in Fall 2011.

Located in the Smith Warehouse, the labs allow undergraduates to participate in research to help solve practical problems. FHI Director Ian Baucom said when he took charge of the institute in July 2009, fully involving undergraduates was a top priority.

Twenty-seven undergraduates worked through a group independent study on four major projects last semester, Deborah Jenson, co-director of the Haiti Lab, wrote in an e-mail Feb. 8.

Senior Andrew Walker, a history and French studies major who worked in the lab last semester, said that students have numerous options to pursue research in the labs. Walker began to work in the lab after taking courses with the co-directors of the lab.

“Students in some of the [Haiti Lab’s] courses did some really incredible work,” he said. “[This included]

Duke

gauging Haiti’s position on the international gender inequality index and tracking the flow of reconstruction funds [after the earthquake] from the U.S. to Haiti.”

The effort combines empirical research and creativity not always found in science labs, Jenson said.

“The Haiti Lab is special because there is always something creative going on,” she said. “Whether it was our ‘Haiti: History Embedded in Amber’ collaborative art project or the [singing] last week from the rich voice of Erol Josue.”

Lesley Shannon Curtis, a graduate student and a teaching assistant at the Haiti Lab, said she believes the humanities labs are important not only because of their emphasis on involving students, but also because of the specific, practical problems they enable researchers to solve. This semester, for example, the lab is doing considerable work on the history of Cholera epidemics in the Caribbean, she said.

“Unfortunately, a lot of people, especially in this time of economic crisis, think that studying the humanities is less important than studying other subjects,” she wrote in an e-mail Sunday. “But when we have spaces like the Haiti Lab where students and scholars can combine their research and critical analytical skills in ways that directly affect the real world, See humanities on page 5

Duke University Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award

Nomination letters are due by March 2, 2011 In 2003, Duke University re-joined approximately 50 other Southern universities in presenting the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award. This award program, sponsored by the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Foundation, recognizes one graduating senior and one member of the faculty, staff, or graduate student body of Duke University and Health System for their outstanding commitment to service.

The New York Southern Society established the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Awards in 1925 in memory of Mr. Sullivan, a southerner who became a prominent lawyer, businessman and philanthropist in New York in the late nineteenth century. The award seeks to perpetuate the excellence of character and humanitarian service of Algernon Sydney Sullivan by recognizing and honoring such qualities in others.

• Recognition of Selflessness • Generosity of Service • Nobility of Character • Person of Integrity • Depth of Spirituality Mr. Sullivan was a man who “reached out both hands in constant helpfulness to others.”

The guidelines to the Award describe him as an accomplished lawyer, a mediator, a powerful orator, a noted philanthropist, a courageous citizen during perilous times, and a deeply spiritual and devoted family man.

Duke University is giving this award to a graduating senior and a member of the faculty, staff, or graduate student body who exhibit the qualities of Mr. Sullivan. These qualities of service, character and spirituality are recognized in their practical application to daily living. Nobility of character is a criterion that is defined by the foundation as “when one goes outside the narrow circle of self-interest and begins to spend himself for the interests of mankind.”

The Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award committee desires that this prestigious opportunity for recognition be available to students and employees alike regardless of their role at the University. This ensures that all who make significant contributions to the community and who lead lives of integrity will be considered as candidates for this unique award.

For more information or to nominate a candidate, contact Sam Miglarese (for faculty/ staff/graduate student nominations) at sam.miglarese@duke.edu or Domonique Redmond (for Duke senior nominations) at dredmond@duke.edu.

The nomination form is available at www.provost.duke.edu/sullivan.htm For other ways to recognize student leadership and service, visit http://osaf.studentaffairs.duke.edu/leadership/awards.html

4 | TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2011 the chronicle

duke university student dining advisory committee

‘Sidewalk’ to offer time-sensitive deals

by Melissa Dalis THE CHRONICLE

Students short on cash now have a way to learn about deals at off-campus eateries.

Two representatives from Sidewalk, a new start-up company initiated by students at the Fuqua School of Business, came to the Duke University Student Dining Advisory Committee Monday night to discuss their new company and gauge student interest.

Local businesses can use Sidewalk—which currently is based off of a Facebook business page—to quickly advertise time-sensitive deals during less popular times of the day in order to attract more customers. The company aims to be a part of every transaction that involves a student at an off-campus eatery, the company’s representatives said.

“So basically we are a marketing company,” said MBA candidate Andrew Joiner, co-founder of Sidewalk. “Our goal is to provide value to business by increasing the size of the pie..”

For instance, the company will provide coupons that allow students to buy two pizzas for the price of one Thursday nights from 8 to 10 p.m. at Vita. The company has also provided coupons for discounted margarita pitchers at Blue Corn Cafe for certain hours on Mondays.

In a few weeks, Sidewalk plans to have a mobile application for businesses to manually set the times and deals that they want to be listed, Joiner said. This option will give businesses complete control over the transaction.

Sidewalk currently only offers deals at off-campus venues, but representatives said that they are looking to move to on-campus eateries.

“When you’re walking out of class and you’re going to go to your apartment or dorm room and you kind of want a coffee, maybe if you get a free coffee with a bagel it’s a good deal,” said MBA student Alex Guttler, the company’s vice president of sales.

DUSDAC members said that students may be interested in “buy one, get one free” deals, but noted that they may care less about discounts that involve food points.

Sidewalk is exploring different means of notification, such as text messages, e-mails, Facebook, Twitter and a mobile appli-

cation. Although they want to advertise the time-sensitive deals quickly, the representatives noted that they do not want to be intrusive.

The Duke Student Publishing Company, which publishes The Chronicle, is currently in the process of partnering with Sidewalk.

In other business: DUSDAC members also heard updates about some of the food carts on the Bryan Center Plaza.

Paul Konstanzer, owner of hot dog stand Pauly Dogs, came to his first DUSDAC meeting in years with samples of his new dogs. Konstanzer is currently experimenting with See dusdac on page 6

sanette tanaka/the chronicle

Senior Andrew Schreiber samples of one Pauly Dogs owner Paul Konstanzer’s latest hot dog creations, including spinach and cheese and chicken and Italian herb.

New Obama budget reveals constraints

by Lori Montgomery THE WASHINGTON POST

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama submitted a budget blueprint for fiscal 2012 on Monday full of surgical cuts and cautious trade-offs to lawmakers clamoring for bold action to reduce government spending and control a budget deficit expected to rise to a record $1.6 trillion this year.

The $3.7 trillion plan proposes to trim or terminate more than 200 federal programs, striking areas long favored by Democrats to make room for increases aimed at boosting the economy. The new priorities include spending on education, energy and medical research, and a push to bring high-speed Internet to virtually every American.

