T H E I N D E P E N D E N T D A I LY AT D U K E U N I V E R S I T Y
The Chronicle
XXXDAY, MONTH WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY XX, 2013 27, 2013
ONE ONE HUNDRED HUNDRED AND AND EIGHTH EIGHTH YEAR, YEAR, ISSUE ISSUE 108 X
WWW.DUKECHRONICLE.COM
Why theme parties? Duke looks to change pattern of parties invoking stereotypes of race or sex by Maggie Spini THE CHRONICLE
Students and faculty alike say they are perplexed about how to address the recurrence of parties with inflammatory themes. In recent years, Duke parties have grabbed national media attention with themes playing on racial news and gender steanalysis reotypes. Parties have taken on themes of Asians, Pilgrims and Indians, Juveniles and Pedophiles and others. The frequency of parties with controversial themes raises questions about what attracts students to create such parties, and what people at Duke might do to respond to them and prevent future scandals. “I’ve been at Duke for 20 years and I’ve seen this happen every
few years,” said Orin Starn, chair of the cultural anthropology department. “I don’t know what it is about [Duke]. We seem to have a knack for throwing or doing inappropriate things, whether it’s Karen Owen or the lacrosse women in blackface.” Since the beginning of Spring semester, parties hosted by Kappa Sigma and Sigma Nu fraternities have received national media attention for their controversial themes. Duke’s Eta Prime chapter of Kappa Sigma held a party Feb. 1 called “Asia Prime,” later relabeled “International Relations,” which generated outcry resulting in a demonstration, talks with administrators, a formal apology from the chapter and suspension by the national organization and Duke.
CAROLINE RODRIGUEZ/THE CHRONICLE
SEE PARTY ON PAGE 5
Clockwise from top left, students pose at a “Creepy Guys and Cutie Pies” party; “Asia Prime” party attendees dress in stereotypical costumes; activists hold a sign protesting the “Asia Prime” party; the women’s lacrosse team wears a costume involving blackface.
Duke to start using two- Panhel vets sororities for new chapter spot ply, softer toilet paper by Ryan Zhang THE CHRONICLE
The era of one-ply toilet paper in Duke restrooms is coming to the end of its roll. Duke is scheduled to begin switching out toilet paper products during Spring break, said Albert Scott, director of grounds, housekeeping, sanitation and recycling services. The University will finish the rest of its stockpile of one-ply paper and then replace it with a softer two-ply product. Numerous student have complained about the quality of the paper Duke currently uses, Scott noted. “The move is being made because the current tissue is one-ply tissue,” Scott said. “Really, with the one-ply tissue, most people would have to double that up in order to use it.” In addition to cost, a number of factors are taken into account when determining which toilet paper to purchase, Scott said. Chief among them are quality of texture and softness of the paper. Environmentally friendly products are also given preference. Duke currently purchases its toilet paper from Brame Specialty Company
ALEX STONEHILL/THE CHRONICLE
SEE PAPER ON PAGE 6
In response to complaints about the quality of Duke’s toilet paper, the University is switching to a two-ply model.
Gamma Phi Beta
Phi Mu
by Imani Moise THE CHRONICLE
Community discusses identity slurs at Duke, in society, Page 2
Three sororities have officially been invited by the Duke Panhellenic Association to present themselves as candidates to colonize on campus. After voting to expand the council last Spring, Panhel’s extension committee reviewed applications from seven national chapters and has eliminated all but three options for the one available new charter. Representatives from Gamma Phi Beta, Phi Mu and Sigma Kappa will come to campus to deliver open presentations on different dates
Sigma Kappa
in March. “We wanted to choose organizations that were in line with the University’s goals,” said Sarah Loge, program coordinator for the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life. The extension committee analyzed each organization’s attitudes toward scholarship, service and philanthropy. It also considered the overall quality of member education and leadership development of the organizations in addition to looking at their national organization SEE PANHEL ON PAGE 16
TOWERVIEW Pick up the newest issue of The Chronicle’s news magazine. It hits stands today!
Blue Devil swimmers head to ACC championship, Page 10
2 | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2013
THE CHRONICLE
Students, faculty probe the effect of identity slurs by Georgia Parke THE CHRONICLE
The Women’s Studies Program hosted a discussion Tuesday titled “Identity Slurs,” where the topics of conversation included the ethics of jokes made at the expense of minorities, specifically the Kappa Sigma “Asia Prime Party” controversy. Approximately 20 past and current students and faculty
members gathered in the plush East Duke Parlors for an informal conversation about the issues. Women’s Studies professor Kathy Rudy and Anne Allison, interim director of Women’s Studies and professor of cultural anthropology, served as moderators for the event. Although a recurring point of interest in the discussion was the fraternity’s Feb. 1 “In-
ternational Relations” party that sparked national media attention and varied responses on campus, the Women’s Studies event was scheduled before the Kappa Sigma controversy unfolded. The students in attendance presented their own views on the subject and attempted to dissect why such cracks in the foundations of race and gender relations exist. “What is going on is bigger than just, ‘I feel offended,’” said Rudy, regarding humor that makes light of potentially offensive representations. “If you don’t go along with it, you’re thought to be a b**ch.” Students brought up the issue of where, and if, a line exists that makes certain forms of humor—including those pertaining to race, gender and ethnici-
ty—qualify as offensive. Several students thought that the Kappa Sigma party and resulting campus dialogue was ambiguous because there were also Asian students in attendance at the party, who thus could be said to have been making fun of their own cultures. “It became a debate over whether it was offensive, rather than just accepting that people Anne Allison were offended,” said Lisa Perry, a graduate student in East Asian studies. The conversation also referenced Sunday night’s Academy Awards hosted by Seth MacFarlane, whose monologues included several jokes thought by some to be insensitive to women or misogynistic, such as a joke about SEE SLURS ON PAGE 6
Kathy Rudy
Author wins LEAF award for his literary achievement by John Barker THE CHRONICLE
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
The Nicholas School of the Environment is awarding author Alexander McCall Smith for environmental achievement in the arts.
VIN I L N GREE
G
L A I C R E ECOMM CON O E D VI
TEST
In recognition of his contributions to literature, Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment has elected to offer Alexander McCall Smith an award for Lifetime Environmental Achievement in the Fine Arts. McCall Smith, a Scottish author and an emeritus law professor at the University of Edinburgh, will receive the prestigious LEAF award in a ceremony April 12. He has written more than 60 books, several collections of short stories and the “No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency” series, which has sold more than 20 million copies worldwide. McCall Smith is the fifth recipient of the LEAF award, which is given annually by a selection committee affiliated with the Nicholas School
of the Environment. “LEAF is unique in that it awards artists for their treatment of and inclusion of the environment in their works, thus, through their artistic work connecting people to the natural world on an emotional and visceral level,” said Nicholas School Dean William Chameides in an email Tuesday. “[McCall Smith] is unique among our previous recipients for the range of his work—from children’s stories to detective novels taking place in Botswana to scholarly work on bioethics.” The ‘No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency’ series follows a Motswana woman named Mma Precious Ramotswe and was adapted into an HBO series in 2008. Tim Lucas, director of marketing communications at the Nicholas School, noted that Mc-
WIN
$500
MAKE YOUR OWN ADVERTISEMENT
FOR LIVING SUSTAINABLY CONTEST PERIODS IN FEBRUARY AND MARCH
nicholas.duke.edu/ecommercials
Call Smith’s vivid descriptions of Botswana’s ecology in the series were likely influenced by his time living in the country when he set up a law school at the University of Botswana. “There is a strong sense of connection between people and places in [McCall Smith’s] works,” Lucas said. The award, selected by the school’s Board of Visitors, was specifically aimed at McCall Smith’s portrayal of the land in his novels, yet also took into account the broader body of his work. McCall Smith will speak at Duke in a special ceremony April 12. Tickets are free through the Bryan Center Box Office. “We like to give this award because there are some things about the environment that can’t be communicated as well by research papers as by art,” Lucas said.
