September 7, 2010 issue by Duke Chronicle

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

tuesday, september 7, 2010

ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTH YEAR, Issue 9

www.dukechronicle.com

Methodist ties spark modern debate Health care

to cover more dependents

by Ciaran O’Connor THE CHRONICLE

Duke’s Methodist affiliation could eventually render the University unable to police its own campus. The North Carolina Court of Appeals dismissed drunken driving charges against Julie Yencer Aug. 17, after she news argued that because Davidson College is analysis connected with the Presbyterian Church, her arrest by a campus police officer was an excessive and unconstitutional government entanglement with religion. The court held that because Davidson’s governing body retains “significant religious ties”—namely the requirement that 24 of the school’s 44 trustees be active members of the Presbyterian Church—the college can be classified as a religious institution and thus be stripped of its ability to exercise state police power. While the N.C. Supreme Court has since delayed the enforcement of the decision, citing Davidson’s immediate need to provide public safety on campus, the case has cast a spotlight on schools that maintain religious relationships

by Joanna Lichter THE CHRONICLE

The national health care overhaul, which extends insurance coverage for young adults, is expected to increase the University’s costs. As part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, all employers are required to offer insurance to adults under age 26, regardless of their student, financial or marital status. In the past, dependents in some states were dropped as young as age 19 or upon finishing college. The new law will take effect Sept. 23, or whenever employers renew their health care plans. For Duke employees, the new health care policy—which will be implemented Jan. 1—will likely translate into higher premiums. The new policy will cost the University an estimated $1 million dollars, but increases to health care costs will probably fall well below the national average, said Vice President for Human Resources Kyle Cavanaugh. “We are moderately optimistic of the financial status of the health care plans for 2011,” Cavanaugh said. “You’re seeing national increase in premiums in the 10 to 15 percent range, and we think we are going to be able to keep our increase in premiums well below that.”

See methodist on page 7

melissa yeo/The Chronicle

See insurance on page 7

Executive Chef Holloway to run campus eatery by Sony Rao

THE CHRONICLE

Executive Chef Chris Holloway has long been a musician. He’s played the bass and guitar for years, signed several record deals and was once even featured in an MTV music video. And it was through music that Holloway met his current business partner, Sam Clowney, who also operates oncampus eateries such as Bella Union in McClendon Tower and La Dolce Vita in the French Science Center. As of August, Holloway runs the kitchen of the Faculty Commons, known at night as Plate & Pitchfork. “The first time he cooked at my house, I was blown away,” said Clowney, adding that Holloway has helped make the sandwiches that are featured in his coffee shops. Before arriving at Duke, Holloway worked as a buyer for A Southern Season, a gourmet market and speciality foods store in Chapel Hill. During his stint at the store’s restaurant, he ran catering and prepared food including dips and spreads. Holloway has no formal culinary training, instead learning his craft on the job alongside renowned chefs like Michel Richard of the award-winning restaurant Citronelle in Washington, D.C. He worked as a chef for 22 years before

DUSDAC looks for ways to improve The Tower, Page 3

joining A Southern Season and was chosen for his “extraordinary resume” and “long history of working at the finest restaurants,” said Director of Dining Services Jim Wulforst. In his new role, Holloway will be back in the kitchen— and he’s excited to be back. “I’m getting to cook a lot more. It’s great to conceive your own dishes,” he said. “I think what I missed [at A Southern Season] was the adrenaline rush of doing a dinner service.” So far, Holloway said he is very impressed with his employees, particularly with the students hired. The wait staff consists exclusively of students, he said. “With the attitude, confidence and personality they all have, they win our customers over,” he said. “Our dining experience is equivalent to any restaurant in town.” The menu features French classics and spins on some all-time favorites. One of the starters includes wings au vin, a red wine reduction of the classic appetizer. There are also a variety of main course options, including cornmeal-crusted catfish that—next to a cold salad—provides a range of textures and flavors, Holloway said. See holloway on page 5

Hitting the road President Barack Obama announces a $50 billion pledge for infrastructure, PAGE 4

Ted knudsen/The Chronicle

Former musician Chris Holloway is the new Executive Chef of the Faculty Commons and Plate & Pitchfork.

ONTHERECORD

“This law indicates that North Carolina is just as progressive as other states on sexual education.”

—NARAL program coordinator Erica Scott on sex ed. See story page 3

2 | tuesday, September 7, 2010 the chronicle

worldandnation onschedule...

Career Fair Tips for Grad Students Smith Warehouse, 4-5p.m. This session will provide strategies and direction to master’s/ Ph.D. students who want to make the most of a Career Fair.

on the

Roz Savage:“Adventures, Dreams and Sustainability” Love Auditorium, 6-7:30p.m. Roz Savage, environmental campaigner and solo ocean rower, lectures, reception at 5:15p.m.

9166

WEDNESDAY:

9465

Summer Job/Internship Advice Bryan Center, 6-7p.m. Join a discussion of important policies, deadlines and procedures to guide students through the search process.

web

“Thaddeus Lewis may have been disappointed when his name wasn’t called during the marathon, three-day long draft weekend. But he’s not complaining now. The former standout Duke quarterback, it was announced yesterday, made the St. Louis Rams as the team’s No. 3 quarterback behind No. 1 overall pick Sam Bradford and veteran A.J. Feeley.” — From The Chronicle ‘s Sports Blog sports.chronicleblogs.com

Nikki Kahn/The Washington Post

John Renner prepares for a fishing trip in Prince William Sound in Cordova, Alaska. The herring industry is still suffering from the aftermath of the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, which released an estimated 11 million gallons of oil into the Sound. “We were freaking out because [the herring] weren’t spawning,” Renner said. “And then they died.”

