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The independent news organization at Duke University

MEET THE 2023-24 CHRON15

The past year at Duke was one of controversy. The University unveiled a number of policy changes, found itself involved in multiple legal scandals and hosted student demonstrations on issues ranging from institutional divestment from fossil fuels to calls for a cease-fire overseas. However, it was also a year of great connection, with record-breaking athletic achievements and a resurgence in campus activism that brought students, faculty and alumni alike together in a testament to the power of the Blue Devil identity.

Whether it’s from our office at 301 Flowers or on the sidelines of Cameron Indoor Stadium, The Chronicle covers the stories that are central to the Duke community. While part of our responsibility is to shed light on the more serious happenings at Duke, we also aspire to uplift the voices of students and faculty members who work tirelessly every day to promote integrity, innovation and joy on campus.

At the end of each academic year, the Chronicle’s list of icons, leaders and pioneers seeks to highlight the contributions of these members of the Duke community who make us all proud to call ourselves Blue Devils.

Nominated by readers of The Chronicle and chosen by a special committee of staff,

ICONS

Perhaps nobody at Duke was more iconic this past year than Jared McCain.

The freshman basketball star represented the Blue Devils in a great way on and off the court. From his messages of positivity to his TikTok dances with teammates, McCain lives to bring joy to others and was a constant bright light on campus.

On the floor, he was the lone freshman consistently in the starting rotation, playing all 36 games. With his smooth jump shot and relentless effort on the glass, McCain impacted the team’s success in many different ways. He scored 30 points twice in the NCAA

the members of this year’s Chron15 list are individuals and organizations that have committed countless hours to improve our academic programs, take our sports teams to victory and create spaces for all students to feel represented. They are people who exhibit artistic excellence, who foster meaningful community engagement and who dedicate each day to shaping Duke’s future for the better.

The members of this year’s Chron15 embody all that make Duke, Duke. But more importantly, they are the people who host your quad parties, run your student organizations or make your coffee every morning. They are Blue Devils just like you and me and serve as a reminder of the capacity for good stored in each member of our community.

As you read the profiles of these 15 remarkable people and organizations, I hope you will take the time to reflect on their contributions but also those of the many people and groups that did not make the list. The Chronicle can only name 15 winners, but our readers can thank countless more community members for all they do to make our Durham campus a home.

Zoe Kolenovsky chaired the 2023-24 Chron15 committee. She is a Trinity junior and the Vol. 120 news editor.

tournament, including a single-game record eight 3-pointers against James Madison in the Round of 32.

McCain has a rigorous mental and physical discipline, which includes meditating every day without fail. Head coach Jon Scheyer calls him “unapologetically himself” and has consistently praised the Sacramento, Calif., native’s worth ethic and leadership.

“Jared is an absolute warrior,” Scheyer said. “McCain competes every single play … It’s just about his competitive nature. It’s about how he’s always talking. He’s always upbeat and trying to make plays.”

McCain declared for the 2024 NBA Draft in April and is widely expected to be a first round pick. While his tenure at Duke was short, the positive impact he had on the Blue Devil community will not soon be forgotten.

Ranjan Jindal, Vol. 120 sports editor

Wade Wackos

While the Cameron Crazies have long been the face of Duke’s fan culture, this year, some of Duke fans’ most iconic moments happened just across Tribull Plaza.

In Wallace Wade Stadium, Duke fans showed up for football in unprecedented ways. The Wade Wackos, as they proudly identify, were the heartbeat of these moments, transforming regular games into unforgettable experiences.

Chu

The Wade Wackos prepare to storm the field after Duke football’s September victory over Clemson.

As Duke football opened its historic 2023 season with an upset against then-No. 9 Clemson Tigers, the Wade Wackos starred in Duke’s most iconic athletic moment of the year when they stormed the field to celebrate the team’s fantastic achievement. The moment captured national attention, and soon Duke hosted its first-ever College GameDay before facing Notre Dame.

That day, Wallace Wade Stadium — including the student section — was sold out for the first time since 2018. At that moment, Duke was a “football school,” and the Wackos were up to the task, bringing loudness and excitement to every game.

This year, the iconic Wade Wackos embodied Duke’s spirit, unity and pride. Their passion and wackiness supported the football team through their incredible run and brought the Duke community together, creating memories that will last generations.

Gabriel Reis, Trinity ‘26

Rob Clay

College students need a daily caffeine kick, yes, but they also all need a daily dose of kindness. At Bella Union, you can get these two things together without fail.

Rob Clay owns Bella Union with his former bandmate Sam Clowney. Clay is North Carolina born and bred, though his years as a bassist in various bands — “Evan and Jaron” and “Cravin’ Melon”, for two — took him all over the American South. Thus, his friendly demeanor and energetic conversation are accented strongly with the hoppy drawl of a Triangle native.

Clay and his coworker Elliott Baker, Trinity ‘19 and a full-timer at Bella, are

never thrown off their rhythm by morning unpleasantness from any number of demanding college students. They make lattes, chai teas, thai teas, smoothies, caramel frappes — all sorts of complicated orders that are in high demand from their hip Blue Devil customers. They know every regular’s “usual” and sometimes already have students’ signature drink prepared when they walk through the door.

Clay remembers everything his customers share with him, even if it’s only mumbled while he fills eight mobile order tickets at the same time. He asks students about their weekends and about their mothers and is often found making people laugh before 8 a.m. — an impressive feat in itself.

At Bella Union, icons make the coffee.

Sophie Levenson, Vol. 120 sports managing editor

Rabbi Nossen Fellig

Rabbi Nossen Fellig arrived in Durham just over eight years ago, leaving behind much of his family and friends in Crown Heights, N.Y. From an apartment in 300 Swift, Fellig and his wife Chaya Fellig built a new undergraduate Jewish community from the ground up, inviting thousands of students into their home for meals and Jewish study in the years since.

To read more about Duke’s icons, See ICONS on Page 3

Jared McCain

Sydney Lester

Morgan

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ICONS

FROM PAGE 1

The community has since grown to over 150 undergraduates joining together each week at Fleischman House for the Shabbat meal, with more than 350 students present for major holidays. No matter how many people show up at the Fleischman House, the Felligs make room at the table.

The rabbi’s goal is simple: to “turn the Cameron Crazies into Chabad Crazies” as he welcomes any Jewish student — no matter their background, beliefs, spirituality or connection to Judaism — to the Fleischman House to find community and deepen their Jewish identity.