Scholarships Available! GUIDELINES AND APPLICATION FORMS NOW AVAILABLE at www.duke.edu/APSI/grants/undergrads.html
for: Serena WuDunn Memorial Scholarship 2013-14 undergraduate tuition awards
Janet B. Chiang Grant Awards for undergraduate & graduate projects, and for need-based study in Asia
Contact: The Asian/Pacific Studies Institute 323A Trent Drive Hall email: mpmoore@duke.edu 919-684-5073 DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: March 8, 2013
THE CHRONICLE
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2013 | 3
Bullied youth at risk for psychiatric disorders by Andrew Luo THE CHRONICLE
Adults who were bullied as children may have a higher risk of developing psychiatric disorders and depression. Researchers at Duke Medicine showed that bullied children had an increased chance of developing adult psychiatric disorders while child bullies were at risk for antisocial behavior. This study is the first comprehensive study of its kind to analyze the relationship between peer victimization in childhood and psychiatric conditions in adulthood. It was published in the Feb. 20 edition of JAMA Psychiatry. One interesting finding from the study was that while victims of bullying tended to develop emotional problems in adulthood, the peer bullies themselves had a higher risk for antisocial disorder, said William Copeland, assistant clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and lead author of the study. “[Antisocial disorder] is the pattern of behavior categorized by a willful disregard for others, which sounds a lot like what bullies do,” Copeland said. “The bullies that mistreated kids when they were younger are the same ones that end up bullying adults.” The data was gathered from the Great Smoky Mountain Study, a populationbased sample that followed 1,420 children starting in 1993—an observation period of 20 years. The participants were interviewed annually until they were 16
years old and periodically in later years. The publication of the study coincides with another popular anti-bullying movement. A viral video addressing the effects of bullying was posted online one day prior to the study’s publication. The video, which features a poem titled “To This Day” by Shane Koyczan, has garnered over 4.7 million views on YouTube to date. The video hopes to “have a far reaching and long lasting effect in confronting bullying,” according to the online description. Since the study has been published, Copeland noted that he has been receiving emails from people across the country and around the world, many of whom hold on to the childhood experiences in which they were harassed and bullied. Although he had not yet watched the entire video, Copeland said Koyczan’s poem echoes the same sentiments as the email responses he has received. “Just seeing the study and reading about [bullying] brought up strong emotions,” Copeland said. “As a society, we need to start thinking about bullying and kids harassing other kids. These are negative experiences that can have a lasting impact.” The researchers are in the process of developing follow-up studies. Based on the study’s results, not all children who were bullied went on to have psychiatric problems. As such, the next step is
Art for the world
SOPHIE TURNER/THE CHRONICLE
Artist Lily Yeh, who uses art for social change and justice, shares about her international experiences with students Tuesday evening.
SEE BULLY ON PAGE 16
All of my friends are on global education semester programs, but I missed the application deadline
Duke offers over 15 of its own global SEMESTER PROGRAMS each year! (There are also over 150 Duke-approved semester programs. These program deadlines vary.)
APPLICATION DEADLINE MARCH 1, 2013 Apply to go global today: http://borodin.aas.duke.edu/.
Global Education Office for Undergraduates
globaled.duke.edu
4 | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2013
THE CHRONICLE
Newly confirmed Hagel to start Pentagon work by Craig Whitlock THE WASHINGTON POST
WASHINGTON — Chuck Hagel’s painful, prolonged and divisive nomination battle in the Senate finally ended Tuesday, but it is only a prelude to the national-security challenges that will greet him on his first day of work at the Pentagon. Hagel is scheduled to be sworn in Wednesday as secretary of defense after he scraped together enough support to win Senate confirmation by a 58 to 41 vote. Until the very end, he had to overcome fierce opposition from pro-Israel groups and a filibuster led by fellow Republicans who neither forgot nor forgave his withering criticism of the George W. Bush administration’s handling of the war in Iraq. The Vietnam combat veteran will have less than 48 hours to move into his new office in the outer ring of the Pentagon before he probably will have to confront an even tougher challenge: slashing $46 billion in military spending — about 9 percent of the defense budget — by the end of September. Unless President Barack Obama and Congress can conjure a last-minute deal, automatic budget cuts will start to take effect Friday. Most government agencies will be affected, but the Pentagon will take the biggest hit. Hagel, a former two-term senator from Nebraska, will be forced to make some snap decisions about which military programs to preserve and which to sacrifice. Already, defense officials have said they may have to furlough up to 800,000 civilians, drastically scale back
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
On Tuesday, the Senate confirmed the president’s nomination of Senator Chuck Hagel to fill the role of secretary of defense. training and keep ships in port, including an aircraft carrier strike group that was bound for the Persian Gulf. “He’ll have to go through and make decisions on each and every one of those,” said William Cohen, a Republican who served as defense secretary in the Clinton administration. “I assume he’s been drinking from the fire hose already.” On a personal level, Hagel will also have to quickly put aside any bruised feelings from an unusually bitter confirmation process. His foremost political task will be to sit down with Republican
lawmakers who denounced his candidacy and persuade them to reach a compromise with Democrats to restore the Pentagon’s budget. In a statement after the vote, Hagel said he was honored and promised to “work closely with Congress to ensure that we maintain the strongest military in the world.” But Republicans who opposed Hagel gave little indication that they would give him a break. “He will take office with the weakest support of any defense secretary in modern history, which will make him less effective in his job,” said Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, the second-ranking Republican in the chamber. Pentagon officials already had to face questions about whether their new boss was a wounded duck. “He understands the importance of healthy debate,” Pentagon press secretary George Little said. “And I think he is going to come in with the philosophy that he is going to be a team player inside this building, and that will extend to the United States Congress.” The White House faces a second confirmation battle over Obama’s pick to lead the CIA, counterterrorism adviser John Brennan. Trying to clear Brennan’s path, the White House provided Congress with internal CIA e-mails and other documents related to the attack on U.S. diplomatic facilities in Benghazi, Libya, last year. The Senate Intelligence Committee reviewed the material in a classified session Tuesday. Several Republicans said Brennan was involved in crafting contro-
versial talking points on Benghazi, but Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said she did not think the material would play a part in Brennan’s confirmation. The committee could send the nomination to the full Senate as soon as Thursday. Hagel’s rough road to confirmation was unusual. Leon Panetta, the outgoing defense secretary, was approved by a vote of 100 to 0. Prior to Hagel, no defense nominee had run into trouble since 1989, when former senator John Tower, R-Tex., was defeated in a partyline vote amid revelations of womanizing and heavy drinking. Hagel’s personal conduct was never questioned. His supporters touted his bravery as a combat infantryman in Vietnam, where he was awarded two Purple Hearts. As a Republican, he gave Obama an opportunity to claim a measure of bipartisanship in his Cabinet and was initially seen as a lock for Senate approval. But the White House underestimated the degree to which Hagel had alienated his former GOP colleagues. John McCain of Arizona and Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, influential Republicans on the Senate Armed Services Committee, insisted throughout the confirmation battle that Hagel was still a “friend” but criticized him as unqualified, uninformed and ill prepared to lead the Pentagon. On Tuesday, Inhofe said he still had “serious concerns” but softened his criticism a touch, pledging to work with Hagel to avert military spending cuts. “It is my hope that Senator Hagel will not SEE HAGEL ON PAGE 6
Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS)
Accessing Your Inner Resources s .OT REACHING YOUR GOALS s .OT MOVING TOWARD THE THINGS YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH OR EXPERIENCE s &RUSTRATED TRYING TO REALIZE YOUR POTENTIAL This workshop helps you learn skills to optimize your potential and master the obstacles to your academic and personal goals. Using Guided imagery and visualization methods designed to enhance performance, Dr. Joe Talley will provide you with training in exercises to identify your unique ways to move through your obstacles. March 5th 2013 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm CAPS Seminar Room (217 Page) Visit the CAPS Website for more info and to register http://studentaffairs.duke.edu/caps (Click on Workshops and Discussions)
THE CHRONICLE
PARTYfrom page 1 Senior Luke Keohane, president of Kappa Sigma, declined to comment. On Feb. 12, Jezebel wrote an article about a January party hosted by Sigma Nu’s Gamma chapter, called “Creepy Guys and Cutie Pies.” The party later acquired the nickname “Juveniles and Pedophiles” in conversations around campus. A post on the blog Policy Mic by senior Sunhay You referred to the event as a pregame mixer between Sigma Nu and Pi Beta Phi sorority. Junior Jack Riker, president of Sigma Nu, declined to comment. Jenny Schmidt, assistant director of marketing and communications for Pi Beta Phi’s national organization, said Duke’s chapter is under investigation in an ongoing internal process, but declined to say whether the investigation is related to the sorority’s involvement in the party. Junior Jennifer Ross, president of the North Carolina Beta chapter, declined to comment on the party citing a national policy and deferred comment to Schmidt. Transgressive pleasures Starn said from an anthropological standpoint, he thinks the appeal of hosting parties with controversial themes could be the result of fraternities wanting to be edgy or wanting to appear as rebellious groups that defy conventions. “There’s a perception today, in the U.S. and at Duke, that everything is politically correct, so that having a party that does something around an ethnic theme is transgressive,” he said. “I would call it the pleasure of the forbidden.” But junior Tom Boyle, president of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, said he thinks that party themes are often chosen without that degree of intentionality. Around Thanksgiving 2011, Pi Kappa Phi hosted a “Pilgrims and Indians” party that invoked Native American stereotypes—an email invited attendees to tap into their “inner pocahotness,” for instance. After a guest column criticizing the party was published in The Chronicle and eventually gained attention from national media, the fraternity apologized for offending the Native American community in a letter to The Chronicle. Before Pi Kappa Phi underwent scruti-