At a time when Republicans are demanding sharp and immediate spending cuts, however, the president’s offer to freeze funding for domestic programs would produce minimal savings in the short term. The improving economy would help next year’s deficit recede to $1.1 trillion, the fourth straight year of trillion-dollar budget gaps, but Obama’s policies would do nothing to further reduce next year’s deficit.

Meanwhile, Obama would rely heavily on new taxes to improve the government’s See budget on page 6

Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?

- From “The Summer Day” by Mary Oliver

Poetry on Duke Buses was launched last year to provide a thoughtful, reflective space and quick inspiration while riding the buses. The idea was to slow students’ busy lives down a bit and share poetry with the greater Duke community by putting it in a public space.

It’s time to choose the next round of poems that will inspire, relax, amuse, and engage Duke students, faculty, and staff who ride the campus bus. Submit your favorite poems or quotes from favorite poems to poetryonthebuses@gmail.com by Feb. 15 and see them on the buses in March!

PROVOSt’S LEctURE SERiES 2010/2011 provost.duke.edu/ speaker_series

NATuRAL DIsAsTERs / HumAN REsPoNsEs TuEsDAy, FEBRuARy 15, 2011

See our Facebook page: Poetry on the Duke Buses

5:15 pm smITH WAREHousE THE GARAGE

Chronicle article about the program: http://dukechronicle.com/article/poetry-takesbuses

C105 BAy 4 (first floor)

Writing Tragedy, Writing Hope Haitian Writers at Home and Abroad Respond to the January 12, 2010 Earthquake EdwidgE danticat Edwidge Danticat will examine ways in which writers both in Haiti and in the Haitian dyaspora have responded creatively to the earthquake, and will also read excerpts from her own work. Two of Danticat’s titles, Brother, I’m Dying and Create Dangerously: The Immigrant Artist at Work, will be available on site for purchase.

Sponsored by The Archive and Office of the Vice Provost for the Arts

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8330_Provost_Ad_Feb_Danticat.indd 1

2/2/11 2:59 PM

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humanities from page 3 we can show how vital it is to study the humanities.”

The opening of two additional labs will provide additional opportunities for research. Baucom said that the labs will host an information session after spring break to attract more students.

Borderwork(s) will study the ways that walls and borders—both physical ones like those in Israel and Palestine and conceptual ones like the firewalls of cyberspace—affect human interaction. GreaterThanGames aims to build

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2011 | 5

a game platform that will be adaptable over a range of networked devices— including desktop computers as well as iPhones and iPads—and bring together virtual and real world components.

Laurent Dubois, the other co-director of the Haiti Lab, said he is especially excited about the labs because of their interdisciplinary nature.

“The Haiti Lab, and those that will follow it starting next Fall, are simply unique in the humanities context because they are really a space for sustained collaborative work across disciplines as well as between different constituencies of a kind I haven’t really seen elsewhere,” he said.

Zack green/green media

Haiti Lab co-Directors Laurent Dubois and Deborah Jenson speak with an undergraduate during a visit to the Haiti Lab, a humanities lab that launched in Fall 2010. Two more will open in Fall 2011.

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del valle from page 3 about an impassioned conversation in which someone told her the way Puerto Ricans and Dominicans speak sounds uneducated—began with no introduction, as a part of the story she had already been telling. “[My] mouth opens wide with retorts in defense of the inflections in my accents, in defense of the articulations of my cultural enunciations,” she recited.

Del Valle also kept her audience laughing, recounting an instance in which she “almost picked up a stalker” in a piece entitled “Seduce Me.” She also addressed some of the more serious moments in her life, saying that writing about the stuff that is “off limits” is often what “really grabs people and moves people.”

She read an excerpt from her poem “Salida” about three generations of women in her family, immigration, language and abuse, recalling her memory of losing her virginity and the consequent “huge, blowup argument” with her mother.

“I always wished me and my mom could have one of those mother-daughter relationships,” she said. “You know, the special, sweet, close, communicative type where I could talk to her about anything.”

Del Valle’s ability to share the most personal—as well as empowering—stories is part of the reason campus organizations chose to bring del Valle to Duke, said sophomore Shirley Lope, vice president of Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Inc, a co-sponsor of the event.

“She is a very successful and powerful woman that we greatly admire and respect,” Lope wrote in an e-mail.

Del Valle also had advice for aspiring writers, saying that the idea that living as

an artist is not practical is “just bull.”

One important key to success, she said, is surrounding yourself with people you respect.

“It’s really important to have a mentor in your field that you can just talk to,” she noted.

The event—co-sponsored by the Baldwin Scholars program, Mi Gente, Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., the Women’s Center and the Women’s Study Pro-

“I always wished me and my mom could have one of those motherdaughter relationships.

You know, the special, close, communicative type where I could talk to her about anything.”

— Mayda del Valle, poet gram—received a warm reception from its audience.

“You can really just tell that she believes deeply in what she does, which is what I think made her work so powerful and so good,” senior Anamika Goyal said.

Junior Felicia Arriaga said that as a Mexican American, she is interested in how del Valle’s work draws on her cultural background.

“She spoke a lot about Spanglish and really just fused both [cultures],” Arriaga said. “It is really interesting to see how Puerto Ricans or any Latino group within the United States kind of navigates both worlds.”

6 | TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2011 the chronicle

dean from page 1

ipads from page 1

dusdac from page 4

tion announced in October, the University will retire the title of “Dean of Trinity College,” at the end of the academic year—meaning the new dean will only be known as the dean of the faculty of Arts and Sciences. In shifting responsibilities, Steve Nowicki, dean and vice provost of undergraduate education, will assume an enhanced role in developing the undergraduate experience across schools, according to a memo sent to deans and senior leaders Oct. 8.

Lange said the new dean must demonstrate a wide variety of skills, notably a “grasp of major issues in higher education likely to affect Duke’s undergraduate education.”

The search committee—composed of 15 diverse faculty members, students and administrators—began its efforts over the summer and interviewed candidates from a wide variety of institutions, Lange said. Committee Chair Lynn Smith-Lovin, Robert L. Wilson professor of sociology, is currently in Tanzania and could not be reached for comment last week. Committee members declined to discuss the specifics of the search, citing the confidentiality of the matter.

In the transition period, Alvin Crumbliss, Bishop-MacDermott chemistry professor, has served as interim dean. Crumbliss, who taught chemistry at Duke for 40 years, plans to spend a sabbatical in Genoa, a coastal city in northern Italy renowned for its rich history and cuisine.

Crumbliss declined to comment regarding his accomplishments in the past year and deferred all comment to Lange.

The new dean will be formally instated Jul. 1, concurrent with planning for the 2011-2012 academic year, Lange said.

course materials,” Johnston said. “So many people have iPhones and iPads that we’re hoping we can actually hit onto a demographic that already has the equipment.”

Lucic said he is very happy with the way the class has gone so far and that both the students and clients have been enthusiastic about the results.

