October 22, 2009 issue

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

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2009

ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTH YEAR, Issue 43

www.dukechronicle.com

Krzyzewski Bulls celebrate national championship leads Fuqua conference by Ciaran O’Connor The chronicle

by Samantha Brooks The chronicle

For Blue Devils, basketball and business go hand in hand. Wednesday afternoon marked the closing of this year’s Fuqua School of Business and Coach K Leadership Conference. The three-day event titled “Leadership in Times of Uncertainty” focused on corporate strategies for dealing with an unstable economy. Blair Sheppard, dean of Fuqua and chair and cofounder of Duke Corporate Education, said the conference’s main objective was to develop businesses by drawing parallels to sports and viewing games as “metaphors for life.” “Our hope is that interesting, fun, stimulating conversations come from [the conference].” Sheppard said. “How do we develop a strategy when we have no idea what’s going to happen next year?” The conference—which cost participants $1,600 per ticket—featured more than 15 speakers, admittance to a men’s basketball practice and a gala dinner at which Head coach Mike Krzyzewski delivered the keynote address. The high-paced atmosphere of the practice was an effective contrast to the professional environment of the keynote sessions, said self-proclaimed Duke fan James Riggs, a certified financial planner and managing See leadership on page 6

ian soileau/The Chronicle

The Durham Bulls mascot poses with a fan during the team’s celebration of its national championship season Wednesday night. The event featured free hot dogs and games of catch inside the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

Fans celebrated their Durham Bulls’ first national championship Wednesday night with an evening of free hot dogs and games of catch under the lights. The Bulls, the Triple-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, hosted the celebration at the Durham Athletic Park downtown. The approximately 700 fans who attended were treated to a tour of the clubhouse, autographs from infielders and a chance to view the Bulls’ 2009 championship trophy, said Matt DeMargel, Durham Bulls director of media relations and promotions. The field was open to fans, and those who brought their gloves threw baseballs around the outfield. Fan Chris Elvis was waiting in line with his son to take a picture with the trophy. “I’m a big fan,” Elvis said of the celebration. “I think it’s good for the community. It’s fun to get out here on a real baseball field—I played in Little League.” Although minor league baseball often has trouble drawing large crowds and generating hype, the Bulls has been one of the most popular teams in the Triple-A class. Out of 176 minor league teams, the Bulls have consistently finished in the top 30 in terms of attendance, DeMargel said. In 1988, the Bulls gained national recognition after Kevin Costner starred as a veteran catcher for the then Single-A Bulls in the romantic comedy, “Bull Durham.” Members of the front office staff expressed hope that the national championSee championship on page 5

Duke student Government

DSG hears new walk-up policy Proposed changes will allow groups to register via e-mail, bring grills by Ross Tucker The chronicle

nate glencer/The Chronicle

Head coach Mike Krzyzewski talks with an attendee Tuesday at this year’s Fuqua School of Business and Coach K Leadership Conference.

Students shoot feature-length film on-campus, RECESS 4

Duke Student Government discussed changes to the walkup line policy for the 2009-2010 basketball season, as well as the creation of a Student Organization Finance Committee Reform Commission at its Wednesday night meeting. Head Line Monitor Zach White, a senior, introduced an update to the walk-up line policy and provided senators with a formal overview of the new registration process. This season, small groups of up to six people may register with the line monitors when half of the group arrives, and large groups of 30 or more students may e-mail the Head Line Monitor eight hours in advance of tip-off to register for attendance. These larger groups—potentially ranging from fraternities, dormitory residents or club sports teams—will also be entitled to a Residence Life and Housing Services-sanctioned grill on a firstcome, first-served basis. White hopes that the policy’s changes will promote a more lively and exciting atmosphere among various groups of students while they are waiting in line. See DSG on page 3

melissa yeo/The Chronicle

SOFC member Andrew Hollar, a junior, discusses the creation of the SOFC Reform Commission during the DSG meeting Wednesday night.

ONTHERECORD

“There are different ways to skin the same cat.” ­—Head coach David Cutcliffe on diversifying the running game. See story page 7

Duke Performances brings new take on ‘Godot,’ RECESS 5

2 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2009 the chronicle

worldandnation

TODAY:

7957

FRIDAY:

7864

Deal may transfer Iran’s nuclear material abroad

Iraq election delays may Vaccine prod. must change slow U.S. troop withdrawal WASHINGTON — Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius told Congress Wednesday that delays in the release of H1N1 flu shots show that the United States is too dependent on other countries for the manufacture of vaccines and that the technology to make them must be improved. Four of the five manufacturers of H1N1 vaccine are foreign companies— a fact that alarmed lawmakers, who expressed concern about the ability of the federal government to secure enough vaccine to prevent the spread of swine flu. Some expressed even greater concern that the lag in vaccine production could mean the H1N1 flu shots will arrive too late to do any good, citing a recent study that predicted that the most cases of swine flu would occur this week.

“

Knowledge is power, if you know it about the right person. — Ethel Mumford

”

WASHINGTON — U.S. commanders may have to slow the pace of the U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq if Baghdad delays national elections scheduled for Jan. 16 or if other political instability develops, senior Pentagon officials said Wednesday. A more protracted drawdown of the 120,000 troops now in Iraq would not prevent President Barack Obama from boosting the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan, but it could increase stress on American ground forces, Vice Adm. James Winnefeld Jr., director for strategic plans and policy for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in testimony before the House Armed Services Committee. Michele Flournoy, undersecretary of defense for policy, told the committee that if Iraq’s parliament does not pass an election law within two weeks, the polling date would slip to later in January.

BEIRUT — Deft diplomacy and regional security woes are driving Iran and the United States toward a deal on Iran’s nuclear program, experts say, illustrated by movement Wednesday in talks to transfer most of the Islamic Republic’s fissile material abroad to be processed for medical uses. Iranian, American, Russian and French diplomats agreed to a proposal by the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, for most of Iran’s stockpile of nuclear material to be sent to Russia and France for further processing for an Iranian medical reactor. The deal, which must be signed by Friday, could fall apart if one party refuses to sign or insists on late tinkering. Modest in scope, it fails to address many of the West’s suspicions about Iran’s

nuclear program, including its continued production of enriched uranium in defiance of the U.N. Security Council, the discovery of documents that purport to show Iran engaged in experiments consistent with a clandestine atomic weapons program or the recently revealed secret enrichment facility at a Revolutionary Guard base near Qom. It also does not address the possibility that Iran has built a secret parallel program not subject to international scrutiny. But the proposal would buy the U.S. and its allies a year’s time by reducing Iran’s stockpile below the threshold necessary to produce a nuclear bomb. It also allows Iran to retain its coveted ability to enrich uranium while building in safeguards that the material would not be diverted to produce weapons.

TODAY IN HISTORY 1981: U.S. national debt tops one trillion dollars.

James lee/The Chronicle

Students take part in a candlelit vigil on the Bryan Center Plaza Wednesday evening. The event, hosted by Diya and the Muslim Student Association, paid tribute to those suffering from terrorism in Pakistan.

the chronicle

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2009 | 3

DSG from page 1 “I think the new policy will make the actual wait in line a more fun and exciting experience,” White wrote in e-mail. “Ideally, students will be grilling, listening to music, dancing and meeting people form other groups—both large and small.” In an effort to incorporate various organizations, White said he sought input from line monitors, Duke Athletics, DSG and students. Although White said student participation at home games is not a concern, he must still work to generate a supportive environment for the basketball team. DSG President Awa Nur, a senior, supported the changes and commended White’s effort. Sophomore Pete Schork, vice president for athletics and campus services, submitted the update. The policy also includes a rationale for the changes, noting that in prior years, the walk-up line policy made it difficult for large groups to stand together inside Cameron Indoor Stadium. Although under the new policy, large groups will be able to stand and socialize together, groups must be present for any line checks that are called and must have at least half of the group present at all times. “We believe that these changes will foster a greater sense of community and fun in K-ville, further enhancing enthusiasm and support for Duke basketball,” Schork said. Executive Vice President Gregory Morrison, a junior, approved the enhancements made to the policy, but said the most important issue discussed at the meeting was the formation of the SOFC reform commission. “This will be the first major overhaul in the finance system in about 10 years,” Morrison said.

melissa yeo/The Chronicle

SOFC Chair David Hu, a junior, breaks out a dance to make a point during the DSG meeting Wednesday night. The group discussed the creation of the SOFC Reform Comission and heard Head Line Monitor Zach White’s proposed walk-up line policy, which will allow large groups to register via e-mail and bring grills to Krzyzewskiville. The Senate created the commission to identify changes that need to be made in the Duke community. The commission will present a report of recommendations to the Senate and Nur by Dec. 2. The commission will be composed of nine DSG members, with Treasurer Sam Halls, a senior, serving as the chair. Senators elected junior Ben Bergmann, sophomore Kaveh Danesh and sophomore Daren Miller to the commission. Morrison said this high-powered, student-driven response group will add weight to the final proposal, which he hopes will confront student group proliferation and transparency. By identifying student group opportunities on campus, DSG and SOFC

DUKE SUMMER ABROAD

Duke in Ghana Summer Program Information Session Thursday, Oct. 22 5:30 p.m. Allen 103 Open to all majors. There are no prerequisites. Students earn 2 credits. For more information, visit the GEO-U website at global.duke.edu/geo, call 684-2174, or e-mail globaled@duke.edu.