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2013 | 5
ny for the party, their process for choosing themes was largely unilateral, Boyle said. A single person in charge of the party would generally choose its theme, and would often send email invitations without discussing the theme with other members. The “Pilgrims and Indians” idea was generated because the girlfriend of one member charged with planning the party suggested it would be a good theme—she and several of her friends already had costumes that would fit the idea, he noted. “People can get caught up in the competition of hosting a funnier thing without thinking about appropriateness, but I’ve never felt like anyone in our fraternity feels like they need to push the envelope,” Boyle said. Sophomore Ray Liu, co-president of the Center for Race Relations, said he thought the recent party hosted by Kappa Sigma was offensive, but although he was involved with putting up fliers around campus to protest the party, he does not think there is anything “inherently wrong” with hosting a culturally themed party. Problems sometimes result, though, when such parties are hosted by groups that do not identify with the given culture. “They’re not cognizant of the real pain that [a party] causes for those groups as individuals and how that relates to their life stories,” he said. “It’s like one racial group is trying to contort what [another] culture may look like into its own image. The stories of people who come from those backgrounds are so real and diverse and painful in a lot of ways” Ignorance and insensitivity about race and gender—whether intentional or not—could be a reason to explain the prevalence of these parties at Duke, Starn said. “[It is] recycling the worst stereotypes about race and gender we’ve been trying to move beyond as a country for 30 or 40 years,” he said. “They’re taking us back to an older America when it was OK to make fun of people for their accents or because they don’t look like WASPs.” Steven Foy, a doctoral student in the sociology department who researches the social psychology of status characteristics and race, said students often engage in unintentionally offensive behavior because they come to college without having been exposed to much cultural diversity. This phenomenon could be the result of growing up in a small, homogenous town or attending an all-girls or all-boys high school, among other reasons. Another confounding factor is that the
Connect with The Chronicle through social media for all the latest campus news updates— Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @DukeChronicle www.dukechronicle.com
F
T
prevalence of stereotypes in communities like Duke can lead individuals to be desensitized to remarks or references that are offensive. “It’s very troubling that despite the fact we’ve had situations on campus where we’ve had racially insensitive events and then a response to those events… we continue to see this perpetuating,” Foy said. “It makes me wonder if some sort of deeper structural intervention is necessary.” Toward structural change Boyle noted that for Pi Kappa Phi specifically, the backlash from the party made members more aware of how their actions could be perceived as insensitive. Pi Kappa Phi now chooses party themes based on suggestions from members or from the sororities with whom they mix. Once themes are proposed, the executive board sits down to comb through them and look for inappropriateness, he said. “There was a huge sense of embarrassment,” Boyle noted. “On the other hand, these cultural conversations aren’t always reaching students on a regular basis. These sorts of scandals have been the biggest sources of these dialogues on campus. In the future, you hope we can foster the conversation outside of incidents.” But Liu does not think the conversations that have come out of the wake of the Kappa Sigma party have been fruitful. “You can start a social justice project out of KSig, but it’s just a one-time thing,” he said. “It’s not just about cultural change. You need structural change, too.” Part of that structural change should include creating a campus environment where individuals feel more comfortable expressing their unease with party themes, said Amy Cleckler, gender violence prevention program coordinator at the Women’s Center. “[Women] tell me that they and others do feel uncomfortable about the themes but because of intense social pressure to conform and not speak up, they say nothing,” Cleckler wrote in an email Thursday. “This culture of silence around sexism and inappropriate sexual behavior is a major factor in the startlingly low rate at which people report sexual assault.” It is also important to realize how these parties target and marginalize women, Cleckler added. The focus of controversy for the Kappa Sigma party centered on race, but the invitation to that and other parties are also
implicitly sexist, requesting that women enter an objectifying environment. Because there are few repercussions on campus from other students or from University administrators, such instances of sexism become socially acceptable, she noted. “That sends the message that it is acceptable and even funny for women to be seen as seen as sexual objects, that it is alright for men in our community to ask women to dress and behave in ways that overlook their complexity as fellow human beings, and focus solely on their bodies and their potential availability to men,” Cleckler said. More than the party itself, Liu said he was disappointed by many peoples’ negative reactions toward the Asian American Alliance for distributing fliers about the party on campus. Some of the fliers featured compromising pictures of students, although their faces were obscured. “I don’t necessarily agree with everything minority groups do, but I can sympathize with why they do the things they do,” he said. “We just react out of pure anger and that doesn’t help the issue. At the same time, to say ‘Shame on you’ for being angry invalidates the issue.” Foy said addressing such complex and multifaceted issues of underlying racist and sexist behavior is immensely difficult, but opening conversational spaces on campus can be a good start. When he was an undergraduate at Emory University, the university facilitated discussion groups between students from different backgrounds after a series of racially fueled controversies occurred. The groups were voluntary, but many students chose to participate, he said. “It really humanizes the process,” Foy said. “If you sit down with people in a space that’s supposed to be safe, where it’s not going to impact the way people view you on campus… it can be really helpful in getting perspectives that allow you to see multiple sides of the issue.” Liu also noted that for progress to happen, students have to look inside themselves and remove themselves from the frameworks in which they are comfortable. “You can only do so much with mandatory social justice programs,” he said. “All of these programs we try to establish here at Duke are great for moving things along, but if you don’t have a bedrock of humanity and some semblance of character, I think it’s very difficult for this campus to move forward.”
6 | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2013
THE CHRONICLE
PAPER from page 1
SLURS from page 2
Inc. and Diamond Paper Company, both of which are in the same price range as most other comparable brands, Scott said. Scott said he had no explanation for why one-ply paper was being used and acknowledged the need for a change. “I just know, where I came from, we would never consider one-ply tissue,” Scott said. “In terms of texture and in terms of feel and in terms of usability, very few people use one-ply tissue.” Several students noted their dissatisfaction with the toilet paper currently used. “[The toilet paper] gives more than it takes,” freshman Ethan Chang said. Other students noted that the comfort of the toilet paper should not be the only variable involved. “I would like my toilet paper to be of good quality,” junior Joi McLaughlin said. “I approve of them trying to fix the problem as long as it’s good for the environment and not harmful in any other way.” Still, some students have not noticed any problems with the current one-ply paper. “I don’t think it’s that bad,” freshman William Kim said. “Sometimes [Housing, Dining and Residence Life] is not good at replacing toilet paper. But… I don’t find any difficulties using it. I think it’s fine.” Scott says housekeeping is doing its best to replace all one-ply toilet paper as soon as possible. “Students—and everyone—really deserve a quality tissue,” Scott said. “I wish I could change it out a lot quicker.”
women giving themselves the flu to look thinner for the Oscars. Rudy called the awards show “horrifying” but also interesting in terms of the jokes being widely received as humorous entertainment, which could reflect how aspects of one’s identity— including race, gender and ethnicity— serve as a platform for humor.
HAGEL from page 4 want to be known as the secretary of defense responsible for overseeing the gutting of our military,” Inhofe said. Hagel did not help his cause with a mediocre performance during his confirmation hearing. Supporters said he was already working hard to erase the episode from memory and predicted he would soon reach out to repair relations in the Senate. “It’s a two-way street,” said Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., who also sits on the Armed
Kimmy Farmer, a freshman in attendance at the discussion, brought up the negative, self-imposed social boundaries at Duke that often prevent an open social atmosphere. Greek life in particular, she noted, results in stereotypes about the people involved based on their association with an organization. “The implied rank [of sororities] is based on the fraternities they associate themselves with,” Farmer said. “A lot of greek women do not like that.”
Rudy noted that similar discussions will hopefully take place through the Women’s Studies department in the future, in particular on the topic of sex. She said she hopes that the ideas produced in discussions such as this one will disperse into the rest of the community. “The issues they were struggling with is what Women’s Studies is designed to think about,” Rudy said. “If you’re confused about it, you should consider taking one of our classes.”