Junior David Herzka, a student in the class, said he has enjoyed using his iPad and noted that it has facilitated the development of his team’s project.

“It has been very useful to have a physical device to run and debug applications,” he wrote in an e-mail Jan. 13.

Denise Comer, director of the FirstYear Writing Program, is collaborating with two other instructors to explore ways in which iPads might be useful in writing-heavy classes.

“I was very interested in the early stages of electronic reading and more portable computing devices,” Comer said. “I thought about how it might intersect with scholarly writing and reading.”

Comer said she did not have a preconceived notion of how the iPads might be used, but she anticipated that the students would be “creative and savvy” enough to help her find uses for the technology. The iPads are useful during in-class workshops and facilitate real time editing of documents, she noted, adding that she plans on soliciting feedback from her students twice this semester.

“Anecdotally, [the students] have been very excited,” she said. “They bring [their iPads] to class every day even though it’s not required.”

new hot dog options, such as spinach and cheese, chicken and Italian herb.

Konstanzer noted that he was recently placed in the top 32 of a national hot dog stand and restaurant competition.

He also gave an update about his recent business.

“My day sales have actually dropped,” he said. “Am I seeing a trend of healthy eating? I think I am. Either that or it’s

budget from page 4 finances in the longer term. His budget calls for $1.6 trillion in fresh revenue over the next decade, primarily through higher levies on business and the wealthy.

The budget request — the president’s first since Republicans won control of the House in November — marks his opening bid in a partisan battle over spending that is likely to consume Congress for the rest of this year and shape the political debate heading into the 2012 presidential election. Fueled by tea party fervor, some Republicans say they are willing to shut down the government to force fiscal restraint, while Democrats are courting independent voters with a more judicious approach.

At a news conference at a Baltimore County, Md., middle school dedicated to math and engineering, Obama cast his go-slow approach to budget-cutting as a responsible alternative to the steep reductions Republicans are seeking in a vote this week on the House floor.

“While it’s absolutely essential to live within our means, while we are absolutely committed to working with Democrats and Republicans to find further

January and people have resolutions and they break them in March and I’m there.

They come back from Spring Break and are like, ‘Wow I broke that—I’m going for a Chips Plus.’”

Sophomore Amir Abdu, a DUSDAC member, said he recently met with Gus Megaloudis, manager of The Greek Devil, about the cart’s recent changes. Since winter break, the cart has started selling falafel, and Megaloudis plans to make a candied nut cart but is currently awaiting a $3,500 piece of machinery. savings and to look at the whole range of budget issues, we can’t sacrifice our future in the process,” the president said. “I know the American people understand why this is so important.”

Republicans blasted the proposed budget as a bait-and-switch, saying it would not deliver on the administration’s pledge to reduce deficits primarily by cutting spending. They also said Obama ignored a plan developed by his own fiscal commission to tackle the biggest drivers of future deficits: popular safety-net programs for the elderly and a tax code that offers more in deductions than it collects in revenue.

“This budget was an opportunity for the president to lead. He punted. It only pretends to do the things people want,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said in a speech on the Senate floor. “This is business as usual at a time when bold, creative solutions are needed.

This is not an I-got-the-message budget.”

House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., said he found Obama’s budget request “more than disappointing. I expected more taxes,” he said, “but I also expected some serious spending controls or reforms, and we’re getting none of it.”

the chronicle

dps from page 1 this, but if drugs and unemployment are rampant then the plan will fail because the kids won’t have tools to succeed or improve.”

Fresh start facing hurdles Becoats, who declined to be interviewed for this story, took on his duties as Durham’s superintendant last July and began speaking with parents, students and teachers about the changes they hope to see within DPS. The results of the tour formed the basis for his strategic plan, which outlines in 36 pages six areas for improvement: academic acceleration, communications and partnerships, equitable standards, effective operations, talent development and wellness and safety. The plan has received positive feedback and public encouragement from the community, said DPS Chief Communications Officer Tahira Stalberte.

City officials have also backed the strategic plan, with Mayor Bill Bell and others rallying behind it and several city council members calling it a “fresh start.”

“I am very supportive of DPS and the new plan, and appreciate Superintendent Becoats’ leadership on this,” City Council member Diane Catotti said. “Parent involvement is key.”

But some members of the community described personal situations that may indicate that the biggest problems for DPS are symptomatic of the greater issues facing Durham.

“I work evening and night shifts so I am never home when my kids are home, and when I am back from work they are either in school or I’m sleeping because I got to sleep sometime,” said Margie Goodwin, a parent of two students enrolled in George Watts Montessori Magnet School.

“I don’t know what they’re up to in school. I know they leave in the morning and come back in the evening but the rest is not my concern. I have to keep food on the table.” Goodwin said she was unfamiliar with Becoats’ plan.

Other parents said demographics could be part of the problem. According to DPS’s website, 21 percent of Durham public school children are Hispanic, a number that is growing. And according to the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics website, among 16 to 24 year olds, the Hispanic population has the highest drop-out rate at about 18.3 percent.

A contributing factor to these numbers could be the language barrier children face when entering school and the neglect they experience when teachers and students have difficulty communicating with them. Jenny Carolina, school service-learning coordinator in Duke’s Office of Community Affairs, said she believes Durham needs to focus on the non-native speaker population. The America Reads America Counts tutoring program at Duke, which works with all minorities to alleviate the achievement gap with “one-on-one academic enrichment... for low-performing students,” Carolina said.

Fighting the dropout rate Pilar Tipane, the literacy program specialist for Duke’s America Reads America Counts, added that another key problem she sees in Durham schools is keeping students in the classroom.

“Our drop-out rate is huge in this country, and I think making school interesting from a young age will help kids want to stay in and complete school,” Tipane said.

Some DPS students expressed impatience with the mundane activities in their classes.

“We do the same exercises all the time and usually nobody isn’t paying any attention,” said Jamal Wright, a 9-year-old third grade student.

Becoats’ plan attempts to make class more interesting

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2011 | 7

through “talent development”—the process of identifying each child’s unique interests and using a lens of focus to make the curriculum seem more intriguing while enhancing their pre-existing strengths, DPS Chief Communications Officer Tahira Stalberte said.

But Freelon, who has worked with students firsthand, noted that Becoats’ education plan can only go so far to reduce the dropout rate.

“It is not just the responsibility of the schools. A community is something that can only be nurtured by the people within those communities,” said Freelon, who teaches writing techniques to at-risk teenagers in an after school course called Poetic Justice. “There are a lot of pretty bad neighborhoods, drugs and crime.”

For its work, Poetic Justice received a $10,000 grant from Durham’s Juvenile Justice and Crime Prevention Council that defined the criteria for at-risk students as including students in foster care, suspended students, students from low socioeconomic backgrounds and students in the juvenile justice system. Freelon said his program, which he runs with slam poet Kane Smego, is one way to address such prevalent community problems.