Global Education Office for Undergraduates

will determine the accessibility of finance to those groups and distribute funds accordingly. In other business: DSG approved $1,100 for CourseRank, a software program that facilitates studentselection of and investigation into courses. Vice President for Academic Affairs Cynthia Chen, a senior, recognized CourseRank as a service that demands marketing. DSG authorized the allocation of funds for CourseRank to promote marketing. Part of the advertising outreach will include designing a banner to be displayed in front of the Bryan Center as well as launching an advertisement cam-

paign for campus transportation. These advertisements will cost $300 and $800 respectively. Junior Ben Getson, a former senator, presented CourseRank on behalf of the public forum and said his goal is to get as many students as possible to use CourseRank over the next year.

CORRECTION An Oct. 21 story, “Cable 13 to televise Pfeiffer game,” incorrectly described an upcoming event. Comedian Bo Burnham will come to campus Dec. 3. The Chronicle regrets the error.

4 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2009 the chronicle

PROVOST’S LECTURE SERIES 2009/2010 provost.duke.edu/speaker_series

THE FUTURE OF THE PAST, THE FUTURE OF THE PRESENT:

The Historical Record in the Digital Age MONDAy, OCTObER 26 5:00 pm LOVE AUDITORIUM LEVINE SCIENCE RESEARCH CENTER

Diana Taylor University Professor, Performance Studies and Spanish Founding Director, Hemispheric Institute of Performance and Politics Tisch School of the Arts, New York University The DigiTal as anTi-archive? The repertoire and the archive are two of several coterminous systems of creating, storing, and transmitting knowledge. Digital technologies constitute another system of transmission that is rapidly altering our frames of knowledge. Rather than assume that expansive digital capabilities usher in the “era of archive” in which everyone can be his or her own archivist, perhaps we need to consider that the shift to the digital might actually prove profoundly anti-archival. What then might be the politics of this new digital era?

6875_Provost_Ad_F.indd 1

9/25/09 1:29:19 PM

the chronicle

championship from page 1 ship will build excitement around the team and attract even more fans. “With all the colleges in this area... a national championship... means something,” DeMargel said. “They understand what that means... and we’ve had a tremendous response.” As evidence of the increased support, Durham Bulls General Manager Mike Birling cited an increase in sales of

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2009 | 5

online merchandise since the championship and pointed to the hundreds of fans who came out Wednesday night. Birling also noted the economic downturn and recognized the Bulls as a cheap entertainment option. “A lot of people this year, with the economy, aren’t going to the beach,” Birling said. “They’re staying home and finding inexpensive ways to be entertained, and that’s what we try to provide.” Those who did go out to the ballpark this year watched the squad win their division with an 83-61 record, before emerging as victors of the International League after beat-

ing the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees in the Governor’s Cup. In the Triple-A National Championship Game, the Bulls beat out the Pacific Coast League champion Memphis Redbirds 5-4, scoring the winning run on a wild pitch in the bottom half of the 11th inning. “Even though we lost some really key players, we had some guys to fill in right away and that’s important to win a championship,” said infielder Elliot Johnson. Johnson said support for the Bulls is strong in the Triangle, adding that “the more you win, the more they’re going to come out.”

ian soileau/The Chronicle

The Durham Bulls celebrates its first national championship Wednesday night. The event featured games of catch for young fans (right) inside the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Players from the team met with fans and gave away autographs in front of the stadium (left) prior to the celebration. The Bulls beat out the Pacific Coast League champion Memphis Redbirds 5-4 for the national title Sept. 22.

Meghan O’Sullivan The Future of Iraq and Afghanistan

Learn more about the Children in Contemporary Society (CCS) certificate Students currently working on the certificate and those interested in learning more about the certificate program are invited to join CCS faculty for pizza and salad: Tuesday, October 27, 7:30 pm Rhodes Conference Room, Sanford Building The Center is working to solve problems facing children in contemporary society by bringing together scholars from various disciplines with policymakers and practitioners in an effort to improve the lives of children and families. Students also interested in becoming involved in the many activities of the Center for Child and Family Policy are invited to join us too! Please RSVP to Shannon Smith (shannon.smith@duke.edu) or 613-9303.

Thursday, October 29 at 6:15pm Sanford Building Room 04

To learn more about the certificate and Center activities, please visit our website: www.childandfamilypolicy.duke.edu/teaching/ccscertprogram.php

6 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2009 the chronicle

When you’re looking for more than just profit...

colin heasley/The Chronicle

Students greet recruiters at the Nonprofit & Government Fair in the Bryan Center Wednesday. The event, sponsored by the Career Center, saw 57 organizations and governmental agencies seeking to attract students looking for internships, fellowships and full-time opportunities.

Theological Schools Day Thursday, October 22, 2009 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Schafer Mall - Bryan Center

Schools Attending Candler School of Theology Catholic Theological Union Campbell University Divinity School Chicago Theological Seminary Columbia Theological Seminary Duke University Divinity School Episcopal Divinity School Erskine Theological Seminary Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary McAfee School of Theology McCormick Theological Seminary Princeton Theological Seminary Reformed Theological Seminary Union Theological Seminary and Presbyterian School of Christian Education Wake Forest University Divinity School Washington Theological Union

Panel of Duke Alumni and Divinity School Students 11:30am -12:30pm (multicultural center)

Thursday Talkin’ Jazz with

Vincent Gardner and John Brown 12-1 Rare Book Room. Bring lunch, dessert and beverages provided

Friday Duke Jazz Ensemble and Djembe Ensemble with special guest

Vincent Gardner

8 pm in Baldwin Auditorium

Come meet the representatives, and learn about graduate theological programs. For more information, please call 668-0485 or email rsm443@duke.edu.

Sponsored By:

leadership from page 1 director of Rogers Realty Advisors, LLC. “I like being around world-class organizations, there are always things you can learn,” Riggs said of the men’s basketball team. “There’s a chemistry from being around the best. I would call it an emotional level of intelligence.” Krzyzewski used the scrimmage in Cameron Indoor Stadium to demonstrate different leadership techniques that work both on the court and in the office. As players raced up and down the court, Krzyzewski explained different coaching techniques he was using and how to apply them to everyday life. “You have to adjust accordingly,” he said. “In any team there are people who are more talented and experienced than others. We have to find who complements them while allowing them to develop... A good player is a student of the game.” Brian Bonner, Business ’85 and vice president and chief information officer of Texas Instruments, said Krzyzewski’s presence played a large role in his interest in the conference. “The best part of the conference is [Krzyzewski],” Bonner said. “He doesn’t hide behind corporate mumbo-jumbo. Whatever the theme, [Krzyzewski] brings it home.” Scott Barron, president of Mount Pisgah Christian School in Johns Creek, Ga., shared similar ideas. “I’ve read all of [Krzyzewski]’s books,” Barron said. “I came with an interest as to how leadership in sports plays into life as well.” Although feedback for Krzyzewski was largely positive, some participants were not as enthused with the other keynote speakers at the event. “I think [the keynote speakers] are OK,” said Magda Kespany, who attended the event out of curiosity. “In the future they can improve. There are other areas apart from business that managers need to understand.” Despite some of the drawbacks of the conference, Riggs said he was glad he attended the event. “At some other conferences I may have enjoyed [the speakers] a little more,” he said, “But I still [found these speakers] very helpful.”

Want to design this newspaper? E-mail Charlie at cbl10@duke. edu to learn about design opportunities at The Chronicle. Muslim Student Association & Muslim Life @ Duke. The Muslim Students Association at Duke University is a place where students can learn about and discuss the teachings of Islam. We serve to spread knowledge of Islam to non-Muslims who are interested in the religion and sponsor a wide variety of social events and educational forums throughout the year-ranging from lectures and discussions to artistic demonstrations.

Jumu’ah on Campus--Join us for our weekly Friday Service: 12:45 in the York Room; refreshments will be served after the service. 10/23 Friday Meeting 6:30 at Center for Muslim Life Join MSA Listserv to find out more about these and other events in the future Center for Muslim Life: 406 Swift Ave.

OPEN TO ALL! www.dukemsa.org ~ Duke Search: Muslim Life @ Duke

recess

volume 12, issue 10 existential crises. week 10.

October 22, 2009

Cinematic Addiction A crew of students takes an original feature-length film from the page to the screen

PAGE 4

maddie lieberberg/The chronicle

still waiting...

the classical theatre of harlem comes to Duke for three nights

page 5

so hood

hood internet talk mash-ups before its Raleigh show

page 5

hipster moon

the scene comes out for the wolves and bloodsuckers

page 7

Page 2

the

sandbox

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The beautiful list of music video collaborations just got a new entry, and it’s so unhinged it makes Harvey Keitel playing poker with Hova look perfectly normal in comparison. Spike Jonze, currently famous for strong Best-Idea-Ever candidate Where the Wild Things Are, just released a short film starring Kanye West, currently famous for actually being the man. It’s called “We Were Once a Fairy Tale.” I already placed a bet on it winning the Best Short Film Oscar. (Don’t know the category? Go watch Martin McDonagh’s “Six Shooter,” which won in 2005. You probably won’t forget again.) The film, inasmuch justice as ekphrasis can do, depicts—well, who better to describe it than recess’ own film editor, Charlie McSpadden? He calls it “a meta-analysis of the self,” the camera movements “referencing Mr. West’s dissatisfaction with his own existence and a disillusionment with a larger reality.” If anyone needs Charlie for further questions, he’ll be rewatching American Psycho.

