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
The Chronicle
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011
Accountability policy met with criticism
ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTH YEAR, ISSUE 20
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West Union centers likely to move
Going for the gold
by Anna Koelsch
by Lauren Carroll
THE CHRONICLE
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Although the renovations to West Union are still a work in progress, one detail is near certain—the Center for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Life and the Mary Lou Williams Center for Black Culture will be moving out permanently. Plans for the renovated West Union Building do not include space for private groups, Vice President for Student Affairs Larry Moneta said. “It’s pretty likely that West Union will emerge as a public space... fully used for public use,” Moneta said. “Ultimately we’ll have to seek new homes for the Mary Lou [Williams Center] and the LGBT center.” The Board of Trustees will vote on plans for the West Union Building renovations at its meeting Friday, Moneta said, adding that the renovations will most likely begin Summer 2013. The timeline and future location of the centers’ move is not yet determined. “There’s a lot of questions unanswered,” said senior Nana Asante, president of Black Student Alliance—a group that meets regularly in the Mary Lou Williams Center. “The uncertainty is most troubling.... A lot of actions have been taken that have not been explained to us.” Moneta said he will be meeting with students frequently to discuss the future of the LGBT center and the Mary Lou Williams
A previously unwritten student conduct policy is raising concerns about the creation of University guidelines. The “Duke Community Standard in Practice: A Guide for Undergraduates” now stipulates that student leaders can be held accountable for the actions of their group members. This policy is not new in practice, but this is the first year it has been officially written down in the Community Standard, Vice President for Student Affairs Larry Moneta said. The recent addition of this accountability policy—an unofficial rule that has been enforced up to this point—to the Community Standard has spurred a negative response from many student leaders. “I can definitely see how [the policy] would be appropriate in some circumstances,” said Duke Student Government President Pete Schork, a senior. “But [this issue] raises larger questions about to what extent [the Office of] Student Conduct has the ability to hold students accountable to policies that aren’t written.” If a member violates University policy while representing a student group, the group’s leader can potentially face consequences—though each circumstance is evaluated independently, Moneta said. He
NORAH KARLOVICH/THE CHRONICLE
Olympic track and field athlete Jackie Joyner-Kersee shares her stories on ambition and passion, along with fellow Team USA athletes Steve Mesler and Alana Nichols.
SEE CONDUCT ON PAGE 12
SEE RENOVATIONS ON PAGE 12
Panhel to apply Repeal of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ for 9 houses creates a more open ROTC by Ashley Mooney
by Yeshwanth Kandimalla
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For the first time in almost 60 years, sororities could have a place to call their own. Later this month, nine sororities will be applying for individual houses—or sections—under the new house model, which will begin Fall 2012. The chapters in the Panhellenic Association are following the same application process as other selective living groups seeking space under the new residential model. “What our women will be asking for are nine equitable houses, meaning the houses should be the same as far as number of beds and common room size,” said Panhellenic Association President Jenny Ngo, a senior. “Right now we’re asking for medium to large houses, with approximately 40 beds.” With the implementation of the house model drawing
During his freshman year, junior Michael Pruitt, a midshipman in the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps, shared an intimate moment with his then-boyfriend at a Central Campus party. The next day, a senior in the Naval ROTC drove him to his residence hall and offered him some blunt advice. “She said, ‘Michael, you need to be more f—ing careful,’” Pruitt said. Starting Tuesday, Pruitt’s need to be careful ceased to exist. “Don’t ask, don’t tell,” a policy enacted in 1993 that prohibited lesbian, gay and bisexual soldiers from serving openly in the military, formally ended Tuesday. Its expiration followed a 60-day transition period stipulated by the legislation repealing the policy. President Barack
Obama signed the repeal of DADT into law Dec. 22, 2010. Although Pruitt said he is not permitted to comment on the military policy changes specifically, he said the repeal has allowed him to be candid about his identity as a bisexual member of the military. “Ever since I joined the Navy, I wanted to be that gay sailor, that new paradigm,” Pruitt said. “I am able to finally stand up and say this is who I want to be.” The president, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, provided Congress with written certification of the U.S. military’s readiness for the policy change July 22. Given DADT’s end, former members of the military who had been discharged due to revealing their sexuality can be reinstated. SEE DADT ON PAGE 6
SEE SORORITIES ON PAGE 5
Education policy expert notes graduation challenges , Page 3
ONTHERECORD
“I was no fan of Tailgate. It’s true. I am not afraid to admit it.” —Rui Dai in “Grow up already.” See column page 11
Students discuss residential house model, Page 3
2 | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011
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worldandnation
Gridlock is good news for states, Medicaid programs
WASHINGTON, D.C. — As Congress and its deficit- reduction supercommittee debate ways to slash the federal budget during the next few months, governors and the Medicaid programs they oversee may be better off if legislators don’t agree. Gridlock on Capitol Hill will trigger at least $1.2 trillion in already agreed-upon spending reductions in January. Medicaid, the $428 billion joint federal-state health-insurance plan for the poor, is exempt from those automatic cuts. Any action by Congress on Medicaid, by contrast, could push more of the program’s expenses from Washington to the states. “We’re willing to be part of cost savings, but we will strenuously object to cost-shifting,” said Mississippi Republican Gov. Haley Barbour in a telephone interview. “I think that’s uniformly bipartisan.”
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Exploring violence committed by women: Karla Homolka as a case study John Hope Franklin Center 240, 12-1p.m. Professor Sylvie Frigon from the University of Ottawa will speak on this issue.
Duke in Paris (Summer 2012) Information Meeting
News Corp. requested to Former Afghan president give bribery information killed by suicide bombing NEW YORK — News Corp. has been sent a letter by federal prosecutors investigating foreign bribery, requesting information on alleged payments employees made to British police for tips, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.
KABUL, Afghanistan — Former Afghan president Burhanuddin Rabbani, who was appointed last year to head a commission trying to broker a peace deal with the Taliban, was killed inside his Kabul home Tuesday afternoon in a suicide bombing, Afghan officials said.
Social Sciences 136, 5:30-6:30p.m. The Global Education Office will hold an information session on studying in Paris the summer of 2012.
National Geographic Live: Featuring Barton Seaver LSRC SOE Courtyard, 6-8p.m. Seaver, a sustainable chef, presents,“Delicious is the New Environmentalism.”
In the Footsteps of Elie Wiesel Center for Documentary Studies, 7-8p.m. The Echo Foundation, a social justice organization based in Charlotte, presents the premiere of this documentary.
TODAY IN HISTORY 1981: Sandra Day O’Connor becomes the first female Justice.
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Air Force Lt. Col. Sean Hackbarth, right, sits at home in Northern Virginia with his partner of nine years, Mike Culver. Hackbarth and other gays can now speak openly about their partners, thanks to the Pentagon’s official repeal of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy yesterday.
