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The Chronicle
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012
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ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTH YEAR, ISSUE 36
A NOBEL FIRST
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Dr. Robert Lefkowitz, James B. Duke professor of medicine, celebrates his Nobel Prize in chemistry with Dr. Ralph Snyderman, chancellor emeritus for health affairs. The prize was announced Wednesday morning.
Applied science Dr. Robert Lefkowitz’s research has advanced drug therapies by giving pharmaceutical companies greater insight on how to target certain receptors on the surface of cells.
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
Lefkowitz revels in his most recent accomplishment—winning the Nobel Prize in chemistry.
Lefkowitz becomes Duke’s first standing faculty member to win the Nobel Prize by Danielle Muoio THE CHRONICLE
Four decades of scientific pursuit led Dr. Robert Lefkowitz down the East Coast to a Nobel Prize in chemistry. Lefkowitz, James B. Duke professor of medicine and professor of biochemistry and immunology, is the first standing faculty member to receive a Nobel Prize. The Royal Swedish Academy of Science awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry early Wednesday morning to Lefkowitz and his colleague, Dr. Brian Kobilka—a former postdoctoral fellow at Duke who worked under Lefkowitz—for “studies of G protein-coupled receptors.” Their research on these receptors has led to major advancements in the development of prescription drugs for a variety of issues, ranging from allergies to coronary disease. Prior to his research, few scientists believed in the existence of G protein-coupled receptors, Lefkowitz said. But despite the scientific community’s skepticism, Lefkowitz decided to pursue his research, al-
lowing him to isolate these receptors, clone their genes and learn about their structures. “In a very real sense, this is our accomplishment,” Lefkowitz said, referring to the Duke community. “I came here in 1973 and Duke was not the powerhouse in ’73 that it is today, but throughout every stage, I couldn’t imagine leaving.” G protein-coupled receptors are embedded in the cell membrane. They catch external chemical signals that provide information to the cell about changes in the body. About 30 to 50 percent of pharmaceutical drugs on the market attach onto these receptors like a “lock and key,” Lefkowitz said. In doing so, the drugs are able to manipulate the cells in a way that treats the patient’s condition. The hope is that this research will allow for the development of increasingly effective drug therapies. A long journey As a student at the Bronx High School of Science, Lefkowitz grew SEE NOBEL ON PAGE 4
Trianglelaureates Although Dr. Robert Lefkowitz is the first standing Duke professor to win a Nobel Prize, he is one of several Nobel laureates with Duke and Triangle area connections. 1964—Charles Townes, Graduate School ’36, won the physics prize for his work on quantum electronics while working at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 1988—The late Gertrude Elion and George Hitchings of the Wellcome Research Laboratories in Research Triangle Park won the prize for physiology or medicine for their discoveries of important principles for drug treatment. Elion and Hitchings were also adjunct faculty at the School of Medicine. 1989—Hans Dehmelt developed a method for trapping ions, for which he was awarded the physics prize. As a postdoctoral student in the 1950s, he worked in Duke’s physics department. 1994—The late Martin Rodbell won the prize in physiology or medicine in 1994 for the discovery of G-proteins as well as the role they play in signal transduction in cells. He worked in Research Triangle Park for the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. 1996—Robert Richardson, Graduate School ’65, won the prize in physics for discoveries regarding superfluidity while working at Cornell University. 2003—Peter Agre, former vice chancellor for science and technology at Duke Medicine, won the chemistry prize while at Johns Hopkins University for his research on water channels in cells. 2007—Oliver Smithies, professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, won the prize in physiology or medicine for his work on introducing gene modification in mice by using embryonic stem cells. —Compiled by The News & Observer and Duke News
2 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012
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Duke grad runs for DKU admins flesh out Durham public office undergrad possibilities by Emma Baccellieri
by Margot Tuchler
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When Wendy Jacobs left her native New Jersey in 1979 to attend Duke, she did not realize she would find a lifelong home in Durham. After working as a teacher and serving on city organizations during the past 30 years, Jacobs is now running for public office. Jacobs, Trinity ’83, is one of six candidates for five spots on the Durham County Board of Commissioners. “As a Duke student, I was involved with a lot of things on campus that intersected with the Durham community, and by the time I graduated, I just felt that I belonged here,” Jacobs said. “Now I’ve been involved in the community for more than thirty years—as a neighborhood leader, a public school teacher, a parent and a member of the Durham Planning Commission—and I believe that I’ve gained the skills, knowledge and experience to tackle the problems we still have here in Durham.” Jacobs, a Democrat, said her platform comprises three central ideas— fighting unemployment, improving education and making good choices about land use and transportation. Her opponents are Democrats Fred Foster, Brenda Howerton, Michael Page and Ellen Reckhow, along with Omar Beasley, who is unaffiliated. “I really hope that Duke students come out and vote in this election,” Jacobs said. “Of course the presidential election is critical, but the local race is also very important. I’ve realized how critical it is to have people in office who are really representing the best interests of the majority of citizens, and that’s why I’m running for office.” Duke Democrats has officially endorsed Jacobs as a candidate. Her knowledge and experience on
Although Duke Kunshan University began as a project spearheaded by the Fuqua School of Business, administrators are now planning to integrate the liberal arts and undergraduate experience. Duke has approved two masters programs for DKU, which is expected to open to students Fall 2014, but undergraduate opportunities are now part of the discussions. A Duke undergraduate global health study abroad program to be offered at DKU has already been approved, alongside the Master of Management Studies through Fuqua and a Master of Science in Global Health through the Duke Global Health Institute. Administrators hope to offer additional undergraduate programs in the first few years of the initiative, with undergraduate degree programs as a possibility in the far-off future. Mary Bullock, recently appointed executive vice chancellor for DKU, said she expects the new university to have an effect on undergraduates on Duke’s Durham campus as well as the one in Kunshan, noting that many plans have yet to be made. “This kind of major effort should be transformative—it should have a transformative impact on Duke here in Durham and a transformative impact on higher education in China,” Bullock said. “I already see the impact of DKU here in Durham.” Nora Bynum, vice provost for DKU and China Initiatives, said an undergraduate degree program will not be offered immediately. But undergraduate course clusters, offered in cooperation with Wuhan University—DKU’s Chinese academic partner— should be available by the time DKU opens. DKU is currently awaiting establishment approval from the Chinese Ministry of Education, which is required for a foreign university to offer degree programs in China. In the interim, administrators hope to offer programs such as the course clusters, which are non-degree programs operated by Wuhan and Duke—not by DKU.
EMILY YANG/ THE CHRONICLE
Wendy Jacobs, Trinity ’83, is running for a spot on the Durham County Board of Commissioners. She started the Duke Coffeehouse as a student. education and environmental issues and her work as a teacher in the Durham public schools will be assets to the board, sophomore David Winegar, copresident of Duke Democrats, wrote in an email Monday. Early in her time as a Duke student, Jacobs became involved with a program called Operation Breakthrough, in which she tutored children in Durham’s South Side neighborhood. This was the beginning of Jacobs’ engagement in the Durham community. “Durham to me is a place where it is very easy to get involved in the community,” Jacobs said. “When I first came here, I noticed that the problems here are often very transparent—you can see the poverty, nothing is hidden. And if you see a problem, you can do something about it.... This community’s SEE JACOBS ON PAGE 10
Service Opportunities in Leadership SOL is a nationally recognized year-long leadership program that helps students develop leadership skills, tackle complex social issues, and engage in research and service at home and around the world
She also noted that in the long run, she expects DKU to offer internship and research opportunities for undergraduates, along with a full undergraduate degree program. But no concrete plans have been fleshed out. Provost Peter Lange said DKU will eventually serve as a study abroad venue for undergraduates, functioning like a “Duke in” program, with the benefit of having a full Duke campus as a platform. Lange noted that like other Duke study abroad programs, the University will have “full control over the curriculum and the faculty.” Bullock noted that she—along with Bynum—has held conversations with various sectors of the University to develop a vision for the DKU undergraduate experience. Participants included the Office of Information Technology, Human Resources, the Trinity College of Arts and Sciences administration and the DKU student advisory committee. The student committee began in the Spring as an undergraduate task force, but is now comprised of ten undergraduates and ten graduate students. Sophomore Emily Feng, a member of the committee, said the group serves to brainstorm along with administrators as well as function as a bridge between American and Chinese cultures. The committee has not explicitly discussed undergraduate degrees for DKU, Feng said, but she expects that it will in the future. She noted, however, that the committee has discussed ways of allowing Duke students who study abroad at DKU to share their experiences with undergraduates in Durham. She said she hopes the two universities will be constantly in communication. “[DKU] is by definition an extension of Duke’s campus,” said Feng, who is also a member of The Chronicle’s independent editorial board. “We want to create a strong relationship between the students and the professors who work at either institution.” Bullock, OIT, and the global team are SEE DKU ON PAGE 10
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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012 | 3
DUKE STUDENT GOVERNMENT
FDA approves Duke DSG outlines details of Med’s stem cell product gender-neutral housing by John Barker THE CHRONICLE
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The Duke University School of Medicine has received approval from the Food and Drug Administration to market DUCORD, a product derived from umbilical cord blood stem cells collected by the Carolinas Cord Blood Bank, for use as an approved treatment of patients with various blood disorders. The FDA’s approval of Duke’s cord blood stem cells for use in treating blood disease indicates that the CCBB’s umbilical cord stocks are of sufficient quality. The approval means procedures involving these cells do not need to be listed as experimental. This endorsement is indicative of the quality of Duke treatments derived from umbilical cord stem cells, and it makes further research into cord blood stem cell therapies more likely to receive regulatory approval. “This is a huge milestone and a statement by the FDA about the place that cord blood stem cells have in this research,” said Dr. Robert Califf, director of the Duke Translational Medicine Institute. Califf added that FDA approval was a strong indication of the consistency of the CCBB’s treatments. The National Institutes of Health provided a grant to found a bank for umbilical cord stem cells at Duke in 1998. Since that time, the CCBB has been collecting donations of cord blood from mothers of healthy babies delivered at various af-
filiated hospitals, including Duke Hospital, Durham Regional Hospital and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Hospital. Such blood is rich in hematopoietic stem cells, which are responsible for the manufacture of red and white blood cells. Duke’s medical school has designed an injectable product from these cells that can be used to regenerate a patient’s hematopoietic system, filling a role traditionally occupied by bone marrow transplants. “Cord blood stem cells are of proven benefit in patients with disorders that prevent them from making their own normal blood cells either because of a disease process—including genetic enzyme deficiencies and immune disorders—or because of treatment for cancer,” Dr. Nancy Andrews, dean of the the medical school, wrote in an email Wednesday. All cord blood collected by the CCBB is registered on the National Marrow Donor Program Registry, which vastly increases the odds of a patient finding a compatible cell match. Until now, Duke could not market such treatments as being commercial quality. With FDA approval, however, Duke joins only a handful of programs that are past the experimental phase. This rare licensure gives the quality of CCBB stem cells a high rating for hematopoietic procedures, but it also has implications for other ongoing research. SEE STEM ON PAGE 4
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Duke Student Government expressed its support for gender-neutral housing on West Campus for the 2013-2014 academic year Wednesday night. Sophomore Jacob Zionce, DSG vice president of residential life, briefed the senate on the gender-neutral housing proposal. Last year, gender-neutral housing was established on Central Campus, but many of those living in gender-neutral houses still have separate bedrooms or same-sex room-
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Sophomore Jacob Zionce, DSG vice president for residential life, spoke about gender-neutral housing at the group’s meeting Wednesday.