A meta-analysis of self involving a disillusioned and apparently unloved protagonist, sick music and a furry creature. What does this sound like? Where the Wild Things Are! Which leads to an obvious conclusion: “We Were Once a Fairy Tale” is a companion piece, the “Hotel Chevalier” to Wild Things’ Darjeeling Limited. Except, replace Jason Schwartzman with Kanye, Natalie Portman with a small animal representing Kanye’s heart and sex with self-disembowlment. As if the prospect of a meta-anlaysis of self didn’t have you dying to see it already. Two songs soundtrack this stumbling surreality: Kanye’s own “See You In My Nightmares,” featuring Weezy F. Baby ( F is for furry), and Beethoven’s Midnight Sonata, two wonderfully disparate pieces of music. Beethoven too was once a voice of his generation. Spike Jonze and Kanye West are two of my favorite people in modern pop culture, and “Fairy Tale” just reaffirms this. If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go watch it again. —Kevin Lincoln

[recesseditors] Everything Ravaged, Everything Desexualized Andrew Hibbard...................................................................................“I hate all sex” Eugene Wang..................................................................................................[absent] Charlie McSpadden...................................out of the boxing ring, into the cockpit Claire Finch..................................................................so creepy it’s not even funny Kevin Lincoln........................................................................Willem Dafoe’s genitals Maddie Lieberberg...............................................................Grade C(T) angus beef Jonathan Wall.....................................................................................Technician toys Will Robinson..........................................................................................the night off

October 22, 2009

duke,Horizontal

Internet porn is the most important technological development of our generation. Whether or not this conclusion disturbs you, it’s difficult to ignore the influence of easily accessible graphic content. Accessibility aside, the Internet’s ability to repackage the world’s most lewd sexual behaviors into digestible chunks has altered our perceptions of sexual normalcy. The ease of obtaining and enjoying porn has blurred the line between fiction and reality. I am reminded of the 1976 film Network, in which Howard Beale proclaims, “You’re beginning to think that the tube is reality and that your own lives are unreal.... This is mass madness, you maniacs.... We are the illusions!” This confusion becomes more pronounced as we struggle to internalize the filming of a real event for fictionalized purposes. I blame porn every time I catch myself making another Brazilian bikini wax appointment with the sadistic cosmetologist who laughs when my eyes start to tear up. Centuries from now, scholars will wonder why the ancient world’s most advanced civilizations allowed hot wax to be poured in close proximity to the body’s most sensitive regions only to gain attention from the opposite sex. “What do men expect? You’re not a prepubescent girl or a porn star.” No, I’m not a porn star, but in an age when most adolescent boys were exposed to Jenna Jameson’s breasts years before the real thing, girls embrace stray hairs at their own risk. Given the difficulty of finding a YouPorn video catered to women’s taste, I’m baffled by the extent of pubic baldness amongst college-age females. The parade of Seven jeans and Longchamps on the plaza is an easy trend to observe, but a proclivity toward South American-inspired waxing is a little more difficult. Yet the majority of

my peers have embraced the razor and waxing appointment. They possess some innate knowledge that this agonizing routine is as necessary to sex appeal as frequent mascara application and a low-carb diet. What bred these universal expectations? The sexual pressures bred by pornography overexposure are not limited to the female gender. The natural endowment of the average male porn star should require little discussion or analysis. Although most females do not use pornographic units of measurement to determine their partners’ bedroom worth, pornography equates female orgasm production with sexual mastery. If one were to survey the few dirty videos geared toward women’s pleasure, every cinematically produced sexual encounter would end with an earth-shattering orgasm. Consequently, real world hook-ups have yielded the fake orgasm to meet these mutually inflated expectations. Artificiality infiltrates reality. What’s the difference between illusion and authenticity? Between ACES and Facebook, we have the opportunity to observe any possible explicit act. Porn doesn’t use stunt men to distinguish between the real and the constructed. When it comes to sex, how can we possibly determine what is real? Brooke Hartley is a Trinity junior. Her column runs every other Thursday.

Duke Performances in durham, at duke, the modern comes home. the classical theatre of harlem’s waiting for godot friday & saturday, OctOber 23 & 24 • 8 pm | reynOlds sunday, OctOber 25 • 3 pm | reynOlds residency runs OctOber 18-24

louis lortie, piano thursday, OctOber 29 • 8 pm | reynOlds gal costa & romero lubambo friday, OctOber 30 • 8 pm | reynOlds miami string quartet & kalichstein-laredo-robinson saturday, nOvember 7 • 8 pm | reynOlds urban bush woman thursday, nOvember 12 • 8 pm | reynOlds lambchop + alejandro escovedo friday, nOvember 13 • 8 pm | reynOlds

Duke stuDent tickets always $5 louis lortie, piano · 10/29

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October 22, 2009

Page 3

dance review

Carolina Ballet brings museum to the stage by Lori Vogt The chronicle

feet of the Wild Things, boisterous beasts who appear to be lions--tigers-a-bears (oh my!). To save his skin, Max pledges to perpetuate harmony among the Things by using his “magical powers.” Jonze explores this familiar childhood tale in a dark and visually enthralling style. In choosing to forgo the CGI effects and place real people in Wild Thing suits, Jonze makes fantasy a tangible reality and leaves viewers yearning for a hug from these hairy hybrids. The film’s stunning cinematography radiates light, water, wind and air, allowing viewers to connect with Sendak’s world in a way that the original pages never could. Conversely, Jonze and staggering genius Dave Eggers’ screenplay falls short in squeezing a captivating script out of a 10-sentence story. The beasts’ existential prattle serves to restrain the creative revolt beloved in the Sendak illustrations. Metaphysical howls aside, Jonze succeeds in evoking the necessity of imagination and the inescapable duty of adulthood. —Emily Ackerman

where the wild things are

dir. s. jonze warner bros.

eeeeE

For a child, growing up is all about limitations: “No, you are not a Ninja Turtle. No, Play-Doh is not a snack. No, you may not strangle your sister for resetting your Giga Pet.” But for the character of Max in Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are, “No” was an invitation to imagine. Forty-six years since the book’s initial success, director Spike Jonze brings Sendak’s celebrated monsters to the movies for round two of the rumpus. Max (the remarkable Max Records) is a young boy who counters life’s letdowns with a boundless imagination. One night, his mother’s (Catherine Keener) demands send him out of control, and Max sets sail for nobler horizons. This escape lands Max and his sailboat at the clawed

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The Carolina Ballet’s Picasso features four ballets inspired by the Nasher Museum of Art’s exhibition Picasso and the Allure of Language. As though performing a ballet inspired by an art exhibition celebrating a painter’s relationship to writing is not ambitious enough, Picasso chooses four very different samples of the artist’s work to motivate each piece. To begin, the ballet reaches back into biblical history with Salome, choreographed by Richard Weiss. Typically, Salome is portrayed as a seductress. She beguiles her father into promising her anything she wants with her captivating dance, then demands John the Baptist’s death. The ballet, however, captures a more complex heroine, trapped between a mother’s jealous demands and her own young love. Randi Osetek’s nuanced performance of Salome memorializes the forgiveness evoked by the delicate drypoint print Picasso created after reading a poem written in Salome’s voice. Guernica, the next piece, is inspired by Picasso’s chaotic depiction of the city’s destruction during the Spanish Civil War. Long-limbed and frail, dancer Lara O’Brien curls into herself protectively, then stretches her arms out as if striving for survival. Five strapping men alternate between carrying her carefully, bending as she climbs high on their backs and throwing her violently to one another. Attila

Bongar’s choreography reveals the complicated, tragic interaction between men and their city. The next dance, Weiss’s Picasso’s Harlequins, is a welcome reprieve from Guernica’s sorrowful destruction. It serves as a powerful reminder of the imposing emotional power of delight. Two couples dressed in the joyful jester checkers of Picasso’s harlequin paintings tease, tempt and twirl one another flirtatiously. Each dancer is definitively precious. David Heuvel costumes the dancers like candies in stained-glass colors, detailed with red ribbons. In The Song of the Dead, Weiss uses two dancers to represent the red brush strokes Picasso used to adorn the letters in poet Pierre Reverdy’s Le Chant des Morts. Together, the two move toward six dancing couples, touching them gently. Awakened, the couples express loss and yearning through their dances. The show’s roots remain loyally locked in Picasso’s art. From there, however, the choreography reaches up and entangles. Fluent in the languages of art and emotion, the ballet captures how disparate sentiments and mediums coexist, connect and inform one another. Whether it’s death, dancing or cheeky flirtation, affective art captures humanity at the height of its expression. The ballet runs through Nov. 1 at the Fletcher Opera Theater in Raleigh. For more information, visit carolinaballet.com/picasso

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE. special to The chronicle

featured film review

Golden Belt is presenting Matt Duquette’s Prepare for Landing in ROOM 100 through Nov. 15. Sanette Tanaka reviews the mixed-media show that tackles the psychological, surreal punk-rock-isnpired art showcase. >>>dukechronicle.com/recess

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October 22, 2009

Attemping Magic photos by maddie lieberberg/The Chronicle

Nick Hawthorne, left, and Michael Burakow, right, have masterminded a feature-length film being shot at Duke this semester. Backed by a small crew, the pair hopes to sell the film on the festival circuit after finishing it.

