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, APRIL 13, 2011
ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTH YEAR, Issue 133
www.dukechronicle.com
Walsh named permanent finance VP by Matthew Chase THE CHRONICLE
Acclaimed author Salman Rushdie spoke about the power of literature to address human freedoms and conflict in the contemporary world, where public events increasingly impact private lives. Rushdie, author of 10 novels including “Midnight’s Children” and “The Satanic Verses,” spoke Tuesday before a sold-out audience in Page Auditorium about instances when literature helped to bring down brutal regimes. In situations where the truth is obscured, Rushdie feels novels can shed light on true stories outside government reports and prejudiced information. “Prose, the literary novel of the poet, has been historically and still is at the forefront of opposition of tyranny,” Rushdie said. “No one owns the novelist’s vision except for the novelist... he has the power to make and remake reality and explore it in a manner and on the terms he chooses that are not dictated to him by anyone else.” Rushdie’s speech, “Public Events, Private Lives: Literature and Politics in the Modern World,” marked the eighth annual John Hope Franklin Humanities Institute’s Distinguished Lecture. He was introduced by FHI Director Ian Baucom and Srinivas
After serving a nearly five-month term as interim vice president for finance, Tim Walsh will assume the position officially, effective immediately, the University announced Tuesday. Since his arrival at Duke in 2004, Walsh has served as assistant vice president and controller for finance and has overseen Duke’s largest division of central finance. As vice president for finance, Walsh will be responsible for financial components across the University and the Duke University Health System, including accounting, reporting and other finan- Tim Walsh cial functions. “The transition has been great,” Walsh said of his recent role as interim vice president. “I obviously had existing contacts from my work here over the past six years... and we have an outstanding team of professionals in finance on whom I was able to rely for support.” Walsh replaces former vice president for finance Hof Milam. Milam left the post in December to become senior vice president for finance and administration and chief financial officer at Wake Forest University. During the search for a replacement, the University hired a consultant to conduct a three-month national search, Executive Vice President Tallman Trask said. The University considered approximately 100 people—all of whom, except for Walsh, were external candidates, Trask noted. “In the end, it seemed clear to me that [Walsh] was the best choice given what Duke needs right now,” he said, adding that administrators desired a candidate who “understands how Duke works under a period of some stress.” Throughout the past seven years, Walsh has overseen projects such as the Duke Administrative Reform Team, which found ways to save the University more than $60 million annually in recent years. He has also worked on financing the University’s international activities and increasing transparency through a monthly reporting process of the University’s financial performance. Walsh has also recently served as chair of the Research Administration Continuous Improvement initiative, which supervises the University’s $800 million research enterprise component.
See rushdie on page 7
See walsh on page 7
Chase Olivieri/The Chronicle
Strong winds caused a large tree on the lawn of the financial aid office to fall onto Campus Drive, around 3 p.m., hitting a moving vehicle and injuring one person.
Fallen tree causes detours, damage by Lauren Carroll THE CHRONICLE
One person was injured when a tree fell on a moving vehicle on Campus Drive in front of the financial aid office Tuesday afternoon. The injured passenger was taken to the hospital, but their condition was unknown Tuesday night, said Chief John Dailey of the Duke University Police Department. Traffic was blocked on Campus Drive between the West Campus traffic circle and Anderson Street for more than two hours after the incident, with vehicles were redirected to Duke University Road. In order to access buildings along the blocked-off area, people had to walk around the scene. Police opened one lane at approximately 4:30 p.m. and allowed vehicles to proceed eastbound along the route.
The accident occurred around 3 p.m. when Amy Cleckler, coordinator for the Women’s Center’s gender violence prevention program, and a campus visitor were traveling toward East Campus. A tree on the lawn of the financial aid office fell onto the hood of their silver Honda Fit. Joe Jackson, director of grounds, sanitation and recycling, said older trees of this size—around 36 inches in diameter—tend to fall when there is a lot of wind and the soil is damp. Although the smaller branches and debris in the street were cleared yesterday evening, the trunk, which remains in the financial aid office’s lawn due to its weight, will be removed within the next one to two days, Jackson said. “In my 16 years [at Duke], never have I experienced this kind of situation,” Jackson said, adding that he has seen trees fall before, but never on a car.
Rushdie speaks on role of the novelist by Joanna Lichter THE CHRONICLE
Special to the Chronicle
Author Salman Rushdie, pictured speaking to students, discussed the notion of viewing novelists as news gatherers bringing national issues to public attention.
NC Division of Alcohol Law Enforcement may be cut, Page 3
ONTHERECORD
“Ken... had a huge impact on building our school both physically and intellectually.”
—Nich School Dean Bill Chameides on Dr. Kenneth Knoerr. See story page 3
Golfers benefit from equipment loans, Page 9