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, OCTOBER 3, 2012
ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTH YEAR, ISSUE 30
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Expanded McDonald House opens Algorithm picks who gets what Guide details allocating scarce drugs ethically by Jack Mercola THE CHRONICLE
board of trustees and owner of the Bryan Center McDonald’s restaurant, spoke to a crowd of about 275 people about the expansion and what it would mean to the community. “We believe that when you change a
As certain pharmaceuticals are becoming increasingly scarce, hospitals should create fair and consistent policies to decide how to apportion limited drugs to patients, said Dr. Phillip Rosoff, director of Duke Hospital’s clinical ethics program. In response to shrinking supply in the profit-driven pharmaceutical industry, an interdisciplinary group at Duke Hospital drafted a policy that allocates scarce drugs based on fairness and equity for all patients. The policy uses mathematical models and algorithms to determine a patient’s priority in receiving drug treatment. Since the Hospital adopted the new policy a year and a half ago, the program has largely been successful, noted Rosoff, lead author of the policy. “If there is not enough of an effective agent to go around, some people are going to go without it and some people are going to get it,” he said. “Our goal was
SEE MCDONALD ON PAGE 3
SEE DRUGS ON PAGE 4
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At the opening ceremony for the newly expanded Ronald McDonald House of Durham Tuesday, Angela Angelina, a former patient who stayed at the house, cut the ribbon. Other local leaders, such as Mayor Bill Bell and Gov. Bev Purdue, attended the event. by Michelle Menchaca THE CHRONICLE
The Ronald McDonald House of Durham celebrated its completed expansion with a special ribbon cutting ceremony Tuesday. Volunteers and staff celebrated a 25,000 sq-ft. addition to the Ronald McDonald House—a long-term residence for families of
critically ill children during their treatment in the Duke Children’s Hospital. Started in 2011, the $6.8 million project has increased the amount of bedrooms from 29 to 55. The expansion is intended to accommodate more families who must travel great lengths to get treatment for their children. Ric Richards, president of the house’s
WOMEN’S SOCCER
Med School center This year, junior Weinberg nears completion leads Duke soccer in goals by Andrew Luo THE CHRONICLE
Classes in the Medical School’s newest building will emphasize flexibility and collaboration. The Mary Duke Biddle Trent Semans Center for Health Education will open its doors for classes in January. Construction of the six-story building is nearing completion, and the facility will be located in the heart of the medical school campus, next to the Seeley G. Mudd Building and the Duke Cancer Center. The new facility will include a 400seat great hall on the ground level, a 140-seat amphitheater and six networked teaching
labs with retracting walls on the third floor. The building was initially funded with $35 million from the Charlotte-based Duke Endowment. “The Trent Semans Center was built because we needed a space that was of the same quality as the educational program that we are delivering at Duke,” said Dr. Edward Buckley, vice dean for medical education. “We tried to design a building that had multiple functionalities, that can accommodate any need that may arise.” The design of the Trent SEE CENTER ON PAGE 6
Golf ties for fourth in Fighting Illini Invitational, Page 7
by Matt Pun THE CHRONICLE
Laura Weinberg has always had a knack for finding the back of the net. And this year, despite playing on a front line that’s been missing players due to national team commitments and injuries throughout the season, the junior has been scoring at an even quicker pace— just under a goal a game. “Her attacking mentality has been outstanding,” head coach Robbie Church said. “She’s been a lot more consistent this year running at players, staying wide, being able to take players on… and getting serves in. So, as a coach,
you really appreciate the growth in her, and that comes from hard work.” Weinberg, who is tied for ninth in the NCAA in goals per game this year, already had a taste of national recognition for her offensive talent before even arriving at Duke. As a high school freshman, the Boca Raton, Fla. native scored 24 goals to lead St. Andrew’s School to its first state championship. Her continued success as a sophomore for the Scots earned her a feature in the Feb. 18, 2008 issue of Sports Illustrated’s “Faces in the Crowd” section.
ELYSIA SU/THE CHRONICLE
SEE WEINBERG ON PAGE 8
Weinberg has scored just under one goal per game this season.
ONTHERECORD
“Since I can’t do normal adult things like drink and interact with human people, I’ve tried taking up some adult hobbies....” —Lindsay Tomson in “Peter Pan syndome.” See column page 11
Former Pentagon official talks foreign policy, Page 2
2 | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2012
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On foreign policy: Q&A with Michele Flournoy Michele Flournoy, former under secretary of defense for policy, played an influential role in formulating defense policy in President Barack Obama’s administration. During her time as under secretary, she contributed to policy developments regarding the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the intervention in Libya and the American response to the Arab Spring. While she was visiting Duke to give a lecture Sept. 27, Flournoy spoke with The Chronicle’s Samantha Brooks about foreign policy decisions, maintaining a strong military in times of tight budget constraints and her experience as a female leader in the Pentagon. The Chronicle: What was the calculus within the Obama administration for intervening in Libya? How was that different from Syria, where the uprising against the dictatorial Assad regime continues? Michele Flournoy: In the case of Libya, you had a situation where clearly there was an imminent threat to tens of thousands of civilians in Benghazi. You had our European friends calling for international intervention. Very importantly, you had the Arab League, the surrounding neighboring states calling for intervention and then you had the resolution on the part of the U.N. Security Council authorizing international intervention to prevent the killing of civilians and so forth. We also had an invitation basically from the opposition saying, “Please come to our aid.” So, there was very strong internal and external consensus. The Syria situation is much more complex and difficult in the sense that you have a divided opposition, you have a division of opinion on the part of the surrounding countries as to whether
they want any outside intervention, you have Russia and China clearly opposing any U.N. sanctioning of any intervention and you have a much more capable military on the ground. It is less clear in the case of Syria whether an intervention would actually help the situation or whether it would make it worse. Instead, the Obama administration has focused on providing humanitarian assistance to the Syrian people on the ground, pressuring the Assad regime to step down through sanctions and other pressure and working with the opposition so they can build their cohesion. [This way], they can provide a viable alternative to the regime and present a transition plan that actually allows people to change sides and jump on board a new government. TC: How much does pressure from other nations versus what’s taking place within a country affect the U.S. approach to the situation? MF: Whenever you’re thinking about intervention you really have to have a sense of clarity about the mission and how the intervention will actually get you to a better position over time. Again, in Syria, the opposition has not wanted outside military intervention, they wanted support. I think the administration along with several of our international partners are providing that. But it’s always a combination of factors, and each case is unique. I think the administration has had a consistent, principled approach to the Arab Spring, but the truth is each of these countries is in a unique situation and our policy has to be tailored to a case-by-case basis.