T

by Naureen Khan The chronicle

he scene: Kurt Huxley, a college senior in an unidentified university in a nondescript town, has been kicked out of school for toking up one too many times. He waits—symbolically, some would say­—by a lime green help phone for his ride to take him away. This was the sight that greeted bemused motorists on Towerview Drive last Saturday. A ragtag crew of Duke students were trying their hands at movie magic as an icy wind swept through the Gothic Wonderland. This shot is the opening of a heretofore untitled project led by budding filmmakers Michael Burakow, a senior, and Nick Hawthorne, a junior. If successfully completed, Intervention—the working title—will be the first entirely student-produced feature-length movie made at Duke in recent memory. “We’re not expecting a perfect film, but we do want to show college students can make a good movie with decent production quality,” Burakow said. The film follows “pathologically rebellious” habitual marijuana user Kurt—played by Burakow himself—as he is court-ordered to undergo treatment at Clearing Waters Rehabilitation Center. Inspired by films like Juno that used humor and wit to deal with weighty subject material, it’s a tale of self-discovery. But it’s one that prides itself on its nuanced approach to the topic and its cast of oddball characters. Mom is a pill-popper, Dad’s an alcoholic, love interest Kate is waging her own battle with the bottle, while best friend Art is a computer engineer with obsessive-compulsive tendencies who also happens to dabble in heroin. It’s a story that’s as all-American as baseball and apple pie. “It’s a misunderstood subject—the subject of addiction,” Hawthorne said. “People view substance addiction much more seriously than other addictions. But an addiction is an addiction. Everyone’s got one.” Burakow and Hawthorne first entertained the idea of making the movie when Hawthorne was a freshman and Burakow a sophomore. Over the course of the next two years, Burakow and Hawthorne—also brothers in Sigma Nu fraternity—hammered out a script and took various screenwriting and directing classes within the Film/

Video/Digital Program (now, the Program in the Arts of the Moving Image) to hone their craft. Last spring, when Burakow went to Los Angeles as part of Duke’s then-FVD study-away program, the duo finally began recruiting other cast and crew to get the project rolling. “This idea that you have to wait for a golden moment... well, there’s no reason to postpone,” said Elisabeth Benfey, a lecturing fellow for AMI. “Michael feels like it should be happening now, and he has confidence in his collaborators.”

“You know Murphy’s law? That if something can wrong, it will? Murphy was a filmmaker.” — Nick Hawthorne, Co-director It’s an ambitious feat to be sure—120 pages of material to film, produce and edit within one academic year. The team­—made up of about 14 crew members, a dozen main characters and miscellaneous extras—began shooting in August. It’s apparent that the team has made good use of Duke’s surroundings and resources. For the purposes of the project, Bell Tower dormitory has been transformed into the interior of the rehab facility (“There’s similarities between the sterility of classrooms and the sterility of rehab,” Hawthorne noted), the exterior of the John Hope Franklin Center into the outside of Clearing Waters and a house off East into the Huxley abode. The project is so Duke-driven that even rising pop phenom Mike Posner, another senior Sigma Nu, is contributing a track. Despite the support provided by the University community, however, there have been plenty of naysayers, Burakow said. But the film has become something of a labor of love for those involved. Burakow especially oozes enthusiasm, even as he shivered on the curb as other crew members fiddled with the malfunctioning camera and tried (unsuccessfully)

to keep fascinated passers-by out of the frame Saturday. The life of an amateur filmmaker is not as glamorous as you might think, Hawthorne said. It took about an hour to shoot what will most likely be at most a minute-long clip within the finished product. “You never understand why there are so many people in the credits of movies until you make a movie,” Burakow said. “It really is a team effort.” And there’s been no shortage of hiccups along the way. Operating on a $3,000 budget and borrowed equipment from AMI, whether the right cameras will be available at the right time is something of a crapshoot. In addition, there are some things that not even the keenest of directors can plan for—like Mother Nature. “You know Murphy’s law? That if something can go wrong, it will?” Hawthorne said. “Murphy was a filmmaker.” In response, the team of amateur filmmakers has developed a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants attitude, learning to roll with the punches. Flexibility, a necessary virtue for aspiring Spielbergs. “I can kind of tell it’s the first student-led feature film,” said senior Adam Barron, who plays heroin junkie Art. “There’s always slip-ups, but it’s just part of the game.” Burakow said his team is committed to seeing the project finished. He and Hawthorne hope to wrap up shooting by the end of this semester and do the bulk of post-production work in the spring. The filmmakers want to premiere the movie at Duke by early May. “I think, all things considered, it’s going well,” Burakow said. “People did not expect us to get past 20 pages. Now we’re at over 40.” Burakow and Hawthorne said they are planning on submitting Intervention to the festival circuit after it’s completed, but collaborators also have high hopes for what the finished product will do for the film culture at Duke. “I don’t know if FVD will be able to support these kinds of projects in the future,” Benfey said. “I think they are looking at an experimental documentary approach but I would love to see good stories get made. Fiction projects like this.” Editor’s Note: recess writers Emily Ackerman, Andrew O’Rourke and Jenni Wei are part of the film’s production crew.

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October 22, 2009

Page 5

After deluge, Harlem Theatre revitalizes Godot by Jenni Wei

The chronicle

Two years ago, Christopher McElreon, co-founder and executive director of the Classical Theatre of Harlem, approached New Orleans residents with a simple question: “What are you waiting for?” Their answer would dramatically color what has since become a nationally renowned, stylistically radical revival of the classic Samuel Beckett play, Waiting for Godot, which will be showing this weekend at Reynolds Theater through Duke Performances. In 2006, some nine months after Hurricane Katrina, McElreon began traveling down to the Lower Ninth Ward, poster child neighborhood of post-Katrina New Orleans, looking to bring his production of Godot to the community which originally inspired the revival’s post-diluvian aesthetic. McElreon was fresh from a brilliant five-week run in Harlem, where CTH had set the play in a 15,000-gallon swimming pool on stage, complete with a submerged house and tree visible at the surface of the water. No changes were made to the text, and no overt references were made to Katrina. And yet, audiences found themselves experiencing something greater than Godot in a pool, and word of the revival quickly spread. Part of CTH’s mission statement is to present the “classics” in Harlem, in a way that makes them more immediate and socially relevant to a contemporary audience. A notoriously heady play in which nothing happens, twice, Godot was initially met with outrage when it premiered in 1955. Now recognized as one of the most significant English plays of the 20th century, Godot has caused an outpouring of academic analysis and existentialist baggage—of which Beckett himself only commented, “Why people have to complicate a thing so simple I can’t make out.” Struck by how remote the play seemed and inundated by the news of Katrina at the time, McElreon decided to merge

special to The Chronicle

The Classical Theatre of Harlem re-imagined Samuel Beckett’s classic play Waiting for Godot after Hurricane Katrina. The play, first performed in 2006, is coming to Reynolds Theater this weekend. Beckett’s themes of waiting with the af- play at a street intersection in the Lower termath of the storm, creating a produc- Ninth Ward. The two went to New Orleans tion that spoke directly to a very specific and began knocking on doors. They asked audience. two basic questions: “What are you waiting “I started seeing all the images that for?” And, “If we are to do this play in the were littering the landscape of the media,” Lower Ninth Ward, what else do we need McElreon said. “I saw two guys floating to do to make this a meaningful experidown the street with a door… a tree com- ence?” The project began to take shape ing out of the water… I saw folks who were based on the responses. in need of help…just waiting.” “What we continuously heard was… The images resonated with the text. ‘We’re not waiting for anything. We have Visual artist and activist Paul Chan ap- taken charge of the situation ourselves beproached McElreon with an idea: stage the cause we’re tired of waiting,’” McElreon

