March 22, 2017

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Did Clinton actually win?

Another Round of 32 exit

Duke alum pens articles for website depicting Clinton presidency | Page 3

Duke women’s basketball was also upset in the second round as a No. 2 seed | Sports Page 11

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, MARCH 22, 2017

WWW.DUKECHRONICLE.COM

ONE HUNDRED AND TWELFTH YEAR, ISSUE 68

Despite controversy, Charles Murray talk avoids conflict Frances Beroset The Chronicle Security was tight at a talk by Charles Murray, the libertarian social scientist who co-authored the 1994 book “The Bell Curve,” which some have criticized for having eugenic undertones. Early this month, protesters shouted down Murray at a similar talk at Middlebury College. But Duke took no chances. Student IDs and tickets were checked three times before the event. Private security guards lined the perimeter of the Doris Duke Center at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens, in addition to the police stationed at the event. Approximately 50 people—mostly students— were in attendance. According to the event’s Facebook page, tickets were only available for the first 75 students or faculty. “I’m pleased to see you all sitting out there, facing me,” Murray began, alluding to the Middlebury incident in which students stood with their backs to Murray before eventually attacking his car as he left campus. Murray’s talk highlighted the increasing polarization of working class and upperclass white people, which he and professor of political science Michael Munger—who introduced Murray—suggested as a factor in Donald Trump’s presidential win last November. He argued that upper-class people live in “the bubble” and has developed a quiz that scores people on how disconnected they are with working-class America. For example, some questions ask respondents whether they have been to a factory or seen certain

Frances Beroset | The Chronicle Murray said that upper-class people in America live in a bubble and encouraged Duke students to live in smaller towns.

common movies. “You are living a life that is in a bubble,” Murray said. “And I go through all of this not to indict you—there’s nothing wrong with being around people who share your taste and preference. It’s important in many ways to want those common bonds, but the problem is it leads to condescension and disdain and sometimes it leads to contempt. That’s where a lot of anger comes from during the election. When they hear the term flyover country, they know exactly what is described.” Murray argued in favor of an “American

Creed,” which he described as freedom, individualism and egalitarianism. He added that this has been disappearing since the 1960s, partially as a result of class polarization. “The proportion of Americans who choose to embrace the American Creed in its original form is a very small minority. I don’t see us reversing that, absent of some events that I can’t even imagine,” Murray said. “I think we are in a situation now, which some of you will think is good and others of you will think less so, where the United States will be, in 15 or 20 years, essentially indistinguishable from the

advanced democracies of Western Europe. This is not the most horrible of all things... But something will have been lost.” One way to maintain America’s unique character, Murray said, was for highlyeducated people to avoid metropolitan areas. Instead, he said, they should consider living in smaller towns. “Don’t choose to live in the Research Triangle...or the Upper East Side,” Murray said, addressing the audience. “And if you love America, maybe this is a new way for you to prove it.” Murray took several friendly questions from the audience following the talk about his policy positions and advice for conservative students on campus. To the latter, Murray replied, “Don’t talk politics. I’m serious. I have great friends from the left…and we get along great, as long as we don’t talk politics, and as long as I explicitly say when politics come up, ‘There’s no point in talking about this. I’m never going to change your mind.’” Colin Duffy, president of the Duke College Republicans, which co-sponsored the talk, said he thought the lack of confrontation at the event was indicative of Duke’s culture. “I think we were all very happy with how this event went,” he said. “I’m very proud of Duke in the sense that it was a very civil, frank discussion.” Murray seemed pleased that the talk had not been interrupted, saying that he had a “much better time tonight” than at Middlebury. However, there were four protesters across the street from Duke Gardens with vuvuzelas and air horns, though they could not be heard inside the Doris Duke Center during the talk.

‘The Prince of Los Cocuyos’ selected as summer reading book Staff Reports The Chronicle

Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Richard Blanco’s memoir details his experiences living as a Cuban exile in Miami during his childhood.

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“The Prince of Los Cocuyos: A Miami Childhood” by Richard Blanco will be the Class of 2021 summer reading book, the University announced Tuesday. The memoir is about Blanco’s experiences growing up in a family of Cuban exiles in the United States. The book touches on topics including self-acceptance among life transitions and details how Blanco balanced his sexual identity and family influences. Blanco—a first-generation college graduate—became the nation’s youngest inaugural poet when he spoke at President Barack Obama’s second inauguration. He was also the first Latino and openly gay person to serve as the inaugural poet. “I am really excited about the choice of ‘The Prince of Los Cocuyos,’” said senior

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Andres Camino, a member of the selection committee who was also last year’s co-chair of the First-Year Advisory Council, in a Duke Today release. “I think the first-year students will be able to have a lot of great discussions about it. Blanco is able to write about identity, family, sexuality and a slew of other themes so well. I am sure the students will absolutely love it.” The selection committee narrowed down their selection from 85 book recommendations including “Between the World and Me” by Ta-Nehisi Coates and “The Underground Railroad” by Colson Whitehead. “‘The Prince of Los Cocuyos’ is the beautiful and poignant story of a boy navigating multiple identities,” said Colleen Scott, director of the Baldwin Scholars Program and a committee member, in the release. “I chose it to bring visibility to the strength of the Latino and Latina community at Duke.”

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March 22, 2017 by Duke Chronicle - Issuu