mates. Zionce emphasized the need for gender-neutral housing to extend to West Campus in order to allow students who want gender-neutral housing to have the option of living on West Campus as well. “It is a fundamental right for people to feel safe in their spaces,” Zionce said. Zionce explained that all sections would have the right to become gender-neutral if they choose. He presented a scenario in which representatives from DSG and Blue Devils United would hold information sessions for residents about what becoming gender-neutral entails and facilitate conversation about the subject. Sections would also be assessed to see what kind of structural changes houses would have to undergo to make genderneutral living a viable option on West Campus. Houses would be classified into three levels in order to accomplish this need. Level One houses include houses on campus that are able to fully take on the gender-neutral model without any structural changes, which would have two single-sex bathrooms and one gender-neutral bathroom, Zionce said. Level Two houses would require minor structural changes, and Level Three houses must make structural changes to become gender-neutral. All spaces designated as Level One and Level Two houses could become gender-neutral based on student need and interest. Zionce said, however, that if the administrators accepted the proposal, gender-neutral housing could not SEE DSG ON PAGE 10
4 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012
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NOBEL from page 1 up with science as a prominent aspect of his life. He noted that his high school alma mater had seven Nobel laureates prior to him, all of whom received the award in the field of physics. He commended the academic rigor of his high school for producing alumni with such significant roles in the field of science. To get into Bronx Science, prospective students must take a general knowledge exam and get one of the highest scores in the city. Lefkowitz later went on to serve as a clinical and research associate at the National Institutes of Health from 1968 to 1970, where he began looking into the possible existence of G protein-coupled receptors. “I was the schlepper in the room—I was the only guy who didn’t win a Nobel Prize,” he said. “It was a nascent field, nothing was known, but I got some kudos for what I had done and it kind of whetted my appetite. I got interested in pursuing receptors more.” Lefkowitz became a fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital in 1970, where he considered staying until Andrew Wallace, who was the chief of Duke’s division of cardiology at the time, offered him a position at Duke in 1973. Lefkowitz, however, was initially reluctant to take the job. “I talked it over with my wife and put together a list of de-
FAITH ROBERTSON/THE CHRONICLE
Lefkowitz talks with President Richard Brodhead after a press conference Wednesday afternoon. mands that were far beyond reasonable for someone at my stage of the career, figuring that that would be the end of it,” he said. “I didn’t hear back for a month and then they called back and said they’d give me everything.” From that point on, Lefkowitz remained at Duke, continuing his research as a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator. A researcher and a mentor Members of the Duke community lauded Lefkowitz for his contributions as both a scientist and a mentor. Dr. Nancy Andrews, dean of the School of Medicine and vice chancellor for academic affairs, noted that his role as both a researcher and a professor is what makes Lefkowitz a great scientist. “There are three ways that medical scientists can be great—
by making discoveries that immediately transform patient care, by making scientific contributions that stand the test of time and by mentoring the next generation of scientists,” she said. “Bob has accomplished all three and he has done it over and over again.” Kobilka, now a professor at the Stanford University School of Medicine, said that even though he came into Lefkowitz’s lab with less experience than other people, Lefkowitz always encouraged him in scientific pursuits. “I never felt like I was a second-class citizen,” he said. “I made my share of mistakes early on, but he always gave me freedom to do what I want and supported me in my research.” Helen Yao, a senior staff scientist in Lefkowitz’s lab who previously worked with Kobilka for eight years at Stanford, also commended Lefkowitz for being a strong mentor, noting that he leaves his office door half-open at all times in case anybody needs advice on a specific project. Lefkowitz’s constant enthusiasm inside and outside the classroom also makes him an excellent mentor, said Makoto Hara, a postdoctoral fellow who has spent six years working with the Nobel laureate. When Lefkowitz is walking around the lab, everyone notices his presence because of his strong voice, Hara added. “A lot of our experiments end in failure because we don’t get any data, but he tries to cheer you up and find something good
in the mess,” Hara said. “He’s really enthusiastic about everything.” Sophomore Frank Cai, who worked in the lab next to Lefkowitz’s this summer, said Lefkowitz’s unyielding enthusiasm for science sets him apart from other researchers. Lefkowitz does not stop talking about science, even when he is on the way to the bathroom. “One thing that distinguishes him from other people is he never takes a break from science— it’s always on his mind, it’s literally all he thinks about and he’s dedicated to his work,” Cai said. Andrews predicted that Lefkowitz’s scientific influence will last for decades and should leave a mark on the Duke community. “We have had, for some time now, a Coach K, and from now on we should recognize Bob’s tremendous contribution by calling him Coach L,” she said. Life as a Nobel laureate Those close to Lefkowitz said they expected him to receive a Nobel Prize and were simply waiting for the day to come. Dr. Sanders Williams, former dean of the medical school and senior vice chancellor for academic affairs, made the prediction to President Richard Brodhead that Lefkowitz would be the first Duke faculty member to receive a Nobel Prize, Brodhead said. Andrews said she—along with most of Lefkowitz’s colleagues— expected him to win the Nobel
STEM from page 3 Dr. Joanne Kurtzberg, medical director of CCBB, remarked that both Duke’s research and treatment into other applications of umbilical cord stem cells may benefit from FDA licensure. “By having a licensed product, derivative products that we manufacture from the same cord blood will have a better chance of going through the regulatory pathway and also becoming approved products,” Kurtzberg said. Andrews noted that cord blood stem cells may have applications that are yet to be discovered. “Much of the excitement will come from finding out what other types of diseases may be treated using cord blood stem cells,” Andrews said. Prize for his work. Lefkowitz, however, does not want this achievement to define him. Although many scientists will use their status as Nobel laureate to promote themselves for the rest of their careers, Lefkowitz said, he would be content if people did not know he was a Nobel Prize recipient a couple years down the road. “You make these decisions for yourself—how much of the hoopla you want to do,” he said. “If people know I won the prize, great. If not, I’m not going to tell anyone. I can’t imagine it would change me.” Lauren Carroll and Andrew Luo contributed reporting.