TC: What was your experience working with President Obama? What is his leadership style? How does he make decisions? MF: I think he’s an extraordinary leader and an extraordinary commander in chief. He is extremely deliberate in his decisionmaking. He is capable of being decisive, but he is someone who wants to get all points of view and as many facts on the table before he makes a decision. If you’re in the back of the room and you have a scowl on your face because you are concentrating or disagree on something, he will find the person who looks like they don’t agree and solicit dissent. He’ll say, ‘You look like you don’t agree with what the consensus is, tell me what your thoughts are.’ He seeks out that different point of view and creates space for people to speak up and tell him if they think he is about to make a mistake. I think that’s yielded better and smarter decision-making. TC: Has the pressure in the office grown as the elections have drawn closer? MF: I left office in February, so I’m a little dated in my experience, but my experience with the president is that he really tried to keep the election pressures in context and at bay when he was making national security decisions. He really tries to focus on what’s the right thing to protect and advance the American interest, what’s the right thing to be true to our values, how do we sustain our leadership position in the world, and I didn’t see him factoring election politics into those decisions when he’s wearing his commander in chief hat. TC: What was it like to be a
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Michele Flournoy, former under secretary of defense for policy, spoke with The Chronicle about working with President Barack Obama and American foreign policy. female leader in the Defense Department? Did you ever feel treated differently because you are a woman? MF: It was a wonderful experience. The good news is there are more and more women taking leadership positions. When I was in the Clinton administration in the Pentagon, we could fit all the women leaders around a small dining table. Now we would overflow the dining room. So progress has been made. I felt very much a welcomed part of the secretary’s team, and it was an extraordinary experience. TC: Have you ever felt like you were treated differently in your career because of your gender? MF: Well, you have to get used to being the only woman in the room and unfortunately that’s still the case in certain circles, but you just have to not mind it and if someone else has an issue with it, it’s their problem, not yours. And certainly in this administration, I didn’t have any experience where
my gender was at all an issue in terms of my ability to do my job. TC: How will U.S. strategy have to change in an era of ever tightening fiscal constraints? MF: Given the pressures that we face and given the fact that we’re going to have to constrain spending to reach a budget deal and a deficit deal in order to move this country forward, it really puts an emphasis on being clear about your priorities. We can’t do everything, we can’t be everywhere, and we can’t invest equally in everything, so you have to place your bets. One of the things President Obama has been clear about is that as we come out of this decade of war [in Afghanistan and Iraq], we have to place our focus. He’s really made the argument that in terms of driving the future of our economic prosperity and a lot of the dynamics in the world, Asia Pacific is going to be the number one region of interest to us. Now SEE FLOURNOY ON PAGE 5
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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2012 | 3
Romney suffers from ‘47 percent’ comment by Philip Rucker THE WASHINGTON POST
SIMPLY THE BEST!
DENVER — Everybody watching this weekend’s Redskins game saw the ad featuring Mitt Romney saying it. In focus groups, pollsters only have to say “47 percent” for voters to know what they’re talking about. And lest anyone in Ohio or Florida or Virginia forget, President Barack Obama reminds them at each of his campaign stops. The remarks in question were, as most of the country now knows, uttered by Romney in May to wealthy donors at a private fundraiser, at which he said that 47 percent of Americans will support Obama’s re-election and are government freeloaders who pay no income taxes, see themselves as “victims” and can’t be persuaded to “take personal responsibility and care for their lives.” In the two weeks since a surreptitious video of the remarks surfaced, they have pierced the national consciousness in a way that few blunders do. In the closing stretch of the presidential campaign, the moment has become a defining element of Romney’s candidacy. And on Wednesday, the 47 percent issue is likely to come to the fore in an even more pronounced way, during the first presidential debate. Romney’s advisers— who acknowledge that the moment has hurt the Republican nominee among independent voters in battleground states —said he has rehearsed debate answers in which he argues that he is for “the 100 percent” and that his policy prescrip-
tions would help the growing number of Americans under Obama’s presidency who are struggling to find work or living on food stamps. “We wouldn’t be surprised, obviously, if that came up in the debate, and the governor’s prepared, obviously, to respond to that,” senior adviser Ed Gillespie told reporters Monday. “We believe the voters will see and appreciate the fact that what Governor Romney’s talking about would improve the quality of life for 100 percent of Americans.” Ticking through a slew of economic statistics that make up the Republican indictment of Obama, Gillespie previewed Romney’s message: that he is running to help the 23 million Americans who are struggling to get jobs, the one in six who find themselves in poverty, the additional 15 million now relying on food stamps and the 50 percent of college graduates who cannot find employment. But before Romney has a chance to say all that, his “47 percent” has already taken a toll, strategists in both parties said. The comments go to the heart of the way Obama is trying to define the race: not as a referendum on his stewardship of the economy, but as a choice between a president who fights for the middle class and a candidate who fights for the few. “The Obama guys are pouring the coals on this on TV and driving it,” Republican strategist Alex Castellanos said. SEE ROMNEY ON PAGE 4
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MCDONALD from page 1 child’s life, you change a family’s, which can change a community and ultimately the world,” he said. Distinguished guests at the ceremony included North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue, Duke University Hospital representatives, community leaders and members of the Ronald McDonald House board. The Durham House opened in 1980 and was the first of its kind in North Carolina. Although the name Ronald McDonald is typically associated with fast food, critically ill children and their families associate the name with a place that fosters solace and support during treatment, Richards said. The celebration acknowledged all the hard work and fundraising that went into making the renovation possible. With tears in his eyes, Richards thanked those who pitched in and made the expansion possible. “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the guidance and steadfast love of my family,” he said. “You know how much this house means to me and I thank you for this gift… I love you all.” The expansion increased space at the house from 16,000 square feet to 41,000 square feet and included upgrades, such as the addition of a chapel, learning center, computer room, reading nook, play area and community boardroom. Although it cost $6.8 million to make the renovations, more work is to be done. The house hopes to raise another $750,000 in order to continue renovating the kitchen, living room and main entrance. Perdue noted the importance of the house for the families of children receiving long-term care. “To have a place like this instead of having to stay in a hotel is really, really special,” she said.
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Members of the community attend the opening of the newly expanded Ronald McDonald House of Durham Monday. After opening remarks, Angel Angelina, a former patient whose family stayed the house, cut the ribbon. Guests were then invited inside for refreshments and a tour of the house. House staff member Nancy Jones, who helped run the ribbon cutting ceremony, noted that this is one of the most meaningful jobs she has ever had. “Seeing the difference this house and the volunteers make for the families during this difficult time is so special,” she said. The Clarks, a family whose prematurely born daughter had to stay at Duke Hospital to receive treatment, said the house helped them get through a difficult time. Zandra Clark noted the support the house offered her family amid the challenges presented by her daughter’s health issues. “We would not have maintained our home, sanity or the parental care our daughter needed [without the house],” she noted.