“

TODAY:

I like pigs.Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us.Pigs treat us as equals. — Winston Churchill

”

TODAY IN HISTORY 1813: U.S. nicknamed Uncle Sam.

Genetically modified salm- Kabul Bank stablilizes, on may enter food market meets withdrawal demands WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Food and Drug Administration is poised to approve the first genetically modified animal for human consumption, a highly anticipated decision that is stirring controversy and could mark a turning point in the way American food is produced. FDA scientists gave a boost last week to the Massachusetts company that wants federal approval to market a genetically engineered salmon, declaring that the altered salmon is safe to eat and does not pose a threat to the environment. “Food from AquAdvantage Salmon . . . is as safe to eat as food from other Atlantic salmon,” the FDA staff wrote in a briefing document. Those findings will be presented Sept. 19 to a panel of scientific experts that will advise top officials at the FDA whether to approve the altered salmon. The panel is holding two days of meetings to hear from FDA staff members, the company behind AquAdvantage and the public.

off the

wire...

R&D tax break proposed

Afghanistan’s top financial officials insisted Monday that the ailing Kabul Bank remains solvent and does not require a government bailout, despite persistent crowds demanding their deposits back. Abdul Qadir Fitrat, governor of Afghanistan’s Central Bank, told reporters at a news conference Monday that the country’s largest private bank has been stabilized over the past several days and has been able to meet customers’ withdrawals with its own cash. “No customers are leaving without their money,” Fitrat said. “The situation has normalized.” Asked if the Central Bank had set aside state money to cover Kabul Bank’s commitments, Fitrat said: “No such decision has been taken today. ... They’re still using Kabul Bank money, their own money.”

Democrats expect tough elections in swing states

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the chronicle

Tuesday, september 7, 2010 | 3

NC law requires comprehensive sex ed Dining group

evaluates new Tower eatery

by Ethan Mann THE CHRONICLE

Middle and high school students in North Carolina will be talking about sex in a whole new way this school year. With the introduction of the Healthy Youth Act of 2009, which passed June 30 and takes effect for 2010-2011, North Carolina public schools are required to teach students about contraceptives and sexually transmitted diseases in addition to their traditional abstinence-until-marriage curriculum. This change overrides a 1995 law which mandated that sex education courses for middle and high school students be based on an abstinence-only curriculum. Freshman Lena Dal Santo, who attended high school in Durham, was particularly involved with the legislation. Dal Santo worked with the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Campaign of North Carolina, a non-profit organization that worked with the state both to pass the law and create standardized curricula after the law was passed. “We try to reduce teen pregnancy through advocacy and stressing scientific information, which is particularly important because North Carolina has the ninth highest teen pregnancy rate in the country,” Dal Santo said. Although Dal Santo was not involved with the organization before the bill was passed, she did work with it afterward in helping to create “effective curriculums.” This is the second attempt to overhaul sex education in North Carolina after a 2007 reform failed. The new curriculum will teach students about the benefits of abstinence until marriage and the risks of being sexually active as well as provide in-

by Sanette Tanaka THE CHRONICLE

cost the state as much as $312 million a year while pregnancy prevention programs only receive $2.5 million in funding, Democratic state Rep. Susan Fisher, one of the co-sponsors of the law, said in a statement. The new law is financially sound as well as beneficial for public health, she added. While Dal Santo worked with the organization, APPNC worked with individual school boards in North Carolina in order to teach them about the new law, as its new provisions mandating

The Tower may have opened less than two weeks ago, but the Duke University Student Dining Advisory Committee has already crafted a list of suggestions for the newly-renovated eatery at its meeting Monday. Located in McClendon Tower, the grill-based eatery that replaced Tommy’s Rubs and Grubs features healthier menu items including salads, paninis and skewered meats and vegetables called “stix.” Tom Meyer, Trinity ’91, ran Tommy’s and will continue to operate the new restaurant. The committee concluded that The Tower’s complicated ordering system, which currently uses a write-in order sheet similar to Armadillo Grill, poses the biggest concern. “If Duke students are having a problem figuring out how to order a veggie panini, [The Tower] seriously needs to reevaluate how people order there,” said DUSDAC co-Chair Alex Klein, a senior and former online editor for The Chronicle. The order sheet allows students to customize every preference—down to picking which vegetables are included in a salad. DUSDAC suggested using write-in sheets

See sex ed on page 6

See dusdac on page 6

larsa al-omaishi/The Chronicle

The Healthy Youth Act of 2009, which will go into effect for this school year, requires North Carolina schools to add the risks of being sexually active to health curriculums, rather than only teaching abstinence. formation about HIV/AIDS, sexual abuse and contraceptives. With the passage of this law, North Carolina is now one of 35 states and the District of Columbia in mandating teaching about sexually transmitted diseases as part of its sexual education curriculum. The new policy also standardizes sexual education, mandating teaching information that is “objective and based upon scientific research,” a stipulation that was not included in the old law. The Healthy Youth Act also attempts to address the problems of HIV and teen pregnancy in North Carolina. Teen pregnancies

Photos used by permission of Roz Savage

The Duke Marine Lab and the environMenTaL Law SocieTy Present

Roz Savage Environmental Campaigner and Solo Ocean Rower

adventures, dreams and sustainability

6 pm tuesday, sept. 7 Love Auditorium in the Levine Science Research Center Duke University Campus 5:15 pm reception in the Hall of Science Overflow seating with webcast in LSRC A158 Marine Lab showing in the Repass Ocean Conservation Lecture Hall Go to

nicholas.duke.edu/rozsavage for info and webcast

SPenD a SeMeSTer aT The Duke Marine Lab in beauforT, nc. iT wiLL change your Life. Find out more at dukemarinelab.net

Roz Savage is a British ocean rower, an active environmental campaigner (“We can all make a difference!”), and a former management consultant who realized in her mid-30s that there might be more to life than a steady income and a house in the suburbs. She has rowed solo across the Atlantic Ocean, and in 2010 became the first woman to row solo across the Pacific.