Services Committee. “He’s already had many conversations. Obviously there has to be communication. It has to be honest, civil but honest. And I’m confident that will happen.” Apart from politics, Reed and other backers acknowledged that Hagel has his work cut out for him in managing the Pentagon, with its 2.2 million employees, a tricky withdrawal from Afghanistan and a fiscal crisis. “He has got probably the best preparation one can have, given his military and executive and legislative experience,” Reed said. “But it is a very daunt-
ing time.” Thomas Donnelly, a defense and security analyst at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank, predicted that Hagel would wield minimal clout. He said the Obama administration dictates national-security policy from the White House and has marginalized the secretary of defense into a “ceremonial” job. “It’s a slight exaggeration to say that,” Donnelly said. “It should be an important job. But if the White House is calling all the shots, there’s not much left for the secretary to do.”
For all your online Duke needs, make www.qduke.com your homepage!
T H E I N D E P E N D E N T D A I LY AT D U K E U N I V E R S I T Y
4HE¬#HRONICLE There’s an app for that. Just ask the
SCAN HERE
TO DOWNLOAD
Search “duke chronicle” in the app store
Duke’s latest news, sports and opinions plus easy mobile access to qDuke, Sakai, ACES & the Duke Map
THE CHRONICLE
1
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2013 | 7
CAMPUS 3 COUTURE 2
8
1. Freshman Jacob Blair goes casual by sporting a denim shirt from American Eagle, Old Navy pants and Vans Sneakers. 2. Sophomore Natasia Leung styles her mint-colored J Crew pants with handmade accessories. 3. Senior Claire Soorenson sports a truly international look with a cashmere scarf form Egypt, blazer from Australia, shoes from Senegal and rings from Turkey. 4. Sophomore Tre’Elis Scott matches a sporty Pacsun varsity jacket with a stylish tie from Burberry. 5. Freshman James Sawyer shows team spirit in style with his Miami Heats T-shirt and H&M cargo jacket. 6. Freshman Julia Mikhailova matches vibrant prints and colors with Express jeans and Nordstrom shirt. 7. Sophomore Sarah Rutherford brings used items back to life with her thrift shop denim jacket, corduroy skirt and combat boots. 8. Junior Paeng Sitnikong accessorizes with Forever 21 bracelets and graphic print scarf.
4
6 7
5
8 | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2013
THE CHRONICLE
CAMPUSCOUTURE 1
2
Duke’s Guide to Spring Fashion
3
1. Junior DeShaun King preps for a practice interview in red pants from Express and blazer from Kenneth Cole. 2. Grad student Ainehi Edoro highlights her style with Mac Ruby Red lipstick and striped top from Forever 21. 3. Junior Selena Kim mixes casual and formal by pairing a denim dress shirt with a blazer.
Look Great for Spring by Visiting Planet Beach at South Square 3 VIP 15 minute tanning sessions for $10.99 (regular $25)
Classic Long Sleeve Tees Colors: Royal, Black, Graphite, White Available Sizes: S - 2X Fabric Content: 6.1 oz. 100% preshrunk cotton jersey Knit cuffs Limited sizes and quantities available. Compared to $2695 & $2895 each Advertised price does not include tax. Offer valid through Saturday, March 2, 2013 or while supplies last.
Just a few minutes away from Duke
6 VIP 15 minute tanning sessions for
$19.99
(regular $45)
1 Mystic spray tan
$9.99
(regular $30)
Available in the following locations:
$
14
for S - XL $ 16 for 2X
The University Store Upper Level, Bryan Center
East Campus Store East Union Building, East Campus
Medical Center Bookstore Lower Level, Duke Clinics
Professional teeth whitening
$79
(regular $149)
Located at South Square Mall 3415 Westgate Drive Durham, NC 27707 919-419-8826
THE CHRONICLE
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2013 | 9
Fifi’s
Serving the community since 1985
St. John Ellen Tracy Dana Buchman Eileen Fisher Kay Unger French Connection Michael Kors 7 for all mankind Marc Jacobs Ralph Lauren
Lilly Pulitzer Theory Citizens of Humanity Tahari Kate Spade Coach Cole Haan Salvatore Ferragamo True Religion Stuart Weitzman
\RXU
VɈ
chic styles bargain prices
ÄYZ[
LEMV GYX
CLOTHES l SHOES l JEWELRY HANDBAGS l AND MORE!
An Upscale Consignment Boutique for Women in Downtown Durham and now open in Cameron Village
image
1000 W. Main St. 1-B l Durham NC 27701 2028 Cameron St. l Raleigh NC 27605 Mon-Sat 10am-7pm Sun 1-5pm
919.806.3434
Now accepting seasonal items for consignment l No appointment necessary
Visit us on Facebook at Fifi’s Fine Reseale of Durham
here’s to things that last...
missy, petite, plus
university mall | chapel hill, nc 919. 929. 4449 | www.dinaporter.com
Appointments: 919-286-3732 600-A Foster Street, Durham, NC 27701 www.alteredimagedurham.com
Sports
>> THE BLUE ZONE
The Chronicle
WEDNESDAY February 27, 2013
Check back with The sports blog for all Blue Devil recruiting information. No. 10 recruit Justise Winslow will be on an unofficial visit to Duke Saturday.
Chronicle’s
www.dukechroniclesports.com
MEN’S BASKETBALL
SWIMMING & DIVING
Students tent out for Men look to break Saturday’s Miami game records at ACCs by Ashley Mooney THE CHRONICLE
JISOO YOON/CHRONICLE FILE PHOTO
This week K-ville will look much like it did before the UNC game, as tenters gather for the game against Miami. by Jackie Klauberg THE CHRONICLE
Although tents weren’t officially allowed in No. 3 Duke’s early-season matchup against Ohio State, line monitors are allowing students to pitch tents in Krzyzewskiville starting Tuesday night at 5 p.m. in anticipation of the Blue Devils’ rematch against No. 5 Miami Saturday night.
“When [the UNC game] finished, the first questions we got were, ‘can we set up tents and when can we set up tents for Miami?’” head line monitor Bradley Baird said. “There is a lot of excitement around this game. We are definitely going to have a full house. This is going to be a lot like Ohio State. People started SEE TENTING ON PAGE 12
MEN’S GOLF
Even though the rest of the team has completed its ACC Championship meet, the men’s swim team is heading over to Greensboro, N.C. Wednesday for the ACC Championships. The men’s swim team is starting off its competition in second place after totaling 91 points in the diving events, which finished Saturday. “Just based on [last weekend’s] diving going into the swimming portion of the meet we’re in second place behind Virginia Tech,” Duke head coach David Colella said. “That gives us some really good cushion to get the meet started with, and hopefully we will see some absolutely great performances from our men’s swimming as well.” The ACC features five nationallyranked teams, including No. 9 Virginia and No. 21 Virginia Tech. The Cavaliers (8-1-0, 3-0-0 in the ACC), who have swept the past five conference titles, are heading to the championships with the fourth seed, while the Hokies are entering Wednesday’s competition as the topseeded team. Colella noted that he expects to see Duke (1-6-0, 0-5-0), which is ranked eighth in final conference standings, break more records in the coming days. “For the last four or five years, we’ve been doing a pretty good job of breaking the records, but then there’s a point where these times are really pretty incred-
ible times to be striving for,” Colella said. “To keep breaking them year in and year out is really tough and shows how hard our student athletes are working.” Junior Nick McCrory finished competition Saturday as the first male diver to earn a sweep of three diving crowns in the men’s platform competition. He also secured first-place finishes in the 1and 3-meter springboard. Senior Jordan Long, sophomore Clay Pinckney and freshman Deon Reid also scored points in diving events. Beyond McCrory’s record-breaking performance, the men on the swim team are looking to break both personal and school records. “We have some relays that could potentially break records,” Colella said. “Individually, [senior] Ben Hwang in the sprint freestyle, and Hunter Knight and Jim Zuponeck in the breaststrokes.” Hwang, who ranks fifth in the conference in the 50 freestyle, is still trying to break his season-best time of 20.03, which he set in the Greensboro Aquatic Center Oct. 5, 2012. Knight, a junior, is currently Duke’s top performer in the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke, with times of 54.86 and 1:59.80, respectively. He is ranked fourth in the ACC for the 100 breaststroke. Zuponeck, a senior, trails with times of 55.79 in the 100 breaststroke and 2:05.71 in the 200. The men’s team will wrap up its action Saturday.