UNCLOAKED: The Hood Internet, a mash-up duo of Aaron Brink and Steve Reidell, will play Cherry Bounce in Raleigh, a weeklong music festival showcasing regional and national talent. recess’ Brian Contratto talked to Reidell (DJ name STV SLV) about the blog-project-turned-Internet-sensation. So is the Hood Internet on an official tour or just playing one-offs at clubs and festivals at this point? Yeah, well, as official of a tour as we could be—we’ve been doing shows on weekends and otherwise for about two years now. We started last year in New York and have been touring since. [In the last year,] we played Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza. Are you two full-time or did you keep your day jobs? No, we both [still work]. I work by day as a graphic designer for a music club in Chicago called Metro. Aaron is a karate instructor. So are you the one making the funny mash-up artwork that accompanies the release of new tracks? Aaron’s actually a skilled Photoshopper himself... but we both take to that for sure. What’s it’s like processing all this new music to incorporate in your mash-ups, and what inspires the combinations? We’re both people that—like anyone else—get music through the Internet. I read music blogs and still listen to the radio to hear what’s going on in terms of new pop singles and hip-hop and R&B singles. Especially nowadays there’s a lot of music to take in at once. We process it all quickly—we’re exposed to so much, so much comes in. Now that we’ve been doing this for so long, we lend a different ear when we listen, thinking what samples we can

said. “The other thing we heard was, ‘You can’t come down here and exploit the landscape. We have seen countless artists come down… and leave nothing behind for the community.’” Thus a simple idea evolved into something much more profound. “[The project] takes the basic idea of theater, which is the relationship between an actor and the audience and expands that to include community,” McElreon said. CTH raised $50,000 toward grassroots rebuilding efforts, arranged university master classes, community workshops at local high schools and a series of potluck dinners, where residents discussed what it means to wait in a post-Katrina New Orleans. And there was the play itself, which McElroen directed with a notably optimistic interpretation informed by the community’s spirit of self-reliance. “[This revival] really has a vaudevillian style,” said actor J. Kyle Manzay, who drew from his training in Commedia dell’Arte. “The physical comedy of it helps me gain access to [the character of Estragon].” That opening night, 1600 people showed up in a devastated neighborhood to see not only theater, but Godot. “The production that comes to Duke carries with it the remnants of those two productions,” said Aaron Greenwald, director of Duke Performances. The revival’s emphasis on local relevance suits the programming of Duke Performances, Greenwald said. The Duke organization has continually sought to reengage students with community and the roots of culture. “I think it’s important for an institution like Duke, that has global reach and... cutting-edge research happening, that we and the Durham community understand where home is,” Greenwald said. Waiting for Godot will run in Reynolds Industries Theater Oct 24-26. Friday and Saturday shows are at 8 p.m. The Sunday show is at 3 p.m.

hood internet’s steve reidell speaks up about the legality of mash-ups, day jobs and Photoshop projects

pull. One to three songs usually [go into a single mash-up] to make a cohesive piece. I know Girl Talk uses the Creative Commons fair use argument to justify his unlicensed sampling. Has the Hood Internet run into any legal issues yet that you have to deal with? We really hadn’t anticipated the reach [the Hood Internet] was going to have. It was more for our friends to download. When it hit and people started paying attention, it was useful that we weren’t charging money for the tracks, since we usually use most of the whole song, not a seven-second sample. The only feedback I get [from the original artists] is positive. What comes next for the Hood Internet, a fourth mixtape or the rumored debut LP of original material? What would that sound like? A new release... 2010 sometime. The idea behind the record is to get bits and pieces—combine disparate elements into a more cohesive idea. It’s not a mash-up at all, it’s sort of: so-and-so drummer from some band sends us a drum beat, we maybe cut it up and add a bass line, add some synths, format it in a way that somebody could rap over it or sing over it. It’s more original production from the ground up. I guess that comes from the framework [for our live show]. When we do a live set, it really is a live set. We play our own mixes. The Hood Internet will be playing Sunday, Oct. 24 at 9:30 pm, in Raleigh. Their performance will take place on the Main Stage, 14 E. Hargett St., as a part of the Cherry Bounce Festival. The festival is free.

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film review

the stepfather

dir. n. mccormick sony pictures

eEEEE

It’s Dan Humphrey vs. Dr. Sean McNamara with Disturbia’s backdrop. And yes, it’s as terrible as it sounds. After a year in boot camp, Michael (Penn Badgley) comes home to find that his recently divorced mother Susan (Sela Ward) is engaged to David Harris (Dylan Walsh), a mysterious but good-natured stranger. Unbeknownst to the family, “David” is actually Grady Edwards, a serial killer that targets single mothers and their families. Michael becomes suspicious and spends most of the movie trying to convince the rest of his family that David is not whom he appears to be. In classic scary movie denial, nobody believes him until the corpses have piled up.

If you can understand words, you are too smart for this movie. The “twists” are obvious, and anyone with a modest knowledge of the horror genre will see them coming. In one scene of cinematic brilliance, an old lady informs David that she saw a man who looked just like him on America’s Most Wanted. She is brutally murdered shortly after—gasp! Why didn’t she just call the police? Apparently, horror movie writers don’t factor in silly things like logic. The movie is not totally devoid of redeeming qualities, though. Walsh makes for a convincing psychopath, providing the film with at least some semblance of psychological depth. The rest of the cast wallows in mediocrity, but there’s only so much a good actor can do with a two-dimensional character and script. The only scary thing about The Stepfather is that someone thought remaking the 1987 original was a good idea. —Jose Lamazares

ELI Accepting Applications The Entrepreneurial Leadership Initiative within the Duke’s Hart Leadership Program is accepting 18 undergraduates to join its 2010 class. Applications from high-impact student leaders with interest in civic engagement, social change, and/or entrepreneurship are encouraged.

Application Deadline: October 25, 2009 Benefits: Create a real-world social enterprise Funded summer social innovative experience All-star network of leading social innovators Ongoing leadership development & mentoring Post ELI funding for top ventures

To learn more about the ELI experience join us in an

Information Session Thursday, October 22 at 7-8pm Gray building room 228 (next to the Divinity School) Pizza will be served

For more information: visit us on the web www.sanford.duke.edu/eli or contact Della O. McKinnon: dom2@duke.edu

SMALL TOWN RECORDS presents

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OCTOBER 22 MUSIC: 10pm-1am Come Early For Dinner and Drinks!

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October 22, 2009

Music reviews

atlas sound logos

4AD eeeeE

Be glad for Logos, because it almost never made it. After unintentionally leaking unfinished versions of every song on his solo project Atlas Sound’s second full-length, Bradford Cox nearly scrapped the entire thing in dismay. He ultimately came back to the material, giving it the treatment it deserves and, in the process, making one of the best shoegaze albums in a year chock full of them. This statement is a testament to the enormity of Cox’s talent, but it doesn’t do justice to Logos or anything else Cox does, by himself or with original band Deerhunter. This is a deeply-layered album, one that veers with aplomb from bubbling, avantgarde electronics (opener “The Light That Failed”) to gorgeous indie-pop (“Crimi-

nal”). Cox has toned down the experimentalism of his last Atlas Sound release, Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See but Cannot Feel, but Logos still gives you the sense that Atlas Sound exists to indulge Cox’s every sonic curiosity, no matter how disparate they might be. And disparate they are. On one hand, Noah Lennox of Animal Collective collaborates on standout “Walkabout,” a psychpop gem that sounds, well, pretty much like Animal Collective. On the other hand, Cox works with Stereolab’s Laetitia Sadier to make the nine-minute krautrock epic “Quick Canal.” One could criticize Cox for letting his guests dominate both tracks; it’s a valid claim but, in view of the remainder of the album, it doesn’t hold much weight. Logos is an exploration above all else, interesting and impressive enough to get away with the occasional meandering. —Ross Green

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October 22, 2009

spiral stairs the real feel matador

eeeEE

the twilight saga: new moon ost various artists atlantic

eeEEE

The (in)famous Twilight saga now has its fangs stuck in the bloodstream of American pop culture. With four best-selling novels and one high-grossing movie, the film adaptation of second book New Moon is sure to create a sanguinary sensation. New Moon’s soundtrack employs some of the highest profile names in the music world. The variety of artists— luminaries like Death Cab for Cutie, Muse, Grizzly Bear, Thom Yorke and Lykke Li all contribute fresh material— makes it hard to make overarching statements, but common themes do emerge. There is a malaise surrounding all of the tracks, which makes it difficult to connect to most of the songs. An inexplicable underlying folk influence tries unsuccessfully to tie the album together. The consistent lack of vocal polish would make even Conor Oberst cringe. In the end, the record feels more like an angst fest of folksy garage band wannabes than an artsy film accompaniment. The Killers’ ode to cadaverous romance, “A White Demon Love Song,” falls short of emotive. It feels like a creepily cartoonish sketch, Brandon Flowers’ vocals reaching a new level of grating. This is the audible equivalent of a homework assignment done 30 minutes before class. The Killers earn an ‘F’ in compilation albums. The New Moon sountrack feels just as fake as Kristen Stewart’s acting. —Nathan Nye

The cover artwork for The Real Feel, Pavement guitarist Spiral Stairs’ (aka Scott Kannberg) first solo record, is an immediate indication of the album’s corniness. A raccoon lies inert on the pavement, prescription bottles and pills scattered around his head, with the Spiral Stairs logo slapped like a bumper sticker along the bottom. The kitschy image presages the album’s anemic songs, which are even less impressive than Kannberg’s previous post-Pavement work with Preston School of Industry. With Pavement, Kannberg and frontman Stephen Malkmus made a reputation using jangly guitars and ramshackle composition. The band’s DIY motif was crystallized in fantastic songs like “Summer Babe,” from Slanted and Enchanted. Pavement’s aesthetic worked because it was original to

Page 7

its time: the early ’90s, the heyday of lo-fi, genuine indie rock that Pavement and groups like Yo La Tengo and Guided By Voices embodied. But The Real Feel only confirms that Kannberg’s grip on the direction of his genre is slipping. On the opener “True Love,” pitchy guitar inflections are layered upon a backbeat of tired power chords, while Kannberg recites nonsequiturs like “Save it for a rainy day/dipthong got nothing to say.” What? Later on, “The Real Feel” is 17 seconds of needless electronic conflagration (hopefully not an ironic rehashing of Abbey Road’s “Her Majesty”). The title track further demonstrates Kannberg’s estrangement from today’s music. It’s no longer cool to throw in random sound loops, especially in the midst of a straightforward rock album. As a solo venture, The Real Feel is forgettable, especially considering Kannberg’s illustrious role as an indie rock founding father. When Pavement starts their reunion tour in 2010, let’s hope these songs are left off of the set list. —Jake Stanley