Sports
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THURSDAY October 11, 2012 www.dukechroniclesports.com
FOOTBALL SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
Hokies amid a rare rough stretch by Karl Kingma THE CHRONICLE
Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster’s unit was lauded during the preseason. Praise from the media included speculations that the defense could be among the “best ever in Blacksburg.” But everyone will agree, at least thus far, that the Hokie defense has not performed nearly as well as advertised. Virginia Tech (3-3, 1-1 in the ACC) gave up 27 points in its loss against Cincinnati Sept. 25, followed that by allowing 48 in last week’s defeat against North Carolina, a tally unmatched since the Hokies joined the ACC in 2004. Head coach Frank Beamer acknowledges that winning will be difficult if the defense continues to give up big plays. “We haven’t been in many shootouts,” Beamer said after Saturday’s loss. “That’s not Virginia Tech football. “ Regardless of the team’s defensive struggles, more than 50,000 alumni, faculty and students will flock to Blacksburg this weekend for Virginia Tech’s homecoming against Duke. The Hokies have not suffered
a homecoming loss since 1998, when Temple prevailed in a come-from-behind heartbreaker. Virginia Tech will have to address concerns on both sides of the ball if it wants to continue its decade of homecoming dominance. The Hokies’ inability to establish any sort of running game has also been highly problematic. Virginia Tech could go nine consecutive games without a 100yard rusher. If completed, that streak would equal the second-longest ever under Beamer. Hokie running backs Michael Holmes, J.C. Coleman and Tony Gregory combine to average a meager 85.8 yards per game. A knee injury kept Gregory on the sideline against both Cincinnati and North Carolina, and the results were not pretty for his team. Perhaps the redshirt freshman’s return Saturday will help to reignite Virginia Tech. But even running backs coach Shame Beamer—son of Frank— acknowledges that the team’s ground game may not be as good as in years past. “To say J.C. and Tony Gregory can line up and run the ball inside like Ryan Williams and Darren Evans did consistently…probably not,” he
Virginia Tech
HOKIES 3-3 (1-1) PPG RUSH/G PASS/G TD FG-FGA SACKS-YDS
VT 29.0 131.3 245.3 22 7-8 8-34
OPP 22.3 196.7 193.3 17 5-9 10-62
Although the Hokie rushing offense has been a major concern, the team’s lackluster defensive performances have raised the most eyebrows. Virginia Tech allowed 48 points to North Carolina last week, the highest total the team has allowed since joining the ACC in 2004. The team is now off to its worst start since 1992—the last season that the Hokies missed a bowl appearance under head coach Frank Beamer. said Monday evening. “To be totally honest, I don’t know from an offensive line standpoint and from a running back standpoint, [that] we’re necessarily built right now.” SEE SCOUTING ON PAGE 6
WOMEN’S SOCCER
Duke takes on struggling Wolfpack
aroundtheACC With consecutive wins against Wake Forest and Virginia, Duke football is just one of three teams in the ACC that remains undefeated in conference play. The Blue Devils are tied with Clemson and Florida State for the best overall record in the conference with all three teams sitting at 5-1. Here are some of the best midweek soundbites from coaches around the conference: >>”It was a very hard-fought, tough ballgame that we come down to the last play and North Carolina State was able to make. We had plenty of opportunities in the game to be successful and weren’t.”—Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher on the team’s loss to N.C. State. >>”Certainly you would like to think that this win will give us a lot of confidence, but we’ve got six conference games left. Each game we treat as we’re playing for the Conference Championship. We’ve put ourselves back into the race by beating Florida State.”—N.C. State head coach Tom O’Brien on the upset victory. >>” Yeah, we’ve got issues, there’s no question. We went into the season feeling like we’d have five pretty good guys up front. Thought if we could keep guys healthy we would be actually pretty good, even better than competitive.”—Wake Forest head coach Jim Grobe on his team’s offensive line woes.
by James Sanderson THE CHRONICLE
With three regular season games remaining, the Blue Devils will square off against three in-state ACC rivals: N.C. State, No. 12 Wake Forest, and No. 7 North Carolina. No. 5 Duke (10-31, 4-2-1 in the ACC) No. 5 will first turn its atDuke tention to the Wolfvs. pack in Raleigh, N.C. N.C. tonight at 7 p.m. State “I think it’s kind of a unique twist to Thursday, 7 p.m. Dail Soccer Stadium the end of year,” head coach Robbie Church said. “It’s like playing for a state championship inside the ACC. All the games out there are special in the ACC, but when you’re playing those three in our state, they’re a little more special. ” N.C. State (5-9, 0-5) has struggled for much of the season, and has lost its last seven games, scoring just three goals in the span. On the other hand, the Blue Devils look to maintain momentum following last week’s key victories against ranked opponents. Duke defeated then-No. 18 Virginia Tech 3-2 in overtime Oct. 4 and later beat then-No.23 Boston College 4-2 Oct. 7. KEVIN SHAMIEH/CHRONICLE FILE PHOTO
SEE W. SOCCER ON PAGE 6
Visit the sports blog to read our interview with the sports editor of the Virginia Tech student newspaper in preparation for Saturday’s football game.
Kim DeCesare ranks second on Duke with 10 goals, making them on a team-leading .238 shot percentage.
>>”I don’t know how radical it was. I mean, the guy had been here for two and a half years, so I’m not sure it was really radical. It just came to the fact that we weren’t playing very well. We played football for a long time here at Georgia Tech, and managed to give up 40 points in three consecutive games for the first time in the history of Georgia Tech football.”—Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson on the dismissal of defenseive coordinator Al Groh.
6 |THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012
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SCOUTING from page 5
DAN SCHEIRER/CHRONICLE FILE PHOTO
In Duke’s 14-10 loss to Virginia Tech last year, the Blue Devils gained 125 rushing yards. The Hokies are giving up 196.7 rushing yards per game this year.
The Hokies also announced Tuesday that fullback Riley Beiro will have a shoulder operation this week, ending his season. Although Beiro was by no means crucial to Virginia Tech’s running game, his absence will only worsen the situation in a thinly stretched backfield. But Frank Beamer did not appear to be overly concerned with the effect the injury would have on the team. “Well he hasn’t played a lot but his shoulder has bothered him all year long,” the head coach said Tuesday. “So we will give Martin Scales some work at fullback as well as tailback.” The rushing game’s latency has forced the Hokies to be more pass heavy in their play calling. In the game against North Carolina, quarterback Logan Thomas was forced to throw the ball 49 times. Nevertheless, Beamer has high hopes that Gregory’s return will provide a spark in the backfield. “You get in a game like that, and you’re throwing the ball more than you really want to,” Beamer said. “Tony Gregory—I think he’ll get back next week. He gave us a little surge there. We kind of need to see where we are with that.” Although Gregory’s best game—an 11-carry, 68-yard stat line against Bowling Green—does not pop off the stat sheet, it has been Virginia Tech’s most effective rushing performance to date. Facing disgruntled fans and their worst start since 1992—the last year they did not make a bowl game—at the season’s midway point, Saturday may be the Hokies’ last opportunity to turn things around. During the preseason hype of his defense, Foster made a prophetic comment. “About the time you start feeling good about yourself is when you’re going to get your tail knocked off,” he said. Saturday in Blacksburg, the Hokies will look to knock back in front of the homecoming crowd.
W. SOCCER from page 5 “We’re playing very well right now,” Church said. “We emphasized maybe a couple of different things over [last] week and [against Boston College]. I thought we passed and shared the ball well, and we used individualism at different points on the field when we needed to.” The Blue Devil offense, currently third in the nation in scoring at 3.14 goals per game, is led by junior forward Laura Weinberg, redshirt junior forward Kim DeCesare and freshman midfielder Cassie Pecht. Weinberg comes off ACC Player of the Week honors following her three-goal outburst against Virginia Tech and Boston College and is tied for third in the NCAA for scoring, averaging a goal per game. DeCesare, meanwhile, ranks second on the team in scoring and averages 0.77 goals per game, while Pecht leads Duke with nine assists. “Everyone’s in a really good place right now,” senior midfielder Nicole Lipp said. “Our two wins were different in the sense that
ELYSIA SU/CHRONICLE FILE PHOTO
Junior Laura Weinberg leads the Blue Devils with 14 goals on the season, a career-high tally. we came back against Virginia Tech and we were able to hold our lead against Boston College, so that’s really good to see that we’re able to win in those different ways at this point in the season.”
ELYSIA SU/CHRONICLE FILE PHOTO
Senior midfielder Nicole Lipp said it was important that Duke won its two weekend matches in different ways.
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The Chronicle
8 |THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012
Vote like you mean it Nov. 6 is looming. The on campus voted, compared main focus, of course, is on to 51 percent of youth votthe race between President ers nationwide. Barack Obama and GOP Low voter turnout is challenger Mitt Romney both shocking and unacBut there are other public ceptable at a university that offices up for has displayed contention such passion editorial that will influfor the critical ence American economic, issues at stake. Hopefully, social and foreign policy in the increased political enerthe upcoming years. The gy these past few months— deadline for registering to from the packed American vote is tomorrow, and we Grand Strategy election urge you to do so as soon as debate to Obama’s visits at possible. nearby universities—will inDuke has often been spire Duke students to cast called a politically apathetic their ballots. campus, sometimes with The outcome of the elecgood reason. In 2008, for tion will determine signifiexample, the year Durham cant policy at the federal County and North Carolina level, policy that shapes ishelped elect the nation’s sues about which Duke stufirst black president, only dents are passionate. Even 36 percent of students living in the opinion section of
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Very richly deserved. I hope that Dr. Lefkowitz’s achievement inspires the entire Duke community to strive for excellence in all aspects of life. —“srqw2w” commenting on the story “Duke professor Lefkowitz wins Nobel Prize in Chemistry.” 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.
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Direct submissions to:
E-mail: chronicleletters@duke.edu Editorial Page Department The Chronicle Box 90858, Durham, NC 27708 Phone: (919) 684-2663 Fax: (919) 684-4696
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Inc. 1993
YESHWANTH KANDIMALLA, Editor LAUREN CARROLL, Managing Editor JULIAN SPECTOR, News Editor ANDREW BEATON, Sports Editor CHRIS DALL, Photography Editor MAGGIE LAFALCE, Editorial Page Editor KATHERINE ZHANG, Editorial Board Chair PARKER KUIVILA, Managing Editor for Online JIM POSEN, Director of Online Operations CHRISSY BECK, General Manager KRISTIE KIM, University Editor TIFFANY LIEU, Local & National Editor ANDREW LUO, Health & Science Editor CAROLINE RODRIGUEZ, News Photography Editor PHOEBE LONG, Design Editor MICHAELA DWYER, Recess Editor SOPHIA DURAND, Recess Photography Editor SCOTT BRIGGS, Editorial Page Managing Editor MATTHEW CHASE, Towerview Editor ADDISON CORRIHER, Towerview Photography Editor NICOLE KYLE, Social Media Editor SAMANTHA BROOKS, Senior Editor REBECCA DICKENSON, Advertising Director MARY WEAVER, Operations Manager DAVID RICE, Director of External Relations
The Chronicle, columnists and guest commentators have hotly debated economic issues, gay marriage, Obama’s health care plan and student loan legislation affecting Pell Grants and interest rates. Every single one of these issues and a great deal more will be impacted by the upcoming election, and students should ensure that their voice is heard beyond campus discourse. And now the logistics. You must be registered to vote, and your registration must show your current address. This means that if you have moved campuses or moved to a new apartment on Central Campus, you will need to update your voter registration, even if you voted in
May. You can check whether or not you have registered by checking the state board of elections website. North Carolina allows ballots to be cast at one-stop early voting sites from October 18 to November 3: Duke will have its own site in the Old Trinity Room in the West Union Building. There are no on-campus voting sites on Election Day, so we highly encourage students to use this early voting option. OSEV sites also allow you to register to vote if you miss Friday’s deadline. However, this will take more time, and you will be required to bring a DukeCard if you live on campus and proof of address if you live off campus. There are two common
complaints with the voting process on polling day: First, it can be difficult and time-consuming to go to a polling booth. Second, it can seem like your individual vote counts for nothing. In response to the first grumble, OSEV makes voting unequivocally painless—the opportunity cost of dipping into West Union for a few minutes is minimal. To the second, if there were ever a time when your vote would count, it is this year in North Carolina. It is October, and it’s still neckand-neck between Romney and Obama. We implore the Duke community to register to vote and to make an informed decision when Election Day rolls around.