Nutrition and ﬁtness tools to help you manage your weight Group Meetings will be held Mondays 4 - 5:15pm SESSION I: Sept. 13, 20, 27 & Oct. 4, 2010—Wilson Recreation Center Room 18 SESSION II: Oct.18, 25 & Nov. 1 & 8, 2010—The Oasis (Belltower East Campus) This 4 week course run by Student Health Dietitians and Duke Personal Trainers will teach you how to: · Balance your meals and minimize food cravings · Incorporate simple yet effective exercise strategies · Identify emotions which can lead to overeating

Please wear exercise appropriate clothing and bring a small snack to these informal group sessions. If you have questions or would like to register contact: toni.apadula@duke.edu or 613-1218 Online registration available at: www.studentaffairs.duke.edu/student health/weight-for-me-registration

www.studentaffairs.duke.edu/studenthealth/nutrition-services or call 681-9355

4 | tuesday, September 7, 2010 the chronicle

Obama, in campaign mode, defends policies by Peter Slevin

THE WASHINGTON POST

MILWAUKEE — Faced with the twin challenges of boosting the economy and saving Democratic congressional seats in November, President Barack Obama tried to do a little of both Monday at a Labor Day rally that heralded a prominent role for him in a fiery fall campaign. Obama defended his record and criticized Republicans and his Washington foes as opponents of the middle class “who talk about me like a dog.” He told several thousand cheering labor union members that the Republican Party is peddling failed economic policies, and he vowed to “make this case across the country between now and November.”

y e H

“Their slogan,” he said of Republicans, “is ‘No, we can’t. No, no, no. No.’ “ The crowd answered by chanting Obama’s signature 2008 slogan, “Yes, we can.” Under pressure to show that he is doing all he can to deliver jobs, Obama announced a proposal to spend $50 billion in the next year on roads, railroads and airport runways. The modernization plan, a more formal version of a long-standing pledge to improve the nation’s crumbling infrastructure, is one of several economic proposals he is to make this week. “So many Americans have been idled for months, even years, at a time when there is so much of America that needs rebuilding,” Obama said. “We used to have the best infrastructure in the world. We can have it again.”

e k Du

Prehealth Check-Up

Date: Saturday, September 11, 2010 Time: 1:00-2:30pm Location: Duke Children’s Hospital Lobby 2301 Erwin Road All Students Considering Careers in Healthcare are Welcome to Attend Drinks and cookies will be served This is your chance to: • Check-out a range of health careers by hearing from, and mingling with, a variety of professionals working in health care

• Check-out your options, and sign up for, volunteering at Duke Hospital as well as research opportunities with clinical faculty

• Check-out health-related student organizations that may interest you Co-sponsored by Duke departments: Career Center, Health Professions Advising Office, Academic Advising Center, Children’s Hospital & Health Center and Hospital Volunteer Services.

the DUKE

CAREER CENTER

studentaffairs.duke.edu/career

White House officials said the $50 billion in new government spending would be the first installment of a six-year transportation strategy that would include investments in high-speed rail and air traffic control. To pay for it, the administration would raise taxes on oil and gas companies. If approved by Congress, the funds would build or repair 150,000 miles of road, 4,000 miles of railroad track and 150 miles of runways, the officials said. The proposal includes creating an “infrastructure bank” to prioritize projects and attract private funds. The officials declined to estimate how many jobs would be created at a time when the economic recovery is proving more sluggish than the administration hoped or predicted. “Just more of the same,” the Republican National Committee said in an e-mail to reporters, shortly before Obama spoke to the Milwaukee Area Labor Council’s annual Laborfest. “I hope his changes are to finally promote some privatesector growth, not just the growth in government or throwing billions of more dollars at every perceived problem,” Wisconsin GOP Chairman Reince Priebus told reporters in a conference call. Some elected Democrats, seeing their prospects dim because of an unemployment rate near 10 percent, have been pushing for a second stimulus bill to juice the economy. Eight weeks before midterm elections, in which they anticipate big gains, Republicans are campaigning heavily on the argument that Obama is mortgaging the country’s future. In jetting into Milwaukee from Washington for two hours, Obama returned to the event in which he kicked off his 2008 general election campaign. He arrived in full campaign mode, delivering a spirited speech that devoted