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film review

amelia

dir. m. nair fox searchlight

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If nothing else, Amelia reminds us of a time when America’s celebrities could back their star power with real talent. The most famous and accomplished aviatrix of her time, Amelia Earhart (Hilary Swank) grew up in a small town in Kansas, spending her days dreaming of the skies and faroff lands as only a Midwesterner could. Her passion for flying eventually brought her in contact with George Putnam (Richard Gere), a smooth-talking publisher who foresees the coming of PR, and the two go into business—and then bed—with each other. But Amelia, self-proclaimed “vagabond of the sky,” becomes restless with the slew of promotional talks and product endorsements, as well as the comfortable marriedlife-in-Rye existence. She responds by taking to the sky whenever the money allows, picking up lover Gene Vidal (Ewan McGregor) and faux-mothering his son Gore. Her ambition proves fatal, however, and, mere days away from concluding her circumnavigation of the globe, her plane

disappears somewhere in the Pacific. The film’s first half hour suffers from rocky—dare I say turbulent?—pacing, and the introductory relationship between George and Amelia largely flies by on a gimmick. But crisper storytelling eventually emerges as the narrative progresses, and a gripping conclusion uplifts the characters and elegantly handles Amelia’s final flight. Director Mira Nair wondrously captures the feeling of escapism that flight bestows—especially during a night flight over D.C. with Eleanor Roosevelt—and beautifully paints the exotic locations that Earheart visited, including Pakistan, Mali and Papa New Guinea. Swank and Gere comfortably fit their roles as the tomboyish Amelia and the swoon-inducing salesman, and both actors do their best with dialogue that every so often nosedives into mush. Their relationship would be progressive if it weren’t for the fact that Putnam is her publicist: it is, and always has been, all about Amelia. At least Putnam understands this, evidenced in a poignant radio call at the film’s close. Though featuring an often overly biopic feel, Amelia boasts stunning visuals and is a pleasant enough takeoff into the past. —Charlie McSpadden

THE STRENGTH TO HEAL our Soldiers’ deepest wounds. The pride you’ll feel in being a doctor increases dramatically when you care for our Soldiers and their Families. Courage is contagious. Our Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) helps you reach your goal by providing full tuition, money towards books and lab fees, a $20,000 sign-on bonus, plus a monthly stipend of $1,992. To learn more about the U.S. Army Health Care Team, call a Healthcare Recruiter at 919-872-3357, email 9B2R@usarec.army.mil, or visit healthcare.goarmy.com/info/mchpsp1.

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October 22, 2009

Sports

>> WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

The Chronicle

THURSDAY October 22, 2009

www.dukechroniclesports.com

Women’s soccer

Five-star defense

Freshmen quintet steps up after injuries to backline by Nicholas Schwartz The chronicle

Coming off a 15-win season in 2008 that included 14 defensive shutouts, expectations were high for this year’s Blue Devil squad. But with seniors departing from last year’s NCAA quarterfinal team and the loss of experienced defenders to injury, Duke has been forced to rely on a slew of freshmen in defense for the 2009 campaign. The new corps of freshmen have battled admirably thus far, holding four ACC opponents scoreless through six conference games. Above all, their ability to adapt to new situations has driven the Blue Devils’ success. The Duke defense suffered injury woes early in the season, losing senior captain Sara Murphy, highly regarded freshman Kim DeCesare and sophomore standout Ashley Rape, who garnered all-ACC accolades last year. The loss of these players—all projected to start for Duke—considerably thinned the squad, meaning untested players were counted on to play big minutes right away. “We had three players who

we thought would play big roles gone before our first preseason practice,” head coach Robbie Church said. “We had to ask our freshmen to step into some big roles.” Duke currently starts five freshmen: goalkeeper Tara Campbell, central midfielder Nicole Lipp and defenders Maddy Haller, Libby Jandl and Erin Koballa. “They basically had to grow up overnight,” junior center back Gretchen Miller said. The Blue Devils have had to adjust their ranks even more due to a recent switch to a conventional 4-4-2 formation. With a lineup now featuring four midfielders, Lipp has moved to the center of the park, while Jandl has taken over the vacant spot at center back, where she has flourished. Jandl, a Kansas native who didn’t figure into Church’s plans entering the season, now plays a major role alongside Miller at the heart of the defense. “She kept getting better and better and better in practice, so we decided to give her a starting role. And since she’s been starting, we haven’t allowed a goal,” Church said. Jandl is the only freshman

Junior guard Jasmine Thomas was named a preseason second-team All-American by the Sporting News. Duke was ranked fifth in the nation by the magazine

defender with any defensive experience; the rest have converted from attacking roles. Koballa tallied 30 goals and 15 assists as a senior in New Hanover, just outside of Wilmington, N.C. “Erin was the only one we thought would play back there as a right back. She’s a real combination player,” Church said. Haller scored 41 goals as a senior in high school, but now patrols the opposite side of the field as a left back. “It hasn’t been that hard to switch positions if you have the right mentality, and Gretchen has really helped out,” Haller said. The defense has been anchored by the stellar goalkeeping play of Campbell, who is second in the ACC with 62 saves. Campbell, who had a standout club career in Ohio, is fast becoming one of the premier keepers in the league. Church credits much of the the back line’s success to the defensive knowledge of assistant coach Carla Overbeck. Overbeck, winner of a Women’s World Cup and former captain of the U.S. Women’s

Football

Tight ends sub in for ground game

See freshmen on page 8

michael naclerio/Chronicle file photo

Tight end Brandon King’s long touchdown against Virginia Tech was an example of the diverse way head coach David Cutcliffe has been using his tight ends in ACC play. by Jason Palmatary The chronicle

nate glencer/Chronicle file photo

Freshmen Erin Koballa (14, left) and Maddy Haller (18, right) have helped the Duke backline shut out four ACC opponents.

After the offensive explosion in Duke’s last game against N.C. State in which the Blue Devils totaled 502 yards en route to scoring 42 points—the special teams scored another seven—it would appear to the casual observer that the offense is firing on all cylinders. However, that is not exactly the reality, as the rushing attack failed to get going and netted just 43 yards on the ground. The Blue Devils’ inability to establish their ground game against formidable foes has been a well-chronicled problem this year. In fact, through six games, Duke is averaging a paltry 2.6 yards per carry and is only getting 83 rushing yards per game out of the backfield. In order to stay competitive against teams who are getting almost double that production, the coaching staff has had to alter its offensive game plan in search of ways to compensate for that output.

The answer has been to incorporate variations of existing formations into the playcalling and also to increase the roles of the tight end and the backfield in the aerial attack. Many of these passing plays—in which the running back, fullback or tight end is the primary option—function like running plays due to their conservative nature and high likelihood for picking up at least a couple of yards. “A lot of things that are runs to us, like screen passes, underneath passes, aren’t runs in the box score,” head coach David Cutcliffe said. “There are different ways to skin the same cat.” The outburst at N.C. State serves as a perfect example of the emphasis on getting more than just the wide receivers involved in the passing game. In that matchup, quarterback Thaddeus Lewis threw five touchdown passes and hooked up with a different target on each one. Three See tight ends on page 8

8 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2009 the chronicle

tight ends from page 7 of the recipients of these scoring tosses were non-wide receivers: tight ends Brett Huffman and Danny Parker and running back Re’quan Boyette. Since the start of ACC play, Lewis has been making a noticeable effort to get the ball into the hands of his tight ends. After combining for just five catches in the four nonconference contests, Huffman and Parker have had ten receptions combined in conference games against Virginia Tech and N.C. State. Lewis has demonstrated his burgeoning confidence in the tight ends by turning to them in the red zone. Huffman, Brandon King and third-stringer Danny Parker have a touchdown apiece over the last two ACC games. “These guys are just like receivers except for having the title of tight end,” Lewis said. “My job is to spread the ball around and get everyone involved in the offense.” King’s touchdown against Virginia Tech perfectly illustrates the value and versatility of a tight end in an offensive game plan. On the 48-yard touchdown reception, King motioned into the backfield pre-snap, lining up almost as a fullback. Lewis took the snap and faked a handoff to the running back while King blocked for a second. Then, he leaked into the flat where he was left wide open and rumbled down the sideline untouched for the score. King’s unusual pre-snap positioning, combined with his limited action in previous games, contributed to the Hokies not accounting for him on the play. Cutcliffe has long been a proponent of not only getting his tight end involved in the offense but of doing so from a variety of pre-snap positions. Viewing the tight end

as a hybrid of sorts who is capable of lining up in the backfield, as a wingback or even split out in the slot is a philosophy that Cutcliffe was forced to develop back in his days at Tennessee. In 1984, he was serving as the tight ends coach for the Volunteers when then-head coach Johnny Majors decided to move to a two-back, three-receiver formation. Such a shift left a tight end out of the regular lineup. Cutcliffe responded by forcing his tight ends to learn the roles and responsibilities of the fullbacks and wide receivers. Coincidentally, he observed the value of having a versatile tight end. With his current team, Cutcliffe still sees the tight ends growing to encompass bigger roles in the offense. “Huffman and King are just now growing into what they can be,” Cutcliffe said. “Their impact makes a big difference in terms of what we can do on the offensive side of the ball.” Huffman hasn’t noticed any difference in practice or game planning in terms of an emphasis on getting the ball to the tight ends. Instead, he gives credit to offensive coordinator Kurt Roper, who calls Duke’s plays from up in the box. Some plays are specifically designed to get the ball to the tight end. On others, Lewis has excelled at going through his progressions and checking down to one of his bulkier targets. “I love getting the chance to make a play,” Huffman said. “For all the grinding and blocking, it’s a nice reward to see the ball coming my way.” And because of the passing offense’s recent success, Huffman can count on an increased role for the tight ends even as the rushing game works toward improvement.