Just another Rom-com
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Est. 1905
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commentaries
MARGOT TUCHLER, University Editor JACK MERCOLA, Local & National Editor DANIELLE MUOIO, Health & Science Editor ELYSIA SU, Sports Photography Editor ELIZA STRONG, Design Editor HOLLY HILLIARD, Recess Managing Editor CHELSEA PIERONI, Online Photo Editor ASHLEY MOONEY, Sports Managing Editor SONIA HAVELE, Towerview Editor MELISSA YEO, Towerview Creative Director NICOLE KYLE, Special Projects Editor MAGGIE SPINI, Senior Editor MICHAEL SHAMMAS, Recruitment Chair BARBARA STARBUCK, Creative Director MEGAN MCGINITY, Digital 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. © 2012 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.
I
’ve been working for Gov. Romney’s campaign the professor is more interested in talking at you for the past two months. rather than encouraging you all to talk with each For my “Foreign Policy of the 2012 Elec- other? Even in seminars that aren’t hostile to intion” class, taught by Professor Peter Feaver, we teraction between students, I’ve seen classmates were split into teams to simulate the foreign policy avoid looking at me in the face by turning to the advisers for both campaigns. As a raging progres- professor in order to avoid being seen as a “Devil’s sive, I found the prospect of defending Gov. Rom- advocate” (God forbid). ney’s foreign policy positions terrifying. Though it seems like eons ago that we experiProfessor Feaver, after giving us our team as- enced the Never Ending Series of Republican Prisignments, noted in an email: “I mary Debates, studies have shown realize that some of these assignthat Americans are influenced not ments are ‘against type.’ If you want just by these debates but also by to switch, you have to find a willing the preceding and following evaluswap partner on the other team.” ations in the media—Gov. Romney I frantically Facebook-messaged experienced a not-insignificant every single member of Team bump in the polls after his relatively Obama, hoping to find a defector. more fiery performance last week. None would trade with me, and so I Debates do matter (as we were told samantha had to make do with taking on the by numerous columnists after-thelachman worldview of a candidate I thought fact) in an increasingly opinionated lacked a foreign policy altogether. what’s our age again? world. However, our midterm this past Though I’ll be abandoning the Tuesday—a debate moderated by Romney camp after our class midtwo surrogates of the campaigns—was the culmi- term, I appreciate the perspective I’ve gained by nation of what has been one of the most intel- viewing foreign policy through this alternate lens. lectually refreshing classes I’ve taken at Duke. It has made me much more critical of President Having a debate as the midterm demanded that Obama’s record in ways that I couldn’t have preour team develop positions and practice them for dicted, and more conscious of how campaigns can an extended period of time. At the post-debate/ spin events in their candidate’s favor. midterm celebration, Professor Feaver asked how Moreover, I now see areas in which there are this amount of preparation compared to studying actually profound differences between the candifor a more traditional midterm. All of us agreed dates, a departure from my pre-Romney days in that we devoted more than the average amount of which I thought that the distinctions were negstudying, because one can’t just cram for a debate ligible. The best constructive criticism I may get (especially when these arguments aren’t as intui- this semester came from Professor Feaver: On our tive). team op-ed on Syria, he wrote, “It reads more like As I immersed myself in American Enterprise a Colbert parody of Romney than what Romney Institute studies, Foreign Policy Initiative position would do”—which was true and indicative of how papers and Wall Street Journal op-eds, I began to I have the tendency to not give credit to diverging reflect on the value to this ideological exercise. but defensible positions. Perhaps I’m just a senile senior, but I’ve been To prepare for the world described above, I hard-pressed to recall other occasions in academic suggest making DI (debating inquiry) an addisettings in which I’ve been obliged to thoroughly tional mode of inquiry (or perhaps one that could defend and promote the arguments of an oppos- replace the vague EI or the redundant CCI, given ing school of thought. the CZ area of knowledge). In seriousness, extra I might as well be David Brooks-ian in making T-requirements probably won’t solve much, but this self-righteous argument: Too often our aca- as Duke emphasizes interdisciplinary coursework demic settings prevent us from taking stances that and undergoes curricular review, I hope we could we don’t personally agree with. And when we do, also consider the ways in which we integrate enit often feels contrived. gagement and debate into the classroom. Either How many times in the classroom are you told way, the DI would be one requirement I would be that you’ll be having a “debate” about a topic, only happy to fulfill (and perhaps trade, if anyone has to be disappointed by the exercise? What about an NS to spare?). when a classmate prefaces a point by saying “I feel like” to formulate his or her opinion in a way that Samantha Lachman is a Trinity senior. Her column they think won’t provoke or offend? Have you runs every other Thursday. You can follow her on Twitter ever, like me, found yourself in a seminar in which @SamLachman.
THE CHRONICLE
commentaries
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012 | 9
Being told you’re wrong
M
y AP English teacher once told me that I would get beaten up at least once in college for telling people I was a Republican. She made the comment in the middle of class, laughing as she said it. I don’t think it was necessarily meant as an insult, but the memory has stuck with me ever since. It’s a bit funny to think about now. Not only have I never gotten into a brawl surrounding politics (that would be a low point in anyone’s life I think), but a majority of my good friends at Duke are of the opposite political persuasion. In fact, I haven’t just peacefully coexisted and debated the other side—I’ve actually daniel strunk experienced it. This past sumdefining mer I worked for two organizacircumstances tions simultaneously. The first organization was the Romney campaign, where I acted as the student overseeing all of the Young Americans for Romney campus groups in North Carolina. The second organization, Friends of the Earth, I interned with for a short period of time in London. It’s as liberal as the name might lead you to believe. It was quite a dichotomous pairing. Indeed, leading up to my internship at Friends of the Earth, I often got a reaction of incredulity when people heard of my plans. “Why on earth are you interning for them?” I heard quite frequently. There are a lot of reasons. It was in London, a city I wanted to experience. I wanted to learn more about environmental issues. The internship had an international relations focus, one of my areas of study. But another reason, quite frankly, was that I’m not scared to engage with people who think I’m wrong. In fact, I actually enjoy it and learn from it. Being a Republican on this campus means you have the opportunity to be told you’re wrong a lot. That’s not a punch line, it’s the truth—I get told I’m wrong every day. To be clear, it doesn’t mean I am wrong—I’d definitely debate with you quite forcefully that I happen to be right. But it’s what comes with the territory if you want to engage in political discussion with a population consisting of a majority that disagrees with you. Indeed, I actually sometimes feel bad for my Democratic friends for being robbed of this great opportunity to constantly be told they’re wrong. They are challenged certainly—I of course try to challenge them on their views. But I don’t think they’re challenged nearly as much as Duke Republicans. If Duke Republicans are told they’re wrong every day, Duke Democrats are told they’re right every day. There just aren’t as many people around to disagree with them. And there are negative side effects to this. When you respectfully argue with someone who disagrees with you, you’re less likely to demonize his or her political affiliation later. In most cases, you realize they have reasons for what they believe. In most cases, you realize they have good intentions. And if you talk with enough members of their party, you realize they’re not all the same—that there’s no such thing as a cookie cutter Republican or Democrat. However easy it might be to attack the monolithic Republican or Democratic stereotype on Facebook or in rhetoric, you think twice about it when friends you respect carry the label and defy the stereotype. At the end of the day, I think one of the greatest things that Duke does is create an atmosphere in which people can freely and vehemently tell each other how wrong they are. And I’m not just talking about politically, but in all walks of life. Greek system, house model, tailgate, campus culture, major choice, you name it—discussing these things, debating these issues, this is how you grow to learn what you believe, and why. One of the best things you can do as a student at this school is seek out people who will tell you you’re wrong. Whether you change your mind or come to more resolutely understand why you believe what you believe—it will benefit you. So I’d like to end this column with a thank-you. Thank you, my liberal friends, for telling me I’m wrong. Thank you Maureen Dowd, Gail Collins, Charles Blow and Frank Bruni of The New York Times. Thank you Friends of the Earth. And thank you to a majority of my fellow Chronicle columnists. I would still just as passionately as ever tell you I’m right. But you’ve made my Duke experience all the more enjoyable, and I hope I’ve done the same for yours. Let’s never be happier and less hesitant to tell each other how wrong we all are. Daniel Strunk is a Trinity junior. His column runs every other Thursday. You can follow Daniel on Twitter @danielfstrunk.