“If I said the sky is blue, they’d say no. If I said fish live in the sea, they’d say no. They just think it’s better to score political points during an election than solve problems.” — Barack Obama, president far more time to winning votes than to detailing economic remedies. Obama defended a string of policies, from the Democratic health-care overhaul and Wall Street regulation to the remaking of the college student-loan business. “We’ve given tax cuts, but we’ve given them to folks who need them,” he said. He declared to cheers that no part of Social Security will be privatized while he is president, and he entertained the crowd by lambasting Republicans. “Powerful interests” have not been happy with him, Obama said. “When it comes to just about everything we’ve done to strengthen the middle class and rebuild our economy, almost every Republican in Congress says ‘No,’ “ Obama said. “If I said the sky is blue, they’d say no. If I said fish live in the sea, they’d say no. They just think it’s better to score political points during an election than solve problems.” He added, “We’ve tried what they’re peddling.” During his long slide in popularity since the early days of his presidency, Obama has struggled to show voters that he understands the economic calamity for unemployed workers and that he is doing what he can. He told the audience that he knows “there’s still a lot of hurt out there.” Obama intends to speak in more detail about the economy Wednesday in Cleveland, where House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, urged him last month to fire his economic team and start over. When it comes to the midterm elections, neither his audience nor the Democrats who preceded him at the microphone on Monday were under any illusions. Obama is not on the ballot, but the future of his agenda could be riding on the Nov. 2 results. “We were great in ‘08,” one speaker warned the audience. “But if you’ve got this president’s back, you’d better be back in 2010.”

the chronicle

Tuesday, september 7, 2010 | 5

holloway from page 1

I scream, you scream

Although the buffet at the Faculty Commons is open from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for faculty only, dinner is open to both students and faculty from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Holloway has several ideas for improving the decor at the Faculty Commons. He is considering making subtle changes to the dining room such as adding drapes to cover the ends of the walls in order to create a more elegant space. Holloway also wants to conceal the buffet during dinner hours to make the setting more formal. He is also considering adding a raw bar during dinner, featuring all-you-can-eat

oysters and seafood as well as a chefâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s table for parties of 10 in front of the fireplace, which he thinks will be a popular option during the winter. Wulforst said that Duke Dining has received favorable reviews of the restaurant in the past week. The space has served nearly 100 dinners on Wednesday and Thursday nights, he added. Despite a few glitches in its first two weeks of operation, the eatery has managed to keep its customers happy, Holloway said, adding that he hopes people will continue to appreciate the great food and service at the Commons. â&#x20AC;&#x153;All of us here are about service and attitude. We want people to be happy, and we enjoy making them happy,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Interested in writing, photos, graphic design, layout, multimedia, web design, programming, sports, music, or all of the above?

Join the Duke Chronicle Email jessica.lichter@duke.edu or daniel.ahrens@duke.edu Audrey adu-appiah/The Chronicle

Jewish Life at Duke hosts an all-you-can-eat ice cream party at the Freeman Center for Jewish Life Monday, giving freshmen an opportunity to meet upperclassmen and learn more about the center.

6 | tuesday, September 7, 2010 the chronicle

dusdac from page 3 for some food options, such as “stix,” and direct orders off the menu for the rest. The committee also recommended larger portions and more affordable prices, especially for the “stix” portion of the menu. “The menu looks great on paper,” Klein said. “[The Tower] has created a lot of expectations [about menu items] that they haven’t been delivering on.” DUSDAC plans to invite representatives from The Tower to one of its upcoming meetings to discuss further improvements, he added. In other business: Duke Student Health will continue to develop the Nutrition Services website as well as its Facebook page to attract more readers, said Franca Alphin, director of nutrition services at Student Health. Alphin added that she would like to expand the collection of student recipes and include local restaurant reviews online. “I would like to have a more interactive community online about nutrition,” Alphin said. “We have a lot of resources available, and it’s always nice for students to hear from other students.” The reviews would also benefit local vendors by providing direct student feedback. “We are not going to be harsh, but we are going to be honest,” Alphin said. “The more feedback we can give the restaurant, the better.” The committee also discussed its role within the new restructuring of Duke Dining—which is now overseen by Vice President for Student Affairs Larry Moneta—and the future revamping of dining spaces. The West Union, which houses eateries such as The Great Hall and Alpine Bagels, will undergo major renovations as soon as two years from now, said DUSDAC coChair Andrew Schreiber, a senior. He added that a glass-structure dining pavilion will be constructed to serve as the hub of dining activities during the two-year period of reconstruction. DUSDAC expects to play a role in discussions surrounding the construction plans during the next two years, Schreiber said.

dana fenster/The Chronicle

DUSDAC discussed suggestions for improving the ordering system at new eatery The Tower at its meeting Monday night.

sex ed from page 3 scientific backing of the new teachings were not widely known around the state. Dal Santo noted that although the law may help reduce teen pregnancies, there was still some opposition from some areas in the mountains and far eastern counties of North Carolina that are more socially conservative than the relativley liberal Triangle area. “The new law still emphasizes abstinence as the best way to prevent teen pregnancies. However, APPNC wanted to make sure that education about sexually active lifestyles was available because it would be ignorant to say that they do not exist. Teens need to know how to be healthy adults, and the Healthy Youth Act definitely puts them on a better path.” The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction had surveyed parents twice about whether they sup-

ported the changes in the law to provide a more comprehensive approach, said Erica Scott, program coordinator for NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina. In both surveys, about 91 percent of parents thought North Carolina needed more comprehensive sex education laws that included information regarding contraceptives and sexually transmitted diseases, she added. “[This law is] not controversial, as it provides evidencebased knowledge about public health,” Scott said, adding that it has seen “uniformly positive support from parents and teachers alike.” There have also been inconsistencies in past public instruction regarding these subjects in North Carolina, Scott said, such as schools teaching different levels of condom effectiveness. “This law indicates that North Carolina is just as progressive as other states on sexual education,” Scott said. “It is clearly a huge positive step.” ADVERTISEMENT

