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, FEBRUARY 17, 2011
ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTH YEAR, Issue 99
www.dukechronicle.com
Calif. students apply in record numbers Patton to tal applications increased by 45 percent. As more Californians apply to Duke, more are matriculating as well. In 2001, 74 students enrolled at Duke—last year 149 did. This increase could be a result of a number of factors, including efforts by Duke recruiters and the California public education system’s budget crisis that has limited the financial and educational resources available to students.
by Amanda Young THE CHRONICLE
An increasing number of students are trading the Golden Coast for Bull City. Out of the 29,550 students who applied to Duke this year, 3,416 are from California, the highest number of any state by a large margin, according to Duke admissions data. The number of applications from California to Duke increased by 93 percent between 2008 and 2011. In comparison, the number of to-
See Admissions on page 8
take reins of Trinity New dean first female in position since 1985 by Joanna Lichter THE CHRONICLE
The University does not expect scandal—whether a PowerPoint or Tailgate-gate—to affect its overall Duke brand. Michael Schoenfeld, vice president for public affairs and government relations, addressed Duke Student Government about the Duke brand at the group’s meeting Wednesday night. Schoenfeld acknowledged the impact of recent incidents on the University’s image, but noted that Duke simply must redirect its focus to maintain its reputation of excellence. “What I can say with some reasonable certainty is student conduct will always have some impact on reputation,” Schoenfeld
Laurie Patton, a professor at Emory University, will join Duke July 1 as the new dean of the faculty of Arts and Sciences, President Richard Brodhead and Provost Peter Lange announced Wednesday. Patton, Charles Howard Candler professor of religions at Emory University and director of Emory’s Center for Faculty Development and Excellence, is the first Laurie Patton woman to serve in the position since 1985, when Ernestine Friedl stepped down from the position, said University Archivist Timothy Pyatt. The dean oversees 34 academic departments and more than 600 professors within Arts and Sciences. She will be the primary authority on Trinity’s budget and responsible for ensuring financial stability and developing profitable programs. Patton will lead Trinity College with new initiatives and strategic planning regarding educational programming and faculty decisions. “I am tremendously excited about coming to Duke. From the minute I met the search committee, and then later other faculty, students and administrators, I sensed a likeness of mind and spirit about the next step that a great university might take in twenty-first century education,” Patton wrote in an e-mail Wednesday. “I think Duke has a record of both rigor and creativity that makes it more nimble in responding to crucial educational challenges.” Patton was recommended by the Arts and Sciences search committee composed of 15 administrators, faculty members and students. The pool was narrowed to three finalists in the last two weeks. “I am enormously pleased that Laurie Patton has agreed to become the next dean of Arts and Sciences,” Lange said in a Duke news release. “She is a most gifted scholar and teacher whose career has demonstrated a commitment to research and teaching and to how the two can most productively be combined. She has a breadth of vision about how Arts and Sciences can continue
See DSG on page 6
See patton on page 7
Chronicle graphic by hon lung chu and courtney douglas
56 DUKE UVA 41 Admin confident Duke Student Government
in resilience of the Duke brand by Anna Koelsch THE CHRONICLE
melissa yeo/The Chronicle
Despite scoring a season-low 56 points, the Blue Devils came out on top in Charlottesville, Va. last night. Nolan Smith led all scorers with 22 points.
ONTHERECORD
“You don’t spend your time reprimanding the little jerkoffs, you positively reinforce the little darlings...”
—Junior David Rothschild in “All the cool kids are doing it.” See column page 14
Gov. Perdue’s career plagued with scandals, Page 3
Ronald McDonald House to increase capacity, Page 3