Week in and week out, Fellig leads students in countless lunch-and-learns, charity bake sales, concerts, Yalla Food Truck lunches and one-on-one spiritual counseling sessions. His tradition of generosity and community outreach was commended this year through his recognition as an ordained minister under the Duke Chapel.

Fellig embodies Duke’s core values: charity, knowledge for society, leadership and kindness. The students whose lives he’s touched are grateful to him today and every day for being their “Why Duke,” as the community he has built is unlike any other.

Jonah Scherl, Trinity ‘24

Marketplace Staff

The men and women who put bread on the table. The first person each first-year says “hello” to every day. The great icons of East Campus: the Marketplace staff.

Often, when you walk up the storied steps of the East Campus Union — now the George and George-Frank Wall Center for Student Life — you can find Mr. Charles Gooch sitting on the bench by the door. He’s an important union representative and has been an employee of the University for over 40 years. Despite his notable status on campus, he never shies away from offering a smile and a kind word.

Then there’s Miss Sharon, who will swipe you into the dining hall with a friendly “There you go,” kindly welcoming her diners while keeping the line moving at the brisk pace required of a queue filled with hungry first-years. Miss Sharon also happens to be a competitive bowler in a league that bowls every Tuesday, and she’ll give her familiar greeting to students when she runs into them at Bowlero.

Yuxiang He

Making omelets and breakfast sandwiches to order for everyone who piles into the dining hall between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m. might just be the hardest job on campus, but the Marketplace staff does it every morning and does it well. It’s easy to be homesick as a first-year in college, but it’s much harder when a kindly someone is taking the time to make a nervous student a hot, homemade breakfast.

Preparing dinner and serving it expediently is even harder than making breakfast for over 1,700 people. Yet this daunting task deters none of the white-coat-clad icons of Marketplace, who take on the challenge by offering an endless variety of choices that range in cuisine from homely Southern soul food to build-yourown Tex-Mex. And they never run out.

The best desserts on Duke’s campus seem almost excessive. How can one be hungry after a plate of steak fries and shrimp and grits and broccolini? But if you’ve had one of John Mejia’s cookies (or brownies or cakes or pies — you name it), you’ll understand why so many first-years go back for seconds. John Mejia is a shining icon amongst a tribe of them.

Thanks for feeding us, Marketplace.

Sophie Levenson, Vol. 120 sports managing editor

LEADERS

Abdullah Antepli

Abdullah Antepli teaches at both the Sanford School of Public Policy and the Divinity School, serving as associate professor of the practice and associate professor of the practice of interfaith relations, respectively. He recently taught Public Policy 302: Policy Choice as Value Conflict and co-lectured Public Policy 229: The Good Life: Religion, Philosophy and Life’s Ultimate Concerns.

The imam became Duke’s first Muslim chaplain in 2008 and also held positions as director of the Center for Muslim Life from 2008 to 2014 and as Duke’s chief representative for Muslim affairs from 2014 to 2019. He currently serves as the associate vice president and associate vice provost for communityengaged research and teaching. Starting in the fall, he will succeed Deondra Rose, Kevin D. Gorter associate professor of public policy, to lead Polis: The Center for Politics at Duke.

Courtesy of Abdullah Antepli

“It has been a pleasure to work with Polis and see the center blossom under the leadership of my colleague Deondra Rose,” Antepli said. “I am looking forward to continuing the great work of the center through one of the most critical times of history as we seek to find ways of civil discourse through continued challenges in our society.”

In November, he was one of the moderators for the Polis Combating Hate and Bias Conference, where he interviewed AntiDefamation League President Jonathan Greenblatt. The conference addressed hate in many forms in the North Carolina community and across the world, a subject Antepli has consistently engaged with on campus by participating in many seminars on the issue and acting as a prominent voice for positive cross-cultural discourse and empathy.

“Dr. Antepli is a professor capable of fostering an incredible community of tolerance and love despite our differences. No matter how strained the world becomes, he finds a way to unite those around him through his kindness and authenticity,” said junior Jackson Streit, who took two of Antepli’s classes this year.

Antepli has been the recipient of numerous accolades for his work fostering cross-cultural dialogue, including the Anti-Defamation League’s 2022 Daniel Pearl Award and the NonProfit Times’ Power & Influence Top 50 in 2019.

Antepli consistently strives to help students be the best they can and think critically about pressing moral and ethical issues.

His leadership has been instrumental to promoting civil discourse on campus, and he consistently acts as a voice of reason for the Duke community.

Ranjan Jindal, Vol. 120 sports editor

Maestro Harry Davidson

Harry Davidson has made significant contributions to the academic and extracurricular music environment at Duke, serving as professor of the practice of music and the music director and conductor of the Duke Symphony Orchestra.

Davidson came to Duke in 2002 after holding positions in the music programs of the University of Akron and Wichita State University. Throughout his academic career, the maestro has worked to provide students with in-class musical education and practical performance experience.

In addition to his roles at Duke, he also serves as music director and conductor of opera at the Cleveland Institute of Music — a role he’s held since 2007 — where he conducts one opera production per semester. Davidson has also worked outside of academia in the field of professional music, having previously served as associate conductor of the Wichita Symphony Orchestra and conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra.

These larger roles have been accompanied by guest conducting appearances around the world, with stints in Austria and Finland as well as multiple cities in the United States. Notably, he has led the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. and the Symphony Orchestra and Choral Union at the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music.

Davidson was a finalist in both the Antal Dorati Conducting Competition with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and the Hans Swarowsky Conducting Competition in Vienna, Austria. But despite his extensive professional accomplishments, the impact he’s made on the music program at Duke and the lives of his students stands out as a crowning achievement. He is described as “beloved by his students and orchestra members” and credited with “[keeping] the orchestra together during the [COVID-19] pandemic.”

Currently in his 25th year conducting the DSO, Davidson has consistently paired a talent for conducting and musical performance with education and other activities that help prepare the next generation of musical talent around the country. As he prepares to take the orchestra into its 100th year in 2026, the Duke community thanks Davidson for sharing his gifts.

Zev van Zanten, Vol. 120 recess editor

Chase Barclay

In his time at Duke, Chase Barclay became one of the most recognizable people on campus. While his 6-foot-5 stature and bright ginger hair may have contributed in small

part to his prominence, it was truly his selfless commitment to bettering student life and communities on campus that made him one of the most impactful leaders at Duke.

From the day Barclay stepped foot on campus during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, he was driven to help leave Duke a better place than he found it. Whether it was during his four-year tenure at Duke Student Government — most recently as chief of staff — or serving as president of Scale and Coin Business Society, Barclay utilized his platforms to bring together the University’s diverse communities.