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the chronicle

methodist from page 1 and sparked debate about the separation of church and state on campuses. Although Duke’s ties to the United Methodist Church are not as strong as those between Davidson and the Presbyterian Church, its affiliation with the church may make it susceptible to a similar legal challenge. Indeed, Durham-based attorney Bill Thomas plans to challenge Duke University Police Department’s arrest powers on the same grounds. “I think you’ll see that in the immediate future,” Thomas told the Herald-Sun. He added that language in Duke’s bylaws suggests an “adherence to the Christian tradition and [the promotion of] Christianity.” He did not respond to repeated requests for comment from The Chronicle. Duke’s bylaws state that the University’s aims are to “assert a faith in the eternal union of knowledge and religion set forth in the teachings and character of Jesus Christ”

insurance from page 1 Cavanaugh said Duke has been able to keep costs down through a variety of changes, especially in its pharmacy arrangements. In a May interview, Cavanaugh highlighted the increase in generic medications and mail-order prescriptions as ways the University reduced costs. Although Duke’s new care does not take effect until 2011, employees and their dependents will be able to enroll in the policy beginning Oct. 1. The enrollment period will allow University administrators to find out by November how many new dependents will be insured under Duke health care.

Tuesday, september 7, 2010 | 7

and specify that of the 36 elected members of the Board of Trustees—Duke’s governing body—24 must be elected by two of North Carolina’s Methodist Conferences. But Michael Schoenfeld, vice president for public affairs and government relations, stressed that Duke is an independent and non-sectarian institution and that its ties to the church are primarily historical and symbolic. “The bylaws charge the board with identifying candidates for the Board of Trustees,” Schoenfeld said, explaining that the confirmation of Trustees by the church is purely a formal affair. “There is no religious test for trustees.” Dean of the Chapel Sam Wells echoed this sentiment and characterized the relationship between Duke and the church as “benign and benevolent.” “The conferences [of the United Methodist Church] don’t have any of what you might call editorial control,” Wells said. “It’s not something that seems to be problematic to anybody.”

The most explicit manifestation of Duke’s Methodist affiliation lies with its Divinity School, which was founded by and receives funding from the Methodist church. “We are an officially recognized theological seminary of the United Methodist Church,” said Richard Hays, the recently appointed interim dean of the Divinity School. “About half of our students in our Master of Divinity program, which is the basic professional degree required for ordination in any of the major Protestant churches, are United Methodist.” Hays made clear, though, that the United Methodist Church does not exercise any sort of “supervisory role” with regard to the Divinity School. Davidson College, on the other hand, maintains a stronger, farther-reaching connection with the Presbyterian Church. In addition to its requirement that a majority of its Trustees—including its president—be active Presbyterians, 80 percent of the governing body must be active members of a Christian church. Furthermore, according

to the ruling, students at Davidson are “required to take a course in religion and the College’s bylaws limit faculty and officer appointments to ‘Christian men and women’ and ‘non-Christian persons who can work with respect for the Christian tradition’[.]” The August ruling followed the precedents set by the N.C. Supreme Court in two previous decisions, in which Campbell University and Pfeiffer University were deemed religious institutions and deprived of their police powers in 1994 and 2002, respectively. Both schools now hire local police to secure their campuses. The state’s Supreme Court is currently determining whether it will hear the Davidson case and decide if the school will also have to rely on a local sheriff for protection. Duke’s Methodist affiliation, albeit weaker than Davidson’s, could eventually place the University in the ranks of schools who have had their legal authority diminished. “I think it may be a little too far [off] to say that we’re worried,” Schoenfeld said of the appeals court’s ruling. “But we’re certainly paying close attention to it.”

The University currently covers about 85 percent of all employee health care costs and 50 percent of dependent costs, Executive Vice President Tallman Trask said. It remains unclear, however, how many dependents will be added to the University’s policy. “We don’t know how many people we are going to get yet,” Trask said. “We’re trying to figure out how many [new dependents] there are out there and might come back on our plans. It’s a wide range, from just under 1,000 to over 3,000.” Young adults have the highest rate of uninsured of any age group, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website. Despite the perception that the youth do not need health insurance, nearly half of uninsured young adults have trouble paying

medical bills, the site noted. “Before this law actually passed we spent quite a bit of time taking a look at a lot of the items being discussed and running various scenarios of what the cost would be,” Cavanaugh said. “It’s expected around 1,000 [dependents] will enroll, which would potentially cost the health plan about an additional million dollars.” Many Duke graduate students will be able to take advantage of the new policy. In the Spring, Fallon Ukpe, currently treasurer of the Graduate and Professional Student Council, provided an update about the effects of the bill to the general assembly. “Legally, it’s not totally enforceable yet, so there are a lot of insurance companies that haven’t enacted regulations based on

the law that has been passed,” said Ukpe, a student in the School of Medicine and the Fuqua School of Business. “There’s still a lot to see as to how it’s going to affect everyone and we’ll wait and see what the total effect will be.” Although Cavanaugh said few employees have inquired about the legislation recently, there was a “flurry” of communication and phone calls from employees immediately following the passage of health care reform. The University sent out various e-mails explaining changes to Duke policy and many employees responded to clarify the matter, he added. “It’s a very positive development for individuals that couldn’t get coverage,” Cavanaugh said. “And it’s a very positive development for families paying individual premiums.”

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8 | tuesday, September 7, 2010 the chronicle

The 2010-2011 Doing Good in the Neighborhood Employee Giving Campaign Has Begun!