A costly lesson
H
eading into week six of the semester, it’s hard down another 100 euros down and flips the disc. to believe I’m already halfway through my Another black one. Two hundred euros down the study abroad experience. Living in a foreign drain in 5 minutes. As you might imagine, John country is a learning experience in every possible was in a state of shock for a good 5 hours. I was so sense. Whether it’s learning a new lanstunned I couldn’t stop laughing. guage, living on your own in an unfaFast forward five weeks and I was miliar place or being so far from family making my way up to the lookout of and friends, studying abroad teaches Montmartre, one of the most beautiyou a lot. Unfortunately, these lessons ful views in Paris. I found myself on a aren’t always easy. It took me more time street with two “casinos.” Genius that I and more financial loss than I would am, I couldn’t help but stop and watch have liked to learn a traditional and sofor a minute. bering lesson: Don’t gamble. Once again, I saw people win some philip doerr During my orientation week in bets and lose some bets, and I was small world Paris I was lucky enough to have my guessing just about all of them corgood friend John visit for a few days. rectly. Then came a round where noWith a wide-open schedule, John and I were free to body else was playing. I was sure I knew which disc explore the city as we pleased. One afternoon we to choose and next thing I knew, the “dealer” had decided to head over to the Eiffel Tower. We had taken the 50 out of my hand. A few people around both already been but we were feeling a bit tired me were egging me on so I succumbed to the presand what better place to nap in Paris than the Eiffel sure and flipped it. It was black. Tower? Little did we know that our casual excursion At this point, you probably think I’m an idiot. would quickly take a turn for the worse. After sulking for 45 minutes I made my way back to Walking from the metro stop to the tower, we came a different casino, determined to get to the bottom upon a group of energetic people standing around a of the scam. I just stood by, watching everyone play. man playing a “casino” game. He had a cardboard The woman to my left bet and won. She walked away box with three black discs. One had a white circle with her friend and put the money in her wallet with on the bottom and the other two were completely a big smile. Within a minute she came back, played black. The dealer would first show the audience the again, and lost. I watched to see her reaction and disc with the white circle, flip it back over and then noticed that she didn’t seem that put out. That was shuffle them around. It’s a pretty simple game. If you when I realized their game. want to bet after the discs have been shuffled, you I started yelling at the next naïve tourist about to have to first give the dealer 50 or 100 euros. Then place a bet. “They’re all acting! They’re all working you flip the disc and if it’s right, you get double back. together! Don’t play!” I yelled. The women who had If it’s wrong, he keeps the original bet. been to my left quickly boxed me out and stepped John and I stood watching, guessing in our on my foot. The man across the circle shook his heads. We guessed right every time. Some people head and the dealer started yelling, telling everywon, some lost, but the correct disc was obvious to one I was crazy. us every time. Suddenly, there was a pause with no Like I said, you learn a lot during study abroad, one betting, and John and I looked at each other. whether it’s a language or how profitable fooling I will admit that I pressured John into putting tourists can be. I still don’t even know what happens down the money. We had been shooting 100 per- to the white circle; there’s definitely some real magcent, and now we were going to win 100 euros! It ic at play and I commend the wily dealers. Unfortuwould be so easy. Next thing we knew, John had nately for us, the opportunity to learn so much by handed over 100 euros and flipped over the disc. traveling abroad is paired with initial ignorance. So It was black. take advantage of this embarrassing lesson of mine, We were in shock. We stood by for a few more and if you make it to Paris, don’t gamble. For me, rounds. We guessed them all correctly again. “I’m that lesson cost 250 euros. gonna win my money back,” John said. We had no idea what had happened the first time; it must have Philip Doerr is a Trinity junior and is currently studybeen a fluke. We watched the shuffling of the discs ing abroad in Paris, France. His column runs every other and were sure that we had the right one. John puts Thursday.
10 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012
DKU from page 2 brainstorming ways to forge technological connections between the Kunshan and Durham campuses. Tracy Futhey, vice president for information technology and chief information officer, has been involved in discussions of how to use technology to make this transition possible. “What we’re very eager to do is use technology to bridge the geographic gap between here and China,” she said. Futhey said nothing has been decided definitely, but she hopes to implement video conferencing between the two campuses, noting that this technology already exists in Durham. This would make conversations with speakers or classes from other locations possible. The time difference—12 hours—poses a problem for planning times to video conference, Futhey noted, but she believes people on either end will take advantage of the few times that are congruous. Additionally, Futhey said technological applications without time sensitivity are a
THE CHRONICLE
possibility, including blogs and social networking tools. The recently created Committee for Teaching Liberal Arts in China—co-chaired by Bynum and Dean of Arts and Sciences Laurie Patton—is discussing how to effectively teach liberal arts courses in China and what types of programs may be pursued. “Our excitement comes from the fact that we will blend the best of Western liberal arts tradition, the best of Chinese educational traditions and the new interest in liberal arts in China to create something new,” Patton wrote in an email Wednesday, noting that the committee has just had its first meeting, and all plans being discussed are still very preliminary. Bullock is confident that DKU will eventually be a staple of the Duke experience, whether it be at home or abroad. “In the future, students are going to be able to go to China and take interesting courses, but it’s not limited to that,” Bullock said. “Faculty will go to China, do research and come back here. [They will] bring China into the classroom even if they’re not teaching a course on China. That will transform the curriculum.”
Uprooted / Rerouted
DSG from page 3 be on West Campus until next year. Students blocking under the current house model would choose as a group to block in gender-neutral residences. In 2011, DSG passed a resolution supporting the concept of gender-neutral housing on West Campus. The resolution Zionce presented officially passed and is supported by Duke Students for Gender Neutrality as well. In other business: DSG representatives celebrated the repeal of the statue of limitations on sexual misconduct. DSG unanimously passed a resolution tonight that recognized the removal of the statute of limitations. Executive Vice President Patrick Oathout gave special thanks to DSG President Alex Swain and Stefani Jones, vice president of equity and outreach, for pushing the repeal. “This has increased the credibility of the DSG,” Oathout said. A 20-minute debate ensued over whether or not to use $1,500 from the DSG surplus budget to fund the Back to School Engagement Event featuring Nikki Giovanni, a world-renowned poet, activist and educator. The event would also have funds contributed by the Office of Undergraduate Education and the Office of Student Affairs. Despite noting the prominence and potential positive impact of Giovanni’s presence, several senators questioned the use of allocating surplus funds to an event that would benefit a finite number of people rather than something that benefits more people, such as the Arts Annex. The proposal did not to pass. A resolution was also unanimously passed to congratulate Dr. Robert Lefkowitz on his Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
JACOBS from page 2
FOUR COURSES. FOUR WEEKS ABROAD. ONE THEME. ONE SEMESTER. DukeImmerse: Uprooted/Rerouted returns for a second year in Spring 2013. Collaborate with your peers, faculty, refugee communities, and NGOs to find out how displacement affects well-being and social identity.
Contact Professor Suzanne Shanahan by email (suzanne.shanahan@duke.edu) to learn more. Information and application at dukeethics.org/uprooted-rerouted.
APPLY BY FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012, AT 5PM.
OFFICE OF
UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION
greatest resource is its people.” Jacobs spent her time as a student making changes to Duke as well as to Durham. In her sophomore year, she perceived a need for a place on campus to serve as a meeting place for student groups and a social alternative to the dominance of greek life. She sought approval from the University to create such a space, and shortly thereafter, the Duke Coffeehouse was established. “Duke allowed me to feel empowered to make a difference, and that’s where my path to public office started,” Jacobs said. Jacobs’ family also has ties to Duke. Her husband, Dr. Michael Meredith, who graduated from Duke in 1982, now works as a primary care physician at Duke Hospital. Her daughter, Eliza Meredith, is a current freshman. “Her campaign’s been really exciting for me, because I’ve grown up seeing her as an activist for these different things,” Eliza Meredith said. “It says a lot that she came to Duke and hasn’t left. As soon as she was a Duke student, she got involved in Durham and really made it her home.” Jacobs said it was important for students to vote in the election, but she also offered undergraduates more general recommendations about activities to pursue during their college careers.. “I encourage Duke students to follow their passions, to get involved in the community and in different organizations,” Jacobs said. “It’s a win-win situation, because you’re contributing, but you’re also learning, and you never know what path your experiences will take you on.”