German Campus Week October 4 - 11, 2012 Organized by the Duke German Department
***All events start at 6:00 pm and include refreshments*** Thursday, 10/4 in the Mary Duke Biddle Rare Book Room in Perkins Library y Opening reception with German Americana rare books showcase and Q&A session about student projects with rare books
Monday, 10/8 in the Alumni Room, Divinity School y Welcome celebration with remarks from a German embassy representative & Duke University Dean of Humanities, Peter Burian y Prizes for poster competition winners! Tuesday, 10/9 in the Sauer Classroom, Fuqua School y Interactive presentation on transnational business with the German marketing firm H,T,P, Concept y Information session on internships facilitated by the Duke German department Wednesday, 10/10 in Old Chem 116 y Roundtable discussion with German business representatives from the NC area & Duke professors from various disciplines: “Germany as a Gateway to the World” Thursday, 10/11 in Old Chem 116 – at 5:00pm !!! – y Student presentations: “Think Transatlantic: Challenges and Solutions” y Prizes for essay competition winners!
_____________ For more info visit: http://german.duke.edu/news-events/german-campus-week http://www.facebook.com/german.duke.edu Sponsored by: Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany (Washington, DC)
4 | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2012
DRUGS from page 1 to create a policy to allocate the dwindling supplies that we have in the most fair process that is possible.” In a fair process, there should be no “special” patients who have priority on receiving drugs for unethical reasons, Rosoff said. Unethical reasons that sometimes result in patients receiving drug priority include ability to pay, personal connections at the hospital, hospital donor status and relative clout of doctors. “Similar situations must be treated similarly,” Rosoff added. “Two people who are medically similar—say even an undocumented immigrant with no medical insurance and a major hospital donor—who have an equal chance of benefitting from a drug should have an equal opportunity to access that drug. That was our bedrock principle.” Many pharmaceutical producers have recently shrunk their supply for business reasons, though demand for pharmaceuticals has remained constant, he said. The industries for generic intravenous drugs and chemotherapeutic agents have taken the largest hit because those drugs are expensive to produce and only generate large profits if they are sold in very high volumes. Complicated single-producer drugs are also at risk for supply shock when their patents expire, Rosoff added. “Companies are making decisions based on what is most profitable,” said Dr. Kuldip Patel, associate chief pharmacy officer and co-author of the policy. The interdisciplinary team consisted of practicing physicians, pharmaceutical specialists and medical ethics specialists.
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It considered five main principles in drafting the policy, a process that started about two years ago, Rosoff said. The policy must be completely transparent and have no secrets. There must be a way to enforce all parts of the policy. There should be a mechanism for altering the policy if needed. There should be an appeals process in which both patients and doctors have a path to appeal apportioning decisions. And the policy should be completely fair, he said. Although each case of scarcity is unique, the policy outlines a general model. According to an article published in the Archives of Internal Medicine Sept. 24, when a hospital’s central pharmacy notices a “critical” shortage of the drug, an immediate inventory of the drug is taken. Additionally, a memorandum is sent to an allocation committee that offers advice in making a prioritization tree and conserving the drug. This early reaction to a shortage is what makes the policy so effective, Patel said. Some conservation methods include scheduling patients who need the same intravenous drug in the same session so leftovers can be put in a single vial and only administering scarce drugs for uses which are Food and Drug Administration-approved, meaning that a breast cancer drug would not be used to treat other forms of cancer unless extensive research is published proving the drug is useful in both instances. Patel noted that extensive algorithms are used when creating the priority tree for a specific drug. There are a number of variables at play and it is difficult to single out a specific factor, such as patient age, as a dominating variable. In some critical shortage cases, prior-
ity has been given to patients who can most be readily cured by the drug, existing patients and new patients from the immediate referral region surrounding Duke Hospital. “We have mostly avoided what we call a ‘tragic choice,’ meaning where we have one dose of drug and two patients who can equally benefit from it,” Rosoff said. “In that case, necessarily, one patient who really needs it gets it and the other does not get it, [but] we have not faced that situation.” Rosoff added that the policy has not taken any criticism yet, but he said he believes it will when the hospital does inevitably have to make a “tragic choice.” He also said he sees Duke Hospital as a role model for other hospitals concerning drug-apportioning policy. “In terms of publication, we’re the only one out there,” he said. “Every hospital in the country has to deal with this in one way or another, and I think that we are at the forefront for standardizing this and certainly publicizing it. Hopefully this policy will serve as a guide to other institutions to show this is a workable and reasonably successful way to approach this problem.” But Duke Hospital is somewhat unique because of the extensiveness of its pharmacy, Patel noted. Duke’s pharmacy has the ability, in some—but not all—cases, to purchase raw materials and produce scarce drugs on-site, if need be. This gives Duke a leg up against some smaller hospitals that do not have this privilege. “You’re sick and a particular drug can help you? That’s all that matters,” Rosoff said. “That’s how we’re supposed to treat everybody here.”
ROMNEY from page 3 “You inform with reason, and you persuade with emotion. They’ve made the rational case that Romney’s policies would hurt the middle class, and this is the emotional counterpart.” Castellanos, who advised Romney’s 2008 campaign but is not affiliated with his current one, said there is reason for the Republican’s team to be alarmed. “The only thing in politics that is worse than voters deciding that they don’t like you is when voters decide you don’t like them,” he said. The Obama campaign has widely circulated a television ad that shows images of factory workers, veterans and families against audio of Romney’s 47 percent comments. The spot has a significant footprint, airing across each battleground state in nearly every local television market where the Obama campaign is doing any advertising. It is being shown not only during newscasts but also during such mainstream network programming as NFL games and “Saturday Night Live,” according to CMAG Kantar Media. Romney’s comments about the 47 percent are weighing him down with voters, according to recent polls. Almost six in 10 voters nationally say that as president, he would do more to favor the wealthy than the middle class, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll released Monday. Specifically regarding the remarks, respondents to a Post-ABC poll from last week were displeased with Romney’s viewpoint: Fifty-four percent had an unfavorable impression of his comments, compared with 32 percent who had a favorable view.