Duke employees, look for your 2010-2011 Doing Good in the Neighborhood pledge packets in your campus mailbox this week! Visit doinggood.duke.edu to learn more and to give online.

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TUESDAY

September 7, 2010

Duke Women’s Basketball trained with Duke ROTC yesterday. We have video Plus, keep an eye out for our podcast with ESPN’s Bomani Jones

www.dukechroniclesports.com

Since App. Blue Devils prep for 49ers State, FCS is even better

September 1, 2007 was one of the worst days of my life. No one died—although by the mood in my house that night, someone very well could have. It wasn’t because I failed the SAT, got dumped by my girlfriend or realized that college was still a full year away. No, it was because on September 1, 2007, the Michigan Wolverines lost a football game, and I was one of the more than 109,000 in attendance. Those of you who don’t know your college football history will now accuse Scott me of being an overly obsessive sports fan. Those of you who do, know that on September 1, 2007, the No. 5 Michigan Wolverines lost to the Appalachian State Mountaineers. Of the FCS. To date, that game marks the only time an FCS, formerly known as Division I-AA, school defeated a ranked FBS school, let alone one that was expected to compete for a national championship. And while many might say that game marked the beginning of Michigan’s downfall, I say that game marked the beginning of the FCS’s ascension. And that’s the reason no one should dismiss Duke’s performance—both good and bad—this weekend against Elon. Since David beat Goliath in Ann Arbor, FCS teams have gradually become more and more competitive against their FBS foes. Last year alone, three FCS teams were victorious against FBS competition in the season’s opening week, and two of those losing teams hailed from the ACC (one of them was Duke). That same week, Northern Iowa very nearly shocked No. 22 Iowa, Appalachian State lost by only five points to East Carolina and Hawaii had to score a touchdown with less than two minutes to go to survive Central Arkansas.

volleyball

Rich

See Rich on page 10

caroline rodriguez/Chronicle file photo

The Blue Devils return home to Cameron to face UNC-Charlotte today after a bruising weekend in which they played three matches in two days. by Jacob Levitt THE CHRONICLE

After sweeping through the Blue Raider Bash by winning three matches in two days against Middle Tennessee State, Auburn and Georgia Southern, Duke is feeling the lingering effects of its accomplishUNC-C ments. And tonight, after just two days of rest, the Blue Devils (5-1) compete vs. again, facing a new challenger in the Duke 49ers (4-2). “The team worked very hard this weekend,” head coach Jolene Nagel TUESDAY, 7 p.m. Cameron Indoor said. “They had three matches, they

were very tired—we did practice [Monday morning], but we didn’t do a whole lot. They’re still recovering from the weekend.” While Charlotte is only about two hours away, its Atlantic-10 affiliation makes it an out-of-region opponent— which Nagel believes will give Duke a good chance to boost its NCAA résumé. This game is also the last chance for the Blue Devils to tune up before the Duke Invitational Tournament this weekend, which includes a match against No. 12 Minnesota. Because of the team’s grueling schedule, which has mostly been on the road or at distant neutral site locaSee volleyball on page 11

Coach K and Team USA roll in first single elimination test

Dianna liu/The Chronicle

Since App. State beat Michigan in 2007, the FCS, in which Elon’s Scott Riddle plays, has proven itself worthy of competing with the big boys, Rich writes.

After an up-and-down first few games in the FIBA World Championship, Team USA found its form Monday—in a big way. With a barrage of 3-pointers and thunderous dunks against an overmatched Angola squad, the Americans won 121-66 in the round of 16 in Instanbul. Indeed, with a mark of 18-for-38 from downtown, Team USA looked like certain Duke teams of the past. The Americans were only one three off the record for most 3-pointers in a FIBA contest. “Our guys were sharp,” head coach Mike Krzyzewski said after the game. The sharpness showed itself early. Kevin Durant scored all 17 of his points and Chauncey Billups had 16 of his 19 before the first half ended. Billups, playing out of his comfort zone as a shooting guard, struggled from beyond the arc in preliminary play, only making 4-of-19 of his 3-pointers. Monday, however, he looked like a different player, going 4-of-6 on his 3-pointers. Satisfied again with his game, the Denver Nugget expressed confidence about his nation’s

chances for FIBA gold. “This is what we all sacrificed our summers for,” Billups said. “Right now we’re on the right path.” With group play over, the single elimination game against Angola was the first of its kind for Team USA in the tournament. And after watching close contests between Spain and Greece and Serbia and Croatia, the team became aware of the implications the tournament now holds—your squad may be among the world’s best, but it’s still win or go home. “I think everybody in our group watched the games and they saw a heightened sense of play and emotion,” Krzyzewski said. “They were both outstanding games and the reality then hits, those two teams that lost, that’s it. So I think it was good for our team to see that because it goes up a couple levels now and we hope that will make us even better.” The Americans play again Thursday against Russia, which topped New Zealand 78-56 Monday. —from staff reports