WOMEN’S GOLF
Inclimate weather Strong winds can’t shortens tournament topple the Blue Devils by Jackie Klauberg THE CHRONICLE
The No. 9 Blue Devils’ chances of contending for a championship at the John Hayt Invitational in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. were spoiled by rainy weather and water-logged greens. Despite not playing the last 18 holes of the competition, Duke finished in second place behind host North Florida in a tournament including nine other teams in the top 50 of the latest Golfweek rankings. The Blue Devils fired a five-under 571, 12 shots behind the Ospreys. “We are obviously always going to try to compete at the highest level we can compete at,” Duke head coach Jamie Green said. “North Florida is talented regardless of who they play. A couple of their best players had a couple good days, and that stretched them out from the rest of the field and made them hard to catch. But we were well above a lot of the teams there.” Osprey players Kevin Phelan and Sean
Dale finished the tournament in first and second place, respectively. Phelan, a senior from Ireland, shot an impressive eight-under par in the first round and ultimately won the Invitational with a 13-under par 131. Coming out strong from day one, the Blue Devils earned a second-place finish after the first round, six shots behind North Florida after posting a six-under par 282. Duke saw under-par performances from junior Austin Cody and freshman Mads Soegaard, who tied for 10th place with two-under 70s after the first 18 holes of play. The Blue Devils were paired with the leading Ospreys Monday and finished the second round with a one-over par 289, taking them into the final day of play with at five-under par. Duke and North Florida were the only teams sitting under par entering the final round of play. The closest team to the Blue SEE M. GOLF ON PAGE 11
by Michael Schreiner THE CHRONICLE
After hovering near the top of the leaderboard for the past few days, the Blue Devils came up short Tuesday in the conclusion of their trip down to a water-logged Louisiana. No. 2 Duke finished third in 2013 Allstate Sugar Bowl Intercollegiate Golf Championship Tuesday after starting the final round one shot off the lead and remaining in contention throughout the day. Playing at the par-72 English Turn Golf & Country Club in New Orleans, the team’s five-over-par final tally of 583 left it just three shots out of the playoff that featured Southern California and UCLA. “We are right on the cusp,” head coach Dan Brooks said. “I’m pleased— we have had two tournaments now where we have finished up only behind the California teams.” Led by a steady performance by junior Laetitia Beck, who finished tied for eighth, the Blue Devils had three golfers
finish in the top 20 individually. Thunderstorms kept players off of the course Monday and reduced the Sugar Bowl to a two-day, 36-hole affair after organizers abandoned the idea of replaying the second round. In an effort to avoid the weather delaying play further, the final round featured a shotgun-start with the lift-clean-place rules in effect through the green. The storm that suspended play Monday dissipated Tuesday, but high winds in the morning led to higher second round scores. After the field put up a 74.12 average Sunday, the scoring average jumped almost three strokes Tuesday. The inclement weather turned out to be especially detrimental for the Blue Devils, whose day-two total of 300 was 17 strokes higher than their Sunday total. “With the greens being wet and the wind not blowing extremely hard… that made that first day a good day for scoring,” Brooks said. SEE W. GOLF ON PAGE 11
THE CHRONICLE
W. GOLF from page 10 “But this last day was a lot different of a situation.� Beck was the only Blue Devil whose score did not increase from round to round—her two even-par rounds paced the Blue Devils and gave her the overall individual lead for a period Tuesday morning. “I am used to playing in the wind— it is usually windy in Israel and then I
M. GOLF from page 10 Devils was Central Florida, which had a score of 585, 14 shots behind Duke and 26 behind the leading Osprey. “[The Ospreys are] a good team, they are a top-25 team regardless of how they play,â€? Green said. “If you put them on their home course, they are at a little bit of an advantage there. Teams that have seen their home course more regularly in different conditions and different wind patterns and directions allows them to feel more comfortable‌You can be aggressive if you’ve played [the course] enough times to know what you can get away with and what you can’t.â€? Duke senior Brinson Paolini fired a three-under 69 on Monday after shooting a 71 on Sunday. The 69 marked the Blue Devils’ fourth round in the 60s this season. The remarkable round earned Paolini a spot in third place, tied with Cody who posted another 70, leaving the pair nine shots behind Phelan. “Brinson led us‌. He has played
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2013 | 11
would travel to England, and of course it is windy there,� the Caesarea, Israel native said. “I was very excited this morning because I knew I had a pretty big advantage over the other players.� Senior Lindy Duncan, who is currently 12th in the nation in scoring, finished tied for eleventh after a final-round 75—including a 40 on the front—left her at one-over-par for the event. Freshman Celine Boutier opened the tournament with a 70 but also fell victim
to Tuesday’s gusts and finished tied for 27th with a two-day total of 149. Junior Alejandra Congrejo and senior Stacey Kim finished tied for 20th and 41st, respectively. Duke faced another talented field in the tournament, as the top-four teams in the nation were present and only two of the 18 teams in the tournament are ranked outside the top 50 in the nation. A playoff decided the team title after Southern California dropped a couple
strokes in the final holes to fall into a tie with UCLA at four-over-par. The Trojans rebounded in the extra holes, though, to beat their rival for the tournament win. Baylor’s Hayley Davis—whose closing 68 was the lowest round on Tuesday by two strokes—took the individual title with a four-under 140. The Blue Devils now have more than a month off until they head to Greensboro, N.C. for the Bryan National Collegiate at the end of March.
consistently for three-and-a-half years,â€? Green said. “He will probably be the first to tell you that he did not play his absolute best, he didn’t hit great golf shots all the time, but he handled things well‌. If he didn’t get the wind right, he reacted well to that and got himself collected and ready for the next hole. He is able to compartmentalize each hole and not focus on the previous one and not worry about the one coming up.â€? Duke will go across the country to Las Vegas, Nev. next weekend to compete in the Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters. From the southeast to the northwest, the Blue Devils have a heavy road schedule ahead of them. “We are fortunate to be able to pick some of the best tournaments in the country, and these guys have played well enough to garner those invitations‌,â€? Green said. “We want to compete with the best in the country, and I know that all our teams at Duke do similarly with their schedules‌.We should be ready for NCAA finals when they get here.â€?
THANH-HA NGUYEN/CHRONICLE FILE PHOTO
Junior Laetitia Beck finished tied for eighth Tuesday at the 2013 Allstate Sugar Bowl Intercollegiate Golf Championship.
0H[LFR KRPH WR VXSHU KHDOWK\ $YRFDGRV -DSDQ KRPH WR VXSHU KHDOWK\ 1RUL VKHHWV DQG 7DPDUL 6R\ 6DXFH BRIANNA SIRACUSE/CHRONICLE FILE PHOTO
Junior Austin Cody tied for 10th place with freshman Mads Soegaard at the John Hayt Invitational.
DQG QRZ 1& 86$ KRPH WR WKHP ERWK
,QWURGXFLQJ 7KH QHZ Ĺ’+HDOWK\ %XUU 5ROOĹ“
$YRFDGR ZUDSSHG LQ D 1RUL VKHHW ZLWK VSLFHV DQG 7DPDUL 6R\ 6DXFH _
cosmic cantina
1920 1/2 Perry St. at Ninth Street Just a block from East Campus
50¢ OFF ANY ROLL WITH THIS COUPON!
12 | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2013
TENTING from page 10 to camp out several days in advance for that [game]. It was a great game-day atmosphere…. The message that I want to get out to the student body is that if you show up, we will do everything we can to get you in.” When the teams met in Coral Gables, Fla. Jan. 23, the then-No. 1 Blue Devils suffered a demoralizing 27-point loss to the Hurricanes. The loss marked Duke’s second of the season, its first coming to N.C. State on the road the week before. In a game that silenced the Cameron Crazies watching in dorm rooms across campus, Hurricane fans rowdily stormed the court and huddled around
THE CHRONICLE
their team. Saturday’s game will likely be more competitive as the Blue Devils look to avenge a loss that exposed the team earlier in league play. The Blue Devils rebounded from the unsettling defeat with a 20-point win against Maryland just three days later. “Through the first half I held onto the idea that we are a second-half team, and we will come back,” K-ville resident Le Qi said in regards to Duke’s lopsided loss to the ACC-leading Hurricanes. “It really got away from us. Our team had been playing so well, it seemed like it was really vulnerable [after the loss to Miami] and [invoked] a sense of fear that we wouldn’t do well in March.” Coming off an under-attended blowout
against Boston College Sunday, loyal Crazies will take to the sidewalks outside of Cameron Indoor Stadium to secure their spots in the student section. Last time the Blue Devils faced the Eagles, they won by just one point on a last-minute free-throw from senior Mason Plumlee. “Miami really beat us hard,” Qi said. “They shamed us, and we really want to get back at them. We want to come back and really hit them home….This would be a good chance to pound them to the ground…. We know Coach K is an awesome coach, and he will push his players to do their best.” Becca Gil, a K-ville resident whose family members are die-hard Hurricanes fans, expressed the excitement around
this family-dividing game. “I’m from Miami, [and] my parents were at the game when we lost to them last time…. My whole family is UM except for me. I’m Duke all the way. I’m tenting out, so it will be really bad if we lose this one. It would be really awesome if we won this one and made things right again.” Baird predicts a great game-day atmosphere in K-ville Saturday with grills and poster-making. “[Crazies camping out for this game] demonstrates the enthusiasm that people have for Duke basketball,” Baird said. “It will be a great atmosphere in there. I invite everyone to come out to K-ville and enjoy game day and enjoy celebrating Duke basketball.”