Follow us on Twitter @DukeChronicle @DukeShutter @ChronicleSports
Recess
volume 14 issue 7 october 11, 2012
ALWAYS (RE)IMAGINE
N E K FRAN
WEENIE
Tim Burton revamps Shelley’s classic
CENTER
SOPHIA DURAND/THE CHRONICLE
meshell ndegeocello
new album pays homage to Nina Simone
UNC arts admin. chats with Recess Ed-in-Chief
it’s not about hurricanes
CENTER
PAGE 3 SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
emil kang
the eye of the storm
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
PAGE 6 SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
recess
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port artistic excellence, creativity, and innovation for the benefit of individuals and communities” since its inception in 1965. True to form, the organization boasts a logo of three Mondriancolored triangles and the snappy phrase “Art Works.” The NEA ew Editor’s Note. Let’s begin at the beginning, and is a subject that’s been infinitely bandied about by politicians, let’s get personal. Quickly. like in 1990 when a “decency provision” was invoked after the What were your first words? “Mom”? “Dad”? A NEA financially supported the exhibition of Andres Serrano’s bumbling of your sibling’s name? Piss Christ and Robert Mapplethorpe’s homoerotic photograMine were “Big Bird.” phy. And like now, when Mitt Romney has announced—and This isn’t meant to highlight my seemingly prescient affinity then been alternately harangued and absolved for—his stated for PBS or overall intellectual acumen as a 0.9-year-old (though resolution to eliminate federal funding for the NEA as well as my roommate has told me that my not having cable until the PBS and the National Endowment for the Humanities. RegardLizzie McGuire era “says a lot” about me). Besides, it sounded ing this, a friend who also works on this publication said, “So, like “Bih Buh,” according to my parents’ recollection, replete pretty much every job I’m planning on applying to is funded by with lollygagging tongue and dreamy eyes at the mention of the NEA. Does [Romney] realize that?” my “childhood.” My absorption of these words merely demonTogether, Emil Kang and I steered the conversation toward, strates that I spent my earliest days in the world glued to Sesame and then rapidly away from, political declarations and settled Street. somewhere in that space where I concentrate most of my Nor is it meant to enumerate and then unpack my po- talkiness nowadays—between frustration and optimism about litical convictions in the context of the current election where the arts are going in contemporary institutions like because this is an arts and culture publication, and not the Duke or UNC. “Going,” of course, implies movement, and I’m space for that—right? not one to describe the arts in terms of regressive motion. But I’m honestly not sure, but we can use this unique and po- it’s sometimes hard to discern the directionality of this—the tentially radical editorial space—which has generated some “this,” of course, being pretty multivalent and uncategorizable. conversational heat already—throughout the rest of the year to As he and I discussed, many musicians blow steam at iTunes keep working this out. Two weeks ago I met with Emil Kang, the because of its genre-ifying mandate (as a Joni Mitchell-leaning director of Carolina Performing Arts at UNC. I contacted him contemporary songbird, would you feel more adequately repin light of his recent appointment to the National Council on resented as “Singer/Songwriter” or “Rock”?). In response to the Arts, the advising body of the National Endowment for the that, there’s a sense of the archetypal, individualistic, pompous Arts (NEA), which has “awarded more than $4 billion to sup- artiste proclaiming his or her refusal to bow down to commercial streamlining (I’m only partly looking at you, Abstract Expressionists). But there’s also the necessary flipside: genres and categories break things down and in turn help us to connect. We may not What we’d win a Nobel Prize for go around babbling to each other about our love of Michaela Dwyer..................................................................kunst, ja? ‘freak folk,’ but nonetheless we’ll find each other at Holly Hilliard...................................Trey Songz reinterpretationz concerts that fit that description, eyeing the crowd Ted Phillips........................................................................barfquirk for a reciprocal stare acknowledging that we’re individuals but also similar types of people. I don’t Dan Fishman..................................[insert poetry comment here] know about you (though I want to!), but I attend Katie Zaborsky.........................................................putzing around concerts—or any artistic event for that matter—as Andrew Karim................................dedication to the coffeehouse much for the music or art as for my desire to be Sophia Durand.....................................Wednesday night Shooters with other people. I guarantee you that half of my analysis of any artistic outing will be grounded in Emma Loewe...................................................................anonymity how attendees’ hairstyles, couples’ body language
EDITOR’Snote
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[recesseditors]
DUKE PERFORMANCES In Durham, at Duke, a City Revealed. ay!!! this frid INCANDESCENT PIANO VIRTUOSO
RAFAL BLECHACZ, PIANO
BACH, BEETHOVEN, CHOPIN, SZYMANOWSKI
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12 8 PM • REYNOLDS THEATER
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MESHELL NDEGEOCELLO A DEDICATION TO NINA SIMONE
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19 8 PM • REYNOLDS THEATER SOULFUL ICONOCLAST
MESHELL NDEGEOCELLO
VENTRILOQUISM: A NIGHT OF COVERS
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October 11, 2012
and the degree of proper lighting contributed to my overall experience. Art does this, inherently; it creates relatively spontaneous communities governed by the simple idea that artistic and social stimulation are intertwined. Yeah, you may be thinking, but none of this is new, and will you ever stop writing about the arts at Duke, Michaela? I’d answer you this: It’s precisely my point that none of this is new, and no, I won’t, because it’s too damn important not to. It’s easy, especially in election season, to become desensitized to terms like “the arts” as they’re buzzworded into nebulousness. But it’s our job as human beings to stay vigilant in our processing of daily life, and I’d reckon that for most of us that practice involves art in some way, both in the manner of documentation—from iPhone photography to mental or literal note-taking—and in the material we encounter firsthand. Currently, it seems radical to declare that things like art matter, which is both good and bad. At Duke, the directionality of the arts feels to me like a growing buzz. It feels like a stream—not “mainstream” or the more alt-peddled “lamestream,” but a stream—one that progresses through generating interpersonal energy. In one of my classes two weeks ago, a friend noted our tendency as students to envision social and cultural change from a higher level, as a top-down system; we often ignore the importance of working with each other to identify what we need to change and how to change it. This can be as simple as holding ourselves accountable for one another, which is as simple as asking each other how we’re doing, what we’re reading, how we spent our weekend. It was for that same class that I read the transcript of a 1963 oral history interview conducted through the Smithsonian Archives of American Art. The interviewee was Mildred Baker, an arts administrator and assistant to Holger Cahill during the Federal Art Project, a New Deal initiative that enforced the notion of public artistry as well as the actual employability of artists. She reflected, “…Certainly during this period there was this, I think, genuine kind of camaraderie. With all the divisive influences which individual personalities will create, none-theless the mainstream, the main thrust in this period, was one of, you know, friendliness and concern - genuine concern. At least I find it so; at least that’s what the papers reveal.” This concern and camaraderie are are such stuff that art is made on, both on a micro and macro level. It’s up to us to sustain this connection and strive for the recognition that what we do, culturally and artistically, is important. —Michaela Dwyer
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October 11, 2012
Water photography exhibited in Allen by Ashley Alman THE CHRONICLE
Water freezes, it flows, it carves through mountains and ices over Mars. It bathes, it nourishes and it’s becoming increasingly difficult to attain in a clean, usable form. Recognizing this trend and its global implications, former students of Professor Antonio Bogaert’s Practice in Photography course have developed an exhibit that draws attention to the beauty of water in all its forms and to the element’s environmental, social, political and cultural significance. Their project, called Aqua, is displayed on the first floor of the Allen Building. The exhibit was inspired by Charles Fishman’s book, The Big Thirst: The Secret Life and Turbulent Future of Water, which Bogaert’s students were required to read before developing their portfolios. The novel explores water as a resource, a marvel and the center of a global crisis.
“The water images presented by the students invite us all to become more water-conscious, and to appreciate the beauty and wonder of this precious resource,” Bogaert wrote in an email. He said the greatest success of the project was the students’ increased awareness of water’s fundamental importance and of Western society’s privileged abundance of the resource. The photographs range in size and subject—some are in full color, while others are in black and white. There are images of crashing waves, refracted light, rippling effects and drainage pipes. The exhibit, made possible by a $3500 grant given from Duke alum Benjamin Holloway and his wife Rita, has raised $450 to date, wrote Danette Clark of the Office of the Vice Provost of the Arts in an e-mail. The group hopes to raise a total of $1500 for Water.org, which supports community-driven water restoration programs in developing countries. “Since we were working on the water theme as a personal final portfolio theme, students thought we could combine the
POUR UNE AME SOUVERAINE: A DEDICATION TO NINA SIMONE NAIVE
john cale SHIFTY ADVENTURES IN NOOKIE WOOD DOUBLE SIX
John Cale has a history of straying away from the iconic Velvet Underground 1960s pop-rock. His divergences have led critics to describe his more recent music as “avantgarde.” Not the type of avant-garde music that perpetually hovers over audiences’ heads, but the kind that leaves people feeling slightly unsettled yet still satisfied. John Cale’s most recent album Shifty Adventures in Nookie Wood is no different. It seems as if Cale has disconnected himself from his Velvet Underground roots and drawn from influences of later decades. The track “Scotland Yard” sounds like a combination of the glam-y yet discordant pop of Depeche Mode combined with Peter Gabriel. Overall the tracks have a satisfying level of creativity. Cale definitely put thought and effort into their production, but they all leave me feeling slightly uncomfortable—as if Cale is trying to insert himself in a movement that hasn’t quite embraced him. Most tracks, including “December Rains,” auto-tune and mechanize Cale’s voice and are slightly cringe-worthy. These are completely unnecessary tricks. Most can be taken seriously as “avant-garde” without blatantly editing their vocals to sound more mechanical. Cale is among a group of many musicians from his era who are experimenting with modern musical trends. This is evident with Tom Waits’ most recent album Bad as Me. In fact, title track “Nookie Wood” embodies the same electrohip hop style found throughout Bad as Me. The difference between the two albums is that Bad as Me still maintains Waits’ iconic raspiness and rough edge, yet Shifty Adventures in Nookie Wood doesn’t contain anything that is definitively Cale. This isn’t to say it’s a bad album. It will definitely attract the scene of those excited by things like David Lynch’s music video “Crazy Clown Time.” As has become increasingly popular among today’s alternative musicians, the majority of the album is odd without failing to be melodic. “Vampire Cafe” epitomizes this combination. The chord structure feels familiar and predictable, but uses atypical instruments, including a synthesized accordion and African drums. After listening to this album all the way through for the first time, I immediately turned on Velvet Underground’s classic tune “Sweet Jane.” Although I did not grow up to hear this music released, I felt nostalgic. Part of me wanted to hear Cale reproduce music reminiscent of a past era. But artistry isn’t stagnant. It’s great that artists like Tom Waits, John Cale and even Thurston Moore are embracing the creativity of this generation on not just resting on their laurels of past success. —Adrienne Harreveld
exhibit with a fundraiser for Water.org, not only showing the aesthetic results from the water project, but also to help bring clean water to a community,” Bogaert said. Senior Ishita Chordia, whose portfolio explored the different emotions water can portray, said she was excited that her work was serving a higher purpose. Her piece that was selected for the exhibit depicts a reflection of the sky in a puddle near her Central Campus apartment, highlighting the introspective quality that water inspires. “You really notice different things about water, or whatever your subject is, when you have a camera in your hand,” Chordia said. “I would definitely encourage everyone to go out there with a camera.” Aqua will be on display through December 6 on the first floor of the Allen Building. The images are available for sale through that date.