Jostens Ring Days Thursday, October 22 - October 25 October October October October

22: 23: 24: 25:

10am 10am 10am 10am

-

4pm 5:30pm 5:30pm 4pm

The University Store, Bryan Center, West Campus

freshmen from page 7 National Team, has a close relationship with the young Blue Devils. “Her time has been invaluable, just showing them the little subtle things that happen in the game,” Church said. The freshmen also look to Miller for guidance during games, and the junior has emerged as a willing captain of the Duke defense.

nate glencer/Chronicle file photo

Maddy Haller was a star striker in high school, but has solidified her place as Duke’s starting left back.

“Going into every game, I know that not only do I need to perform, but I have to make sure I’m sending them the right messages and helping them as much as I can,” Miller said. Duke has had its best defensive performances against ACC opposition. Excluding

“We had three players who we thought would play big roles gone before our first preseason practice.” — Head coach Robbie Church a loss to Maryland, in which a tired Blue Devil team played less than three days after blanking then-No. 9 Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, the freshmen have been exemplary. Duke has forced three ranked conference opponents into overtime and has posted shutouts in its last three ACC games. According to Church, the rookies are just getting started. “I think they all can be outstanding in the future,” Church said. The young Blue Devils look to continue their strong play on the back line when Duke (6-5-4, 2-2-2 in the ACC) faces Virginia (6-5-3, 1-4-1) tonight at 7 p.m. at Koskinen Stadium.

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Answer to puzzle

the chronicle

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2009 | 9

Diversions Shoe Chris Cassatt and Gary Brookins

Dilbert Scott Adams

Doonesbury Garry Trudeau

The Chronicle what we contributed to the Bulls’ celebration: minor-league applause: ������������������������������������������������� hon, charlie “rocky” outfits: ��������������������������������������������������������� will, emmeline tearful memories of the old Durham Bulls Park: ������������������ bhumi fatbacks: ������������������������������������������������������������������������� blake, noko marlins hats galore: ���������������������������������������������� gabe, jscholl, fish eye patches and peg legs: ����������������������������������dianna, X, naclerio the dizzy bats: �������������������������������������������������������������� klein, jessica the crappy, overly expensive stadium food: ��������������� tracer, lrupp Barb Starbuck misses Susan Sarandon in the stands: ������������� Barb

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The Independent Daily at Duke University

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10 | thursday, october 22, 2009

“

Bus safety up in smoke? Last Wednesday, riders vestigating the matter. on a C-1 bus were caught by Just because no one was surprise when a fire started hurt or seriously injured, in the engine of the ve- doesn’t mean the University hicle. Luckily, no one was should go about its business injured. as usual. In In this case, this instance, editorial the University immediate dodged a bullet. Any time and clear communication there is a fire on a bus car- is essential to reassure sturying a tank of gasoline, dents that the transportathe potential for disaster is tion system that they rely high. It’s truly chilling to on is, in fact, safe. think what could have hapEvery day, thousands of pened if the fire was not students, faculty, staff and spotted and contained so community members use quickly. the University bus system to Yet, more than a week access all parts of campus later, the University’s of- and the Medical Center. ficial response to the in- Therefore, when a concern cident has been one of surrounding the safety of silence. Disappointingly, buses arises, it is pertinent there has been no explana- to a wide range of individution of what happened or als. how administrators are inThe problem here is what

...Many of us would’ve thought that there are actually too many people trying to get into games, and the wait is what has previously thrown us off from attending some of the less anticipated games. I would start with a “Junior,” “Sophomore” and “Freshman” night before a Greek Night.

”

—“hyphen” commenting on the story “DSG to hear proposal to delay tenting.” See more at www.dukechronicle.com.

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these riders don’t know. We don’t know if the bus that caught on fire was the result of a freak accident, a maintenance oversight or simply an old bus breaking down. Given that this is the second bus fire in four years, it raises questions about the safety of the bus fleet. While we are not suggesting that the fire was caused by negligence, we have no way of knowing of ruling this out because there has been no communication from University officials about what sparked the accident. Administrators are always quick to alert students about robberies and health risks, so it is puzzling why a bus bursting into flames did not merit an e-mail notification.

It was extremely fortunate that the fire occurred on a relatively empty bus with a group of alert students. Most mid-day buses are packed to capacity, and on a crowded bus, evacuation would have proven much more difficult. This highlights another startling reality about what Dukies don’t know—proper bus safety. Few students, if any, are actually aware of the procedure for an emergency bus evacuation. And in the event of an emergency, it’s unreasonable to expect a single bus driver to deal with a full bus of scared, panicked students. Just as it treats fire safety in dorms as a serious matter, so too should the Univer-

sity make a concerted effort to educate students and other riders on how to operate emergency exits and carry out evacuation techniques. To remedy this situation, we hope that University officials publicize what caused the accident and explain what is being done to address any maintenance issues it may raise. And in the long-term, the University should make educating students about bus safety a true priority. The bus system is a critical organ of Duke’s dayto-day functioning. In the wake of last week’s bus fire, frank communication with the public about this matter is too important to ignore.

Life on the waitlist

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Est. 1905

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zachary tracer, University Editor julia love, Features Editor toni wei, Local & National Editor rachna reddy, Health & Science Editor Ian soileau, Sports Photography Editor austin boehm, Editorial Page Managing Editor rebecca Wu, Editorial Page Managing Editor naureen khan, Senior Editor DEAN CHEN, Lead Developer Ben cohen, Towerview Editor Maddie Lieberberg, Recess Photography Editor Lawson kurtz, Towerview Photography Editor caroline mcgeough, Recruitment Chair Andy Moore, Sports Recruitment Chair CHRISSY BECK, Advertising/Marketing Director REBECCA DICKENSON, Chapel Hill Ad Sales Manager

The Chronicle is published by the Duke Student Publishing Company, Inc., a non-profit corporation independent of Duke University. The opinions expressed in this newspaper are not necessarily those of Duke University, its students, faculty, staff, administration or trustees. Unsigned editorials represent the majority view of the editorial board. Columns, letters and cartoons represent the views of the authors. To reach the Editorial Office at 301 Flowers Building, call 684-2663 or fax 684-4696. To reach the Business Office at 103 West Union Building, call 684-3811. To reach the Advertising Office at 101 West Union Building call 684-3811 or fax 684-8295. Visit The Chronicle Online at http://www.dukechronicle.com. © 2009 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.

W

e wait and we hope for that grade, that job offer or that scholarship; for a national championship; for an acceptance letter; for Bank of America to get back on the phone line; for love or lust to come our way; for health care reform or November 2012; for a salvation of any kind. Our entire lives are one constant jordan rice state of wait. We move from one real talk limbo to the next, waiting for events to unfold and hoping they develop favorably. Remember longing as a child for the day when you would be a grown-up with a fire truck and control of your own destiny? Where is your fire truck, and where is that control? Keep waiting. Unfortunately, as we well know from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, “the waiting is the hardest part.” Particularly in this age of iPhones, Nespresso machines and 8-Minute Abs, in which we expect fast results and instant answers, waiting is a source of exhaustion and anxiety. By the time life comes to an end, one is almost tempted to choose the finality of Hell rather than endure more waiting in Purgatory. How are we supposed to cope with these waits that drive us into madness? A good start would be to see the Classical Theatre of Harlem’s production of Samuel Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot” for the Duke Performances series this weekend in the Reynolds Theater. “Waiting for Godot” is simple in its structure. The setting is stark—it is merely described as “A country road. A tree. Evening.” The plot simply consists of Gogo and Didi, as Estragon and Vladimir affectionately refer to each other, literally waiting for a character named Godot to come and “save” them. The resolution resolves little for the characters, as Godot never comes. The play is easy to follow, but a precise meaning proves difficult or impossible to ascertain. Often critics say it is about waiting in vain for God. They are probably right, as Godot is referred to as an old man with a white beard who “does nothing,” not to mention that the name Godot is

clearly reminiscent of the word God. Others say “Waiting for Godot” is about waiting for freedom. They are probably also right as Beckett himself wanted the play to be produced in the United States with an all-black cast during the Civil Rights movement. The production this weekend at Duke carries with it the political subtext of the victims of Hurricane Katrina waiting for aid. Judging by the Classical Theatre of Harlem’s production’s positive reviews from major newspapers across the country, this retelling of Godot is valid as well. What exactly Estragon and Vladimir are waiting for though, whether it be God, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 or FEMA, is not important. What matters is that they are waiting for something, and consequently Estragon and Vladimir are positioned to instruct us how to deal with our own waits. From the very first line in the play until the end, Gogo and Didi, literature’s resident experts on waiting, offer their advice: “nothing to be done.” It is not looking good for Didi, Gogo or those of us on the metaphorical “waitlist.” So together we go on waiting and hoping, but as Vladimir says in an attempt to reference half of a biblical verse, “Hope deferred maketh [the heart] sick.” Here we are then, waiting for our Godots—a job offer, an acceptance letter, a call from a crush or a medical test result—growing sicker by the day with frustration. As for Didi and Gogo, they are in a slightly more precarious spot. They end both days in which the plot takes place with discussions of the merits of hanging themselves and once and for all ending their wait. But they do not, and we can infer will not, go through with it. “We’ll hang ourselves to-morrow. (Pause). Unless Godot comes,” Didi says. “And if he comes,” Gogo replies. “We’ll be saved.” Each day this will be their conclusion: to prolong their deaths until the next day out of hope that Godot at last comes to “save” them. “Waiting for Godot” may strike you as dark, or even as nihilistic, but it is not. It is a most subdued celebration of the faintest shred of hope that readies us to continue our waits. Jordan Rice is a Trinity senior. His column runs every other Thursday.