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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011 | 3
US college graduation rate lags, speaker says by Michael Lee THE CHRONICLE
America is falling behind in college graduation rates, which may impact its ability to stay competitive globally. James Kvaal, deputy undersecretary at the U.S. Department of Education, outlined Tuesday the challenges and strategies to increasing the number of students with college degrees in the U.S. The Obama administration plans for the United States to have the highest percentage rate of college graduates in the world by 2020—an honor that Canada held in 2010, hovering right below 60 percent. South Korea and Russia both had approximately 55 percent college graduation rates— compared to the U.S. rate of 38 percent, according to statistics from the College Board. In a talk titled “Meeting the President’s 2020 College Completion Goal” at the Sanford School of Public Policy, Kvaal drew on his experience at the White House and in education policy. There are about 13 other countries with more degrees per capita than in the United States, he said. “Getting there is not going to be easy,” Kvaal said. “Is it feasible to think we’re going to get to 60 percent within a decade? It’s an ambitious goal.” Nearly two-thirds of those who enroll at a community or for-profit college ultimately do not earn a degree within six years, he said, adding that
about one-third of students at public and private four-year universities do not earn a degree. He attributed these graduation rates to a number of factors, emphasizing that finances often determine whether or not somebody graduates. “When you ask students why they drop out, the response is overwhelmingly about money,” Kvaal said. He proposed several methods to increase graduation rates. He called for performance-based federal subsidies to replace the current subsidy system, which currently includes subsidies that are granted to community colleges solely on the number of enrolled students 10 days into the semester. Graduation rates, he said, are not considered. The amount of spending on American Opportunity Tax Credit and Pell Grants has doubled, for a total $20 billion to $25 billion increase in the federal education budget, he said. Kvaal added that the College Board has found that the net price of a college education decreased during the Obama Administration. Kvaal also mentioned the importance of open online curriculums, which are both cheaper and more accessible to students. He specifically praised the success of the online curriculum at Carnegie Mellon University. Audience members generally agreed SEE KVAAL ON PAGE 5
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A DSG-hosted house model forum allowed students to voice their concerns and questions about the new residential house model and how it will be implemented in the Fall of 2012.
Students raise questions on new house model by Alejandro Bolívar THE CHRONICLE
Duke Student Government held a forum in the Great Hall Tuesday to address student questions and concerns about the new house model to be implemented Fall 2012. The new system will house affiliated students and randomly place independents across 74 houses—53 on West Campus and 21 on Central Campus. The forum, which was attended by approximately 40 students, featured a PowerPoint presentation to explain the specifics of the new residential system and invited students to voice their concerns. “When you ask people who lived through
! N E P O W O N
the old house model, they respond that they have a sense of community to their house and to Duke,” said senior Esosa Osa, DSG vice president for residence life and dining. The current residential model—the quadrangle model—has been in effect since 2002. Prior to that, Duke had operated under a house model with small communities across East and West Campuses. The University shifted to the quadrangle model largely due to the decision to make East freshman-only, when the administration had difficulty reconciling how to maintain a deteriorating house model and SEE FORUM ON PAGE 4
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FORUM from page 3 an exclusively first-year campus. The goals of the house model are creating community and providing residential equality to students, said Joe Gonzalez, associate dean for residence life. Two-thirds of the houses will contain 30 to 70 beds, he said, adding that he believes smaller houses will forge stronger communities. Indepen-
dents will be placed into a house randomly, at least in the first year of the model. Under the new model, fraternities and selective living groups will be assigned to locations selected by the House Model Committee—a group of faculty members and students. The new locations—divided into residential clusters based on size and recruitment needs—will be randomly determined in October with the option for each group to indicate preference for Cen-
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tral Campus. The system is intended to create houseidentities in the future, Osa said. Once this occurs, houses can apply to formally become a selective living group with the power to choose its own members. Students, however, questioned the amount of student input taken into consideration by administrators. Vice President for Student Affairs Larry Moneta said the implementation of the house model is an institutional decision based on consultation with students, but it is similar to graduation requirements or the core curriculum. “The core decision to migrate into the house model is a University decision,” he said. “It is not to say that there isn’t room for student input, but this isn’t a consumerdriven decision.” Administrators said they acknowledged that though the original house model did promote house unity, it fell short in creating camaraderie between individual classes. The new house model stipulates that each house—including selective living groups— has a ratio of 50 percent sophomores and 50 percent juniors and seniors. Additionally, independents will not be allowed to block with more than 6 other individuals. “It’s been clear to us that a model that is [based] on enabling underclassmen contact with upperclassmen is preferred,” Moneta said. “Integration of classes within houses is key for success.” Some students were concerned about the impact the house model will have on their residential experiences. Sophomore Caroline Lowe said she felt her voice as an independent was not taken into consideration, especially regarding the random placement of unaffiliated sophomores and juniors. Matt Lyes, a sophomore in the Sigma Chi fraternity, said he was frustrated at the
model’s class ratio. “Why are they so hell-bent on filling quotas instead of focusing on the guiding principle of the fraternity or SLG?” Lyes said. Moneta added that the new house model is here to stay. As part of the house model, groups that currently do not have designated housing can apply for their own space, Osa said. Applications are due September 30, with groups submitting their proposals to the Approval Removal Committee in early October. “Whether or not your house gets approved depends on how [strongly] we feel it benefits the Duke community,” she said. In order to achieve this goal, Gonzalez said the model is encouraging seniors to stay on campus by allowing them to select their location next fall. He added, however, that houses will still have limits as to how many seniors can live there and expects 20 percent of seniors to live on campus under the new house model. Audience members expressed concerns that fraternities and selective living groups would no longer be held accountable by their Residential Group Assessment Committee evaluations. The decision to refrain from using RGAC scores for placement was implemented prior to any house model discussions, Gonzalez said. “The ability to take away space or punishment is not part of the house model,” Osa said. The house model, however, remains a work in progress, and there are still unresolved issues, Gonzalez said. The placement of juniors returning from study abroad programs is still being debated—one proposal on the table involves the creation of a junior village for returning students to live in as a class. “We don’t consider the [model this] first year to be the final form,” he noted.
THE CHRONICLE
KVAAL from page 3 with Kvaal’s points, but some expressed concerns about his lack of attention to K-12 reform in the speech. “We certainly appreciate any time we get federal money,” said Nancy Cox, a member of the Durham Public Schools’ board of education. “I am pessimistic because my daughter’s [Advanced Placement] biology class had 30 kids…. If we’re not going to fund even high school public education adequately, how are we going to prepare kids to complete college in four to six years? It’s
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011 | 5
a chicken-and-an-egg scenario.” Donavan Harbison, a senior at North Carolina Central University studying to be a math teacher, agreed with Cox. “K-12 is declining right now,” Harbison said. “Until we do something to strengthen that portion of our education system, we’re not going to be able to do anything for [the 2020 goal].” Still, Kvaal remained optimistic about the department’s future work. “There’s a great feeling of exploration and potential here,” he said. “It seems there are a lot of low-hanging fruit here and sensible policy decisions we can make.”
ELYSIA SU/THE CHRONICLE
James Kvaal, deputy undersecretary at the U.S. Department of Education, explains that financial difficulties play a key role in the United States’ low college graduation rate.