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FLOURNOY from page 2
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2012 | 5
New opportunities
it doesn’t mean that we’re going to withdraw or turn our back on the Middle East, or turn our back on our NATO allies, but we need to be putting more strategic focus on Asia Pacific given its importance and I think that’s been a clear part of the president’s strategy. TC: Will it be feasible or worthwhile to maintain the current numbers of troops stationed around the world? MF: There will be a withdrawal in Afghanistan, certainly, as we get to the point of transition in 2014. There will probably be a small residual force still there to help the Afghans with their training in counterterrorism. I don’t think you’ll see lots of American forces or additional American forces permanently stationed around the world, but I think what you will see in our interest to be present is a lot of rotational forces—forces visiting regions, going and training with partners or conducting training exercises with allies and then rotating back out. And that’s a good thing for the United States because the more present we are, the more engaged we are, the more we can be a force for the stability that really underlies our economic dynamism. TC: Will we see a shift toward more tactical exercises of force, such as drone strikes? MF: I think that the president has lead an extremely effective counterterrorism campaign against al Qaeda, and in the Afghanistan and Pakistan region the pressure is so severe that they are mainly focused on their own survival opposed to any plotting against the United States homeland. Drone strikes have been necessary where the U.S. has not had an adequately willing or capable counterterrorism partner on the ground, a country that can really assert its sovereignty or its territory and really take care of the problem itself. In general, our preferred approach is to partner with another country and build up their capacity to really take control of their own territory and deny a safe haven to terrorists in their home territory. But again, where that’s not possible and where there are imminent threats to the United States, active plotting going on, sometime unilateral measures are necessary. I don’t think that they will necessarily increase. We could actually get to a tipping point with al Qaeda’s leadership that you’ve so decimated the ranks that that kind of pressure is no longer necessary, and I certainly hope that that is what takes place. TC: If another conflict with a threat level similar to al Qaeda arises, will this be the next approach, or do you plan to continue to stress partnerships? MF: I think the emphasis will be on building the capacity with partners, for them to be able to deal with terrorist organizations on their soils. These unilateral kinetic measures are only when that’s the only way to deal with an imminent threat, when you don’t have other options. TC: What was your role in planning the raid that led to killing Osama bin Laden? MF: My role was supporting Secretary of Defense Robert Gates in his participation in the National Security Council deliberations. When the raid actually occurred you can imagine there was a lot of engagement that had to happen: telling the Pakistanis, telling the Afghans, informing Congress, informing our allies. I was very much apart of again supporting Secretary Gates in his role in that dimension. TC: In such extreme cases, how do you manage the relations with the other nations involved? MF: In the case of the bin Laden raid, the secrecy around the operation was extreme given who Osama bin Laden was, given the risk that he would flee if any information leaked out, and so it was very tightly held as a planning effort. As soon as possible, outreach was made to all of the countries that were involved, first and foremost Pakistan. It was a very tough decision for the president to decide whether or not to involve Pakistan in the front end. On the one hand, they’ve been a very important ally in the counterterrorism efforts in some cases, but we’ve also had numerous experiences when sharing information with them had lead to loss of control of that information inside our own intelligence services or premature action on their part that was not very successful. In this case, given the stakes, the president chose to take U.S.-only action knowing that that would be challenging for U.S.-Pakistan relationship, and I think we’ve been working through that and other tensions in that relationship to get back to a solid partnership.
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GANO, Gente Aprendiendo para Nuevas Oportunidades, is a volunteer organization through which Duke students teach English as a second language to Latino adults in Durham.
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CENTER from page 1
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The Mary Duke Biddle Trent Semans Center for Health Education, which will open to medical students in January, is designed to suit the collaborative nature of the School of Medicine’s evolving curriculum.
DUKE UNIVERSITY DUKE UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEM office of the vice-president for institutional equity
Dear Duke Students: As members of the Duke community, we share common values of respect, inclusion and excellence. As Vice-President for Institutional Equity, I and my office are committed to encouraging and supporting these values. We appreciate and understand that our best work is accomplished when our community values are woven throughout our day-to-day experiences. One of the ways our community values are demonstrated is through the manner in which we engage with one another. Each member of our community should be treated with respect and dignity. Harassment of any kind is unacceptable and conflicts with our sense of community.
Semans Center is flexible in order to accommodate changes in the nature of medical education in coming years, Buckley said. In the amphitheater, the movable chairs allow students to work on small group activities in a large space. Additionally, although there is one large hall that can fit 400 people, the room is adjustable to form smaller rooms for fewer people. There are also small discussion rooms in which groups of 10 to 15 students can gather to study. Medical school classes, which have traditionally been lecture-based, are making a transition toward teamwork-style learning. By having movable walls that can form varying classroom sizes, students can break off into groups to work and discuss projects together. The design of TSCHE invites collaboration among medical students, said Dr. Linton Yee, one of the course directors for Body and Disease, a first-year medical school course that will be taught in TSCHE. “Rather than having professors present material, students can spend more time reviewing problems together,” he said. “It’s a more effective way of utilizing class time.” Another class that will be moving into TSCHE in January is Brain and Behavior, a first-year course that introduces human neuro-anatomy. The class, which involves the study of human brains obtained at autopsy, will be better equipped in rooms in the TSCHE building, said Leonard White, associate professor and director of education for the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences. “When we are studying human tissue samples such as the brain, we would want a place that has proper ventilation and proper surfaces for displaying them,” White said. “The Trent Semans building will accommodate these needs, while providing other tools such as wireless connection and projectors.” The opening of TSCHE will offer a central gathering spot for medical students, like the Link in Perkins Library, Buckley added. The design of the building facilitates communication between medical students and faculty. This, in turn, fosters the hidden curriculum of medical school, which occurs when people come together to discuss their ideas. “I’m definitely excited to move in there,” Yee said. “It makes the medical school more unified, and incoming first-year students will be able to interact with graduating senior students.”
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As Vice-President for Institutional Equity, I also serve as the Duke University Title IX Coordinator. Title IX is a federal law that prohibits sex discrimination at educational institutions receiving federal funds. As the Title IX Coordinator, I am responsible for implementation and administration of Duke’s nondiscrimination and harassment policies, which support Duke’s commitment to learning and work environments that are respectful and inclusive. It is my hope and expectation that you will never encounter conduct that is inappropriate or harassing. Nonetheless, should you ever feel you have been subjected to such conduct, do not hesitate to seek help. Undergraduate students can contact Stephen Bryan, Associate Dean of Students and Director of the Office of Student Conduct, at (919) 684-6938 or conduct@duke.edu. If you are a graduate or professional student, you can contact your respective school dean or department chair.
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You can always contact me directly. My office telephone number is (919) 684-8222 and we are located at Smith Warehouse, 114 S. Buchanan Blvd., Bay 8, Durham, North Carolina 27708. Please visit our departmental website for more detailed information at www.duke.edu/web/equity. Many wishes for a successful year. Sincerely,
qduke.com Benjamin D. Reese, Jr., Psy.D. Vice-President for Institutional Equity
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WEDNESDAY October 3, 2012
Check out the sports blog for quick hits from Duke football head coach David Cutcliffe’s weekly media luncheon Tuesday.
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FOOTBALL
NCAA needs to use its head Byas earns ACC honors from Staff Reports THE CHRONICLE
Jordon Byas had the game of his career Saturday against Wake Forest, recording his first career interception and a career-high 11 tackles. The conference named the redshirt senior the ACC Defensive Back of the Week as a reward for his performance. Byas missed Duke’s first three games of the season after knee surgery, but has started the two contests since, accumulating 17 tackles in the team’s wins against Memphis and Wake Forest. “He is a coach’s player,” head coach David Cutcliffe said at his weekly press conference Tuesday. “You get a productive safety out of our system, and they can be a good pro player.” Byas is the second Blue Devil this season to earn the award after fellow defensive back Ross Cockrell earned Defensive Back of the Week honors following his two-interception game against N.C. Central earlier in the season. Senior wide receiver Conner Vernon is the only other Duke player to earn ACC honors thus far.