“I think there a lot of kids teetering on the edge and could go one way or the other. As of now, dropping out is a more likely option,” Freelon said. “Juvie is for kids too far down the road and we do this to prevent more kids from getting there. They get into trouble without an after-school program because they are sucked into a bad lifestyle with nothing else to do.”

One problem Freelon has witnessed among the students he works with is homelessness. He said students who do not have a stable home do not have the resources or incentive to try and achieve in class.

Although Freelon said he is disappointed Poetic Justice can only accept 10 to 12 students, he explained he does not have the funding to expand the course to accept more students in need. He said he urges other organizations to participate in “grassroots community work” to enhance the city.

“Police forces, church groups and universities like Duke need to reach out and do more,” he said. “They shouldn’t be insulated institutions for an exclusive group higher in the social hierarchy. The people that really need are within walking distance of the people who have the power to help them.”

DUKE UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER John L. Beyer, MD Are you struggling with MAJOR DEPRESSION? Are you sad or blue?

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If you are 18-65 years old and meet study criteria, you may be eligible to participate in a research study at Duke University Medical Center under Dr. John Beyer’s supervision.

We are testing the effects of a new investigational drug for major depressive disorder. Study medication and psychiatric and physical assessments will be provided free of charge. If you complete all study visits, you will be compensated a total of $490 for your time and travel. For more information, call 919- 684-9701.

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8 | TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2011 the chronicle

Sports

>> ONLINE

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ONLINE

TUESDAY

February 15, 2011

Wednesday is your chance to watch a camera fixed on Nolan Smith for all 40 minutes In this week’s Stat Chat, Danny Nolan looks at the week Seth Curry had

www.dukechroniclesports.com

What Kanye Cutcliffe gives spring update teaches us about recruiting football

“I’m living in the future so the present is my past.”

While I’m fairly confident the song “Monster” is not Kanye West’s social commentary on the state of college basketball recruiting, there’s no better way to describe the absurd fixation fans and coaches alike have placed on teen—and even pre-teen—players.

Granted, the national attention is more warranted in basketball than any other major sport because of a freshman’s ability to have a major impact from day one (see Irving, Kyrie).

Chris But it’s all this attention that journalists of my ilk believe lead to the inconceivably-egotistical actions by college and NBA players alike, with Lebron’s “Decision” as a recent, but far from isolated, example.

So naturally, and hypocritically, I poured my own fuel on the fire by sitting on press row Friday night for the North Carolina Play-by-Play Classic at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The event showcased three of the Blue Devils’ Class of 2011, which was ranked third by ESPN. I came to get a real, live look at the three future Dukies, but by the end of the night I realized I knew little more than I had before I arrived. That’s attributable in part to the thorough data compiled by scouting services like Ri-

Cusack

courtney douglas/The Chronicle

See cusack on page 10

In a teleconference Monday, head coach David Cutcliffe talked about what Duke will focus on as it enters its spring practices.

Duke to play Orange Bowl champion Stanford

Coach highlights competitiveness of practices

Duke released its schedule yesterday, and it’s highlighted by a certain Heisman frontrunner’s arrival to Wallace Wade Stadium.

After starting off with Richmond, last seen beating the Blue Devils in 2009, Duke will host Stanford at home. Led by standout quarterback Andrew Luck, the Cardinal defeated Virginia Tech by 28 points in the 2011 Orange Bowl, in which Luck threw four touchdowns. The meeting with Stanford is the first in a home-and-home series, meaning the Blue Devils will travel to Palo Alto, Calif., in 2012.

Duke then takes to the road to play Boston College.

The Eagles beat the Blue Devils last year in a close 2116 contest.

It will be four more weeks before Duke takes on another conference opponent, taking on Tulane and Florida International Sept. 24 and Oct. 1, respectively before a bye week. When the Blue Devils start that ACC schedule, though, it’s not easy.

They take on Florida State, which defeated South Carolina in the Chick-fil-A Bowl last season, on Oct. 15. After a brief reprieve with Wake Forest Oct. 22, Duke faces Virginia Tech Oct. 29, then Miami Nov. 5 on the road. Miami beat the Blue Devils by 15 at home last season.

Duke’s final three games are on the road at Virginia, at home versus Georgia Tech, then on the road against North Carolina, in which the Blue Devils will try to take back the Victory Bell.

Overall, Duke faces three opponents who finished last season ranked in the AP poll—Stanford, Virginia Tech and Florida State. The difficult schedule includes opponents that combined for a 85-68 record in 2010.

— from staff reports

by Andrew Beaton THE CHRONICLE

Last year Duke entered spring practice with more questions than answers. Prime among them was the health of then-redshirt freshman quarterback Sean Renfree, who was recovering from an ACL tear that he suffered at the end of the season.

This year, with a healthy quarterback and playing time up for grabs among Duke’s position players, these spring practices may mean more than ever.

“All in all, I think we should have more position players than we had going into this [training camp],” head coach David Cutcliffe said Monday. “That should help us a great deal creating competitiveness on the practice field.”

With the competitive atmosphere in camp, there will be more pressure than ever for Renfree to step up and improve on a season in which he showed potential, yet struggled mightily with turnovers. With 17 interceptions, he was tied with three other quarterbacks for the second-highest total in the nation.

“Certainly taking care of the football is his biggest priority,” Cutcliffe said. “When he did that we either competed to win or won. When he didn’t, we let some games get away from us. We had 27 turnovers a year ago which is almost twice as much as our standard has become.”

One of the advantages the Blue Devils have this year is that Renfree is returning next year, along with 16 fellow starters, and should aid in bringing a sense of continuity to the program. Two players, however, will be seeking to earn starting jobs at different positions beginning in the spring session.

Rising redshirt junior Brian Moore, who has started at right guard the two previous seasons, will be shifting one See cutcliffe on page 10

alex pherribo/The Chronicle

Friday, Chris Cusack went to watch Quinn Cook and Marshall Plumlee face off against each other. He instead saw a lopsided game.

10 | TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2011 the chronicle

this g in y la p e k u D ’s Who year?

Richmond (6-5) Sept. 3

@ FIU (7-6) Oct. 1

Last time Duke played the Spiders, they shocked the Blue Devils at home

FIU struggled against bigger schools last year, including Maryland and Pitt

Stanford (12-1) Sept. 10

FSU (10-4) Oct. 15

Led by Andrew Luck, Stanford won the Orange Bowl last season

@ B.C. (7-6) Sept. 17 Duke will look to avenge its close lateseason loss to Boston College

Tulane (4-8) Sept. 24 Duke will face a lax defensive squad in a tune-up game before the ACC season

cusack from page 9 vals and Scout, but it’s also a reflection of the team dynamic of basketball. A basketball player’s success hinges extensively on the talent of those around him, making it an increasingly complex task to isolate one player’s value.