Barclay created numerous initiatives to unify the student body around shared values of collaboration, innovation and inclusivity. But despite taking on an impressive array of leadership roles on campus, he was never too busy to mentor underclassmen, generously sharing his extensive knowledge and insights to smooth the way for their experience on campus and beyond.

While his executive skills are undoubtedly impressive, the most astounding thing about Barclay is his ability to form meaningful bonds with every community he touches. He cares so deeply for Duke and all of its students, and although he is leaving the campus behind after graduating earlier this month, his legacy of community building, empathy and enthusiasm for service to others will impact Blue Devils for years to come.

Sara Azimi, Trinity ‘24

In 2015, when a brand new Duke softball program needed its inaugural head coach, the team looked to former Big Ten Player of the Year Marissa Young. Since breaking ground at the Duke Softball Stadium and coaching the program’s first-ever game, Young has been at the helm of a seven-year progression that brought the program from a blank canvas to its first No. 1 national ranking and multiple ACC tournament titles.

Jon

To read more about Duke’s leaders, See LEADERS on Page

Courtesy of Scholars@Duke

Courtesy of Chase Barclay

Marissa Young

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LEADERS

FROM PAGE 3

While Duke softball has boasted a dominant few years — with five top-three conference finishes and four regional tournament wins — the program rose to a new height in the 2024 season, winning 50 games for the first time in program history and advancing to their third Super Regional bid in a row for a chance at the Women’s College World Series.

To Young’s players, 11 of whom have earned All-Tournament team placements during her tenure, Young’s style of leadership is about collaboration, trust and keeping standards high. When she first began coaching, Young created a handbook for her players which set expectations for them to arrive early to meetings and “sit up front in class.” While the program’s culture of excellence has persisted, it has grown under Young’s leadership into a community where players thrive and compete for something bigger than themselves.

Duke softball has maintained a dominant postseason performance amidst sellout crowds and growing enthusiasm on campus. The 2024 ACC Coach of the Year now leads a team with not just potential, but a resume which situates them among the best programs in the country.

Michael Austin, Vol. 120 managing editor

Christoph Guttentag

Dean of Undergraduate Admissions Christoph Guttentag has held his role longer than most of the country’s undergraduate students have been alive. Leading Duke’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions since 1992, Guttentag was appointed last June to another term as dean.

But out of the over 30 admissions cycles Guttentag has overseen, this year’s was one of the most challenging. Coming off the heels of a June Supreme Court decision that overturned race-based affirmative action, Guttentag also had to contend with the rise of generative artificial intelligence and a national admissions landscape that is deciding how to transition from the COVID-19 era testoptional policies. Not to mention that this year saw a record-setting number of applicants — 54,191 — a number that has continued to climb over the years.

Guttentag had to make some tough decisions to address these challenges, including to no longer give numerical ratings to standardized testing scores and essays and to continue Duke’s test-optional policy despite some other universities having abandoned it. The Supreme Court decision also means Guttentag had to figure out — and will continue

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having to figure out — how to maintain a diverse student body, something President Vincent Price has described as “absolutely vital to our educational mission.”

Beyond tackling the already “incredibly difficult job” of managing Duke’s admissions office through an unprecedented year, Guttentag is also known for his iconic “clock collection” and “style.” Duke is fortunate to have had such an experienced and unparalleled leader at the helm when it mattered most.

Jazper Lu, Vol. 120 centennial and elections editor

PIONEERS

Scott Huettel

In 2024, Duke faculty approved a new curriculum for all undergraduate students in the Trinity College of Arts & Sciences — the college’s first new curriculum since 2000. Scott Huettel, professor of psychology and

neuroscience, was the driving force behind the new curriculum’s development.

Described as an “amazing leader with vision, rigor and love for Duke,” Huettel served as the chair of the Trinity Curriculum Development Committee, a group of 23 Duke faculty members that worked for over two years to “think big” and modernize the Trinity curriculum to better serve students in the coming decades. This appointment is the most recent way that Huettel has dedicated himself to serving Duke in his almost 30year career at the University.

In his role as chair of the committee, Huettel has aimed to create a curriculum that “when implemented, will act to create positive feedback loops” and “over time, incentivize students to do good things.”

The new Trinity curriculum reflects these goals through a simplified six-category requirement structure that aims to prevent gamification and detangle graduation requirements for students. It also introduces “Constellations” — sets of three interconnected courses that aim to build curiosity and community among first-year students — and provides an increased focus on the humanities that, according to Dean of Trinity College Gary Bennett, is “the balm [Duke] students need right now.”

From proposing completely new ideas for the curriculum, to gathering feedback from students and faculty members and finally revising and finalizing the new curriculum, Huettel led its development at every step along the way. The result of his hard work and dedication is a reimagined way of providing a liberal arts education and creating curious

To read more about Duke’s pioneers, See PIONEERS on Page 6

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Courtesy of Duke Today

Courtesy of Scott Huettel

FROM PAGE 5

and impactful leaders that will shape the experiences of Duke undergraduates for decades to come.

Holly Keegan,

Vol. 120 senior editor

Sara Campbell

Following an overdose incident in March 2023, Duke brought on Associate Director for DuWell Sara Campbell to make an impact. She has far exceeded the expectations of her role, adapting to several crises and making significant strides in improving student health at Duke.

In addition to being the friendly, counseling face that students see when they struggle with substances, Campbell revolutionized alcohol awareness and training programs at Duke. Notably, she pioneered the first program at Duke tailored to combat overdoses, addressing a critical need in the face of today’s opioid crisis. She enlisted several students to help create and deliver overdose education and prevention trainings, and she directed the effort to place ONEboxes containing Narcan, an over-the-counter overdose reversal drug, in student dorms.

Campbell is a dedicated advocate for students, constantly collaborating with them to ensure their safety and enhance their quality of life. She is the adviser to the Duke Overdose Prevention Efforts, or DOPE, a student group working to create a safer environment for Duke students on and off campus. Campbell leads DOPE trainings on the dangers of fentanyl poisoning and how to use Narcan. She

also teaches DOPE members how to lead their own Narcan training sessions, encouraging rapid and widespread dissemination of lifesaving knowledge.

Always proactive, Campbell is continually creating new initiatives. A recent example is the launch of a program last month that allows students to check out a Narcan emergency travel kit from DuWell for use at off-campus events.

Campbell’s work has directly impacted the lives of Duke undergraduates. Above all, she actively engages with students, supporting them through substance-related challenges and showcasing exemplary leadership, teaching and role-modeling qualities.