KEVIN SHAMIEH/THE CHRONICLE
Freshman Jela Duncan lost his helmet after a reception this past weekend when Wake Forest linebacker Justin Jackson ripped it off. The beginning of the 2012 NFL season was overshadowed by a high-profile labor dispute with its referees, creating an unusual emphasis on officiating. As faulty replacement officials altered the outcomes of games at the professional level, college football’s officiating crews are forced to make controversial decisions of their own in order to protect players against debilitating head injuries, much to the dismay of players and coaches. One of the more noticeable adjustDaniel ments the NCAA has made this season is to kickoffs, often considered one of the most dangerous plays in football. For the first time, kickoffs at the collegiate level were moved up to the 35-yard line and touchbacks were moved from the 20 to the 25-yard line to encourage players to take a touchback rather than return the kick. A subtler rule change, however, requires a player whose helmet comes off in the course of play to leave
Carp
On Football
the field for one play before returning. Although this occurs infrequently, the rule has been met with mixed reviews for slowing the game down. “I think they thought that players weren’t wearing it strapped up or not fitting it properly, but I don’t think that’s the case,” Duke head coach David Cutcliffe said during his weekly media luncheon on Sept. 18. “The few coaches I’ve talked to about it feel like I do. It’s not a very reasonable rule. I don’t think it has anything to do with player safety, taking him out of the game.” Little did Cutcliffe know, his team would have to deal with this rule last Saturday and the results could have been costly. Searching for its first win against Wake Forest since 1999, freshman Jela Duncan had an opportunity to score his first career touchdown for Duke and extend his team’s lead to two scores in the process. Catching a swing pass in the flat from redshirt senior quarterback SEE CARP ON PAGE 8
MEN’S GOLF
Duke ties for fourth in Fighting Illini Invitational by Jackie Klauberg THE CHRONICLE
Sometimes you can tell a hole-in-one by sound, not sight. And Blue Devil head coach Jamie Green knows a hole-inone when he hears it. “I was a hole behind. I was walking with another player behind him and we looked up onto the green and heard a pretty loud roar,” Green said. “You know the sound of a cheer of a hole-in-one…. We looked up there and saw lots of arms raised.” Adam Sumrall scored a hole-in-one in his second round of play at the Fighting Illini Invitational in Olympia Fields, Ill. The South Bend, Ind. native recorded his second ace in tournament play for Duke, helping his team to a fourth place finish overall. Fellow Duke senior Brinson Paolini finished the tournament tied for second place, five shots behind the winner, Stan-
ford’s Patrick Rodgers, who also won the Invitational last year as a freshman. Rodgers was the only player to finish the tournament under par, finishing with a 3-under-par 207. Paolini, who was paired with Rodgers in the final round of play, finished the tournament with a 2-over-par 212. Green noted that playing alongside the tournament leader is no easy feat. “Neither of them could do anything about the other guy, nor did they know how anyone else stood at that time,” Green said. “But to watch the guy with you get two, three or even four shots ahead, that’s definitely depressing.” Duke senior Julian Suri finished just two shots behind Paolini to earn himself a seventh-place finish with a 4-over-par 214. The Blue Devils, who finished tied with Stanford in fourth place with a 33-over-par 873, played consistently throughout SEE M. GOLF ON PAGE 8
KEVIN SHAMIEH/THE CHRONICLE
Byas recorded his first career interception and 11 tackles at Wake Forest.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Randle not to consider Duke from Staff Reports THE CHRONICLE
Julius Randle, the top-ranked forward in the class of 2013, is now down to six schools, and Duke is not one of them. Rated the No. 2 overall recruit by ESPN.com, Randle’s list is down to Kentucky, Florida, Oklahoma, N.C. State, Florida and Texas, according to a tweet from ESPN college basketball recruiting analyst Dave Telep. The news comes as a surprise since Duke was believed to be heavily in the mix for the 6-foot-9 power forward. Randle is AAU teammates with Matt Jones, who is already committed to Duke and is a member of the 2013 recruiting class. With Randle off the board, Duke basketball head coach Mike Krzyzewski still has two targets in this year’s recruiting class—Jabari Parker and Austin Nichols. Nichols is a 6-foot-8 power forward and the No. 11 overall recruit in the class, and he is scheduled to make his official visit to Duke this weekend. Parker, the No. 1 overall recruit in the class, is scheduled to visit Durham the weekend of Oct. 27 for his official trip.
8 | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2012
WEINBERG from page 1 “Her attacking mentality was something we saw as a youth player,” Church said. “Her teams were not really great teams that she played on… but she just stood out…. Our program at that time was kind of wrapped up at sixth, seventh, eighth in the ACC. To get to the upper echelon, we had to be more athletic, so she provided us with that. And she provided an attacking mentality for us.” Weinberg’s transition to the ACC did not slow down her offensive output. As a freshman, she led the Blue Devils with 10 goals, including two game-winners. And last season, Weinberg—sharing the load with double-digit goal scorers junior Mollie Pathman and sophomore Kelly Cobb— registered another eight goals. This year, the forward has taken her consistent offensive output to an even higher level, scoring 11 goals in Duke’s 12 games. Referred to as “a sniper in front of the goal” by Church, Weinberg has also greatly improved her accuracy, shooting a .216 percentage in comparison to her career average of .134. “When I was a freshman, I didn’t know
CARP from page 7 Sean Renfree in the third quarter, Duncan ran powerfully until he was met by Demon Deacon linebacker Justin Jackson, who put a big hit on Duncan and ripped off the running back’s helmet. Duncan sustained the decapitating hit, spun away and broke into the open field just before the play was called dead because his helmet came off. Even without his helmet, Duncan would have scored easily. Wake Forest was assessed 15-yard face mask penalty from the end of Duncan’s eight-yard catch. Because the removal of Duncan’s helmet resulted from an illegal play, he was not forced to leave the field for one snap as the rule dictates. And the Blue Devils still found the back of the end zone on that drive. Luckily for Duncan, he was not robbed of his first career touchdown for a second time and notched his first collegiate score on a 17-yard scamper with 2:50 remaining in the game. Although the enforcement of this rule did not prevent the Blue Devils from winning the contest, it needs to be reexamined by the NCAA. Not only does the rule affect the flow of football games, but also could potentially endanger the same players it strives to protect.
