The Chronicle 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
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FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 2018 DUKECHRONICLE.COM
Former Duke instructor fired from White House
ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTEENTH YEAR, ISSUE 3
‘THE BEAUTY OF THE LITTLE MOMENTS’
Conference he was ousted for attending occurred while he worked at Duke By Bre Bradham Editor-In-Chief
Ben Leonard Managing Editor
Darren Beattie, Ph.D. ‘16, was a visiting instructor in the political science department during the Nov. 2016 election, when he made headlines for predicting then-presidential candidate Donald Trump would win in spite of the polls. After he left Duke, he became a speechwriter in Trump’s administration. It was also in Nov. 2016 that Beattie sat on a conference panel alongside an alt-right publisher who has been tied to white supremacist content. When CNN recently inquired about the connection, Beattie was quickly ousted from his White House role. “In 2016 I attended the Mencken conference in question and delivered a stand-alone, academic talk titled ‘The Intelligentsia and the Right.’ I said nothing objectionable and stand by my remarks completely,” Beattie wrote in a statement to the media. “I love President Trump, who is a fearless American hero, and continue to support him one hundred percent. I have no further comment.” The White House would not go beyond confirming that he no longer is employed there. “Mr. Beattie no longer works at the White House,” White House spokesman Hogan Gidley told CNN on Friday. “We don’t comment on personnel matters.” Political Science Department Chair Georg Vanberg told the Chronicle that Beattie received no support from Duke to attend the conference and that, as far as he knew, no one at Duke knew ahead of time about his participation. Vanberg said See FIRED on Page 12
Price urges first-years to take adversity as a lesson at convocation in Cameron By Stefanie Pousoulides
note that they represented team wins. “It’s no wonder that one of the most common statements that we hear coming out of postgame interviews is ‘we’ll take it one game at a In a packed Cameron Indoor Stadium on an already humid time’—by not sweating the big stuff; by taking our minds off that big prize at the end of the season and focusing instead on the here and the Wednesday morning, sweat was pouring from first-year students. now,” Price said. Despite the heat at the Class of 2022 convocation, President Vincent Finally, Price warned students against becoming so “caught up Price gave a new take on an old adage, telling students they shouldn’t in life after Duke” that they forget special moments, like late-night sweat the “big stuff.” conversations about politics or Spikeball games on the quad. “The big stuff isn’t always a great guide—it can even lead us in the “If we’re focused on the endgame, we tend to overlook the beauty wrong direction,” Price said. “Focusing on what we do rather than on of the little moments along the way,” Price said. who we are, on some of our accomplishments rather than on our own Smith emphasized community in innate talents and gifts, can make our successes her speech, discussing her own time less sweet.” Focusing on what we do rather at a retreat called Common Ground, Price addressed the University’s 1,753 newest members alongside fellow speakers Christoph than on who we are, on some of our where participants discuss important aspects of their own identities. Guttentag, dean of undergraduate admissions, accomplishments rather than our She said that she viewed East and senior Kristina Smith, president of Duke own innate talents and gifts, can Campus as the first-years’ “own Student Government. version of Common Ground.” In this digitized era, Price said that make our successes less sweet. “Living in the same room with overcoming “inevitable bumps” becomes harder or maybe on the same hall as people due to the prevalence and pervasiveness of vincent price who are unfamiliar will be your social media. PRESIDENT first glimpse at learning to value the To Price, apps like Instagram and Snapchat people of this University,” Smith said. add to the delusion that “everyone else is “It is how you treat this chance—the chance to get to know those who succeeding beyond their wildest dreams, is living a perfect life of are totally different from you.” flower crowns and matcha lattes and pale pink wallpaper.” In his own remarks, Guttentag highlighted some outstanding Instead, he advised first-years to be themselves and reject the “false first-years, including some who are national art champions, who are standards of perfection or high expectations” and recognize that in the “50 high schoolers to watch” list and who have even created adversity and challenge are actually important lessons. their own language. Price also ensured students that, no matter what may happen, He then discussed how the new students were chosen among they will have the full support of professors, classmates and the residential staff. See CONVOCATION on Page 13 He pointed to the banners that hang from the ceiling of Cameron to University News Editor
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