Never has this principle been clearer than in the night’s first game, which pitted America’s most prestigious high school basketball program, Oak Hill Academy (Va.), against Christ School (N.C.), another member of the nation’s elite, albeit not at the same level. While the game’s final score was 78-64 in favor of the Warriors, the actual contest wasn’t nearly that close. Quinn Cook finished with 26 points and six assists, leaving with a team MVP award, while Marshall Plumlee’s final line was a far more pedestrian nine points and eight rebounds.

But at the end of the day, the box score doesn’t tell the whole story.

At Oak Hill, Cook plays with a surrounding cast of the nation’s best prep school ballers. The school plays nationally televised games all over the Eastern seaboard, and it traveled to Honolulu for a week-long tournament in December.

The team is filled with upperclassmen, the vast majority of whom transferred to the elite boarding school to showcase their talents year-round. Alumni include Carmelo Anthony, Rajon Rondo, Kevin Durant, Stephen Jackson, and, of course, Nolan Smith.

Even in what has been considered a down year for the prestigious program— a 22-3 record has it ranked 12th nationally by USA Today—the Warriors’ starting lineup is full of NCAA Division-I recruits, including three ranked in Rivals’ top-75.

Plumlee’s team, with its own 27-4 record and national top-40 ranking, is no pushover. The school has three Division-I commits of its own, but make no mistake, Plumlee’s supporting cast is a far cry from Cook’s. Marshall was matched up in the paint against a rotating trio of highly-ranked

Duke faces a Florida State team helmed

by Jimbo Fisher for the first time

Wake Forest (3-9) Oct. 22 Will Duke and Wake Forest repeat their high-scoring last game?

V.T. (11-3) Oct. 29 Last season,V.T.’s solid ACC play didn’t carry over to the Orange Bowl big men—Arizona commit Sidiki Johnson, Oregon State commit Daniel Gomis and uncommitted Rivals Class of 2012 No. 11 center A.J. Hammons—yet still played all but two of the game’s minutes.

With Christ School’s defense stretched to all ends of the floor, Cook was able to drive through the lane to the rim without opposition. His individual highlights were enhanced by his luxury of relying on teammates to score when the situation wasn’t in his favor, a role similar to the one he’ll likely take next season.

In comparison, Plumlee appeared invisible, though he quietly made his mark on the offensive end by drawing defenders out of the lane to open space for driving guards.

That, in part, explains his low rebounding totals, but his slight frame at 7-foot and just 215 pounds means his high position on the scouting charts is based more on potential than polish.

It was even tougher to get a grip on Gbinije’s role in the second game. The 6-foot-7 swingman is the tallest member of his Benedictine (Va.) team, but plays an undefined role on the perimeter somewhere between shooting guard and small forward. Against Our Savior New American he was matched up against a guard several inches shorter than him, a luxury that Gbinije won’t have when he enters the college ranks. True, a player with his combination of height and versatility is rarely found, but I couldn’t help but wonder how many of his picturesque jumpers would still go in with a real hand in his face. Then again, during the high school offseason Gbinije has proven himself against the best in his age group by playing for elite club teams and attending prestigious camps nationwide.

The bottom line is this: Scout and Rivals are generally excellent at extrapolating high school talent to see where a player fits in at the college level, so Duke fans have a right to be optimistic about the future.

But at the end of the day, predicting the potential of teenage athletes is far from an exact science.

cutcliffe from page 9 @ Miami (7-6) Nov. 5 The Blue Devils will face quarterback Jacory Harris one more time

@ Virginia (4-8) Nov. 12 Duke will look to win its fourth consecutive game against the Cavs

G.T. (6-7) Nov. 19 The nation’s top rushing team will showcase its option offense again

@ UNC (8-5) Nov. 26 The Blue Devils will look to finally bring the Victory Bell back to Durham

spot to his left to play center next year, which Cutcliffe described as more “natural” for him.

In addition, speedster Tony Foster, a redshirt junior who has spent the majority of his time as a special teams player and reserve wide receiver, is switching sides of the ball to play cornerback.

Duke will also be entering the season with its third defensive coordinator in as many years. Jim Knowles is taking over the defensive reigns after Marion Hobby and Mike MacIntyre both left Durham after the 2010 and 2009 seasons, respectively.

“I think there’s certainly going to be changes,” Cutcliffe said. “There will be a learning curve early for those guys. Jim Knowles and I have spent an inordinate amount of time talking about philosophy, talking about how we want to piece this thing together.”

With this new defensive regime, Cutcliffe emphasized that the unit needs to focus on putting pressure on opposing offenses in order to create turnovers. The Blue Devils tied for fifth worst in the country with only 12 sacks, and had only eight interceptions, tied for 12th worst in the nation.

Schematically, Cutcliffe said the defense plans to further implement the 4-2-5 defensive front they featured toward the end of the season. This will require some linebackers and defensive backs to adapt to a “hybrid” role, which could result in rushing the quarterback or playing man-to-man coverage on a given play. Matt Daniels, officially listed as a safety, often played there last season.

“We have a number of really athletic guys, and some others coming in, that fit those roles well,” Cutcliffe said. “I’m excited about that.”

tom mendel/The Chronicle

Standing at 6-foot-7, Michael Gbinije easily shot jumpers over his shorter opponents, Cusack writes.

the chronicle

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2011 | 11

SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES AT THE

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STUDENTS MAY ENROLL concurrently in Introductory Marine Biology for non-Majors AND Literature, Science and the Sea. Students may also pair Literature, Science and the Sea with Independent Study. Bookhout Research Scholarships and Summer Tuition Scholarships are available, application deadline is April 1.

VIEW A COMPLETE LIST OF SUMMER COURSES AND SCHOLARSHIPS AT

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Boost your 1960’s history and Mad Men trivia knowledge before the LIBRARY PARTY by attending these talks: Wednesday, Feb. 16, 7PM - Link Classroom 4 Professor Martha Reeves “Women in the 1960s”

Thursday, Feb. 17, 7PM - Link Classroom 5 Local author Linda Hanley Finigan “From Camelot to the Beatles and on to Vietnam”

Tuesday, Feb. 22, 7:30PM - Link Classroom 5 Professor William O’Barr “Race and Ethnicity in Mad Men”

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12 | TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2011 the chronicle

CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS A LOT OF CARS INC.

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Most Cars $1000/$1500 down. $275/month. Student/Employee/ Hospital ID $150 discount.

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RESEARCH STUDIES

Participants are needed for studies of visual and hearing function using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

These studies are conducted at the Brain Imaging and Analysis Center (BIAC) at Duke University Medical Center. Participants should be 18 years old or older and should have no history of brain injury or disease. Most studies last between 1-2 hours, and participants are paid approximately $20/hr. Please contact the BIAC volunteer coordinator at 681-9344 or volunteer@ biac.duke.edu for additional information. You can also visit our website at www.biac.duke.edu.

