September 22, 2009

Page 1

THE INDEPENDENT DAILY AT DUKE UNIVERSITY

The Chronicle General brings Afghan war front to Duke by

Ciaran O’Connor

On a day when the war in Afghanistan was top news, Duke hosted a high-ranking general in the United States army to speak on “Counterinsurgency and the War in Afghanistan.” Brig. Gen. H.R. McMaster spoke on the background of U.S. counterinsurgency efforts in Afghanistan and fielded questions from the approximately 100 students and faculty who packed into the Sanford School ofPublic Policy Monday night. His speech coincided with the release of the top military commander in Afghanistan’s confidential assessment of the war effort. In the 66-page report, issued to President Barack Obama Aug. 30 but only leaked to the Washington Post late Sunday night, Gen. Stanley McChrystal calls for more troops in order to avoid losing the war. Because his speech Monday came at a pivotal moment for U.S. policy-making in Afghanistan, McMaster requested that no part of itbe recorded for publication. Rather than advocate for any specific policies at a time in which it could be seen as inappropriate for a military officer to do so, he gave a briefbackground on the conflict in Afghanistan and U.S. counterinsurgency efforts.

v

SEE MCMASTER ON PAGE 4

Some

pre-meds takethe road less traveled ?

by Ray Koh THE CHRONICLE

ANDREW ZHENG/THE CHRONICLE

Brig. Gen. H.R. McMaster speaks about the U.S.

Junior Nick Altemose may be a biology major, but don’t expect to see him in the operating room any time soon. Most of Altemose’s peers in courses like organic chemistry might assume that he aspires to scrub in for a major surgery someday. But Altemose said he plans to stay in his lab coat for the long haul pursuing a career in scientific research. “Usually when I meet someone and tell him or her that I am a biology major, the first question I get is, ‘Do you want to be a doctor?’ Seldom do I meet other biology majors who are not premed,” said Altemose, who is specializing in genomic biology. “The competitiveness to get into medical school is overwhelming. If I absolutely wanted to be a doctor, I might endure it. But I don’t.” Approximately 75 percent of students studying life sciences nationwide plan to go to medical school, said Huntington Willard, director of the Institute for Genome Sciences and Policy. But there are some students at Duke who are majoring in biology, chemistry or physics simply for the love of science. Willard said he and his colleagues hope to do more in the future to meet the needs of this small but passionate group of students. University Registrar Bruce Cunningham wrote in an e-mail that he does not have specific data indicating how many science majors do not plan to go to medical school.

counterinsurgency efforts in Afghanistan in the Sanford School of Public Policy Monday night.

ontheRECORD "The more money that goes off campus, the slower I am to approve the addition of new vendors." —Director of Dining Services Jim Wulforst on Merchants on Points. See story page 3

SEE SCIENCE ON PAGE 4

CHRISTINA PENA/THE CHRONICLE

Junior Nick Altemose is one of a few biology majors who are not applying to medical school.Nat onally, 75 percent of students studying life sciences plan on going to medica school.

Football: Making the Grade The Chronicle breaks down Duke's loss to Kansas, PAGE 8

ue Ije^ris fake

mWi Pag£6

?

THE CHRONICLE


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
September 22, 2009 by Duke Chronicle Print Archives - Issuu