SORORITIES from page 1 near, Ngo said she has concerns about potential class division that might be felt by current sorority members. “This is a transition period—there will be problems,” Ngo said. “We’re taking the risk of Panhel-affiliated women not being able to be as close to their non-affiliated friends as they are used to already. However, there are so many more pros that we have discussed that they outweigh the initial growing pains.” In his time at Duke, sororities have not had individual sections because no sorority has asked for one, Joe Gonzalez, associate dean for residence life, wrote in an email Monday. “It appears the sororities made an agreement some time ago that unless each chapter requested housing, no chapter would make a request,” he said. According to the Duke house model website, some parameters for selective living groups in the house model include the possibility of being located on West or Central campuses and meeting the class distribution requirements of 25 percent seniors, 25 percent juniors and 50 percent sophomores, among other standards. Sophomore Lauren Busch, a member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority, said she believes life at Duke will change drastically due to the house model and the potential addition of spaces for individual chapters. “It will definitely shake up the school and will hopefully foster closer bonds between women in sororities,” Busch wrote in an email Tuesday. The decision, however, was not met without some opposition from members of various sororities. “We voted as a chapter against sorority
housing, against living with a chapter,” said sophomore Ashley Helms, a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. “I couldn’t tell you the numbers of our vote, but if [the sorority housing proposal] were to pass, maybe we would have Panhellenic housing but we wouldn’t want to be restricted to members of our chapter.” Various chapter presidents declined to comment or could not be reached. The house model was originally intended to provide independents—not greeks— with a stronger sense of community, said Clarybel Peguero, assistant dean of fraternity and sorority life. “Once the opportunity came to have new houses, some groups took advantage of that,” Peguero said. Some of the pros of Panhel chapter housing, Ngo said, include equitable housing on campus, an increase in Panhel unity and a step toward gender equality. “Equity is a core principal with the house model, including in relation to gender,” Gonzalez said. Panhel wants to empower women, Ngo said, adding that she believes the house model will give sororities more control of their perception on campus by providing them a space for which they are accountable. A mixed Panhel house was approved in Jan. 2010 and granted space on Central Campus. This was the first Panhel-affiliated space in 59 years—when sororities had housing on East Campus, Ngo said, adding that the section on Central did not work out due to a general lack of interest. A persistent rumor around campus as to why sororities do not have housing is the alleged existence of a state brothel law, suggesting that a group of girls living together constitutes a brothel. “It’s a rumor that has existed on a lot of college campuses,” Peguero said.
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THE CHRONICLE
DADT from page 1 “Patriotic Americans in uniform will no longer have to lie about who they are in order to serve the country they love,” Obama said in a release Tuesday. “Our armed forces will no longer lose the extraordinary skills and combat experience of so many gay and lesbian service members.” Like the military’s branches, ROTC programs have incorporated educational training programs since last Spring to prepare members for the repeal, said Lieutenant Colonel Peter Oertel, commander of the Duke Air Force ROTC Program. “We’ve trained and brought some education to all cadets,” Oertel said. “There was enough time for the active duty Air Force to train members based on the new policy— they’ve trained about 97 percent of them.” The military will now include sexual orientation in their anti-discrimination policy, Oertel added. Any ROTC members who harass their openly gay peers will face serious consequences. Capt. Douglas Wright, commanding officer of the Naval ROTC program at Duke, declined to comment on the repeal, as did Maj. Judith Cannon, assistant professor of military science and scholarship officer in the Army ROTC program. Pruitt came out to his ROTC adviser Tuesday by notifying her of his interview with The Chronicle as a queer member of the military. She reacted by reviewing the military’s policy on media communication. “There was always a tacit understanding—she would use gender-neutral pronouns,” Pruitt noted. “The first thing that she sees is my professional character, not my sexual orientation.” Prior to the repeal, Pruitt said there was a fine line in terms of being open about his bisexuality on campus. “I considered myself an ‘out’ person before I ever joined the military,” he said. “It’s so complicated with different spheres and circles of friends—I’m active at the LGBT center, but at the same time, I couldn’t walk down the Main [West Quadrangle] holding hands with my boyfriend.” Despite spending more than two years hiding his sexuality and relationships, Pruitt said joining the military allowed him to move past stereotypes of the gay community. “When we think of the gay community, there are certain images that come to mind, and they’re so wildly different than the actual people who make up the gay community,” he said. “The gay rights movement is never going to succeed as long as we associate all the glitter and interior design with the gay community.” Other leaders in the gay community on campus have applauded the repeal as a major step forward. “It’s wonderful to see that anyone who wants to join the military no longer has to worry about being outed or feel the necessity to hide who they are,” President of Blue Devils United Ari Bar-Mashiah, a senior, wrote in an email Monday. “At Duke, the biggest change is probably that anyone who identified as LGBT and wished to join the military no longer feels that the two are mutually exclusive.”
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Members of the U.S. Military, including naval ROTC student Michael Pruitt, a junior, are now able to be open about their sexual orientation following Obama’s repeal of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.
Sports The Chronicle
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WEDNESDAY September 21, 2011
Find out more about Allison Vernerey’s cause, plus a video from her head coach. Check out a recap of football head coach David Cutcliffe’s mid-week press conference.