DAN SCHEIRER/CHRONICLE FILE PHOTO
Senior Ben Hwang will look to break records in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events.
EXCLUSIVE EGG DONOR NEEDED Help a wonderful recipient who is eager to start a family. Intended parent working with prestigious Los Angeles IVF clinic seeks the following: Caucasian woman Available immediately 5’9” and above Physically fit Between ages 21 - 28 Highly educated with outstanding SAT/ACT scores Extremely healthy family history Open to meeting recipient
***International students and those on a student Visa encouraged to apply*** Very generous compensation plus all flights, hotel stay, and expenses paid. Serious inquiries only reply to: newdonor@eggdonor.com
CAROLINE RODRIGUEZ/CHRONICLE FILE PHOTO
Junior Hunter Knight is the No. 4 in the ACC for the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 54.86.
CLASSIFIEDS TUTORING
HOLTON PRIZE IN EDUCATION
RESEARCH STUDIES
NEED BETTER ORGANIC GRADE? EXPERIENCED, PROFESSIONAL
Three cash prizes of $500 will be awarded for outstanding, innovative, or investigative research in education related fields. Application deadline is April 19, 2013. Open to Duke undergraduates. For more information, www.duke.edu/ web/education/scholarships/ holtonprize.html
UNC CLINICAL RESEARCH STUDY RECRUITING SUBJECTS age 18-80 with IBSDiarrhea to determine safety and efficacy of investigational medication. 919-966-8328
CHEMISTRY TUTOR GETS RESULTS! WWW. CHEMCOACHING.COM
ANNOUNCEMENTS UNC CLINICAL RESEARCH STUDY RECRUITING SUBJECTS age 18-75 with anal fissure to determine efficacy and safety of investigational medication. 919-966-8328 Meley_woldeghebriel@med. unc.edu A LOT OF CARS INC. Great vehicles $550-$795 down. 150+ Vehicles. Layaway option. We do taxes!
Duke ID $150 discount. 33 cars between $1850-$3995 cash. www.alotofcarsnc.com. Owned by Duke Alumni (919)220-7155
EXCEPTIONAL EGG DONOR NEEDED.
Generous compensation plus all expenses paid. Graduate from university or attending. Outstanding SAT/ACT or GRE Scores. Contact: f.sherman@ nccrm.com
Advertise here for the best results
dukechronicle.com classifieds
Meley_woldeghebriel@med. unc.edu
The Chronicle classified advertising
HELP WANTED
www.dukechronicle.com/ classifieds
NEW RESTAURANT HIRING Seafood Restaurant opening in Durham mid-March. Hiring enthusiastic servers, bartenders, kitchen staff. Apply in person 4020 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd 27707 Monday-Saturday 12-4. Email thesaucycrab@gmail.com
All advertising $6.00 for first 15 words, 10¢ (per day) additional per word
TRAVEL/VACATION BAHAMAS SPRING BREAK
$189 for 5 days. All prices include: Round-trip luxury party cruise. Accommodations on the island at your choice of thirteen resorts. Appalachia Travel. www. BahamaSun.com 800-867-5018
rates
3 or 4 consecutive insertions - 10 % off 5 or more consecutive insertions - 20 % off deadline 12:00 noon 1 business day prior to publication
THE CHRONICLE
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2013 | 13
Diversions Shoe Chris Cassatt and Gary Brookins
Dilbert Scott Adams
Doonesbury Garry Trudeau
The Chronicle we also need new ______: floors in the few bathrooms: .............................................. locopop whistling abilities: ...............................................................shwanth new friends: ............................................................................ jewels attitude: .................................................................................briggsy air freshener: ....................................................................shmooney dall: ..................................................................... crod, bri, pcat, esu trees: ...................................................................................... rzhang boyfriend: ...........................................................................mr. teeth Barb Starbuck: ........................................................................... Barb
The Duplex Glenn McCoy
Student Advertising Manager: .................................. Allison Rhyne Account Representatives: ..................... Jen Bahadur, Sarah Burgart Courtney Clower, Peter Chapin, Claire Gilhuly, Sterling Lambert Liz Lash, Dori Levy, Gini Li, Ina Li, Vivian Lorencatto, Parker Masselink, Cliff Simmons, James Sinclair, Olivia Wax Creative Services Student Manager: ................. Marcela Heywood Creative Services: ..........................................Allison Eisen, Mao Hu Rachel Kiner, Rita Lo, Izzy Xu Business Office ...............................Susanna Booth, Emily McKelvey
Sudoku
Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9. (No number is repeated in any column, row or box.)
RE
VA M
PE
D
Better than ever.
Answer to puzzle
qDuke.com www.sudoku.com
The Independent Daily at Duke University
The Chronicle
14 | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2013
Ban laptops in class Virtually every student laptops. The vast majorhas found herself in the fol- ity of the time, laptop uslowing situation: A profes- age detracts from the classsor is trying to stimulate an room experience. Before in-depth conversation in a we spend further time and small seminar class but ends energy advancing fancy new up talking to a technology in dozen students the classroom, editorial with their eyes we should excast down at their computers. amine the most prominent This scenario is also common: and—in our eyes—detrimenA large lecture where half of tal use of technology already. the students are browsing on A simple move by professors Facebook, leaving the other to explicitly ban laptops, in half—who, because of audi- both seminars and lectures, torium seating, are distract- would significantly enhance ed by their peers—frustrated learning—perhaps beyond and inattentive. the introduction of even In Tuesday’s editorial, more technology into the we discussed the increasing classroom. role that online technology The educational benefits is playing in the classroom. of banning laptops would be Today, we turn to the most considerable. First, it would dominant use of technology remove the temptation for in the classroom presently: students to let their browsers
“
The biggest drawback from the movie is that when people go through major trials, there is a push towards more extremist ideals. They move towards the ends of the spectrum. ... This movie showed that push towards the extreme, towards the more conservative. —“Fedner Lauture” commenting on the column “ ‘Argo’ is bad, embarrassing and wrong. ”
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.
”
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
The Chronicle
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 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 ANNA KOELSCH, Social Media Editor SAMANTHA BROOKS, Senior Editor REBECCA DICKENSON, Advertising Director MARY WEAVER, Operations Manager DAVID RICE, Director of External Relations
amble to social media sites or other irrelevant content. Especially in seminar classes, the quality of discussion is highly dependent on each student being fully present. A student’s extraneous use of laptops in class is tantamount to saying, “I am not going to give my full attention in class today,” a behavior that is becoming ever more permissible. Second, unnecessary laptop usage is disrespectful to one’s classmates, creating a negative externality that affects students beyond the laptop user. This negative externality is not confined to seminars. Laptops can be distracting in auditoriumstyle lectures. Finally, in a Coursera-fixated age when the value of the physical in-classroom ex-
perience is often questioned, allowing laptop usage seems to be a form of giving up. Why convene class if students are half-present, constantly disturbed by text messages, games and Facebook? Coursera is touted as a way for getting students to mentally engage in learning while outside of the classroom. Laptops achieve the opposite effect: mental disengagement while physically present in the classroom. Of course, there are legitimate uses of laptops in the classroom. But laptops should be used sparingly and deliberately—only where there is an explicit need. For example, if the professor wants the class to watch a YouTube video or quickly check a fact, laptops are war-
ranted. Note-taking, an oftcited reason to use laptops, is usually a poor justification. Pen-and-paper note-taking is a fine alternative, and the added convenience of typing does not outweigh the laptop’s distracting effects. What is the point of holding class if people are not paying attention? This is not just about respect; it is also about the necessity of a physical college campus. The more time we spend on computers, the less important the on-campus college experience—which universities tout as a major benefit of an elite education—becomes. For the sake of their students’ learning and the college experience at large, professors should not be afraid to ban laptops from their classrooms.
One stalemate too many
onlinecomment
Est. 1905
THE CHRONICLE
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.