Eddie Scott, Pratt ‘25, and Pranav Mukund, Pratt ‘26

Keohane Quad Council

Keohane Quad Council has been revolutionary in the success of student belonging for students, particularly in Keohane Quad.

The members of this council work tirelessly to plan and execute large-scale events for the students. They do this with great flair, and the students love it. Managing their school, parttime jobs and research opportunities with Keohane Quad Council looks like a breeze for these students who continually go above and beyond expectations and set the standard for other HRL House and Quad Councils.

One of the council’s many accomplishments was partnering with Sustainable Duke to create a thrifting brunch event within the Keohane and Wannamaker communities. One of their most recent memorable events was curating an immersive experience for not only Keohane residents, but their future residents in sister dorms Blackwell and Randolph: “Keochella.” This was a week-long event with a different theme everyday designed to get folks excited for the culmination of their quad party at Bricks to Stone.

As recognition for their hard work and dedication to enhancing a sense of community and student belonging at Duke this year, Keohane Quad Council was named the winner

of the inaugural Quad Cup in April. Their residents were treated to an LDOC party courtesy of Duke Housing and Residence Life in celebration of the accolade, where the Quad Cup Trophy was on full display.

Keohane Quad Council embodies the spirit of creativity and student belonging in everything that they do. They continue to promote student buy-in, getting folks involved in their community and just having fun.

Keohane Quad Council is QuadEx.

Anaija Lapaix, residence coordinator

Paul Jones

Courtesy of Duke Today

Paul Jones has served Duke University with distinction for the past 40 years, taking a 20-acre woodland around a newly formed retention pond on his arrival in 1984 and developing it into what we now know and enjoy as the William Louis Culberson Asiatic Arboretum in Sarah P. Duke Gardens.

His work is a large part of the development of Duke Gardens over the years from a small university garden into one of the most visited public gardens in the Southeast and one of the best university gardens in America.

Paul’s accomplishments encompass a combination of botany, horticulture, conservation, research and education. He has To read more about Duke’s pioneers, See PIONEERS on Page 9

Courtesy of Sara Campbell

Courtesy of Austin Brown

There’s no need to officially become a Duke alum to enjoy the many advantages available from Duke’s Alumni Engagement and Development office. Any currently enrolled Duke student has access to valuable programs and resources—from career advice to alumni networking events throughout the Duke world. Start your journey at alumni.duke.edu today.

PIONEERS

FROM PAGE 6

traveled to China on 10 occasions over the years, introducing dozens of wild collected species into the arboretum’s collections. Paul is known among his peers around the world as an accomplished botanist and collector, and his eye for design has resulted in the arboretum becoming one the most beautiful garden spaces anywhere.

Of particular note is his development, since 2007, of the Durham-Toyama Sister Cities Tea Pavilion and the surrounding Ruth Mary Meyer Japanese Garden. In recent years, in collaboration with Sadafumi Uchiyama of the Portland Japanese Garden, he expanded the Japanese Garden with the addition of Pine Clouds Mountain Stream, placing the Japanese Garden at Duke University among the most authentic and outstanding Japanese Gardens in America.

Paul’s dedication to the Duke Gardens reflects his lifelong appreciation for learning and educating others, something he emulates daily in his work at the arboretum.

Bill LeFevre, executive director of Sarah P. Duke Gardens

John Board

John Board, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, is a Duke lifer. From his time as a student in the 1970s and ‘80s to his return as a professor after earning his doctorate at Oxford, Board has pioneered advances in computing technology and education that have set Duke apart from its peer institutions.

Board’s contributions to computing at Duke began when he operated Duke’s first large-

scale computer as an electrical engineering graduate student in the 1980s.

In addition to being the owner of Duke’s oldest email address, Board has also heavily influenced the University’s core computer engineering curriculum at a high level. He is responsible for the original versions of the current ECE250: Computer Architecture and ECE350: Digital Systems classes and has taught eight other courses across departments over the years.

In 2018, Board created the Shared Threat Intelligent for Network Gatekeeping and Automated Response (STINGAR) alongside Tracy Futhey, vice president for information technology and chief information officer.

STINGAR aims to prevent cyberintrusions by establishing a threat detection system for universities, allowing them to share intelligence safely.

Throughout his lengthy career, Board has inspired students in the classroom through his passion for the subject matter and overseen innovation in the University technology space. In 2008, he was awarded the title of Distinguished Young Alumnus from the University in addition to the Distinguished Teaching Award from the Pratt School of Engineering.

Ava Littman, Vol. 120 associate news editor

A look at Duke’s newest restaurant: Gothic Grill

By ALEXIS ASHLEY

September 27, 2023

Just months after The Loop closed the doors to its on-campus venue, students are already enjoying its replacement.

Gothic Grill, located at The Loop’s former venue on the second floor of the Bryan Center, opened at the start of fall 2023 and celebrated its grand opening Wednesday. True to its name, the restaurant’s distinctive decor is based on Gothic architecture, with a gargoyle statue greeting patrons entering the restaurant.

Sophomore Austin Brown appreciates that the theme of the Gothic Grill is “a lot more intentional” than The Loop.

“I also just love how they decorated it, especially in the evenings with the fun lighting,” junior Emily McReynolds said. “Having the barstools but also the normal low-top tables is great because once I’m there … I feel like I’m in a real restaurant. I don’t feel like I’m still on campus.”

According to Eric Burchfield, managing partner of Thrive Kitchen and Catering, the restaurant’s decor was an intentional choice made to differentiate the grill from The Devil’s Krafthouse, which is also run by Thrive.

Duke Dining wrote in a May release that as The Loop’s former location transitions to Thrive Kitchen and Catering, the venue will be renovated to “expand the space’s capabilities for special events hosted by student groups.”

Burchfield emphasized that students who miss certain menu items from The Loop should not worry.

“I think one of the ways we’ve been able to be successful on campus is we do listen to what student feedback is,” he said. “We had a lot of people telling us the Caesar chicken wrap was a big hit at The Loop … we’re adding back the Caesar chicken wrap.”

Some popular menu items include the Gothic SmashBurger with its signature aioli, Gothic Grill’s distinctive crispy fries and the locally sourced Maple View ice cream.

McReynolds likes the restaurant’s approach to French fries because of its difference from those offered by other campus vendors.

“They’re a little bit flatter, and have more black pepper,” she said. “It’s not like your typical fast food.”

Burchfield also added that the managing team is working on getting the restaurant’s menu added to the Mobile Order App.