www.dukechroniclesports.com
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
MIDWESTERN MAULER Vernerey THE Former tight end Kenny Anunike has four sacks in three games plans run for cancer
For a Duke defense that ranked 113th out of 120 Division I teams last year with just 12 sacks, it was a bit surprising to see the Blue Devils get through an experienced Stanford offensive line and sack Heisman trophy frontrunner Andrew Luck twice. Even more surprising was the guy Jason who managed to put the highlytouted signal caller on his backside on both occasions. Kenny Anunike, a 6-foot-5, 250-lb redshirt junior in his first year as a fulltime starter at defensive end, was never supposed to be on that side of the ball. Despite wide-ranging interest from Big Ten programs to Stanford and the Ivy League schools, the Galena, Ohio, native made his first official visit to Duke, immediately developing a bond that other programs couldn’t overcome. “My visit to Duke set the bar high,” Anunike said. “I immediately fell in love with [head coach David] Cutcliffe and [assistant head coach Ron] Middleton. They made it feel like home here.” The midwesterner arrived on campus as a playmaking tight end after going both ways in high school as a tight end and linebacker. The coaching staff decided to redshirt him for the 2008 season,
by Andrew Beaton THE CHRONICLE
Allison Vernerey is used to running sprints on the basketball court. This summer, though, she helped organize a much longer race. Beginning in June, Vernerey began an internship at the Duke Cancer Institute. She saw the summer as an opportunity to volunteer in a way that she cannot during the school year because of academic and athletic commitments that dominate her schedule. “I really wanted to get involved in a more social way and do something that was meaningful,” she said. “During the year I feel like as a student-athlete—even though there are opportunities to get involved on campus—you are busy and they go by.” With the Duke Cancer Institute, she had a varied set of responsibilities. Perhaps the largest—one that she is still working on—is with the Ramblin’ Rose, the first-ever women’s half marathon in North Carolina. The 13.1mile race will begin at the Durham Performing Arts Center, go through East Campus and down Campus Drive into the Duke Forest, before turning back to finish where it began. Taking place on Oct. 16, the event is closely coordinated with the Duke Cancer Institute and benefits the Duke Cancer Fund. David Mainella, her supervisor and Deputy Director of Development for the Duke Cancer Institute, gave her a wide plate of responsibilities in her role as an intern. Although it was her first time holding a full-time job unrelated to basketball, she quickly earned his trust by handling the responsibilities associated with event planning. “One of the things I was most impressed by was her ability to learn about our cause, raising money for cancer research,” Mainella said. “[She] was able to understand how the different processes she was spearheading fit into the overall plan for fundraising.” Among the many tasks she was entrusted with was getting volunteers to help out at the Ramblin’ Rose. The event will require significant manpower, with an expected 4,000 runners, and more spectators. She was especially successful in recruiting fellow student-athletes to join the cause. The entire women’s basketball team is planning to volunteer at the event next month, along with members of the men’s soccer, lacrosse and baseball teams. In particular, Vernerey has worked with sophomore soccer player Will Donovan, and the two hope up to 20 players from that squad will be there on race day. Beyond recruitment, she also worked closely with the event’s stewardship—communicating and working with big donors to the race. Although Vernerey also had to do some of the tedious intern tasks such as filing papers, she is grateful to Mainella for his confidence in also letting her handle the bigger tasks. “I was really lucky he gave me responsibilities and trusted me to really be a part of whatever was happening,” she said. “I really learned a lot. It was SEE VERNEREY ON PAGE 8
Palmatary On Football
TYLER SEUC/CHRONICLE FILE PHOTO
Kenny Anunike ranks second nationwide—and best in the ACC—in sacks this season.
SEE ANUNIKE ON PAGE 8
MEN’S SOCCER
Blue Devils down Seahawks by Paul Pisani THE CHRONICLE
The Blue Devils continued their recent offensive onslaught Tuesday night, increasing their goal total to nine in the past two games—in1 UNC-W cluding five Duke 4 from Andrew Wenger. Wenger played a role in all four Duke goals against UNC-Wilmington, and despite an otherwise-spotty team performance, the Blue Devils pulled out a gritty 4-1 win over the Seahawks (2-5). As Wenger was quick to point out, though, the score was not reflective of the team’s performance. “We didn’t play a very good game,” Wenger said, “The coaches aren’t very happy with us, and we’re not happy with our performance tonight either.” Duke (3-4) struggled in the first 20 minutes, especially with defensive marking. UNC-Wilmington quickly took advantage, finding openings on the wings and swinging in a number
of dangerous crosses. A defensive mistake left a Seahawk striker with an open shot on goal, but his attempt missed wide. Later in the first half, the Blue Devils seemed to gain confidence and began connecting on their passes. In the 34th minute, after several quick touches, Wenger beat his man and found open space. Racing into the 18-yard box, he slid the ball across to senior Chris Tweed-Kent, who calmly placed it in the bottom corner for Duke’s first goal. The Blue Devils went into the break up 1-0 after having taken only three shots to their opponent’s five. Duke came out sluggish again in the second half. A series of defensive miscues had head coach John Kerr frustrated on the sidelines, and in the 62nd minute, UNC-Wilmington took advantage, scoring on a corner kick. The Blue Devils shifted into a higher gear after giving up the goal, ramping up their defensive intensity and increasing ball pressure in the Seahawks’ defensive third. Just three
DAVID KORNBERG/THE CHRONICLE
SEE M. SOCCER ON PAGE 8
Andrew Wenger played a part in all four Duke goals Tuesday, scoring twice and adding two assists.
8 | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011
THE CHRONICLE
VERNEREY from page 7
M. SOCCER from page 7
ANUNIKE from page 8
my first real work opportunity.” In addition to the Ramblin’ Rose, Vernerey also aided Strike Out Cancer, a program that the Duke Cancer Institute runs in conjunction with the Durham Bulls, which collects and donates money every time one of the Bulls strikes out an opposing hitter. Women’s basketball head coach Joanne P. McCallie, one of the spokespeople for Strike Out Cancer, helped bring Vernerey together with the Cancer Institute this summer. As part of her work, Vernerey had the opportunity to boss her coach around for once, directing a commercial in which McCallie was featured. “[She was telling me] do this, walk this way, shorten up this way, just like a regular director would try to put it together,” McCallie said. “I can’t say enough about Allison, her summer, her focus, the Duke Cancer Institute and her role there.” Most importantly for Vernerey, her involvement does not end at the Ramblin’ Rose’s finish line. Instead, her involvement this summer has become a launch point for her to be active during the school year. Along with others, she helped found the Blue Devils vs. Cancer club on campus this fall. As president of the club, she will be able to stay involved with fundraising and supporting the cause, even when basketball season begins. “Who doesn’t know somebody that has been affected [by cancer] in some way?” Vernerey said. “I just realized that there wasn’t much happening on campus in terms of that, which was kind of surprising to me.”
minutes after giving up UNC-Wilmington’s lone goal, Duke responded with one of its own. Wenger again found room behind the Seahawks’ defense. Taking the ball to the edge of the field, the junior tallied his second assist on the night with a pass to Nick Palodichuk, who had no problem finishing from point-blank range. For the next fifteen minutes, momentum quickly swung back and forth. UNC-Wilmington frequently lofted through balls, but their strikers were called off-sides on a number of occasions. The Blue Devils also had chances, but struggled to convert set pieces. “We have to get better service into the box,” Kerr said. “If we get better service, we can score goals. We’ve got big guys that can score in there. The runs also have to be better, but when the ball’s not coming into the box properly, that deters players from running as hard as they can.” With 15 minutes left in the half and a 2-1 lead, Wenger began to exploit the tiring UNC-Wilmington defense. In the 81st minute, Wenger received the ball near midfield. Sprinting past his defender and creating a one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper, the forward expertly placed the ball between the goalkeeper’s outstretched glove and the crossbar. Two minutes later, Wenger scored a second goal after shaking two defenders at the corner of the box. He curved the ball into the back of the net to cement the Blue Devils’ win. “We’’ve been grinding out the wins,” Kerr said. “The big difference is our finishing. We’ve created a lot of opportunities in the games we’ve lost, and not finished them. The last two games, we have.”