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what I was getting myself into,” Weinberg said. “I didn’t really know the level of competition, but now, I’m a lot more familiar with the teams that we’re playing in our conference. You realize after playing in the ACC for two years just how good the competition is, so I think just becoming familiar with that has really helped my game a lot.” Church credits much of Weinberg’s success this year not only to her veteran experience but also to her training regimen over the summer. While in New York for a marketing internship with Meredith Corporation, she trained with Blue Devil teammates redshirt junior Kim DeCesare, senior Libby Jandl and redshirt junior Callie Simpkins. The four played for N.Y. Athletic Club and also worked two to three times a week with a trainer. In addition to training with her teammates, the junior also sought to expand her game in the offseason to include other responsibilities on the field. “I took the corners for my summer team,” Weinberg said. “That’s something I wanted to work on, just add that element, bring it to Duke. I’ve been working a lot on free kicks also.” The Blue Devils benefited greatly from
Weinberg’s improved performance, having played their first seven games without Pathman and Cobb who were participating in the U-20 FIFA World Cup. And since the duo’s return, Cobb and DeCesare have suffered injuries, leaving Weinberg and freshman Cassie Pecht with the majority of responsibility for the offensive third of the field. “She needs to be that player that is going to produce every night,” Church said. “She enjoys that role, and I think she’s done a great job in that role this year.” Beyond contributing her own scoring, Weinberg has also faced the task of a becoming a mentor to her younger teammates. Weinberg—who personally trains a 12-yearold girl during her time at home—commented that she has taken on the responsibility of a larger leadership role. Recruited to bring Duke to the top of the ACC, Weinberg helped take her team to last year’s NCAA title game. As the team’s leading scorer, she’s now in a position to help bring the Blue Devils back. “I definitely feel the pressure, but I would say it’s a good kind of pressure,” Weinberg said. “I like when the stakes are high.”
In Georgia Tech’s 56-20 drubbing of Virginia Sept. 15, Yellow Jacket head coach Paul Johnson said in his post-game press conference that his quarterback was being targeted by the Cavalier defense. Johnson argued that Virginia’s defense was targeting quarterback Tevin Washington’s helmet in goal line situations. Washington’s helmet came off twice in scrums near the goal line, forcing the signal caller to exit the field of play both times. The worst part is, it all makes perfect sense. If you were a college football player and had the opportunity to take out your opponent’s best player at a crucial juncture in the game, why wouldn’t you at least try? In a game fueled by drive and aggression, college football players are now given an incentive to rip opponents’ helmets off to force them off the field. Not only does this soil the sanctity of the game, but it could also potentially result in a greater quantity of hits to the head and increase concussion risk, which is ironically what this rule is meant to prevent. Jim Kovach, CEO and Co-Founder of Athleticode Inc., studies genetic influence on traumatic brain injuries’ susceptibility and response on a daily basis. Kovach has analyzed countless contact injuries and dished out a few hits as well. He played seven NFL seasons as a linebacker
for the New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers while simultaneously earning a medical degree during his offseasons from his alma mater Kentucky. Shortly after his playing career ended, Kovach also earned a law degree from Stanford. When asked about the new NCAA rule, Kovach claimed it was designed to enhance player safety, at least in theory. “The way it would enhance safety is if [the rule] disciplined players to snap their chin strap and keep their helmet fitted properly throughout the year—this in turn could reduce injuries,” Kovach wrote in an email to The Chronicle. “However, there is no study as far as I know that has correlated helmets that pop off with increased head injuries.” Although Kovach said he “doesn’t see [the rule] enhancing or harming the safety of the game,” he added that many of the game’s chippier moments are not visible to the naked eye. “In a pile there are no rules,” Kovach said. “You wouldn’t believe what goes on in there.” The NCAA needs to examine the way it regulates the game in the name of player safety. Despite good intentions, the NCAA has failed to examine whether it is inadvertently incentivizing the types of contact it seeks to eradicate from the game.
M. GOLF from page 7
BRIANNA SIRACUSE/CHRONICLE FILE PHOTO
Senior Brinson Paolini tied for second this weekend. the entire tournament. Duke recorded an 11-over-par 291 in all three rounds of play. “They played it as a par-70 as opposed to the scorecard which listed the course as a par72,” Green said. “So what they do is take some par-fives and just call them par-fours.... So you had a couple of par-fours that were 500-plus yards. So if you have the wind in your face, it is a hard green to get to in two shots.” Arkansas, which led the field after the first two days of play, went into the final round with a 12-shot lead over its nearest competition, Auburn. The Razorbacks ultimately finished the tournament 14-over-par and 13 shots ahead of second-place Florida. With the fourth-place finish, Green knows his team has room to improve. “We were hoping for much better rounds, especially [Tuesday],” Green said. “We had a pretty good round going through 14. We had made nine birdies, but on the last four holes we ended up eight over. That was obviously not the finish we were hoping for, but we did play a lot of good holes.” The Blue Devils return home for the Rod Myers Invitational at the Duke University Golf Course Saturday Oct. 13. The tournament marks the Blue Devils’ only tournament on their home green.
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You are not alone The author Jeffrey Eu- an unhealthy fear of expressgenides, in his novel “The ing open and raw emotions. Marriage Plot,” once de- They instead perform polscribed college this way: “... ished, unflappable, but ultieveryone felt compelled to mately invented personas in be upbeat... when everyone their daily lives. The problem knew, in his or these days is her heart, that not so much editorial this wasn’t how the stigmatizathey really felt.” tion of mental health disorEugenides attended Brown ders, Glass noted. It is the stigUniversity, but he might as matization of vulnerability. well have been describing As next Sunday marks the Duke. Masking vulnerability beginning of national Mental with false confidence is no Illness Awareness Week, it is mystery to Duke students. In- a good time to consider the deed, we have coined our own mental health of Duke’s camterm for the phenomenon: ef- pus holistically. That means fortless perfection. After years looking outside the boundof working at Counseling and aries of the psychologist’s ofPsychological Services, Gary fice. Specifically, addressing Glass, CAPS assistant direc- student mental health means tor for outreach and devel- addressing the cultural probopmental programming, said lems deeply entrenched in many Duke students possess the expectations, interactions
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While CarlyRaeJepsen is upset that Call Me Maybe is now out of season, she commends the Duke wrestling team for their dance moves. —“CarlyRaeJepsen” commenting on the story “Duke wrestling gets down to Gangnam Style.” See more at www.dukechronicle.com.
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and mores of the Duke community. The problems CAPS often addresses—academicrelated stress, depression, eating disorders, social anxiety and so forth—arise from the tension between how students, pressured by the seemingly expert put-togetherness of their peers, think they should feel and how they actually feel. We agree that the solution lies in connecting struggling students to each other, thus making students realize they do not have to face mental health issues in isolation. “I often wish my 10:30 appointment could meet and talk to my 2:30 appointment,” Glass said. He suggests that, with Duke’s culture of invulnerability, his patients often feel they are the only ones afflicted by
a certain problem. In reality, they are dealing with similar problems as their classmates and dormitory neighbors, and knowledge of this fact would make them feel less lonely. Although patient confidentiality remains intact, CAPS and other student groups are looking outside the consultation room to improve campus dialogue about mental health. For example, the Duke chapter of To Write Love On Her Arms, a national organization dedicated to increasing mental health awareness, will again erect their “Dreams and Fears” tree in Perkins Library where students can share their candid feelings. Peer For You, a website where Duke students can anonymously ask and give help on mental and physical wellness issues, is slated
to launch this month. CAPS is also partnering with more organizations, including Common Ground, Project Build and the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life, to ensure that students know they do not have to deal with mental health issues alone. Duke’s culture of invulnerability will not be eradicated quickly. But we believe that continuing to “treat the water,” in Glass’ words, is the right approach. In other words, we should seek to view mental health issues through the prism of environmental factors rather than individual dysfunction. Once Duke fosters more spaces, formal and informal, where students can talk about their emotions openly and honestly, we will all feel less alone.