The Loop had been a staple at Duke since 2000, and many students were sad to see it

See GOTHIC on Page 19

Courtesy of Duke Today

Karen Xu

Baldwin Scholars program receives Title IX complaint for ‘reverse discrimination’

By AUDREY WANG

September 18, 2023

A prominent “reverse discrimination” activist filed a federal complaint Wednesday evening against Duke’s Alice M. Baldwin Scholars program, alleging that the program for femaleidentifying students violates Title IX provisions.

Mark Perry, an emeritus professor of economics and finance in the School of Management at the University of Michigan–Flint, has been filing federal civil rights complaints against U.S. colleges and universities alleging “reverse discrimination” under Title IX and Title VI for seven years.

The Baldwin Scholars program aims to inspire and support “female-identified undergraduate students to become engaged, confident and connected leaders in the Duke community and beyond” through first-year and senior seminars, networking, preprofessional opportunities and a stipend for living expenses for a summer internship experience.

In his complaint filed with the U.S. Office for Civil Rights, Perry says that the program violates federal laws by excluding non-female students based on sex and gender identity, which are protected under Title IX.

Once filed, OCR complaints are evaluated to determine if the complaint requires further processing, and then if OCR can investigate the complaint. If the OCR decides to investigate a complaint, it will act as a “neutral fact-finder” and conclude if the recipient failed to comply with the law based on its findings.

Perry wrote in an email sent to the University’s general counsel and obtained by The Chronicle, that he has filed over 864 federal complaints against U.S. colleges and universities alleging over 2,000 Title VI and Title IX violations. As of July, the OCR has opened over 375 investigations into his complaints and resolved 345 of these investigations, “mostly to his satisfaction.”

The complaint

Perry’s complaint highlighted several descriptions of the Baldwin Scholars program from its website, such as how it hopes to “positively influence the culture for

undergraduate women at Duke” and how the program “inspires and supports femaleidentified undergraduate students.”

In operating “exclusively for female students,” Perry’s argues that the Baldwin Scholars Program “illegally excludes and discriminates against non-female students based on their sex and gender identity.”

In a separate email obtained by The Chronicle, Perry wrote to Pamela Bernard, Duke’s vice president and general counsel, that the Baldwin Scholars program also violates the University’s discrimination policy by discriminating against students’ gender, gender expression, gender identity and sex.

Aaron Zhou

“Sex-based discrimination is still unlawful even if it advantages the ‘right’ sex for the ‘right’ reason,” Perry wrote in his email to Bernard. “It is a clear violation of Title IX that Duke University, a recipient of federal funds, is illegally excluding certain students from the Alice M. Baldwin Scholars Program and discriminating against them based on their sex, gender and gender identity.”

Frank Tramble, vice president of communication, marketing and public affairs wrote that Duke cannot comment directly on active legal complaints.

“More broadly, we support all women in their efforts to be engaged, confident, and connected student leaders in the Duke community and beyond, and we will continue to do so in compliance with the law,” he added.

Student reactions

For Ruthie Kesri, a senior and a Baldwin Scholar, the news of the complaint came as a “complete shock,” when Colleen Scott, director of the Baldwin Scholars program, sent an email to Baldwin Scholars informing them about the complaint Thursday morning.

“I just found out about [the complaint] today and have ZERO idea what this will mean or how it will play out,” Scott wrote in the email obtained by The Chronicle. Scott declined to comment further on the complaint.

Senior Laura Boyle, also a Baldwin Scholar, noted that the complaint has been “on all of our minds,” from conversations in group chats to discussions in the Baldwin Scholars’ senior seminar.

DUKE STUDENT EMPLOYMENT

Boyle noted that the Baldwin Scholars program has provided her with resources that have helped her navigate male-dominated fields with more confidence and self-awareness.

“It is so frightening to think that people are trying to take that away from us.”

“I think that’s important, that [a campus] not only becomes more diverse, but also becomes more supportive of their diverse community that they bring here. And so it’s programs like Baldwin that really do that,” Boyle said. “Having a place like Baldwin, where I can talk openly and vulnerably, about the issues that I’ve faced, or the things that I’m afraid of, or the things that I’m excited for … It’s Baldwin that provides me with the space and the community to do so. And it is so frightening to think that people are trying to take that away from us.”

The Baldwin Scholars program was founded in response to results from the Women’s Initiative, a 2003 study that found that Duke undergraduate women felt a pressure to be “effortlessly perfect” and that younger graduates lost confidence while they were at Duke.

Hana Hendi, Trinity ‘23 and a Baldwin Scholar while she was an undergraduate, said that she would have been in that percentage of female-identifying students who

lost confidence while at Duke, if not for the Baldwin Scholars program.

“These [programs for women] are necessary for us to be empowered to be at the same level as men in the workplace, and only then can you really see true equality,” she said. “It’s quite tiring to feel like we can’t even have a space that we can call home, that we can empower each other, that we can help each other be working and thriving professionals like in the future.”

Previous complaints against Duke

This isn’t the first time Perry has filed complaints with the University. Perry is also a member of Do No Harm, a nonprofit group dedicated to opposing diversity initiatives in medicine.

Perry filed Title IX complaints against Duke for participating in the Perry Initiative’s Medical Student Outreach Program, which offers “a hands-on introduction to the field of orthopedic surgery for women in medical school.”

During the OCR’s investigation, the University changed its initial advertising encouraging women or nonbinary students to participate to include students “of any

“These programs are necessary ... It’s quite tiring to feel like we can’t even have a space that we can call home.”

Everyone at the Academic Advising Center, and all the members of your advising network welcome you to Duke. We’re here to answer questions about advising and more. Stop by for drop-in advising throughout the year, or schedule an appointment with us any time.

The

Israel-Hamas war has spurred protests on college campuses around the country. What has happened at Duke?

BY MICHAEL AUSTIN

| 04/26/2024

Student groups have organized several protests throughout the year calling for administration to address the ongoing war.

‘Don’t lose your humor’: Actor, comedian Jerry Seinfeld advocates for loving work, life in 2024 Commencement address

BY ZOE KOLENOVSKY |

05/12/2024

Duke faced criticism around the decision to host Seinfeld in light of his public support for Israel amidst the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

gender” and encouraged all “current medical students” in the area to attend. Duke also indicated that the outreach event “was open to all students regardless of sex and that both male and female participants attended.”

“The April MSOP workshop event at Duke was the first of 450 outreach Perry Initiative events in more than a decade that was open to students of all gender identities and not restricted to only female medical or high school students,” according to Do No Harm’s website.