but that became a moot point when Anunike suffered a knee injury—just one of many health obstacles he has battled—that would require midseason surgery. After a nondescript redshirt freshman year where he played only on special teams, Cutcliffe called the youngster into his office for a meeting. Anunike remembers this meeting vividly because he was completely caught off guard by the news. What he anticipated to be a pep talk turned into an announcement that he would be changing positions. Instead of continuing to compete for repetitions at a crowded tight end spot, he would be joining the ranks of a much thinner defensive line. “It was all of a sudden,” Anunike said. “Give me your offensive playbook, here is a defensive playbook, learn it. I definitely took the challenge to heart because I wanted to help out the team.” Cutcliffe remembers that day a little differently, as he felt the switch was definitely a change that his young player was not immediately happy with. The motivation for the move was that the coaching staff felt that he was struggling with some of the complexities of the offense, and his big, powerful frame would be better suited to the defensive side of the football. “You get trapped in assignment football sometimes, and it slows you down,” Cutcliffe said. “He’s an amazingly-explosive athlete, so I felt like he would be a good reaction football player.” Despite battling minor injuries for most of his sophomore campaign, Anunike did start in the season opener against Elon and saw considerable action in every contest. For the season, he finished with 23 tackles, two quarterback
pressures and one forced fumble, modest but promising numbers for a physical specimen who puts up a team-high 450 pounds on the bench press. But, then, the injury bug struck again. The defensive end missed the contact portion of 2011 spring drills while recovering from another knee surgery. The 2011 regular season, however, has been everything but a struggle to this point. Anunike has recorded four sacks through three games, which is good for second in the nation and tops in the ACC. This immediate success has Anunike excited and passionate about his new home on the defensive line. “I always wanted to score touchdowns,” he said. “I love catching the ball and making plays. But, coach Cutcliffe got me addicted to hitting the quarterback too. I think that’s even better than scoring touchdowns.” Anunike is the only Blue Devil who has recorded a sack this year. For the unit to really make a big impact, Sydney Sarmiento, Justin Foxx and the rest of the rotation will need to step up, and Anunike has taken it upon himself to mentor the unproven defensive front. “There are a lot of young guys on the line that I need to be a mentor to as one of the experienced guys,” Anunike said. “I know what it is like to be in their shoes. Vince Oghobaase and Ayanga Okpokowuruk mentored me, and it made the learning curve less steep.” If the team’s sack leader can keep it up he will likely see some double teams, which will create opportunity for the other pass rushers to help solidify the unit. Regardless, we can expect to see more of the same out of a hungry Anunike, who couldn’t be more thrilled he ended up on defense. “I’m not content, I want more,” he said. “I’m not going to be complacent. I’m going to give you all I got on the field. Then, when the dust settles, we’ll see where [the sack total] is.”
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Clarity needed in policy Vice President for Student held accountable for the acAffairs Larry Moneta has cer- tions of their student groups tainly shown his affinity for the during group activities. United States Constitution, as But, in a Sept. 14 email, evidenced by the Sept. 17 Con- Larry Moneta denied that a stitution Day email blast. His re- change in practice actually spect for the idetook place and editorial als underlying claimed that this kind of docstudent leadument, however, remains ques- ers have always had this litionable. Some recent changes ability. In fact, Moneta noted made to the Duke Community that the practice of holding Standard reveal that the rule student leaders accountable of law may not extend to Duke for group actions has been students as clearly as it does to carried out on “many past U.S. citizens. occasions,” although he was At the beginning of this unable to disclose the speyear, the Office of Student cific cases because of FERPA Conduct unilaterally changed protections. its policy regarding the acA close look at the 2010countability of student groups 2011 Duke Community Stanin violation of the Duke Com- dard shows that—despite munity Standard. The new reserving many broad powpolicy specifically indicates ers for the Office of Student that student leaders may be Conduct—it contained no
policy that makes elected leaders individually responsible for the misdeeds of their groups before the 2011-2012 academic year. In fact, the opposite is true—the 20102011 Community Standard indicates that student groups collectively bore the burden of responsibility, with no mention made of the liability of student leaders. We infer that, in an act of the utmost high-handedness, the Office of Student Conduct has enforced a policy for many years that has only now made an appearance in the Community Standard. Student conduct policies cannot be formulated to account for every individual case, but the question of accountability seems to us an obvious point that ought to be addressed in writing. By pun-
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ebsites like Facebook have done a lot to play around with our idea of what in human interaction requires physical pres-
Fabulous Article! can not wait to explore DIM
—“MamaDuke” commenting on the story “A place to ‘enliven your senses.’” See more at www.dukechronicle.com.
LETTERS POLICY The Chronicle welcomes submissions in the form of letters to the editor or guest columns. Submissions must include the author’s name, signature, department or class, and for purposes of identification, phone number and local address. Letters should not exceed 325 words; contact the editorial department for information regarding guest columns. The Chronicle will not publish anonymous or form letters or letters that are promotional in nature. The Chronicle reserves the right to edit letters and guest columns for length, clarity and style and the right to withhold letters based on the discretion of the editorial page editor.
ishing student leaders for the crimes of their groups without having this policy on the books, the Office of Student Conduct has flagrantly disrespected students’ rights to the procedure of written law. Additionally, we find only regression in the Office of Student Conduct refusal to consult students prior to implementing this policy. Last year’s positive addition of two students to the student conduct approval committee seems like window dressing when the administration seems to refuse to confer with them before releasing new policies. Although we understand that the Office of Student Conduct is under no direct obligation to solicit student opinion on policymaking, for the administration to ignore a channel
for student involvement that it created only one short year ago rings of duplicity. Including student input in this policy from the start may have prevented much of the current backlash. Students could have clarified some of the ambiguities mentioned in our Sept. 13 editorial and made the content of the policy more palatable. Placing a moratorium on this new rule could limit the future damages of this ambiguous policy. But the Office of Student Conduct was wrong to enforce this rule before writing it into existence. The administration has a responsibility to students to clearly enumerate the policies by which it expects them to abide—we certainly deserve that much.
The virtual gift
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SANETTE TANAKA, Editor NICHOLAS SCHWARTZ, Managing Editor NICOLE KYLE, News Editor CHRIS CUSACK, Sports Editor MELISSA YEO, Photography Editor MEREDITH JEWITT, Editorial Page Editor CORY ADKINS, Editorial Board Chair MELISSA DALIS, Co-Managing Editor for Online JAMES LEE, Co-Managing Editor for Online DEAN CHEN, Director of Online Operations JONATHAN ANGIER, General Manager TOM GIERYN, Sports Managing Editor KATIE NI, Design Editor LAUREN CARROLL, University Editor ANNA KOELSCH, University Editor CAROLINE FAIRCHILD, Local & National Editor YESHWANTH KANDIMALLA, Local & National Editor MICHAEL SHAMMAS, Health & Science Editor JULIAN SPECTOR, Health & Science Editor TYLER SEUC, News Photography Editor CHRIS DALL, Sports Photography Editor ROSS GREEN, Recess Editor MAGGIE LOVE, Recess Managing Editor CHELSEA PIERONI, Recess Photography Editor SOPHIA PALENBERG, Online Photo Editor DREW STERNESKY, Editorial Page Managing Editor CHRISTINE CHEN, Wire Editor SAMANTHA BROOKS, Multimedia Editor MOLLY HIMMELSTEIN, Special Projects Editor for Video CHRISTINA PEÑA, Towerview Editor RACHNA REDDY, Towerview Editor NATHAN GLENCER, Towerview Photography Editor MADDIE LIEBERBERG, Towerview Creative Director TAYLOR DOHERTY, Special Projects Editor CHRISTINA PEÑA, Special Projects Editor for Online LINDSEY RUPP, Senior Editor TONI WEI, Senior Editor COURTNEY DOUGLAS, Recruitment Chair TONI WEI, Recruitment Chair MARY WEAVER, Operations Manager CHRISSY BECK, Advertising/Marketing Director BARBARA STARBUCK, Production Manager REBECCA DICKENSON, Chapel Hill Ad Sales Manager The Chronicle is published by the Duke Student Publishing Company, Inc., a non-profit corporation independent of Duke University. The opinions expressed in this newspaper are not necessarily those of Duke University, its students, faculty, staff, administration or trustees. Unsigned editorials represent the majority view of the editorial board. Columns, letters and cartoons represent the views of the authors. To reach the Editorial Office at 301 Flowers Building, call 684-2663 or fax 684-4696. To reach the Business Office at 103 West Union Building, call 684-3811. To reach the Advertising Office at 101 West Union Building call 684-3811 or fax 684-8295. Visit The Chronicle Online at http://www.dukechronicle.com. © 2010 The Chronicle, Box 90858, Durham, N.C. 27708. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior, written permission of the Business Office. Each individual is entitled to one free copy.