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the chronicle Thursday, october 22, 2009 | 11 commentaries

Whateva, whateva, I’ll do what I want

I

don’t work anymore, I haven’t seen at least half of my school books since I bought them and people now laugh hysterically at the idea that I’m actually able to grow facial hair. I would like to share with you how my life took such a turn. I used to be a smart, capable, gorgeous young man, and now instead, I am a tired, paranoid, gorgeous thomas young man. gebremedhin I don’t know what happened. And it’s not only word-by-word me, I swear! I have friends who have fallen ill to this plague of inertia, who spend hours picking at their toe nails instead of writing a paper, or who look up the etymology of slang words for “poop” instead of reading Descartes—which, honestly, is kind of the same thing. That’s real talk. But then there are others who seem to be conquering global hunger, while at the same time planting a rose garden for the homeless. All of this AND turning in their math homework on time. How do they do it? HOW? They stay up all night in the library, and work until the sun rises, their fingers moving like electricity across their keyboards. They’re like Adderall vampires. Try telling me vampires don’t exist when it’s YOU walking back from Perkins at 4 a.m. The Main Quad gets dark, and I

can’t see! And then I start hearing footsteps, and I get into Buffy-mode, which basically consists of me running really hard and fast, tripping over the root of some big tree and then looking around for my glasses because they have fallen off. It’s a fairly pathetic scene, I realize, but all of this is to prove that it’s not that I don’t want to go to the library, it’s just that I don’t want to get attacked. But I digress. In a 2007 posting on The New York Times “The Graduates” blog, Dillard University student Amber Wilson discussed the phenomena of senioritis, and why it should be suppressed at all costs: “I have not let senioritis completely take over my semester, because I know that I have other responsibilities and obligations to tend to…. It’s fine to have fun, but I know that I still must wake up at 8:30 a.m. to get ready for my 9:30 class. I know that I still must attend each of my community service activities in order to obtain all my service hours. I must complete my senior portfolio and still write clips for the newspaper—all so that I can graduate.” Boooorrring. In a 2006 posting on The New York Times “Domestic Disturbances” blog, however, columnist Judith Warner said, “I think that there may be a real adaptive purpose to ‘senioritis.’ It may (like sleep) be a necessary physical response to the years—Two? Four? Fourteen?—of personal resume-building… it may, in fact, be a stress-reduction valve that we turn off only at great risk.” Judith can stay.

Duke Performances’ outreach

I

thank Arlecia Simmons, who au- band music, indie-rock, americana, counthored the Oct. 20 letter “Make try and bluegrass. We are unique among Duke Performances more inclusive,” university presenters in our emphasis on for both her praise of Duke Perfor- place—in this case, Durham—as the founmances and her impordation of the most adventuretant questions regarding some and innovative work our efforts to reach—in aaron greenwald we offer. this particular case—the Our recent presentations guest column black community. of The Hallelujah Train We wrestle on a regular and Don Byron New Gospel basis with how to best reach all the various Quintet at the Hayti Heritage Center repsegments of Durham’s population. These resent some of our proudest moments as efforts are ongoing, and their successes a presenting organization with regard to are seen incrementally. Those efforts do enaging this area’s rich cultural heritage. include much more than press releases, It was an enormous privilege to use the Web sites and e-mail announcements; Hayti Center—a gorgeous, acoustically for example, weekly advertising in North pure space, and formerly St. Joseph’s AfCarolina Central University’s student pa- rican Methodist Episcopal Church—for per Campus Echo, announcements and these projects. It is, as you note, always collaboration with WNCU FM 90.7, based incumbent upon us to find new ways to on NCCU’s campus, and WSHA FM 88.9, communicate about the programming based at Shaw University in Raleigh and we are presenting, especially when Duke advertising during Tom Joyner’s morning Performances’ works in new spaces. This show on WFXC FM. learning process is incremental and I We did, as Simmons’ suggested, dis- would like to think that we are, with each tribute complimentary passes to local performance, getting better at it. I would churches and schools, an activity we en- also suggest that the businesses around gage frequently. As a result, local church- the Hayti Heritage Center make an effort goers and school teachers represented a to know about the events taking place at large portion of the audience on for the that Durham treasure. performance of the Don Byron New GosLastly, while we understand that the pel Quintet. Durham and Duke communities both But I don’t, here, intend to simply roll suffer the pains of the past, we are not ofout a list of our marketing efforts as some fering programming at off-campus venues sort of “proof” and dismiss Simmons’ con- in a attempt to heal racial divisions in our cerns. Her concerns are valid, important community. Although such healing could and vital to the work we do. and would be a spectacular by-product of These concerns are particularly valid our work, we are first and foremost dedito us here at Duke Performances, be- cated to presenting great performance in cause we do see ourselves as actively and the most appropriate available venues and energetically engaged with the commu- making it available to the broadest cross nity-wide discussion regarding Durham’s section of audience. I think we can always history, identity and future. It is this dedi- do better at making all segments of our cation that has driven our choice to dedi- community feel included and invited, and cate significant blocks of programming to we will do better, but I’m awfully proud of the historically rich musical landscape of the work we’ve done thus far. the region in which we live. This has included innovative thematic programming Aaron Greenwald is director of Duke that embraces jazz, gospel, blues, string Performances.

But let’s get real, unless you want to spend the rest of your life working at some fast food chain, it would be in your best interest to take the advice of Wilson, and not so much the rather naive, albeit sympathetic, perspective of Warner. I don’t care how many vampires you send after me, I find it hard to believe that “senioritis” is a biological response to stress. Rashes are a biological response to stress. Dry throat is a biological response to stress. Watching “Glee” with a bag of Kettle Chips on your lap is not. So what have I been doing with my spare time? Well, I’ve watched all of David Lynch’s films. I’ve gone through a few short story collections, as well as a memoir or two. This weekend, I even spent my night with new friends looking at the stars—no joke. And even though none of these activities count towards my general requirements (though I may consider petitioning star-gazing), I can’t really say I feel any guilt or regret. Maybe senioritis isn’t so much a rejection of all things academic, but instead, an acknowledgment of a greater existence—of a world outside of required reading and endless essays. Academia is great, but so is exploration. You may think once you leave college you’ll be free, but in reality, you’ll be less free than you have ever been. Jobs, deadlines, bills. Don’t abandon your work, fight the good fight, but remember to not neglect yourself, either. Growth is what college is all about, and I promise, it can be found outside the pages of your textbook. Thomas Gebremedhin is a Trinity senior. His column runs every other Thursday.

lettertotheeditor Students: support Duke football I am writing to encourage all Duke students to support their football team. As a season ticket holder for more than 25 seasons, I have seen the best of times and have certainly seen the worst of times. We are no longer in the worst of times! This team needs the support of their peers—you. We now have a product on the field which we can be proud of. Whether you support the student Tailgate or not should not keep you from coming to the stadium to support the team. Football Saturdays in college should lead to great memories. Don’t find yourself looking back on your college days wishing you had attended more games. The season is already halfway over. I must say that I was most discouraged to see the lack of student support for the Virginia Tech game. We were playing the No. 5 team in the country! You can argue that it was Fall Break, but I walked through campus and saw enough students sitting out enjoying the weather that could have made a great impact inside the stadium.

The effort from the team that afternoon was tremendous. Your lack of attendance sent a message of apathy to the team and the other fans in attendance. The team followed the Virginia Tech performance with a fantastic total team effort at North Carolina State University crushing the Wolfpack. I had the privilege to attend that game as well and could not have been more proud to be a Blue Devil in a hostile environment. Our quarterback was just named the National Offensive Player of the Week for his performance that afternoon. I hope to see the student section overflowing when Maryland comes to Wallace Wade on Oct. 24. I can assure you that the team will give a great effort. May the students and all Duke fans everywhere show up and give their best and loudest effort yet. Chuck Hemric Director of volunteer services, Sarah P. Duke Gardens

12 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2009 the chronicle

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