10 | Tuesday, September 7, 2010 the chronicle

rich from page 9 And this weekend, Jacksonville State knocked off Ole Miss, a team that was ranked in the preseason Top 10 just last season, in a thrilling double-overtime matchup. Take into account that those FBS teams all played at home—FCS teams are normally paid six-digit sums to travel to an FBS stadium and lose—and those results become all the more impressive. The fact is, they play legitimate football in the FCS, and that’s something which is becoming harder and harder for the elitist FBS to ignore. Once we realize that FCS schools are no longer all pushovers, we gain the ability to analyze Duke’s victory over Elon Saturday not just as an anticipated win, but also as a legitimate test for the Blue Devils. What did we learn against the eighth-best FCS team? Well, Duke’s offense will be explosive, but that was expected. Sean Renfree was as good as advertised, but more importantly, he showed poise against an aggressive defense and was able to stand strong in the pocket under legitimate pressure. What’s more, Duke’s running game against a decent Phoenix front seven was mediocre—which, compared to last season’s nonexistent rushing attack, is a huge step in the right direction. Desmond Scott ripped off a few dazzling runs, Josh Snead showed promise in his limited playing time, and the Blue Devil running backs were finally able to convert in the red zone. But on the other side of the ball, however, Elon exposed Duke’s secondary all night, a strategy FBS opponents will likely look to emulate. Elon quarterback Scott Riddle accounted for 281 yards, and, at times, Blue Devil cornerbacks seemed so unaware that they didn’t realize Riddle had thrown the ball until their man had caught it. So view Duke’s victory over Elon as what it truly was— not just a paid victory, but a test against a legitimate football team. The Phoenix showed—just like many other FCS schools—that they now have the talent and coaching to compete with many FBS schools and maybe even beat some mid-major competition. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll go back to stabbing my Appalachian State voodoo doll.

Dianna liu/The Chronicle

Jay Hollingsworth had difficulties against a tougher than expected defense Saturday. Rich writes that Elon and the FCS are better than advertised.

Want to travel with Duke’s teams? Write for The Chronicle. Email akm20@duke.edu for more information.

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Tuesday, September 7, 2010 | 11

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volleyball from page 9 tions, finding time to effectively practice has been an issue, making the games that much more important as opportunities to learn and continue building chemistry. “Each time we get out there on the court we’re learning more about ourselves,” Nagel said. “This is a great opportunity for us to learn more about our team before going into our conference schedule.… We’ll have an opportunity where we get to compete at home and feel comfortable in Cameron and all that good stuff.” Although Duke was more consistent this past weekend than it was in its first couple of games, Nagel and the coaching staff still think there are a couple of areas the team needs to work on, most notably defense and discipline. In their last match this weekend, the Blue Devils allowed a Georgia Southern team to push them to five games and convert more attacks than the staff would like. While much of that can certainly be attributed to the fatigue of a game the day before and another one earlier that day, it’s still

something that has to concern the coaching staff as Duke gears up to face tougher opponents. That’s not to say the team has been underperforming—on the whole, Duke has done enough to get the win in almost all of its games and is starting to build some momentum as it heads into this weekend’s home tournament. The Blue Devils have won their last five matches and have received exceptional play from a variety of sources. In the season’s first weekend, senior middle blocker Becci Burling led the team by racking up kills. This weekend, junior setter Kellie Catanach made an astonishing 114 assists in the team’s three wins while junior outside hitter Sophia Dunworth led the team in kills. Freshman Ali McCurdy also has provided solid defense throughout the season, leading the team with almost four digs per game. But for their fourth match in only five days, Burling, Catanach, Dunworth and McCurdy’s accomplishments will matter much less than how well they handle the fatigue of constant play. They take the floor tonight at 7:00 p.m. in Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Join the Board of Directors of a million-dollar-a-year organization. The Chronicle’s publisher, Duke Student Publishing Company Inc. (DSPC), is looking for a graduate student to join its Board of Directors. Candidates should be available for a two-year term starting this fall. Members gain real-world business experience as they help guide the campus news media into the future. DSPC, a North Carolina nonprofit corporation, is neither governed nor funded by Duke University. Please send a resume and a cover letter to Richard Rubin, chair of the nominating committee, at rrubin2@gmail.com

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14 | Tuesday, september 7, 2010 the chronicle commentaries

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Biology major takes on new life With an interest in creat- views of topics they learned in ing a foundation for its under- high school, according to Dan graduate major, the biology Kiehart, chair of the biology department has developed two department. new introductory “Gateway to This move should bring Biology” courses, to replace about a more engaging curthree previously riculum, activeexisting introly challenging editorial ductory classes. students with This is an appropriate and im- new, more purposeful labs portant step toward uniformity (as opposed to the previous and rigor in the department’s labs, considered useless by curriculum. many students) and material The idea behind the shift they would not have received to the two new courses, titled in an Advanced Placement “Molecular Biology” and Biology class. “Evolution and Genetics,” is Students who have come to bring greater depth to the to Duke interested in being a freshman level curriculum. biology major will likely have This is, of course, what enter- taken some form of advanced ing students expect from a col- biology in high school, whethlege level class, but were not er honors, AP, International necessarily receiving. Many Baccalaureate or the equivastudents found their intro- lent. Yet, even if they have ductory biology classes to be not, these students need more merely more difficult over- than a cursory introduction to

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I find it amusing that this edit is running on the one day when the majority of staff have the day off... —“bzbergmann” commenting on the editorial “Dining discount a reasonable cut.” See more at www.dukechronicle.com.