young definition of “older,” like, say, a late-wave baby boomer), he or she is nonplussed. A majority of the younger people that I know, however, see ence. no problem with virtual gifts. My Take, as an example, the Faceroommate once asked me “Besides book gift, a discontinued program the paper, what’s the difference bethat’s been replaced by third partween a virtual birthday card and a ties. Everyone was entitled to a limphysical one? Why should a physical ited number of free gifts to pass out, one mean more?” Even I deemed but there was also the option of buytrivial the answers I gave. ing one for a dollar. But what does it For so many of my friends, this mean to buy a gift that is, well, less a choice—between the physical and gift than a gesture towards the idea michael goodrich the virtual—is not deemed moral of what a gift is? between parentheses or ethical or metaphysical, or even For me, the big problem is the a value judgment for that matter. money charged for this. I still have It’s merely a preference, harmless trouble understanding the rationale of paying as paper or plastic: Interaction can be abstracted money for something that can be given for free (if onto the internet without effect or loss of affect. you run out of free gifts and you feel so compelled, Some of the older people that I speak to, however, couldn’t you just email a jpeg?), or, for that mat- see virtuality as a degradation, an affront. And ter, buying a “premium” gift for money. I can only it is—to their worldview (which often coincides understand the paid Facebook gift as a symbolic quite readily with my own). act, a demonstration of one’s willingness to spend Much of social history, it seems, can be clasmoney on someone else. Someone who buys into sified as value exploration, an attempt to decide this is endorsing an economic view of friendship: what is a matter of right and wrong, and what is a affection and favor are balanced against money, matter of taste. Contemporary beachwear would against an opportunity cost. have caused a moral uprising in the 1800s, but Maybe that’s all a Hallmark card ever was— now we don’t see exposed legs and midriffs on the buying off friends, relatives, girlfriends certainly beach as a moral matter: It is a matter of personal didn’t start with Facebook. Indeed, many argue preference. So, too, with physical and virtual lives. that all gifts are merely economic markers of af- The current transition, however, is remarkable for fection; just think of the holiday season—there’s its speed. The internet has taken over one generaat least one person you’d be upset with if he or tion well before the previous one will be gone, and she didn’t buy you something, but when it comes the boundaries are porous. Many of my parents’ down to it, no matter how meaningful a well-cho- friends are errant technophiles, and, though rarsen gift may be, the useless junk, that stuff clearly er, there are young Luddites (although we haven’t picked out at the last minute to fill a quota, the figured out how to mobilize just yet). extravaganza of somethings that mean really nothThe pressing question for physicalists like mying, have become par for the course. It would be self is whether the virtual undermines the physical: easy to classify the gifts we buy on a sliding scale of Does a future that is different from and antagothoughtfulness and necessity. nistic towards one’s present win simply by coming Nevertheless, I’ve kept all my kitschy, sentimen- later? Of course, such a naive notion of deferral tal, mass-produced Hallmark cards. The presence ends only with heat death. Better perhaps to deof a physical object, which has an inherent physi- clare subjectivity king and let individual context cal value, at least partly dispels the feeling that define value and taste. paid virtual gifts retain, namely that the point of a In a panel discussion from last year on “The gift is that someone is willing to buy it for you. By Author in the Age of the Internet” sponsored by taking away the physicality of the Hallmark card, the London Review of Books, Colm Toibin quotes the idea of a paid Facebook gift starts to feel like a New Yorker cartoon—it’s one of the majesties of a cynical acknowledgement of money as metric the internet that I could find this cartoon with a in friendship, and perhaps even a scorn for the simple Google search—in which an older man at thoughtful gift of the past. It’s like getting a birth- a cocktail party says “Of course, that was long ago, day card filled with cash instead of a present—but but at the time it seemed like the present.” Past is then instead of cash you just have a receipt that never mere prologue. says your friend gave money to Facebook. Whenever I explain this to an older person Michael Goodrich is a Trinity senior. His column (for clarity’s sake, let’s settle on an unfortunately runs every other Wednesday.