Perry also filed a separate Title IX complaint with the OCR against Duke’s Black Men in Medicine initiative, which aims to “aims to develop and support the needs of black male faculty, students, trainees and learners in the School of Medicine.” The OCR opened the complaint for investigation in May.

Kesri anticipates that the complaint will have “broader implications” not only for women’s programs and awards, but also for programs supporting LGBTQ+ students, given

that Title IX now bars discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

“If this [complaint is] successful, people might start targeting people of color, LGBT people, in a similar manner,” Boyle said. “If that becomes acceptable, I truly am scared for what that means for you know, women in college, gay people in college, all different people in college who have had to grapple with all these obstacles.”

Chronicle File Photo

Behind the scenes of the Duke Athletics Band

By AMY GUAN March 17, 2024

When Duke sports fans enter Wallace Wade and Cameron Indoor Stadium, they are greeted not only by the cheers of thousands of spectators, but also by the sound of “Fight, Fight,” played by students in blue and white uniforms.

One of Duke’s oldest student organizations, students in the Duke Athletics Band have performed music to charge up Duke fans since the early 1900s.

Today, the Duke Athletics Band is home to 93 student musicians. Members start the fall

Courtesy of Wen Chen

semester in Duke Marching Band, which plays at football games, and transition into Pep Band, which plays in the stands at basketball games.

The band has an extensive leadership team consisting of a band director, assistant band director, student leadership team and section leaders. Jeff Au, band director for Duke Athletics, works with Assistant Band Director Leigh-Ann Lethco to arrange music, organize logistics for football game days and manage the band’s budget and student recruitment efforts.

Senior Rachel Washart, a piccoloist and president of the band, describes it as a “studentforward” organization. While Duke Athletics provides the band with the resources and support they need, she notes that students can push for the direction they want to take the band in to create “the best band experience for themselves.”

Compared to other university bands, the Duke Athletics Band is significantly smaller and practices fewer times per week. Washart says that while most college marching bands practice two to three times a day, the band comes together about two to three times a week. However, this doesn’t stop the band from building a community around a shared love for music.

The start of the journey

Students who join the band have a wide range of experiences in marching, from being significantly involved in their high school marching band to having no prior experience. Some people may even decide to learn how to play a new instrument, said sophomore Noella Barron, an alto saxophonist.

Starting in the 202324 academic year, all prospective band members

are recommended to participate in Project Band, a new experiential orientation program that acts as a combination of a full orientation experience and a traditional band camp. The program provides incoming first-year students with marching band training and the opportunity to learn new music and drills, as well as community-building activities such as going to Falls Lake, seeing performances and participating in competitions between sections.

Before the establishment of Project Band, interested first-years participated in a separate band camp in addition to their orientation program, which Barron felt was more stressful than the current system.

New student recruitment is challenging due to the short window between students’ commitment to Duke and their selection of an experiential orientation program, Au says. The

Courtesy of Wen Chen

band’s recruitment process involves sending multiple emails to prospective students who participated in their high school bands, a strategy Au says helps convince those on the fence to join.

First-year sousaphonist Ricardo Urena, who joined the band with no prior marching band experience, described his experience in Project Band as consisting of hard yet rewarding work.

“When we played at the Clemson game … it was really incredible after having put in all the work [to see] the result,” Urena said. “… When you’re really happy with the product

you’ve given at the end of the performance, it’s one of the best feelings ever.”

Building community

Like many organizations at Duke, the band saw a decline in membership during the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly resulting in a decision to cancel the band, Au said. The band persisted through the pandemic by continuing to come together to learn and play music with bell covers, following social distancing policies while practicing for concerts.

“It was objectively a terrible band experience if you judge it by the actual things that we got done,” Au said. “But subjectively, it was really good. We played a couple of concerts on the main quad and played four or five songs.”

Despite the difficulties of adjusting to the pandemic, members were able to find their community in the band.

Washart, who joined the band as a firstyear in fall 2020, shared that she was worried about making friends when she first arrived at Duke, but the band provided her with a strong community from the start.

“I wasn’t really feeling comfortable hanging out in large group settings or going out into downtown Durham like some other people were,” she said. “So I was looking for an alternative way to stay safe, make some friends and at least get to meet a lot of people. Band just offered the perfect place for that.”

Shared traditions also help band members bond.

For the Pep Band, members wear a blueand-white striped rugby uniform. As a tradition for the annual Duke-University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill home game, band members paint the rugby design on their bodies. Junior Ben Platz, mellophone section leader, described meeting with other members hours before the game starts to partner up and paint the lines on each other.

Section wars are another one of the band’s main traditions, which fosters community through friendly competition between the different sections. Events include running the FitnessGram PACER test, playing in Mario Kart tournaments and holding lettuce eating competitions.

Beyond section wars, involvement in the band has provided a network of support and guidance for many members.

Junior Katherine McKenzie is one of the band’s two drum majors, responsible for leading and conducting the band as well as helping to set up and break down after shows.

She noted that surrounding herself with a diverse group of students from different backgrounds and majors has made both the band and her time at Duke more fun.

“There are some people in [the band] that have become some of my best friends. I probably wouldn’t really have interacted with them if it wasn’t for the band, so I’m truly grateful

Gender, Sexuality & Feminist Studies Major

“I find that GSF enhanced my vision of the world and the possibilities therein. By sharpening my mind, it also sharpened my pen to write critically, engagingly, and creatively about the world around me and the brighter futures we all as students hope to create.” ~James ‘23

“In combination with my major in Biology, majoring in GSF has helped me to realize my passion for SGM health. Studying gender and sexuality gave me a new lens through which to examine patient experiences and outcomes, and the intersectional ways that they are influenced by the diverse identities of the patients themselves.” ~Laila “23

“GSF allows for a systemic analysis of the world that we live in and links the larger political landscape to our personal lives and experiences-particularly for people racialized, gendered, and sexualized as different.” ~Katherine ‘22

Curious about what awaits in the years ahead?

From the beginning of your Duke journey to your final semester, the Kenan Institute for Ethics offers courses, community engagement projects, and fellowships to help you figure out what a good life is—and how to live it.

Arts & Sciences Council passes new Trinity curriculum

Arts & Sciences Council passed a new Trinity curriculum in its Thursday meeting, which will come into effect for incoming students starting fall 2025.

The curriculum, which passed in a 32-1 vote, creates new general education requirements for Trinity students at Duke that incorporate a greater focus on the humanities and a new first-year program that links together three courses by topic.