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
meshell ndegeocello
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
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Everyone agrees (or at least I hope everyone agrees) that we should remember Nina Simone. But which Simone? Simone was a woman of many hats. There’s Simone the Civil Rights activist: the Simone whose songs spoke so freely and so confidently about the suffering of black Americans that many southern states decided to boycott her music altogether. This is the Simone who was the mouthpiece for Langston Hughes’ “Backlash Blues,” the Simone of “To Be Young, Gifted and Black.” Then there’s Simone the ‘High Priestess of Soul’ who wrote some of the most powerful and sexy lyrics of the last century—including my favorites, “Real Real” and “Do I Move You?” There’s Simone the fearless songwriter who rebelled against simplistic and degrading stereotypes about black womanhood (“Four Women”). And then there’s the Simone of gospel music, the Simone of blues, of Broadway, of folk, of jazz. To her immense credit, Meshell Ndegeocello doesn’t limit Simone to any one facet. Rather hers is “une ame souveraine” (a sovereign soul). The album serves as an accurate cross-section of Simone’s life and work. Ndegeocello sings and interprets songs that Simone wrote (“Nobody’s Fault But Mine”) but also songs that Simone chose to cover (“House of the Rising Sun”). She presents both A-sides and B-sides, songs that show the High Priestess at her most confident (“Be My Husband”) and her most vulnerable (“Black Is The Color of My
True Love’s Hair”). “I’m just a soul whose intentions are good,” once-Simone-now-Ndegeocello sings on the album’s opening track, and, using every ounce of her modesty, makes us believe. The main struggle of a tribute album is to make a great artist newly relevant without doing second-rate versions of his or her work. With that as the litmus test, Ndegeocello succeeds. She never tries to out-Simone Simone. I can’t hear even the slightest hints of the original “Real Real” when I hear Ndegeocello’s—and I must have listened to Simone’s definitive version a few dozen times. Whereas Simone’s version was quietly joyful, sung unobtrusively over an organ and hand clapping, Meshell’s version is bass-heavy, smooth and sultry, sung with a voice that’s darker, heavier and so damn melodic. Throughout Souveraine Ndegeocello never tries to outpower her muse. She never tries to make her voice more piercing or more striking. Instead, she lets her bass talk, lets the tracks groove, lets them bathe, and sings as she has always sung. The album’s cameos approach Simone with the same modest re-authorship. Sinead O’Connor turns “Don’t Take All Night” into a Western-inspired piano ballad. Toshi Reagon’s “House of the Rising Sun” is a hybrid between The Animals’ rock and Simone’s blues. Valerie June’s highpitched, nasal voice on “Be My Husband” is strikingly different from Simone’s, yet the take is refreshing. The real star of the cameos, however, is Cody ChesnuTT. His—and it is distinctly his—version of “To Be Young, Gifted and Black,” is every bit as impassioned as Donny Hathaway’s and, dare SEE NDEGEOCELLO ON PAGE 6
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the buzz in film
killer joe
DIR. WILLIAM FRIEDKIN VOLTAGE PICTURES
Situated in the slums of southern Dallas, Killer Joe thrills viewers with dark humor and intense, realistic violence and sexuality, unlike anything I have ever seen before. Chris (Emile Hirsch) is a young, Texan drug dealer, who has become caught up in debt with the wrong people. With the threat of death hanging over his head if he doesn’t pay up, he devises a plan to murder his evil mother and collect her life insurance. He, along with his father Ansel (Thomas Haden Church), hires professional killer Joe Cooper (Matthew McConaughey), a Dallas detective. Unable to pay the initial contract fee, Joe negotiates to hold Chris’s sister, Dottie (Juno Temple), as a sexual retainer until the life insurance is collected. This movie fascinated me. It is not often that an NC17 rated movie comes out, and Killer Joe makes it clear it deserves this rating. The final scene alone warranted the NC-17 label, and it brought my heart to an alarming rate, revealing how viciously violent and sexually deviant Killer Joe can be. Director William Friedkin does not give in to standard Hollywood timidity, instead employing unfiltered violence. Gashes, bleeding and bruising on Chris’s face were spot-on effects, and often I was convinced that McConaughey’s stage punches were authentic. McConaughey is fantastic and pulls off an uncharacteristic role. Straying from the likeable, fun character he often plays, he becomes the Southern-mannered, calculated-yet-cold, creepy, viscous and perverted Killer Joe. Hirsch is convincing as the falsely arrogant protagonist, and Church displays well the stupidity of stereotypical uneducated, alcoholic, trailer-park-trash rednecks. Whether because of her character’s innocence or her traumatic past, Temple captures the audience with her ditziness and obsession with Killer Joe. Friedkin and screenwriter Tracy Letts pull off a masterful work, brilliantly mixing sinister humor into a sick and twisted Texas murder story. In addition to the realism of the violence and sexuality, the characters and setting authentically portray the sleaze of white-trash culture of southern Dallas. Such dire circumstances make desperate schemes like those SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE employed by the protagonists convincing, but I was left wishing for a more fleshed-out portrayal of the mother. Though explained in conversation, her evil and loathsome ways are never shown; her only appearance, right before she is killed, almost renders her a victim, undeserving of such treatment. Killer Joe is a bold movie that does not shy from telling a gruesome murder tale how it should be told – unfiltered and realistic. McConaughey gives one of his best performances yet, fully embracing his character’s violent and sexual fetishes. The final scene, laced with situational irony, took me out of my seat in pure terror and utter fascination. Killer Joe will either enthrall you or send you for the exit. Just be prepared before you watch. —Cord Peters
October 11, 2012
frankenweenie
DIR. TIM BURTON WALT DISNEY PICTURES
Tim Burton has turned out another classic, even if it’s a little strange around the edges. Burton delivers in this loose adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, giving us an entertaining story while also freaking us out a little bit. After young Victor Frankenstein’s dog Sparky dies, he manages to bring him back to life using some tricks from science class. But after word about his experiment gets out, chaos descends on the small town of New Holland. There are definitely a few moments in the movie that might cause even the most die-hard Burton fans to raise their eyebrows. For instance, one of the characters is a Japanese boy that talks in an accent last seen in propaganda videos and is designed using nearly every stereotype in the book. Sparky’s untimely demise is prophesied by a clairvoyant cat’s morning bowel movements, a plot device that only Burton could dream up. As for the ending, I’ll just say this: Franken-sea monkeys and a windmill (yes, it’s as weird as you think it is). Still, the movie has all the beloved hallmarks of Burton’s work: a creepy premise, a lot of quirky if (very) strange claymation characters and plenty of dark whimsy. It’s black and white, which lends an old timey quality to the film, alluding to the 1931 version of Shelley’s classic novel. It also references the age of Frankenweenie’s concept: Burton originally created the characters in a short film he made for Disney in 1984. In fact, Burton does not incorporate as much character development as you might expect in a feature film, instead choosing to focus on the original story of Victor and Sparky. While this gives a sweet simplicity to the movie, it can also be less stimulating and unsatisfying for older audience members. The promising relationship between Victor and his classmate neighbor, Elsa, is left unexplored, even though the relationship between their dogs is featured prominently. And while one expects the overarching ‘lesson’ of the movie to be about letting go, the ending is such that we don’t take anything profound away from it at all—unusual for Burton. SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE Yet perhaps that’s the point: ultimately, Burton just wanted to give us a story about the simple love between a boy and his dog. There are some strange moments and some scary ones, and I wouldn’t recommend taking a very young child to see it. But Tim Burton is still Tim Burton, and if you’re a true fan, this is a movie worth seeing. —Christina Malliris
October 11, 2012
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Duke MFA students and profs featured in New York Film Festival by Madeleine Roberts THE CHRONICLE
the eye of the storm DIR. FRED SCHEPISI PAPER BARK FILMS PTY. LTD.