Needed for Summer and/or 11-12 School Year. 8+ Hours per week.

Contact Chrissy Beck for more information e-mail: chrissy.beck@duke.edu or stop by 101 West Union Building

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the chronicle TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2011 | 13

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The Independent Daily at Duke University

The Chronicle

14 | TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2011 the chronicle commentaries

Approve CC merger Today students will vote on a referendum to merge Campus Council, the body responsible for residential policy and programming, into the Duke Student Government. We would like to reiterate our strong support for the merger and encourage the student body to approve it today.

While current President Stephen Temple, a senior, has done much to expand the presence of Campus Council, we believe the organization adds an unnecessary layer to what is an already byzantine campus bureaucracy. Although Campus Council has contributed energetically to both campus-wide and residential programming, the organization lacks a distinctive mission. The role Campus Council currently fills can be more efficiently handled under other existing campus structures, such as DSG and Duke University Union.

Further, with the shift to the house model on the horizon, a restructur-

“

ing of the way Duke students manEditorial entreatments about the age campus life is common sense. importance of voting are standard Reassigning Campus Council’s refare on election days. But today, sponsibilities under a newly formed when the student body selects a stuDSG committee headed by a vice dent to sit on Duke’s most powerpresident of residence ful governing body, it life and dining dovetails will make a substantive editorial with the University’s remark on the long-term cent administrative reshuffling. life of the University.

Concerns have been raised as to Because of one candidate’s past whether an organization with as large service on the Editorial Board, a purview as DUU will be able to prowe will not endorse anyone today. vide the daily programming that CamWe will, however, outline what it pus Council sometimes offers. While takes to make a mark as a Young these concerns are not totally without Trustee. merit, we hope that a more organized The position is not analogous to residential structure will allow students the DSG president. Success on the greater license to initiate these types of Board of Trustees does not rest on dorm-based activities on their own. appealing campaign promises. It We believe that upcoming changes requires character. The best Young to Duke’s residential landscape require Trustees have the intellect and bolda shift in student policy-making strucness to play ball with some of the tures. Merging Campus Council into world’s most intelligent and influDSG is a simple, practical step toward a ential people. more efficient student government.

Strong trusteeship requires a vi-

onlinecomment

...maybe the point is that its great that the money can come from investors who specifically give money for athletics, but not okay for the money to come straight out of our academic fund.

”

—“uh_no” commenting on the story “Overhaul Wallace Wade.”

See more at www.dukechronicle.com.

Letters Policy The Chronicle welcomes submissions in the form of letters to the editor or guest columns. Submissions must include the author’s name, signature, department or class, and for purposes of identification, phone number and local address.

Letters should not exceed 325 words; contact the editorial department for information regarding guest columns.

The Chronicle will not publish anonymous or form letters or letters that are promotional in nature. The Chronicle reserves the right to edit letters and guest columns for length, clarity and style and the right to withhold letters based on the discretion of the editorial page editor.

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Direct submissions to:

E-mail: chronicleletters@duke.edu Editorial Page Department The Chronicle Box 90858, Durham, NC 27708 Phone: (919) 684-2663 Fax: (919) 684-4696

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Lindsey Rupp, Editor Toni Wei, Managing Editor Taylor Doherty, News Editor Andy Moore, Sports Editor Courtney Douglas, Photography Editor eliza french, Editorial Page Editor Will Robinson, Editorial Board Chair Christina Peña, Managing Editor for Online jonathan angier, General Manager DEAN CHEN, Director of Online Operations Matthew Chase, University Editor Samantha Brooks, Local & National Editor Sonia Havele, Health & Science Editor Melissa Yeo, News Photography Editor Kevin Lincoln, Recess Editor Lisa du, Recess Managing Editor Charlie Lee, Editorial Page Managing Editor SAnette Tanaka, Wire Editor kevin lincoln, Towerview Editor Chase Olivieri, Towerview Photography Editor zachary tracer, Special Projects Editor alex beutel, Director of Online Development Jinny Cho, Senior Editor DAn Ahrens, Recruitment Chair Mary weaver, Operations Manager Barbara starbuck, Production Manager

On YT, vote boldly

Jeff Scholl, Sports Managing Editor Joanna Lichter, University Editor Ciaran O’Connor, Local & National Editor Tullia Rushton, Health & Science Editor Margie Truwit, Sports Photography Editor Michael Naclerio, Multimedia Editor Nathan Glencer, Recess Photography Editor Drew sternesky, Editorial Page Managing Editor carter Suryadevara, Design Editor Lawson kurtz, Towerview Editor Maya Robinson, Towerview Creative Director hon lung chu, Special Projects Editor for Online cheney tsai, Director of Online Design Julia Love, Senior Editor Jessica Lichter, Recruitment Chair CHRISSY BECK, Advertising/Marketing Director REBECCA DICKENSON, Chapel Hill Ad Sales Manager

The Chronicle is published by the Duke Student Publishing Company, Inc., a non-profit corporation independent of Duke University. The opinions expressed in this newspaper are not necessarily those of Duke University, its students, faculty, staff, administration or trustees. Unsigned editorials represent the majority view of the editorial board. Columns, letters and cartoons represent the views of the authors.

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I

sion of what is best for the University writ large. This vision must be deepened by distinct expertise in a given area. The Trustees already have a vision for Duke. For Young Trustees to change it, they must bring something new to an already well-informed table. They must do this with clarity and brio.

To make a vision persuasive requires boldness. Being a Young Trustee is not about networking or resume building—it is about articulating and defending a vision of what Duke should be. Temerity trumps diplomacy. If you cannot imagine a candidate forcefully disagreeing with some of the world’s most powerful people, then that candidate should not be your first choice today.

To vote for Young Trustee is to make a strong statement about the future of the University. Make your vote count.

Reaction needed

helped deliver babies in Uganda two summers have now participated in DukeEngage, and fully 62 ago. That’s not a normal college experience percent of alumni report participation in commufor your average history major. nity service while they were at Duke. The Klein-Wells Along with the other members of my DukeEn- report recommendations definitely impact our stugage group, I conducted a Duke Indent experience. But there was no stitutional Review Board-approved student statement analogous to that survey about the general health of the of the Provost and Dean Nowicki.

Ugandan mothers whom we met in Systemic silence from student our work in several clinics in the rural leaders on the issues raised by southwest of the country. the Klein-Wells report was unacWe learned, among other things, ceptable then (and I was certainly that 63 percent of women gave birth complicit in that failure), and it in their homes instead of a hospital gregory morrison continues to be unacceptable. and that 71 percent of them reached Student leadership, a partnerfinish the thought ship between Duke Student Govour clinic for prenatal care by walking. We found that almost 50 percent ernment and Duke Partnership for of the mothers assessed their own health as poor, Service perhaps, ought to take the one-year anniverand that more than half cited a lack of money, sary of the Klein-Wells report as an opportunity to transportation and adequate drugs as a “big prob- reflect on the challenges it raised and the recomlem” in their prenatal care. And those statistics mendations the committee suggested. don’t reflect the family planning challenges and How is all of this working for students one year child mortality rates in the region. on? What more needs to be done?