THE CHRONICLE
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011 | 11
commentaries
Why I don’t teach in North Carolina
L
ast Thursday, I went to bed in Harlem, N.Y. with quences. It is a small part of a larger problem. Simply my pride as a native Tar Heel diminished by put, if there exist barriers to entry for qualified teachthe news that North Carolina was attempting to ers, including discrimination, a less qualified teacher ban gay marriage with a constitutional must be found to take their place. Acamendment. Sadly, the decision to excording to a 2010 McKinsey & Company ile myself from my native state was the study “Buffeted by a chaotic mix of labor jason wagner right one. market trends... and local school district guest column I spent 22 years being educated by and budget dynamics, we have failed to the public schools of Edgecombe Counattract, develop, reward or retain outty, N.C, and later Duke University. And then, degree standing professional teaching talent on a consistent in hand, energetic and ready to change the world, I basis.” left for New York City. I became a public high school According to recent research, cited by McKinsey, English teacher. I’m beginning my 10th year there. I’ve student outcomes are directly linked with a teacher’s never looked back. cognitive ability. The study states: “Top performing naWhen I return home to visit, frequently, friends will tions recruit 100 percent of their new teachers from the ask “Why don’t you teach in North Carolina? You know, top third [of their college classes]. In the U.S., it’s 23 we can always use good teachers here,” they say. percent—and 14 percent in high poverty schools.” I dissemble. I say “Well, New York is an exciting place Can North Carolina afford to maintain barriers to to live in!” True. But it’s also an easier place to live. As qualified teachers? How many of those teachers recruitan out homosexual teacher, New York is more accept- ed by Teach for America to teach in rural North Caroing. Though I have not made my sexual orientation an lina—some of whom happen to be gay or lesbian—will issue in class with students or hung a rainbow flag from stay if they can’t make a life for themselves there? Just the chalkboard, it is nice to know that I can be honest as protections against racial and religious discriminawith my colleagues and supervisor and be accepted. It is tion have been included in North Carolina law, sexual assuring to know I am protected by city and state laws. It orientation should be added. And, if civil unions were took New York, birthplace of the gay rights movement, sanctioned in more North Carolina communities than a frustratingly long time to legalize same-sex marriage, Chapel Hill and Orange County (take a look at their but it happened. And there isn’t a pending referen- average SAT scores), we might find an uptick in teacher dum for a constitutional amendment trying to ban it, as quality. This small policy change will not cure all eduthere is in North Carolina. cational ills, but at least our children will not be handiYes, the pay is better in New York. But just as impor- capped by a legacy of intolerance. tantly, I don’t fear being fired for being gay, which is still I love North Carolina and hope that someday I can possible in North Carolina, with the consistent failure make a life there. But, I, like thousands of internal exto pass a state non-discrimination act that includes sex- patriates choose the liberal clime of New York. I bring ual orientation. In the Bronx, I don’t fear being called knowledge and expertise to the students of the Bronx, into the principal’s office and being told: “Your services not the students of Wilmington or Raleigh. I teach stuare no longer needed here.” dents to read and write well. I teach them not what to I’m sure many citizens of North Carolina, while think, but how to think. I’m not perfect and I’m still reading this, will say, as in the Lynyrd Skynyrd song, “We learning, but I’ve worked hard and my students have don’t want his kind around here anyhow.” I understand benefitted. that sentiment. Gays and lesbians are often less than In this time of uncertainty the strongest defense a visible, and many people feel they can survive without child, a citizen and a family can attain is a great educathem. But they are there and many of them wake up at tion. And the best policy that a government can make is dawn, like so many North Carolina teachers, and are by creating an educational system of excellent teachers. ready in the classroom at 8:00 a.m. for that most essenRemoving barriers to those goals should happen tial job, preparing young people for an adult world. But without hesitation. many of these educators teach and go home, unable to fully participate in their community. Jason Wagner, Trinity ’00, is a former features editor of And what about all of those who decided never to The Chronicle and a high school English teacher in the Bronx, come—or in my case, to stay? The lack of acceptance N.Y. This piece is running in the place of Antonio Segalini’s of homosexuality in North Carolina has serious conse- regularly scheduled column.
lettertotheeditor A response to “A trip down memory lane” You don’t need to wait for a weekend trip to the Duke Homestead to learn about the Duke family or the history of Duke University (although it’s a trip well worth taking), as Antonio Segalini’s recent column, “A trip down memory lane,” suggests. Instead, stop by the soon-to-be-renamed David M. Rubenstein Rare Book and Manuscript Library, where you’ll find the Duke family’s personal archives and the Duke University Archives. If you stacked up all of the historical documents found in the University Archives, you’d have the equivalent of about 54 Duke University Chapel towers—and that doesn’t count the photographs, the digital files and websites, the basketball game films or the top hat that William Preston Few wore to his 1910 presidential inauguration. We can supply “personal tidbits,” too: Ask us about Pompey Ducklegs, the beloved dachshund of Samuel Fox Mordecai, dean of the Law School from 1904 to 1927. As Mr. Segalini writes, it’s your University—and it’s your University Archives. Come and visit. Or, read historical articles on our website (http:// library.duke.edu/uarchives/) and in Duke Magazine; check out 2,000-plus photos of Duke through the years on our Flickr photostream (http://www. flickr.com/photos/dukeyearlook/), or visit our permanent exhibit about Duke’s history in Perkins Library’s Gothic Reading Room. We’re on Face-
book, too (http://www.facebook.com/dukeuniversityarchives). Being dutiful archivists, we need to comment on a few inaccuracies. Washington Duke (our true namesake) moved from his small farm into tobacco manufacturing after the Civil War. During the rise of Jim Crow, the Duke family generously supported African-American colleges, churches and hospitals, including Kittrell College and Durham’s Lincoln Hospital. By the time the Supreme Court dissolved the American Tobacco Company combination in 1911, Washington’s sons, James and Benjamin, were well established in the hydroelectric power industry. Their Southern Power Company (now Duke Power) was the source of the funds that transformed Trinity College into Duke University and supplied the financial means to create the Duke Endowment— which provides ongoing support for Davidson College, Furman University, Johnson C. Smith University and numerous other religious, social service and health care organizations throughout the Carolinas, in addition to Duke. That’s not an attempt to gild a complicated history. Mr. Segalini is perfectly correct that our history—like any history—mingles the good and the bad, and we thank him for encouraging everyone to explore it. Amy McDonald Assistant University Archivist
Grow up already
S
ince the implementation of “Football Gameday,” student responses to the change have ranged from complete indifference to utter outrage. The Chronicle has published more than enough stories on the matter. Many were dissatisfied with Gameday’s inability to fill the shoes of its predecessor, the Tword-that-shall-not-be-named. Others were indignant that the administration squashed a key part of the Duke tradition, albeit rui dai a brief and fairly insignificant ela picture’s worth ement in the greater scheme of things. But in my opinion, Gameday represents a great improvement from Tailgate. Sure, no one had to wade through an inch of beer while a gallon more sprayed all over his or her hair. YouTube did not experience a massive influx of videos showing people puking while other supposed “friends” stood around laughing. For the first time in a long while, many students actually made it to the football game and got back to their dorms without splattering the Main Quad with the contents of their stomachs. I was no fan of Tailgate. It’s true. I am not afraid to admit it. I was one of those who breathed a quiet sigh of relief when the administration announced last year that Tailgate would finally come to an end. After all, Tailgate certainly was not doing much good for Duke’s students or its reputation. Believe it or not, pumping our bodies full of ethanol really does not yield the best sorts of engagement. Although the outside world might appear amused by our incessant need to party, I find it hard to believe that they did not also sneer and gawk at the juxtaposition of our supposed elite university status and the animal-like behavior we exhibited in a cramped parking lot. Has trying to get into college messed with our brains? Should we no longer be trusted with alcohol? Does Duke need to become a completely dry campus? Even as a student, I was seriously tempted to believe so. The last two Gamedays proved me wrong. They were on two wonderfully sunny afternoons, and Duke students were able to enjoy the lovely weather without becoming complete raving lunatics. Until two weeks ago, I had no idea that frat boys were capable of enjoying their beer with the countenance of a Southern gentleman. My experience at Duke until then had always taught me that frat boys plus beer equals “Animal House.” Our behavior at Gameday finally proved that Duke students are more mature than what the media had made us out to be. It appeared as though we really did have the intelligence that makes us one of the top 10 universities in the nation. That is, until the whining started. Maybe it’s because we are creatures of habit and fear any type of change that we do not initiate. Or maybe we’re just spoiled brats who throw tantrums every time Mommy suggests that we need a time-out. But all I could hear were notes of selfpity in the quotes and comments declaring the unjust nature of the cancellation of Tailgate. As a student body, we haven’t even given its alternative a fighting chance. During the week after each Gameday, story after story was published in The Chronicle citing that the transition from Tailgate was under-whelming. By the second football game, four of the 18 groups registered to host cancelled their registration before the event even began. Yet few can actually find anything seriously wrong with the concept of a student group-sanctioned, organized event before a football game except to question its ability to replicate Tailgate’s inclusivity. Really now? Inclusivity? I was under the impression that Tailgate was the one event that was not inclusive. Having girls dress up in flimsy costumes, and giving frat boys a poor excuse to pour beer on them, only exacerbates the complete lack of gender equality that is rampant on this campus. Do we need another embarrassing reminder from the national media that women receive little respect in this Gothic “Wonderland”? The cancellation of Tailgate last year was a good riddance. The fact that the administration had to do it for us was embarrassing enough—need we further prove ourselves as completely immature imbeciles by whining about the change? Grow up. It’s about time. There are better things to do than complain that we no longer have the opportunity to flood a parking lot with beer. Rui Dai is a Trinity junior. Her column runs every other Wednesday.