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When you consider any respectable MRS degree vide safe nuclear energy is present. It’s just not being pursuant, there’s a black-gold standard of success: the fully exploited. oil mogul. Whether it’s Eike Batista, the richest man On top of all of its horror film-esque attributes, in Brazil, or Mukesh Ambani, his Indian counterpart nuclear energy is a huge pain when it comes to with a net worth of $22.3 billion, oil, starting from scratch. Building a gas and mining magnates dominate plant itself with all of the requisite the rankings of billionaires on Forbes. safety and efficiency features is a It’s no secret why fossil fuels are huge capital investment, and the so lucrative. Relatively low front-end licensing process is not easy. Any costs and huge demand allowed anyindustry that seeks to supply an enbody able to control oil fields or extire country with the ability to read traction and production in the early at night or charge their infinite vari20th century to thrive. Even today, ous appliances must be at its core lydia thurman when there is a pervasive awareness based upon profit. An industry that doubly a lie of environmental issues posed by receives capital investment and is fossil fuel-burning power plants, it’s subsequently propped up by governhard to look at the price tag on a kilowatt-hour of mental subsidies can only last as long as the subsicoal and say, “Four cents? No thanks; I’d really rather dies themselves; thus, the industry becomes depenspend a little more.” There’s not enough momen- dent on political fluctuations. So isn’t it great that tum in the United States to move forward away from nuclear energy represents a private venture that is conventional energy. Despite this, with a little inno- just as economically sustainable as current baseload vation and a refocusing of energy perceptions, a new power production? option can be brought to the table: nuclear. Nuclear energy really is no more expensive than Over the past few years, nuclear energy has fossil fuels. When it comes to the price per kilowattpicked up quite the unfortunate rep. In 2010 when hour of energy produced, nuclear energy costs the a terrifying earthquake-tsunami combination caused same as coal, a whopping 4 cents. This is slightly misthe meltdown of three reactors in Fukushima, Japan, representative because it describes a plant that has the world was reminded of the power behind nucle- been in operation—it doesn’t depict the massive iniar technology and why it has applications in the mili- tial investment or the years and years of waiting before tary sector. Widespread health concerns with radio- the first return on investment. If a carbon tax were active iodine and cesium isotopes floating around ever actually incurred in the United States, however, the Japanese countryside were well publicized. In then nuclear energy would surge ahead in cost effithe aftermath of the incident, Germany even an- ciency. Efficient nuclear plants produce .01 percent nounced its belief that the use of nuclear energy has of the carbon emissions of coal power plants, and the no place in commercial energy production. overall societal costs from health issues and climate Any move to introduce nuclear energy as a le- change without a legislative tax are estimated to be 25 gitimate source of production would require huge times more costly in coal generation. amounts of public support, but we continue to asNuclear energy is the answer to many energy sociate nuclear energy with Chernobyl, the burgeon- production problems in the United States; it’s both ing Iranian weapons program and that terrible chill where we need to go and where I firmly believe we that runs down our spines when we hear George W. will end up. With that, here’s my call to Duke stuBush even try to say “nuclear.” dents and graduates and whatever other ambitious, But nuclear energy’s poor public image is just intelligent individuals my column will reach: Go nuthat—a poor image. In reality, nuclear safety is scary clear. Make it profitable. Environmental protection by nature, but not a real threat. Accidents are sta- and the economic stimulus of domestic production tistically unlikely and most modern nuclear reactors are pretty appealing possibilities. Not to mention the have passive security systems. In the case of a slight next generation of Batistas and Ambanis, of innovadisturbance, no manual intervention is required be- tors and businessmen, has some openings. So do you cause mechanisms relying on gravity or natural con- want to make billions but retain your “wanting to vection will eliminate the risk of meltdown. The third make a difference in the world” inner flower child? generation nuclear reactors have been designed to Because I’m willing to bet that in 20 years, Forbes operate at high efficiency, creating optimal amounts will feature a new demographic: those who were willof electricity while using a minimum amount of fuel ing to bet on nuclear energy. and reducing waste. Finland is close to finishing one of the first long-term storage facilities for nuclear Lydia Thurman is a Trinity sophomore. Her column waste—a no-surveillance, no-maintenance setup 500 runs every other Wednesday. You can follow Lydia on Twitmeters underground. The collective ability to pro- ter @ThurmanLydia.