When I returned to campus, I had a new idea of Leela Prasad, the faculty director of the Duke what “knowledge in service of society” should mean. I Center for Civic Engagement, a position conceptudiscovered a narrative that lent coherence to my expe- alized by the Klein-Wells committee, perhaps said riences as Duke as a Project BUILD crew leader, intern it best in a guest column in these pages when she for Senator Kay Hagan’s 2008 campaign, assistant to wrote that “civic engagement is never optional (as a Ugandan obstetrician, fraternity philanthropy chair in ‘I don’t do that’ and or ‘I finished doing that’).” and member of Duke Student Government.

Student input about what civic engagement means The crucial vocabulary for this narrative: “civic to our educations isn’t optional either. engagement.”

When my class arrived at Duke four years ago, And I wasn’t the only one at Duke exploring President Brodhead delivered a convocation adthe narrative of civic engagement that year. In dress in which he challenged us to engage Duke. We January 2010, a committee co-chaired by Emily were not yet a week into our Duke careers, huddled Klein, senior associate dean and director of un- as strangers next to each other in a crowded Duke dergraduate studies at the Nicholas School of the Chapel. President Brodhead told us that Duke was Environment, and Sam Wells, dean of Duke Cha- a place with four cardinal values: excellence, compel, published a report, “Engaging Excellence,” munity, education, and—you guessed it—engagewhich called for a more strategic, institutional ment. “Duke’s project” was “excellence pursued as a approach to civic engagement at the University. community toward the end of ongoing education,” We’ve known for at least a couple of years now that but engagement was the fulcrum “since without it the concept of “civic engagement” ranks right up there’s no reaching the other three.” there with interdisciplinarity and internationalizaPresident Brodhead spoke truth when he told tion in terms of how Duke’s innovative approach us that day in the Chapel that “Duke’s offerings to undergraduate education is setting national will remain inert until something is added to start and international standards. the reaction. The missing ingredient is your perThe Klein-Wells report got a flurry of attention sonal engagement: your taking the initiative to when it came out, as these type of reports generally seek and seize opportunities and to charge them do: a written response from Provost Peter Lange with your energies of mind.” and Steve Nowicki, dean and vice provost for unIt’s high time student leadership take the inidergraduate education, a set of two editorials from tiative and join the conversation about the place The Chronicle’s independent editorial board and of civic engagement and continued innovation in an assortment of other articles and opinion pieces. undergraduate education at Duke.

Notably lacking, however, was a response, in an Who knows what reaction we might start? institutional sense, from students. As the report notes, more than 700 undergrads are engaged in the Gregory Morrison is a Trinity Senior. He is the former Durham community each semester, more than 1,000 EVP of DSG. His column runs every Monday.

the chronicle

YT: The drinking game

I

t is the day of the Young Trustee election, and as far as I’m concerned, that can only mean one thing: Time to play the History of the YT Drinking Game.

The rules are simple. I’ll call out a category, and for every time in the last decade that a Young Trustee has filled it, you take a drink. Ready? ryan brown Let’s begin. first world problems Drink for every time in the last 10 years that the Young Trustee has been a minority. Woah there, slow down. You should only be taking one sip. Even though about 45% of the undergraduate student body belongs to an ethnic or racial minority, nine out of the 10 Young Trustees in the last decade have been white. Spoiler alert: The exception is Sunny Kantha, Trinity ’09. (Also, Snape kills Dumbledore, Boo Radley isn’t actually evil, and the kid is the only one who can see Bruce Willis because he’s dead).

Okay, so that was a pretty light one. Let’s go a little harder this time. Drink for every time this decade the Young Trustee has been a woman. That’ll be two sips, one each for Katie Laidlaw, Trinity ’04, and Sara Elrod, Trinity ‘02. These skilled multitaskers were able to pull off a rather remarkable feat—sitting in a boardroom and having a uterus at the same time. In fact, some 13 of the 36 current trustees have also managed that same stunt, which is about the proportion of women in the population as a whole, right?

Well, let’s not get too caught up in the math.

This is just a drinking game, after all. So this turn, drink for every time in the last decade our YT has been a political science major. That will cost you four shots, representing the academic careers of John Harpham, Trinity ‘10, Ryan Todd, Trinity ‘08, Brandon Goodwin, Trinity ‘06 and the aforementioned Elrod. And for those of us (read: me) who can’t actually tell the difference, you should take four more drinks for the four YTs—Jordan Bazinsky, Trinity ‘01, Anthony Vitarelli, Trinity ‘05, Ben Abram ‘07, and Kantha—who studied public policy. But if you’re a lightweight, you could just drink for the number of engineers (1), art students (0) or science majors of any kind (also 0).

Alright, now we’re feeling it. And in the spirit of this whole game, I think we should drink for every year the Young Trustee has been in a fraternity. The number is four, so long as you’re OK with including Wayne Manor, arguably the frattiest non-greek collection of gentlemen you’ll find outside of the Kennedy family. In any case, I for one am glad to see that our institution is finally starting to see that white, wealthy men from the East Coast deserve a voice on our governing board, too.

As a proud graduate of AlcoholEDU, I recognize that now is the time to slow this game down. But I would be remiss as your guide through the history of YT if I didn’t include at least one category dealing with leadership. So as a send off, if you would, please drink for every year that the Young Trustee has held a leadership position in DSG, Campus Council or DUU. Who knew that deciding to raise the student activities fee or picking B-list ‘90s bands for LDOC made you uniquely qualified to sit on the board of a top-10 research university? Eight of the last 10 Young Trustees, apparently.

Okay, folks, that’s all from me. Thanks for playing. Now get out there and vote. And make sure you choose wisely—the entire future of this game depends on it. Oh, and so do a few other small matters, like the way this university projects itself to the world and the type of voices it chooses to include in its most important dialogues.

Cheers to that.

Ryan Brown is a Trinity senior. Her column runs every other Tuesday.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2011 | 15

commentaries

Young Trustee Election Vote Sohn for Young Trustee Duke’s Asian Students Association is proud to endorse Michelle Sohn for the position of Young Trustee. After interviewing each of the Young Trustee candidates, we found Michelle’s diverse experiences and strong academic and co-curricular credentials to be critical for this demanding position.

Michelle was not only poised and sincere in our conversations, but also well-versed in many of the important issues that undergraduate students at Duke face. Michelle is the only candidate with experience working on The Chronicle Editorial Board and has three years of Duke Student Government experience under her belt.