“I’m really excited that this new curriculum is going to double down on the arts and humanities,” Dean of Trinity College Gary Bennett said. “I’m pretty confident that that’s the balm our students need right now.”

The current Trinity undergraduate curriculum was created in 2000, with minor changes made in 2004. Duke’s last attempt at a curriculum update in 2017 failed to reach a consensus.

The current push to revise the curriculum began in February 2022 with the creation of the Trinity Curriculum Development Committee after then-Provost Sally Kornbluth and thenDean of Trinity College Valerie Ashby charged the Council with renewing the curriculum.

The TCDC first proposed the new curriculum in January 2024. After council members provided feedback, they presented a new proposal in March.

The new curriculum will replace the current six Modes of Inquiry and five Areas of Knowledge requirements with six new categories, including Creating and Engaging with Art (CE), Humanistic Inquiry (HI), Interpreting Institutions, Justice and Power (IJ), Investigating the Natural World (NW), Quantitative and Computational Reasoning (QC) and Social and Behavioral Analysis (SB). Students will complete two courses in each of the six categories to fulfill their graduation requirements.

The new categories will place a greater emphasis on the arts and humanities in the Trinity undergraduate curriculum, as the current Arts, Literature & Performance requirement is split into CE and HE. The other new categories closely resemble the current other four Areas of Knowledge requirements.

According to the 2024 Curriculum Proposal, the current Trinity model invites “gamification,” with “students naturally seek[ing] out courses that count toward more curricular codes, and faculty are incentivized to request as many codes as possible for their courses.”

The new proposal seeks to mitigate this problem by scrapping the Modes of Inquiry and creating “century courses” that allow Trinity students to fulfill two required courses with a single century course for up to two of the six general education categories. These courses are intended to incentivize students to take high-quality and engaging courses instead of hunting for classes that fulfill the highest number of graduation requirements.

“Really what [the students] need is slow learning. They need reflection, they need consideration,” Bennett said. “They need

deliberation, they need to be confronted by the notion that the greatest ideas of our time have been wrestled by some of the greatest minds of our time for centuries, without resolution.”

The first-year experience and course requirements will also be impacted by the introduction of “Constellations,” a set of three interconnected courses that explore a topic from multiple perspectives. The courses include one first-year writing course and two other courses. At least one of the nonwriting courses must be taken in the first semester, and at least one must involve small-group learning.

The new “Constellation” courses focus on the importance of building connections, encouraging curiosity and promoting epistemic humility. The program will encourage the formation of “cohorts” during the first-year experience to help ease students’ transition into college.

The new curriculum also requires all students to take at least two foreign language courses, doing away with students’ current ability to take one 300-level or higher language course to fulfill the requirement.

Such changes to the Trinity curriculum will require significant efforts in the coming months, and Bennett expressed his commitment to providing adequate resources for its implementation.

Bennett acknowledged that the Council “see[s] the need for funds for new course development” and that he has already secured $1 million. Bennett added that Trinity leadership will continue to raise funds

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April 4, 2024

Faculty take lead on Duke’s AI policies

By KAYLEE MATTEIS

September 28, 2023

Duke Learning Innovation responded to concerns about the use of artificial intelligence to conduct academic dishonesty by creating a set of guidelines for faculty to consult as they design their courses.

As large language models such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT become more accessible, professors worry that students may use these programs to draft papers, solve math equations and complete other assignments. Last year, before the University released official guidance on the use of AI in the classroom, some faculty members opted to change their courses in response, while others didn’t believe it was necessary to make changes just yet.

Now, universities across the country, including many of Duke’s peers, have released guidance on how professors can address AI’s use in the classroom. Duke’s own guidelines recognize that it is up to each professor to determine whether they will allow AI to be used in their courses.

Some faculty members, like Professor of Statistical Science Jerry Reiter, have made changes to their syllabi for the fall semester to address the use of AI. Reiter does not allow students to use AI to complete assignments in his course, Statistical Science 322/522, Design of Surveys and Causal Studies.

Students need to sit and struggle with the problems in order to get the fullest conceptual understanding, something that can not be achieved by simply plugging an equation into AI, he said.

“I try to provide a lot of office hours and TA office hours and help for students who struggle

so that they can get those questions answered and hopefully not have to turn to the AI for help,” Reiter said. “For me, it’s really about, ‘how can I set up my course so that students get the most out of it?’”

Students cannot use AI in a manner that violates the Duke Community Standard, which considers “using, consulting and/or maintaining unauthorized shared resources including, but not limited to, test banks, solutions materials and/or artificial intelligence” as a form of cheating.

Denise Comer, professor of the practice and director of the Thompson Writing Program, also stressed the importance of providing students with additional resources for classes where the use of AI is prohibited. She highlighted the Thompson Writing Studio as a useful resource for writers at any stage of their work.

“It’s really up to them.”

“You might be shortchanging your own education and development and growth by taking unauthorized shortcuts or by engaging in questionable ethical decisions,” she said. “If students are thinking of making an unethical choice that’s against the policy on the syllabus, [the next step] might be to recognize that writing is thinking, and when we engage ourselves as humans in the writing process, we’re actually thinking through ideas and developing perspectives.”

Comer also said she appreciates that Duke Learning Innovation acknowledges the benefits of AI in academia, alongside its drawbacks.

Her colleague, Xiao Tan, a lecturer in the Thompson Writing Program, received funding from the Pellets Foundation to license generative AI that allows her students to create “photographic essays” with AI-generated images.

“Some of my colleagues in the writing program are also using generative AI to offer opportunities for students to think really deeply about various aspects of writing, such as revision,” Comer said.

Both Reiter and Comer said they believe that the guidelines have validated the perspectives of individual professors and encouraged them to take the lead on how AI should be used.

Reiter said he appreciates that Duke is giving faculty both freedom and guidance to make their own decisions about the role of AI in their courses.

“Faculty should have ownership of their course design and how the learning outcomes are addressed throughout the course,” Comer said. “It’s really up to them.”

Jerry Zou

The Office of Undergraduate Education’s Experiential Education offices and programs provide a unique and valuable opportunity for learners to gain real-world experience and develop important life skills that will serve them well in their future endeavors.

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A look into the platform of Heather Raslan, DSG'S next president

By AMY GUAN March 25, 2024

Duke Student Government presidential candidate Heather Raslan aims to build collaborative partnerships with student organizations, enhance DSG’s internal structure and make DSG an accessible resource for all students to actualize their goals and address their needs.