In The Eye of the Storm, the ailing matriarch of an Australian family, Elizabeth Hunter (Charlotte Rampling), has decided it’s time to die—which she believes is the right of the rich. She calls on her two children, Basil and Dorothy (Geoffrey Rush and Judy Davis), to come see her before she passes on. The title recalls the storm of grown children dealing with the death of a parent, the storm clouding Elizabeth’s mind and a literal decades-old storm that marked a rift in the family. Once Basil and Dorothy arrive, the two worry they will be written out of Elizabeth’s will and replaced by her staff of servants and nurses, kept as pets to entertain her. Elizabeth exploits the fact that Dorothy, who kept only her title in a messy divorce from a French prince, and Basil, a knighted actor who’s losing his touch, are both in financial trouble. The siblings are falling apart due to their fiscal woes, as evidenced by ripped stockings, poppedoff buttons and holey clothes. Elizabeth is falling apart because of her illness, and the film chronicles her “morphine moments,” seamlessly following her through non-chronSPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE ological flashbacks that explain the origins of their strife. Still, the Hunter family vanity is ever-present. Rush, Rampling, and Davis are masterful actors, and they make the entirely unrelatable and unlikable Hunter clan seem at least moderately convincing. Everything in the movie is remarkably cold; the characters are emotionally frigid, and the sea- and sky-focused cinematography washes us in faded blues and greys. Director Fred Schepisi uses wide-angle shots that further separate the characters, both emotionally and physically. One bright spot is the vibrant, rosy-cheeked Flora (Alexandra Schepisi, the director’s daughter), one of Elizabeth’s nurses. With her unrefined Australian accent and brassy charms, she gives respite from the cast of unpalatable characters while endearing herself to Elizabeth, Basil and the audience as a whole. The near-sociopathic tendencies of the protagonists make The Eye of the Storm fascinating to watch. You never know whether a character acts out of genuine feeling or to serve a selfish purpose; this tension drives the plot and keeps the audience engaged and curious. For a movie centered around death, there is enough comedic relief to keep the film from becoming too melodramatic. The Eye of the Storm’s style and content are a special treat for fans of PBS miniseries; the focus on landscape, familial relations, and ornate furniture feels like a 21st-century Downton Abbey. What is most remarkable is how effortlessly the film handles topics that are often forcibly dragged into the realm of the “heart-wrenching.” While many films (eg. When Did You Last See Your Father) get bogged down in fishing for tears or conveying a moral, The Eye of the Storm is instead a schadenfreude-laced study of the gritty side of family drama. —Megan Rise
17 days. Three Duke students. Two exceptional faculty members. One big city. And so the story goes for yet another year of Duke’s creative presence at the 50th annual New York Film Festival (NYFF). The festival—which opened on September 28 and will run through October 14—features dozens of films in a variety of thematic categories. This year, three of Duke’s MFA in Experimental and Documentary Arts candidates were featured in the festival’s section “Views from the AvantGarde,” alongside Duke film masters David Gatten and Shambhavi Kaul. Gatten, a lecturing fellow and artist in residence in the Program in Arts of the Moving Image, remarked, “everyone got a sense that something SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE very special is happening down at Duke University in [the MFA in Experimental and Documentary Arts].” Erin Espelie was one of the three students to have a film selected for the festival. In her film, titled Beyond Expression Bright, Espelie “used material gathered last Spring semester when [she] was teaching a course through the Nicholas School [of the Environment].” The interaction of cinema and science is the main focus in this ten-minute work, and Espelie examines the shared elements of physics and art. “Thinking about photons being emitted from the sun and the way light travels got me thinking about the way that sunlight works with cinema and science,” she said. In order to explore this relationship, Espelie created a “moving-image, timebased piece” through which she looked at sunlight and the sun’s emitted particles “through the lens of a camera.” To effectively convey such an interaction, Espelie had to work closely with researchers and scientists, such as Duke physicist Kate Scholberg, who examines neutrinos—particles “tiny even by subatomic standards.” Espelie also wanted to delve into “how the art world can bump up against narrative.” Two other MFA students premiered their films at the NYFF this past weekend. Talena Sanders’s four-minute Tokens and Penalties was screened in the “Circles of Confusion” program on October 5. Marika Borgeson’s film Impressions was also part of the “Views from the Avante-Garde” festival section. Gatten and Kaul are long-term participants in the NYFF. This year, Gatten debuted his 175-minute film Extravagant Shadows, which he has been working on and off since 1998, to a sold-out theater. The work is a three-hour documentation of Gatten painting pigments on a window while literary quotes appear onscreen. David Gatten is no rookie to the festival—as an internationally renowned filmmaker, he has been a participant in the NYFF for years. “As usual it is a great chance not only to share one’s work at the highest-visibility festival in the country, but also to see what everyone’s doing and where the field is going,” he said. Shambhavi Kaul, a visiting and adjunct instructor in the AMI program, returned for her third year at the festival to debut 21 Chitrakoot, a new ten-minute film. For this admittedly “more experimental” work, Kaul used existing material from an Indian TV series from the 1980’s. “I wanted to really concentrate on the back drop and not really the people,” she said. She wanted to focus on “the way we understand India and the things we project on India.” Kaul seeks to convey our “nostalgia” in creating a place, and in employing found materials, she explores “a certain way to construct a place” in film. As up-and-coming filmmakers are working in Duke’s well-equipped facilities with world-class artists like Kaul and Gatten, they are crafting an artistic identity and sharing it. Everyone involved stressed the mutual benefits of a student/teacher relationship. As Kaul said, “It’s always wonderful to have an opportunity to work on something you’re interested in with students. It’s a horizontal process—you end up learning so much because you’re teaching something that you are interested in.”
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October 11, 2012
Recess Interviews: Emil Kang, National Council on the Arts
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
On September 22, the U.S. Senate approved Obama’s appointment of Emil Kang to the National Council on the Arts, the advising body for the National Endowment for the Arts. Kang, who is the executive director of the arts and a professor of the practice of music at UNC-Chapel Hill, also helms Carolina Performing Arts, which is presenting a year of programming entitled “The Rite of Spring at 100” that engages Igor Stravinsky’s landmark piece. Recess Editor Michaela Dwyer chatted about Kang’s new position, his cultural work in Detroit and the state of the arts in contemporary universities. The following are excerpts from their conversation, which began with their shared enthusiasm for Irish theater and then progressed toward the value of art in society. EK: …Art is a shared experience, so we don’t value it. For us that shared experience is basketball games. That’s when everyone comes together. I’m a sports fan, don’t get me wrong. Why isn’t seeing a ballet as important as seeing basketball? Why is it only for a certain group of people? We have a chance to effect policy in higher education. Here [at UNC] we talk about having a control group of those who don’t do anything but then also those who participate in the arts. Can we look at the effect that arts participation has on the their achievement ....measured by not just GPA—but also by scholarships, grad school attendance, job employment—and create a direct correlation between that [artistic] participation and other success? And of course beyond that, their success as adults, as contributing citizens in society… R: Because that’s the whole point, right? Living in and contributing to society in a meaningful way. EK: Until we can demonstrate that kind of direct value [of art] we’re always going to struggle with this. And now, it’s all about...cutting the NEA. I don’t want this to be a political discussion…especially in election season, when it’s all rhetoric. I think you know what I feel. [Cutting the NEA] is not even an imaginable truth to me. If that happens, I’d…become a her-
mit. R: And that’s so depressing, so antithetical to the idea of shared experience—what art really seems to be! EK: Perhaps we’ll have to even work harder, but I don’t know how you work harder. It’s the same thing over and over again. It was 1989-90 when Jesse Helms and others really tried to abolish the NEA. [There was discussion about] “what is art?” and “why should government be involved with the deciding of the art?” [There’s] this idea that creation is always inherently a risk. We’ve commissioned twelve pieces for The Rite of Spring project and we don’t know what’s going to happen. For us, that’s emblematic of The Rite of Spring as a piece... in the beginning of modernism, with the idea of upending everything that was normal. If we don’t do that at a university, where are we going to do it? That’s what the National Council on the Arts is pushing. We can go to Washington and talk about these things and do those things [at UNC]. One part is our student body’s own experiences and the second part is changing the culture of the university to value [art] more and the third is bringing artists in to showcase the exemplars of creativity and performance. Art is not created in a vacuum; it’s a living, breathing thing…this idea that we can demonstrate the value of the creative process [and] we can show people that art is made over time. R: You’re a practicing musician. Do you see a lot of people who are involved in arts at an administrative level who are actually practicing, playing artists? Do you think a lot of the people ‘running’ the arts are actually artists? And do you think it informs the way you do things in your job? EK: The answer implies a judgment and I don’t think that’s fair. I don’t know if I’ve always believed this, but right now I do. I think that all things being equal, I think having someone [who practices art] is always better. But all things are never equal. You need someone who’s been a curator or a performer, and in another situation you need a fundraiser, a consensusbuilder and you need a board that can identify the difference. As you get older you stop saying these absolutes because you know they’re not true. For me the absolutes I have are in the value of arts in society. That’s an absolute truth. R: This year at Full Frame [Documentary Film Festival] I saw Detropia, which is a sort of visually spectacular film about contemporary Detroit. One of the main focuses of the film was the Detroit Opera House and about their financial difficulties and long saga of struggle. You came to UNC right after you led the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. What was the transition like, when the whole economy collapsed? There’s no single answer to that. I love Detroit. I was at a meeting and someone made fun of Detroit. It was like some-
Duke They’re your dining points.
one was insulting my mother. There’s this very incredible vulnerability of some nakedness, some rawness that you can’t hide by window-dressing, so you see bones of a place. The glory, tragedy and triumph—it’s all in front of you. That’s why so many photographers and writers use Detroit as a subject. And the arts organizations have been a central part of the city’s survival, of its cultural survival. What happens when the economy tanks is people start leaving and institutions break. The opera house borrowed all this money; the city keeps going downhill. [Then] I was 35 and over my head. Going back…my whole life is defined by taking risks. When I was graduating from college, I had job opportunities [in banking]. I ended up taking a job as receptionist in an art gallery in New York City. My parents said, “Are you kidding me?” It was like a moment of, “We moved to this country for this?” It was a gallery that sold frames, and my mother used it as a metaphor for my life: an empty frame. But all this is to say, these are all things that test you. And I tell students all the time that if you don’t have those moments you aren’t trying hard enough. When I teach, too, there’s always this idea that whatever you do—mowing the lawn, picking up mail, ordering a sub at Subway, whatever it is— that you actually focus… R: Actually be in it. EK: Be in it. I’m full of clichés today, but there are no other chances like this. You can apply this metaphor in so many ways: How boring are the liberal arts if you take the same classes that you always take? That’s not life, that’s prison! I grew up in New York City, and my mother would take me to a remote area in Queens, Brooklyn or the Bronx and just drop me off and say, “Find your way home! You can speak English!” She thought that was actually a good …what’s the word? “Character-builder.” That’s crazy! But this allowed me to…take risks on [my] own. [It’s about] being confident in what you know, and what you don’t know, and what you believe in, and finding a way to articulate that.
NDEGEOCELLO from page 3 I say, even Aretha’s. It’s a pleasure to hear Simone’s powerful track totally reimagined for a new generation of black musicians. For an album that spans various genres and decades, it flows with surprising ease. If anything, it settles too comfortably into set moods. Whereas the first third of the album is upbeat, quick and confident, the middle third is slightly despondent and unnecessarily slow. Which is to say, while each individual track is expertly arranged, the album-as-album sometimes suffers. But Souveraine isn’t really meant as a stand-alone LP as much as a tool to re-vitalize Simone, to bring her complexity, her fearlessness, her soul back onto the stage. —Dan Fishman
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