Moreover, Michelle is particularly sensitive to the unique issues that minority and women students face; additionally, her passion for Asian American issues is inspiring and unrelenting. As a sophomore, she developed and taught the “Asians in America” house course, which sought to bring dialogue on Asian American issues to the forefront.

Duke’s ASA urges you to make your voice heard and vote for Michelle Sohn for Young Trustee on Feb. 15. Last year’s election came down to three votes, so make your vote count!

John Chang President, Duke Asian Students Association Trinity ’11 Sohn for Young Trustee The Duke Center for Race Relations, after hearing from the Young Trustee finalists, is proud to endorse Michelle Sohn for the position of undergraduate Young Trustee. The CRR believes in a Duke community of inclusion and respect that recognizes, embraces and values both our common humanity and individual differences.

Michelle not only demonstrates an understanding of these issues of diversity on campus, but she has also actively worked to empower marginalized groups. Her involvement in the Duke Student Government Gender Summit and gender-neutral housing campaign shows her commitment to establishing an inclusive and equitable campus and serves as a testament to her understanding of how to effect change through the University framework.

Beyond her passion and initiative, Michelle also demonstrates a strong background in campus affairs. Her experiences working with various groups on campus, such as The Chronicle’s Editorial Board, DSG, Residence Life and Housing Services and various other committees, equip her with the practical skills needed to effectively serve with and navigate the Board of Trustees. Her involvements establish her as a worthy Young Trustee, one that is able to play the dual roles of engaging the on-campus student body while also cooperating with the formal administration.

Although the other candidates also provided stellar credentials and admirable visions for Duke’s future, Michelle’s statements resonated more clearly with the CRR’s mission. We believe she is the best candidate to represent the undergraduate voice, and it is for the above reasons that the Duke Center for Race Relations is proud to endorse Michelle Sohn for the position of undergraduate Young Trustee.

David Wang Lisa Deng Co-Presidents, Duke Center for Race Relations Trinity ’12 Vote Michelle Sohn for YT The Duke Democrats would like to endorse Michelle Sohn for Young Trustee; both she and Ben Getson are fully qualified to effectively communicate the concerns and ideas of the undergraduate student body to Duke’s Board of Trustees, and we therefore encourage Duke voters to rank both individuals highly on their ballots.

We encourage voters to place Michelle Sohn first on their ballots. Duke Democrats believes that Sohn’s spark and energy will help her stand out on the Board at this crucial crossroads in Duke’s future. She has shown aptitude in boardroom settings, demonstrating passion and commitment with a demeanor of utmost professionalism and amicability. To speak more directly to her platform, we believe that Sohn is the best advocate for the progressive beliefs and ideals that we find important, including gender equality, multicultural diversity and important issues of campus culture. Sohn has a record of fighting to make our campus a more equitable and accepting environment.

Her strength as a communicator and her progressive vision of Duke lead us to believe that Sohn is the best candidate for the position of Young Trustee.

We encourage voters to place Ben Getson second on their ballots, and we believe that he is also extraordinarily qualified for the position. Getson has great ideas for engaging the Board and representing the undergraduate student body in future decision-making. He truly shares Duke Democrats’ understanding of the socioeconomic climate of Duke’s campus and will work to continue to break down boundaries. Getson has experienced life on all three of Duke’s campuses and has

shown initiative in organizing students to forge new opportunities. This experience would be advantageous during Duke’s transition to a residential house model. Getson is also an effective communicator, and we believe that he is also an outstanding candidate for the position of Young Trustee.

Eli Kozin Treasurer, Duke Democrats Trinity ’14 Vote Davis for Young Trustee In a year of three very qualified finalist candidates, Matt Davis stands out as the one whom the Interfraternity Council believes will best serve the University and the undergraduate community as the next Young Trustee. Davis has a keen awareness of University matters considered most important to the Board of Trustees, and he has an excellent sense of how the needs and concerns of the undergraduate community fit within the overall mission of the University.

The residential community forms a centerpiece of the Duke undergraduate experience, and upcoming years will see the housing model undergo a transition into a new era of design.

This transition has been set forth by the Board of Trustees, and Davis’ wealth of experience with the most unique aspects of Duke’s undergraduate living and learning community will be invaluable to the Board of Trustees as they make decisions that affect the direction of the University.

Davis has a passion for the Duke spirit and a balanced understanding of what makes Duke such an exceptional place, and most importantly, he carries himself with a demeanor that will propel him to be an effective and respected member of the Board of Trustees as the next Young Trustee.

Erskine Love President, Interfraternity Council Pratt ’11 Vote Davis for Young Trustee The Duke College Republicans are happy to announce our endorsement of Matt Davis for the undergraduate Young Trustee position. Davis’ background as a biomedical engineering major in the Pratt School of Engineering, along with his undergraduate research experiences, will provide the Board of Trustees with a fresh perspective that distinguishes him from both the other candidates and the current Young Trustees on the Board. Davis’ experience in financial leadership through his work on the Board of Directors of the Duke Student Publishing Company positions him well to advocate for intelligent fiscal policies. In his words, “A penny saved is a penny saved forever,” and it is with this lens that Duke University should approach its financial decisions to ensure we manage our endowment responsibly. Additionally, the Duke College Republicans appreciate Davis’ bottom-up approach to addressing campus culture issues. He understands it is student leaders who are in the best position to resolve student issues. Overall, Davis’ leadership and diverse and informed experiences make him the ideal candidate for the Young Trustee position.

Stephen Bergin Chairman, Duke College Republicans Trinity ’11 Vote “YES” on the DSG/CC Merger Today Today you have the opportunity to vote in the election for Young Trustee, and as you read the online ballot you will see a clause asking whether you affirm a set of proposed changes to the Duke Student Government Constitution. These changes mark a significant shift in the structure of student government at Duke, beginning a gradual consolidation of policy under DSG and programming under the Duke University Union and improving student representation within a unified student government.

In addition to the “merger” of Campus Council into DSG and DUU, the proposal on today’s referendum redefines the roles of the DSG vice presidents to reflect changes in the University structure and a growing emphasis on the environment, and creates Cabinet-level positions for the leaders of a student environmental consulting group and the Duke University Student Dining Advisory Committee. Through a similar reorganization, we are pleased to say that participation in The Inferno will become absolutely free, for the first time in the history of Duke Athletics.

These changes are varied, but they carry a common theme.

The student voice is strongest when it is united—when lobbying efforts and student services are centralized, and when the path to student involvement is direct and open to everyone. The proposal you will vote on today has been endorsed by CC, DSG, and DUU as well as the Chronicle’s Editorial Board. It is our sincerest hope that you too will support these improvements to student government by voting “YES” on today’s referendum.

Mike Lefevre, Trinity ’11 President, Duke Student Government Yi Zhang, Trinity ’11 President, Duke University Union Campus Council general body

16 | TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2011 the chronicle

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