F
or those who haven’t been following the Consider the opposite approach: Welfare promelodrama unfolding in the Capitol, the grams, which make up more than half of the curnext highly anticipated show takes place this rent budget, are reduced to sustainable levels, and week. Proposed in the Budget Control Act of 2011 any future increase in taxes will be the same for and then delayed by the American all earners. Believe it or not, the Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, the greatest consumer and producer william picoli welfare comes automatic federal budget cuts, or from natural market guest column “sequester,” take effect on the first interactions, not from government of March, trimming defensive and interventions aimed at redistributnon-defensive spending by a total of $85 billion. ing welfare so that everyone is equally happy. We The lead roles of this tragedy: the party seeking don’t need more government welfare, because tax increases on the villainous “wealthy,” and with a lighter tax burden, we can claw and scrap the party seeking greater belt-tightening due to and earn our way to whatever welfare level we desevere, untreated bloating over the past decade. sire like our ancestors before us, who had no such Where are they right now in reaching a deal to luxury. We’re already forcing employers to provide finally close the curtain on this horrendous per- more employees with healthcare, so why does the formance of political representation and negotia- government still need to control the welfare systion? Well that’s anyone’s guess. tem? Instead of forcing everyone to pay into these With much of the banter in news and conversa- programs, why doesn’t the government mandate tion centered on who deserves the blame for this that insured citizens pay into a fund for his or her debauchery, the nature of this issue has become so parents, making only direct relatives responsible twisted that the very politicians tasked with solving instead of everyone across the board? Only the unthis fiscal crisis want no further part in the process. insured, incapable of providing for themselves bePut aside the name-calling, the invocations of Bill cause of illness, age or disability would now need Clinton and Ronald Reagan, and all other political to draw from the government welfare pool, and fanfare, and what we have at the most basic level is this draw could be funded by a smaller tax rate on a choice: Should the American people be forced to employed workers. sacrifice on the behalf of the government’s recovThe bottom line is that regardless of whom you ery, or should the government that has increased voted for last November, whom you voted for bespending under both Republican and Democrat fore that and whom you plan on voting for in the leadership make changes on the behalf of the peo- future, the choice to be made over who should sacple who empower it? rifice must be made now. Politicians do not care for To be clear, someone will have to pay for our out- our welfare; both sides just use those programs as rageous public debt, otherwise our sovereign nation bartering chips for their own benefit. Whatever sowill cease to exist as we know it. If one side has its way, lution Congress and the president come up with, if the “wealthy” will be forced to bear the burden of any, will undoubtedly leave a sizeable portion of the shrinking the deficit; if the other side has its way, no voting population dismayed, so why are we botherone will be forced to bear an unfair share of the bur- ing to accept their decision at all? Why not throw den, but support of welfare programs will be signifi- out the broken game of trading spending cuts for cantly reduced. Which is worse? Well let’s consider tax hikes, and come up with entirely reimagined, the first approach. Taxes go up for the nation’s top individualized welfare policies that will allow for earners (in fact, income and dividend taxes already lower taxes for everyone—there are more efficient have), and all the unemployed and minimum-wage solutions beyond the current welfare system. We earners feel pretty good that the greedy bastards are the people can come to a new agreement without finally atoning for their glut. But the government deferring to politicians; we the people can finally finds out that even at 100 percent taxation rates, say with authority “no more” to reckless deficits; the wealthy cannot pay for even a fraction of spend- and we the people can choose to accept individual ing. Who’s next in line for the rate hike? Everyone responsibility for our welfare instead of the current else, eventually. Suppose you are a farmer who owns inefficient, collective system, removing the governan apple orchard. You can choose to pick and sell ment from the once-sacred duty of supporting our all the apples now, or you can pick and sell only as relatives and compatriots, and all the while increasmany apples as you know are necessary to keep up ing our economic production through lifting the with demand, letting the rest of the apples fall to the binds of heavy taxation. Let’s finally solve the fisground to create an even larger orchard for next cal crisis by thinking beyond the old, unsustainable year’s harvest. Now replace apples with national in- model of spending. come (economic production), and then reconsider which is better for future growth. William Picoli is a Pratt freshman.
THE CHRONICLE
commentaries
Minimum wage wars
I
n his recent State of the Union ad- port went on, “they are often catastrophdress, President Barack Obama ad- ically wrong.” Independent economists vocated for a raise in the minimum David Neumark and William Wascher wage, from $7.25 an hour to $9.00. The confirmed the findings of the EPI, conpresident’s call for federcluding, “The payroll ally mandated higher wagdata from the New Jerseyes was met with a flurry of Pennsylvania minimum response from all sides of wage experiment are conthe political sphere, and sistent with the prediction debate has raged in its afof the standard competitermath. tive model that minimum Conventional economwage increases reduce ic wisdom on the miniemployment of low-wage chris bassil mum wage, for its part, workers.” human action is unequivocal. Despite There’s more. The varithe presence of a small ability of the employment dissenting minority, the vast majority change data in the original Card and of the literature on the subject—to the Krueger study is, upon further inspectune of over 85 percent of peer-reviewed tion, almost nonsensical. Neumark and studies—is in agreement that the mini- Wascher argue that such a degree of mum wage increases unemployment. variability—which somehow shows, for Those who disagree with this conclusion, starters, one fast food restaurant moving however, generally refer to a famous from six full-time workers to 29 full-time 1993 study by Princeton economists Da- workers and another moving from 50 fullvid Card and Alan B. Krueger in order time workers and 35 part-time workers to to provide support for increases in the just 15 full-time workers and 18 part-time minimum wage. workers, all in the span of just eight short The Card and Krueger study has re- months—“raises serious doubts about the ceived widespread attention, and has quality of their data.” The EPI concluded been cited in support of minimum wage that such statistics, along with equally abhikes by President Clinton’s Secretary surd data on product price fluctuation, of Labor Robert Reich, as well as for- “defy reasonable explanation.” mer Massachusetts Sens. John Kerry and Now, all of that being said, one methTed Kennedy. The appeal of the study to odologically flawed study does not insupporters of the minimum wage lies in validate the case for an increase in the its finding that, in a one-year survey of minimum wage. (It does suggest, howfast food restaurants in New Jersey and ever, that those who wish to increase Pennsylvania, employment at surveyed the minimum wage abandon the Card chains actually increased in New Jersey and Krueger study as their favorite piece following an increase in the minimum of evidence.) In fact, the shortcomings wage. A host of subsequent studies have of the Card and Krueger study, when also failed to demonstrate an inverse re- viewed in combination with the failure lationship between the minimum wage of opponents of the minimum wage to and employment, which proponents of empirically demonstrate the orgy of unthe minimum wage sometimes cite as employment that they consistently prefurther evidence in its favor. dict would follow proposals such as the Upon closer inspection, however, president’s, serve best as evidence of the those who build their support for the limitations of scientism and empiricism minimum wage on the findings of Card in economic thought. and Krueger might discover that the When political and economic debates foundation of their argument is less than devolve into empirical battles like the sturdy. The problems with the Card and minimum wage war, we run the risk of Krueger study are, unfortunately, too reducing our analyses to what econonumerous to list here—and include ev- mists Russ Roberts and Don Boudreaux erything from highly ambiguous survey call “push button economics,” or, acquestions to a total failure to adjust data cording to Boudreaux, the view that we for seasonal variations in fast food indus- can “press this economic variable up … try hiring practices—but a brief survey of and that economic variable down … and the most substantial issues is in order. thereby improve society.” We forget that For one thing, subsequent indepen- such policies have many hidden effects, dent analyses have found it difficult to many of which even vary between regions reproduce the results of the Card and and industries. We may be so busy hagKrueger study—a death knell in the gling over dubious statistical data that world of scientific publication—even we ignore effects on price fluctuations, when they work from lists of restaurants business practices, employee benefits, that overlap by at least 25 percent with workplace amenities, job exportation the list used in the original Card and and a whole host of other complicaKrueger study. In 1995, for instance, tions brought about by our minimum the conservative Employment Policies wage policies. Even these effects repreInstitute compared Card and Krueger’s sent only our “known unknowns,” or the survey data with actual payroll data for things that we can plausibly say occur but fast food restaurants in the same location have a difficult time quantifying. That and over the same time period. The study is to say nothing of the “unknown unfound that, far from any increase in em- knowns,” or the things we haven’t even ployment, the far more reliable payroll thought to look for. data indicated that the minimum wage Despite the resolute certainty of the hike had actually resulted in an estimat- minimum wage empiricists, however, ed 5 percent decrease in employment. these things strike economists like RobBut the EPI report doesn’t end there. erts as severely problematic for those The numbers used in the Card and Krue- who promote tampering with the econger study, it argues, rarely reflect the omy. “The people who are pushing for a payroll data. In fact, in a third of cases, large increase in the minimum wage are the Card and Krueger study mistakenly playing with people’s lives,” he worries. lists job losses as job gains and vice ver- “I don’t understand their certainty.” sa. A subsequent 1996 report from the same institution thus complained of the Chris Bassil, Trinity ’12, is currently workCard and Krueger study: “The depth of ing in Boston, Mass. His column runs every the flaws is shocking.” “Not only are the Wednesday. You can follow Chris on Twitter Card-Krueger numbers wrong,” the re- @HamsterdamEcon.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2013 | 15