12 | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011
THE CHRONICLE
RENOVATIONS from page 1 Center after the Board votes. “We have not talked to students in any formal way,” he said. “We’ve had very modest, preliminary conversations.” When Moneta came to Duke 10 years ago, the LGBT center was housed inside of the Flowers Building and the Mary Lou Williams Center was in the LGBT center’s current location. “We have a track record that when there is a relocation, it gets better,” Moneta said. “My commitment is that wherever the centers end up, it will not be a step backwards.” President of Blue Devils United Ari Bar-Mashiah, a senior, said he was informed of the LGBT center’s eventual move as an employee of the center—not as BDU president. Sophomore Jacob Tobia, DSG director of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer policy and affairs, was notified about the center’s move in a meeting with Moneta Sept. 9. “After the Board approves the West Union plan... that’s when the administration will reach out to the black and queer community with options as to where they will move,”
the DUKE
Tobia said. “Only a few students have been included in this process up until now.” BSA Executive Vice President Marcus Benning, a sophomore, said he has met with Steve Nowicki, dean and vice provost for undergraduate education, to discuss the proposed move for the Mary Lou Williams Center. Nowicki has encouraged students to voice their opinions about the location changes. “Nowicki said that he charges [students affected by the location changes] to hold his feet to the fire concerning the administration gauging student input about where the Mary Lou will be,” Benning said. “Students feel as if since these are our student cultural centers, we should be the ones deciding where they should be. It should not be in the hands of a few administrators.” Bar-Mashiah said he is hopeful that the LGBT Center will be moved to a location that is also on West Campus, adding that the center’s current location is great for any student who wants to drop in to talk or look for a place to study. “We don’t want to lose the community we have because of the space,” Bar-Mashiah said. “We don’t want to feel as if we are tucked away for people who may need the center’s resources.”
CAREER CENTER presents
The Fannie Mitchell
EXPERT
IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM
GAYLE LAAKMAN MCDOWELL featuring
founder and CEO of CareerCup.com and the author of Cracking the Coding Interview and The Google Resume
Topic: Followed by small group advising sessions on Friday, September 23 at the Career Center in Smith Warehouse Bay 5.
“Cracking the Coding Interview” Thursday, September 22
5:30-6:30 pm
Sign-up in eRecruiting, search Gayle Laakman McDowell.
JEFF WEISS
T’94, Senior Director for Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) at the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR)
Hudson 207 and
Topic
REBECCA ROSEN
Republican Professional Staff Member and Advisor to Senator Lisa Murkowski, on the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee
Careers Related to Government, International Affairs and the Environment Individual advising sessions and Brown Bag Lunch with Jeff Weiss & Rebecca Rosen Monday, September 26 Sessions 9:30-11:30 am, 1:30-3:30 pm and Group Lunch 12-1 pm Career Center, Smith Warehouse Bay 5, 2nd floor
CONDUCT from page 1 added that he did not expect the policy to cause any backlash, but admitted that he implemented the policy without student contribution. “It has always been our prerogative to extend accountability to anyone we thought was accountable— we’ve just never been transparent about it,” Moneta said. “It was never our intent to slide policy in under the door or around students.” He noted that the policy was previously unwritten because it was considered to be “common sense,” but he decided it needed to be made known to students. It is impossible to predict every potential behavioral choice that a student could make and apply a consequence, Moneta said. “The standard could be 10 times its current size,” he said. “There’s a portion that one should assume is guided by reason.” Senior Ollie Wilson, chair of the Council for Collaborative Action, gathered opinions from various student leaders after learning of the accountability policy. He said the general consensus is that leaders are concerned that they will always be held responsible if a member of their group exercises poor judgment, regardless of the circumstances. Moneta said student leaders would never be held responsible for a group member’s action if they were not involved, just as practiced before. “I don’t have a lot of sympathy for the person who says, ‘I wouldn’t have run for office if I didn’t know I would be held accountable,’” Moneta said. “Leadership without accountability is not leadership.” Schork said he agrees that the policy makes sense in certain cases, but the language is vague and does not fully explain the circumstances under which this rule would be applied. Student input could have prevented confusion, he added. The official policy states, “The University reserves the right to hold elected student leaders accountable individually for violations of University expectations by members of their group for group activities.” If the policy is written ambiguously because it depends so heavily on particular circumstances, Wilson noted, then it should not be written. Typically, changes to student conduct originate in an ad hoc committee of various academic leaders and student representatives who meet once or twice a year, Moneta said. Discussion surrounding this policy, however, did not begin until this summer, long after the group’s Spring meeting, which Schork attended. Junior Gurdane Bhutani, DSG executive vice president and member of the group, said he first heard of the policy earlier this month in a mass email from the Office of Student Conduct, which was sent to inform students of the change. He noted that Moneta is not required by University bylaws to go through students before enacting policy. The lack of student consultation contributed to the backlash from student leaders. “We objected to how this was implemented,” Schork said. “We wanted student leaders to provide feedback on the actual policy and to have the opportunity to raise objections.” Bhutani said the student advisory group, which is made up of solely students, is meeting this Friday with Stephen Bryan, associate dean of students and director of the Office of Student Conduct. Bhutani added that he expects the group will discuss this policy at the meeting. Bryan deferred all comments to Moneta. Moneta said he is open to consultation and possible changes to the policy’s language, adding that his office is continually trying to improve communication between students and administrators. Moneta said he will not be attending the advisory meeting Friday and expects Bryan to brief him on the results. “There are hundreds of student advisory groups,” Moneta said. “I don’t entirely care what the specific language [of the policy] will be.... It’s a bigger issue than it deserves.”
Sign-up in eRecruiting, search Jeff Weiss or Rebecca Rosen. Group lunch registration is under Jeff Weiss’ name. The Expert in Residence Program features accomplished professionals to share specialized knowledge and provide career advice to students. Open to all undergraduate, graduate and professional students
www.studentaffairs.duke.edu/career
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