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The problem of representative democracy
T
his week will mark the first presi- he is now living under a representadential debate between the in- tive democracy instead of a direct one. cumbent Barack Obama and his There is nothing about representative challenger, Mitt Romney. democracy that resolves Although the two are certhis issue, and thus it cantain to discuss a number not really be said to be of hot-button issues, maany improvement over jor media outlets have the problems offered by begun to suggest that the direct democracy. debate will serve mostly as If anything, in fact, repan evaluation of the canresentative democracy acdidates themselves. Thus, tually requires the citizen chris bassil the winner of the debate to navigate an even more human action is perhaps less likely to be difficult decision-making measured by reason and process. In addition to strength of argument than he is by his encountering all of the same problems eloquence and the vague category of in evaluating the issue itself, the citizen “likeability.” is now introduced to a new set of variAlthough they can in this way remain ables that complicate his decision even generally uninformative, presidential further. It is no longer enough for him debates can serve as a vibrant illustra- to understand only how he feels about tion of one of the pitfalls of the par- universal health care; he must now atticularly American form of democracy. tempt to understand how a political In order to observe this, however, it is candidate feels about it as well. important to appreciate exactly what This is easier said than done. In characterizes the variant of democracy the first place, it is relatively common in question, and how it differs from de- knowledge that politicians are dishonmocracy qua democracy. est, and thus the citizen must first deIn the most direct form of democ- cide whether or not to take a given canracy, each citizen is awarded a vote on didate at his word. This would require every issue, and every issue is decided a discerning evaluation of the candistrictly by the voting patterns of the date’s moral character, which is difmajority. In the case of universal health ficult to accomplish without extensive care, for example, citizens would some- personal contact. On top of that, even how decide on the terms of the vote, if he decides the candidate is trustand then the polls would open to the worthy, he must make up his mind on entire nation for a straightforward vote. a number of other issues. Could it be The side with the most votes would win, likely, for example, that the candidate and in that way the question of univer- will be weak once he makes it to office? sal health care would be decided en- Will he cave under political pressure tirely by the people. So it would go with and abandon his pursuit of universal any other issue that the people saw fit health care? Or will he pursue it too agto put to the vote. gressively, and in the process make too It goes almost without saying that many enemies to reach the goal? Even a state under direct democracy would if he is reliable on universal health care, be a nightmarish society, indeed. This, will he be derailed by some other perof course, is one of the main reasons sonal or political issue before he is able why America itself was not structured to achieve it? Is it possible that, once as a direct democracy. It was conceived elected, he will become too concerned instead as a federal constitutional re- with holding on to his office to go out public, under which the people would on a limb and propose legislation? Will vote on leaders to represent them and he become corrupted by money and make (presumably) informed decisions the pull of special interests? Is he alon their behalf. The rationale typically ready? Does he suffer from either an given for this is that, under a direct inferiority complex or a megalomania democracy, the burden of understand- that, hidden even to him, could influing placed on the citizen is too high. ence his decision-making? And, after all A functional direct democracy would of this, why does he espouse the views require that each citizen be entirely that he does? Is it because he genuinely informed on every issue, which itself agrees with the progressive agenda, or would require that each citizen be ca- because it simply works well to serve an pable in the first place of adequately agenda of his own? consuming and evaluating social, poTo answer some of these questions, litical and statistical information. Since a citizen would need a level of personal it is unlikely that most citizens will familiarity with the candidate. To anachieve such nuanced knowledge of swer others, he would need either a every issue, it is supposedly better to al- behind-the-scenes understanding of low them to elect experts to make these political privilege in Washington or an decisions for them. advanced degree in psychology. It is This solution of representative de- thus time to appreciate that represenmocracy, however, comes with its own tative democracy not only fails to mitiset of often overlooked problems. For gate the problems of the direct democone thing, it does nothing to mitigate racy, but it actually builds on them. If, the challenges facing the uninformed after all, the people are unfit to decide citizen, for even in a representative de- how they themselves feel on any given mocracy is the citizen forced to come issue, then it is a contradiction in logic to a conclusion on political issues on to suggest that they are fit to decide the basis of incomplete knowledge. A how one candidate or the other feels citizen who is trying to formulate an about it instead. informed opinion on universal health care will, under a representative deChris Bassil, Trinity ’12, is currently mocracy, still suffer from a lack of med- working for Dana Farber Cancer Institute ical and economic knowledge. He and in Boston, Mass. His column runs every his decision-making process are not al- Wednesday. You can follow Chris on Twittered simply by virtue of the fact that ter @HamsterdamEcon.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2012 | 11
The Socialites
Peter Pan syndrome Let me preface this by admit- I had a raucous night in. Just me, ting something: This article has no a friend and some White Russians. journalistic merit whatsoever. You’re Two, count ‘em, TWO, vodka desabout to dive head first serts later, I was puking into a pool of meanon my own living room ingless, delightfully floor. embarrassing updates. Since I can’t do norSpoiler alert: I’m still mal adult things like not cool! “Still” being drink and interact with the operative word. human people, I’ve I’m having a hard tried taking up some time growing up. I lindsay tomson adult hobbies. They haven’t quite resorted actually might be too middle child to green tights and froladult. I have an unexsyndrome icking with pirates, but pected arsenal of slutty my recent behaviors past times—namely in the adult world certainly merit pole-dancing classes and nude art the addition of a new self-diagnosed modeling. For the former, a gal disorder to my repertoire: Peter Pan named Virgo instills shimmy skills in syndrome. me once a week. The latter one, adYou’d think that graduating col- mittedly, is more of a bucket list item lege and stepping into the realm than a solid hobby for now.… I subof occupation would have shaken mitted an application to be a nude me of some childish habits. Surely I model and got rejected. Thanks, should’ve adopted some grace and Duke degree!! But just because the decorum as this big girl version of local art school doesn’t want to see myself? But no, I’m apparently stum- my naked body doesn’t mean that I bling through my 20s as valiantly as I won’t keep striving toward my goal. stumbled through my adolescence. Craigslist, for instance, seems to have Nothing epitomizes this more a high demand for people interested than my experiences with the op- in such craftsmanship. When one posite sex. Dating or even speaking door closes, a creepy loner with an to men I don’t meet at Shooters has online ad opens his bedroom winproven challenging, because I try to dow… or something like that. sound mature when really I am not. When I’m not learning lessons The other day, while texting a boy I from strippers or stripping for learnfind objectively attractive, I paused ers of the arts, I promise I’m trying the flowing banter to Google syn- to mature. For example, I went to onyms for “holla at me.” You see, Ikea for the first time! I mean, it was I wanted something more unique a little overwhelming so I just ate than “call me” but less ’90s than dinner in the café and left. But the the aforementioned subject of my next day I went back and got a clevslang search. I don’t remember what erly packaged lamp—improvement! I landed on, but it nonetheless af- Oh and when I met this orthopedic firmed my superb flirting technique medical student at a bar on Saturday, (sarcastically speaking, of course). I didn’t resort to my usual childish It takes me back to my elementary antics. Instead, I asked him for his school days where I revealed my in- professional opinion on my doubleterest in a boy by just staring at him jointedness. Smooth, right?? for approximately 30-45 seconds. Maybe I’m just a slow-learner. No This sexting example is just a boy, Big Lebowski beverage or lapsmall fraction of the mass evidentiary dance seminar has managed to teach support for my interpersonal inepti- me the delicacies of growing up. So tude. Other moments include chal- what? If I were a grown-up, I wouldn’t lenging unwilling male participants still be writing for my college newsto dance-offs, greeting cute boys with paper. Or at least I would be writing “sup bro” and trying to rock pigtails about something newsworthy. But I without looking like I’m starring in a have fun writing this garbage, and I “She’s Almost TOO Young” porno. expect a couple of you readers (like While we’re talking movie genres, my ashamed, yet easily amused famiit’s clear my life isn’t quite a roman- ly) have fun reading it. If I can publictic comedy or a raunchy sex comedy ly sport pigtails, then The Chronicle or… wait, is my life a tragedy?? What- can handle a little silly self-satire. ever the Blockbuster classification, Peter Pan had the right idea. Now this lack of Georgian sexploitation it’s off to Never Neverland. allows me bountiful time to confront plenty of other more challenging Lindsay Tomson, Trinity ’12, is curadult situations. Like drinking alco- rently applying her Duke-developed skills hol. How many people can say that of sarcasm and awkwardness in the real their first alcohol-induced vomitus world. Her installation of the weekly maximus was after they had graduat- Socialites column runs on alternate ed college? I can I can! After 21 well- Wednesdays. You can follow Lindsay on behaved and hangover-free years, Twitter @elle4tee.
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12 | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2012
THE CHRONICLE