End Israeli apartheid
N
ext week, Duke Students for Jus- funds those killings. Any citizen who does tice in Palestine (of which I am could be prosecuted for providing matepresident) will be hosting Israeli rial support for terrorism under the PaApartheid Week, to which the entire triot Act. Our tax dollars and some of our Duke community is invited. University’s investments The week is an internationin certain corporations, ally coordinated series of however, fund Israel’s huevents geared toward eduman rights abuses. Our cating people about Israel politicians celebrate this as an apartheid system and funding as standing by a to organize boycott, divestclose ally. Our University ment and sanction (BDS) administrators remain sicampaigns as part of a lent, refusing to take reahmad jitan global movement. sponsibility in how we are The 2002 Rome Statute indecent family man complicit in these human defines the crime of apartrights abuses by hiding beheid as inhumane acts “committed in the hind the excuse of “it’s a complex issue.” context of an institutionalized regime of Our public discourse is severely limited systematic oppression and domination in the realm of foreign policy, especially by one racial group over any other racial with regards to Palestine/Israel (just look group or groups and committed with the at how Chuck Hagel’s confirmation hearintention of maintaining that regime.” ing has progressed). But there is also difThe goal of the week is to show that Is- ficulty speaking openly on the topic even rael—whether it’s through home demoli- on college campuses. Recently, Brooktions, road infrastructure, the separation lyn College came under threat of losing wall, the Law of Return, indefinite de- public funding because its political scitentions or access to land ownership—is ence department agreed to host a talk on guilty of the crime of apartheid. BDS. Ultimately, the lecture continued To say Israel is guilty of the crime of as planned, but it reminded me of the apartheid is not to deny the Jewish people benefits of attending a private university their safety and security, but to hold a state during this time of austerity where our accountable for its oppression. The Israeli elected officials threaten the ideals of a regime maintains its effective control and free exchange of ideas and learning in systematic oppression throughout the en- our public institutions. tire region. Within the Occupied TerritoIn late 2004, President Brodhead and ries, Palestinians live as a stateless people the administration came under heat under military law with severely restricted from some members of the community movement while Israeli settlers enjoy full for allowing the Palestinian Solidarity citizenship and much higher standards of Movement to hold its national convenliving. With continued settlement devel- tion on campus. The Duke community opment and an entire infrastructure built was forced to question its academic ideals for those settlers, it’s difficult to continue and ultimately succeeded, but we came to consider the West Bank “occupied.” up short in a larger moral responsibility. Colonialism and apartheid describe the With regards to divestment from Israel, situation more aptly, with Palestinians President Brodhead echoed his predeliving in what are essentially Bantustans cessor Nan Keohane in calling it “a very with no hope for self-determination. Is- blunt instrument to address an extremely rael withdrew its settlements in Gaza in complex issue around which there is little 2005, but its inhabitants still suffer from consensus and a great diversity of opina siege and collective punishment from ions both in the campus community and Israel. Arabs within Israel live under dif- in the broader society. … I am aware of ferent conditions from those in the Oc- no change in the situation either in the cupied Territories or from refugees who Middle East or on campus that would jusare barred from returning, but they are tify moving to a different policy.” still systematically discriminated against So I ask President Brodhead and the by the Israeli regime. They may have for- Duke community: What kind of change mal citizenship, but, according to Noam are we waiting for? Consensus is already Chomsky, they are barred from control- shifting at other top universities, with ling or developing over 90 percent of the the Brown Advisory Committee on Corland. According to Judith Butler, “There porate Responsibility in Investment Poliare at least 20 laws that privilege Jews over cies issuing a statement in which they Arabs within the Israeli legal system.” found Israel “indisputably engaged in Israel is not unique in its human rights ongoing systemic abuses of human rights abuses. It is imperative to stand up against and violations of international law.” But all forms of military and economic domi- we shouldn’t have to wait for other top nation, especially when we ourselves are universities in order to follow suit. The complicit in it. Israel, however, is unique injustices are clear. A just, non-violent in its “special relationship” to our own course of action is available. Should we government. The U.S. State Department wait for the change, or shall we be the does not “accept the legitimacy of contin- change-makers who call upon their uniued Israeli settlement activity,” but we do versity to respect the rights and dignity not hesitate to provide billions of dollars of all human beings? a year in military aid that makes settlement expansion possible. Ahmad Jitan is a Trinity senior and the presI unconditionally condemn the target- ident of Duke Students for Justice in Palestine. ing of civilians by Palestinian armed re- His column runs every other Wednesday. You sistance groups. But none of my money can follow Ahmad on Twitter @AhmadJitan.
Want more Chron? Visit www.chronicleblogs.com for our news, sports, editorial and recess blogs.
16 | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2013
THE CHRONICLE
PANHEL from page 1
Holier than thou
JESSIE LU/THE CHRONICLE
Actor Timothy Mooney performs a one-man show called “Moliere Than Thou” at the Smith Warehouse Tuesday evening in an event sponsored by the Franklin Humanities Institute and romance studies.
BULLY from page 3 to figure out what predisposes people to develop disorders, as well as to find possible prevention techniques, Copeland said. “We connected genetic data from the very beginning of the research, and we want to look at genetic markers to see who is going to have the most prob-
lems long-term,” Copeland said. Many Duke students did not find the results of the study to be a surprise. Freshman Rishi Narula noted bullying has a negative impact, especially on young children. “I was never bullied, but I think it does have an impact on kids that carries through to their adulthood,” Narula said. “Most people create a basis or norm for the ways things are and their place in their respec-
tive social groups during those important developmental stages of life.” The effects of bullying may even apply to people who may appear outwardly happy, noted junior Savion Johnson. “I know people who were bullied in high school that are very successful now,” Johnson said. “However, this is just how it appears on the surface—it’s hard to tell how they are doing emotionally.”
structures, local support systems, colonization processes and risk management policies. Beth Monnin, vice president for communications and extension for Phi Mu—which was previously at Duke from 1934 to 1987—said the organization is happy to have the opportunity of possibly recolonizing at Duke. “We are excited that our values directly complement the mission of the college panhellenic to challenge and educate students in the areas of leadership, cultural awareness, personal and group development, scholarship and civic responsibility,” she said. Representatives from the other two sororities could not be reached for comment. Once all the presentations have finished, the committee will make a recommendation to the Panhel executive board, which will then invite one organization to colonize on campus. The council hopes to charter the new sorority by Spring 2014. One of the driving factors behind Panhel’s decision to expand was the fact that pledge classes are currently at capacity for all current chapters. “Chapters felt that they were getting too large and couldn’t have as close of a sisterhood bond because they weren’t able to get to know each other as well,” said Panhel President Katie Howard, a junior. “Along with slightly decreasing incoming pledge class sizes, having another chapter opens up an op-
portunity for other women who haven’t found their match within the Panhel community yet.” Sophomore Katie Shpanskaya, a new member of a sorority, said that she believes the new sorority will only increase the number of women involved in greek life and will not make pledge classes smaller. She said, however, that she does not think large pledge classes are an issue. “I think a big pledge class might actually be a good thing,” Shpanskaya said. “You get access to a lot more people at Duke. I joined to become part of community, and a larger pledge class and sorority is very much beneficial to that.” Kayla Hudson, an unaffiliated junior, was a participant in the “Science of Selection” discussion which took place Thursday and was hosted by the Kenan Institute for Ethics. The discussion brought together members of the greek organizations, selective living groups and independent communities to talk about the nature of selective groups on campus. Hudson said the discussion suggested that all Duke students crave a feeling of inclusion. “[An additional sorority] is a good thing considering that I know that a lot of people who want to be in greek organizations get turned down,” said Hudson. “I feel like this sorority will provide more people with a sense of community and belonging.” Gamma Phi Beta, Phi Mu and Sigma Kappa are scheduled to present March 26, 27 and 28, respectively.