Originally from Burr Ridge, Illinois, Raslan is a junior majoring in neuroscience and is passionate about work in global health systems and healthcare. On campus, Raslan volunteers with FEMMES+, conducts global health research through Bass Connections, facilitates a house course, and is involved with multicultural and religious organizations including the Muslim Students Association.

The pillars of Raslan’s campaign are abbreviated by the acronym “CHI,” which is both a nod to her hometown in the suburbs of Chicago and a symbol of “where [she] want[s] to take her platform.” The “C” stands for “community building project work,” the H for “honoring all student voices” and the I for “internal DSG structural improvements,” according to an Instagram post on Raslan’s account.

Raslan has been involved in DSG since the spring semester of her first year and currently serves as the vice president of academic affairs. From leading the Blue Devil Buddies program and co-founding the Blue Devil Bridges program, Raslan sees the value in the “tangible benefits” that result from the work

“run by students for students” and hopes to expand mentorship opportunities for incoming students, current students and alumni.

“My favorite thing is when I run into someone, and they tell me that they love their Blue Devil Buddy, or they love the alumni that they’ve met with, and that it helped introduce them to a new opportunity, or it felt really good to hear from someone of their identity working in a field that they want to work in it,” Raslan said. “It’s a big reason as to why I’m running for president — I see that effect that these programs have had.”

Raslan hopes to develop stronger committee mentorship within DSG’s internal structure to increase retention for senators and to develop stronger relationships with campus partners to continue important long-term project work.

She also believes it is important to increase “DSG’s engagement with external student groups to empower more groups to propose partnerships and projects that directly benefit students.” To achieve this goal, she would require senators to consider the potential for

collaboration with student organizations when they work on projects.

Whenever DSG rolls out a new program to the student body, Raslan believes that they must consider which students the project will impact and then ensure that they have representative voices of these students at the table.

Through her years of DSG involvement, Raslan has worked on committees such as the student-faculty interaction committee and courses committee.

As a student representative on the student-faculty interaction committee, Raslan contributed to the development of the “faculty pass” which allows faculty to attend sporting events free of charge through student invitation. She hopes to explore additional ways of “[inviting] faculty to be in student spaces.”

Raslan also hopes to continue to support current work by DSG senators that aims to increase awareness of how students can most effectively utilize campus resources such as the Career Center and the Academic Resource Center, as well as improving advising to be more intentional. She also hopes to invite more engineering student perspectives to DSG to “bridge the gap” between the experiences of Trinity and Pratt undergraduates on campus.

In terms of improving social life on campus, Raslan advocates for the potential of Central Campus, saying that she believes “that Central Campus is a great space for student organizations to hold events to increase inclusivity and safety of social gatherings.”

Abigail Bromberger

She also wants to embrace the structure and resources that QuadEX brings to student life on campus. She believes collaborative events between living-learning communities with on-campus organizations can build a “more meaningful” social presence on campus.

“By unifying the different communities that we already have on campus, I think we’ll be able to … strengthen connections that are already in place,” Raslan said.

Raslan hopes to explore options for expanding social life so that both affiliated and unaffiliated organizations have “space to enjoy themselves and enjoy the community.”

“If we are not having social events on campus, we’re having them off campus, which means that we may not be doing the best we can by Durham community residents,” Raslan said. “When we improve social life on campus, we improve our relations with Durham.”

Raslan also proposes a Durham High School Board that would invite local high school students to DSG meetings where they can share their thoughts on the way Duke and Durham interact.

Heather Settle, Graduate School ‘07 and academic dean for courses and curriculum, oversaw a proposal from Raslan and DSG senator and junior Jax Nalley to expand pedagogical methods of house courses beyond standard academic papers and “allow for more autonomy for student instructors.”

In an email to The Chronicle, Settle wrote that she was impressed by Raslan’s “diligence and flexibility” throughout the project, adding that her experience as a representative on the courses committee “puts her in a great position to add a student voice to the implementation of the proposed new curriculum as the decision unfolds.”

Senior Sophie Smith, DSG’s vice president for campus life, works closely with Raslan on the executive board and co-leads Blue Devil Buddies with her. Smith describes Raslan as having “unparalleled dedication and impact” for her work. She “witnessed how honestly and passionately [Raslan] shows up for her project work and more importantly, for the students behind her project work.”

“Her approachability towards students is remarkable, and she consistently demonstrates a willingness to engage with and support them. Moreover, Heather’s integrity and dedication extend beyond her professional duties. She embodies the qualities of a true leader, unafraid to hold others and herself accountable,” Smith wrote in an email to The Chronicle.

BAND

FROM PAGE 12

for that,” Barron said. “It really does foster friendships that go far beyond the bounds of the music and the games that we’re going to.”

‘Bring the hype’

While most students see the band for a few hours at sporting events, they rarely see the time band members spend behind the scenes.

The time commitment to be in the band varies significantly throughout the year, with its most hectic period being late October and early November, when football and basketball seasons begin overlapping.

In preparation for football games, the band holds two to three rehearsals per week, and members come together to cheer on the football players at the Blue Devil walk. For home basketball games, students attend one rehearsal in the spring.

All band members are required to attend every football game, but they are assigned to half of the men’s and women’s basketball games. They may choose to attend more basketball games, with the exception of the Duke-UNC game in Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Priority spots for the Duke-UNC home game are based on the number of points each band member earns by playing at games. According to Washart, around 70% of the band plays at the Duke v. UNC at home.

Platz described balancing other time commitments with the band as being tough at some points, but “overall worth it.”

“I definitely think it’s the coolest thing I do at Duke,” McKenzie said. “… You’re very intensely involved in the game, and you also know it’s your job to bring the hype and bring the spirit, so it’s definitely action-packed.”

GOTHIC

FROM PAGE 9

go when its contract expired at the end of the 2022-23 academic year. The same year, another campus favorite, Panda Express, closed its on-campus doors and will be replaced by It’s Thyme, an allergen-free restaurant.

However, The Loop’s influence hasn’t been completely erased from campus, as Burchfield noted that several employees from The Loop transferred to work at the Gothic Grill.

For first-year Emily Barragan, the Gothic Grill is a “little restaurant bubble” and a welcome opportunity to step away from campus life.

“The vibes of Gothic Grill were very conversational,” she said. “It doesn’t feel like a part of Duke.”

to aid in the curriculum’s implementation and establish a new office to aid in the transformation of the firstyear experience.

“We’re dedicated to the task of helping to support colleagues as they both develop the courses and also as they are instructing them,” Bennett said.

dukestores.duke.edu/index.php/btftk/

Courtesy of Wen Chen

BRIDGING FAITH