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the subject matter. They need more than a fleeting, shallow presentation of topics already covered in high school. Because of this move away from such a presentation to a more substantive one, AP credit will not satisfy the requirement for these courses. Some students may find this frustrating. In a class graded on a curve, students who were not offered advanced biology in high school will be competing with those who did. This raises some concerns, but our apprehension is mitigated by The Cardea Fellows Program, which debuted in Fall 2009 to address this exact disparity. The Cardea Fellowship should take on a greater role for students interested in pre-health careers now that the biology department will no longer discrimnate

between those who have AP credit and those who do not. For those who have had advanced courses, this shift will reduce overlap with their high school biology curriculum. Taking AP credit out of the equation means that all prospective biology majors who come to Duke are on the same playing field. As students advance into upper level biology courses they will have equivalent understandings of the subject. The University can take pride in offering an introductory biology curriculum that is distinct from typical introductory courses in its rigor and depth. An educational experience at Duke should not be comparable to an Advanced Placement course of studies. The University should be mandating substantial classes that cement a basic yet deep

knowledge of a subject to allow for future development. Hopefully, this idea will permeate throughout other programs in the University and influence professors. Outstanding professors in many departments are unlikely to teach introductory courses due to their shallow nature. With a move toward more depth while remaining at an introductory level, great professors may find it purposeful to teach these classes, and we encourage them to do so. While we do not know whether this shift will kindle more interest in the biology major, the ideals behind the change should be commended and replicated. Any move toward a more developed, engaging curriculum deserves applause.

Duke engages, but who engages Duke?

hile my classmates were off travelling around campus or through reducing the dining fee? the world, saving lives and brokering deals By the end of the summer, in the absence of for multi-million dollar firms, I spent the 12 such engaged students, I couldn’t decide if it was glorious weeks of summertime in the because we (the collective) didn’t comfort of sweet tea, Cosmic Cantina bother to take action since we are so and Charlene’s Safe Rides in our belimited in our ability to bring about loved Durham, North Carolina. change or, if such world-changing My internship with Jim Wulforst, and career-focused Duke students director of Duke dining, not only are so busy that we just don’t care granted me amnesty from worrying enough to try. about storage units and visas as I began While I still don’t know the anthis past summer, but it also depicted swer to this question, I find myself metty fisseha Duke to me in a new light, one which I hoping that it’s not the latter. This would have never been able to see had is our experience that we are faili’m just saying I not been intimately involved in some ing to mold. Sure, some may say, of the university’s affairs. So, while my “Relax, Metty—it’s just Dining,” passport was getting a little dusty sitting in my drawer, but is it? I don’t think it starts and ends with DinI was getting to be on a first name basis with numer- ing; rather, I view this one-sided relationship as a ous dining vendors on campus. Three months and microcosm for the general state of affairs at Duke countless proposals later, I’ve become an official in- University as it pertains to its students. I’m not sider within the realm of the Duke administration. harping on the age-old issue of apathetic college And it’s actually pretty sweet. I’ve come to real- students who are ambivalent toward engagement ize that we, as the general Duke student popula- and social change. My experience working for tion, have no idea what goes on behind the closed Duke Dining this summer brought me face to face office doors of our decision makers. Like the im- with the immense potential that there is for Duke mense role that certain relationships with Trust- students to stimulate their administration and, ees can have on the happenings within Dining specifically within the realm of Dining, interact on campus. Or the intricate interdepartmental with administrators who are not only willing but politics that extend both outside and inside of the encouraging of such action. conglomerate known as Student Affairs. I’m not going to lie—the occasional freebies We, the student body, are subject to the deci- that I get from kind and generous Dining vendors sions made by our administrators and, to a limited is a huge perk of my summer experience. Yet, as extent, by our student government. However, how much as I revel in munching on my free pita from often does the average student bother to dig deep- the Greek Devil or quaffing my complimentary er into an issue beyond the information presented coffee from Joe Van Gogh, I regret the fact that I to him or her by word of mouth or the occasional am one of only a handful of students in my class Chronicle news article? who are able to do so. Working with Dining this summer showed me Sure, my perspective is very one-sided; I didn’t that the answer to this question is, unfortunately, spend the summer otherwise preoccupied with not so often. While the phone in the Dining Ser- things that I’m sure are very valuable and imporvices office, located in the basement of the West tant in their own right. Obviously, I’m biased. Union building, rang off the hook, 99 percent of However, maybe we all need to think twice before the calls from students had to do with questions we submit the Duke Engage application that, if acabout their board plan or requests for reimburse- cepted, will whisk us away to a third world country ment of food points. to do service. We already know that, among many Why don’t any number of the numerous stu- other things, Duke students are very good at being dent groups on campus care to inquire into the active away from Duke. But at the very least, we’re labor relations between human resources and here for four years, and it is up to us to dedicate union workers from Local 77, many of which are our time to mold the experience as we see fit. Aflaced with issues of race and socioeconomic class? ter all, if we don’t do it, who will? Or, challenge our administrators to more directly address the needs of Duke students whether it be Metty Fisseha is a Trinity senior. Her column runs through providing more frozen yogurt options on every Tuesday.

the chronicle tuesday, september 7, 2010 | 15 commentaries

Solving the collaborative action problem

ave you ever heard of the Inter-Community Coun- of vice president for the ICC and the Senate subsequently cil or its rebranded successor, the Council for Col- repealed the ICC bylaw, struck all mention of the organilaborative Action? zation from DSG statutes and repealed its funding allocaProbably not. tions. Indeed, last year’s brouhaha over the Young Trustee And that’s because the organization isn’t really for process all began with our need to replace the ICC’s inoryou, as an “average” student. dinate power on the Young Trustee NomiIt’s a council exclusively for the presinating Committee and in the final vote. dents of the 30 or so “prominent, repreAfter that assault, totally lacking a raisentative” student groups, the criteria for son d’être, the ICC should have died a being “prominent” and “representative” quiet, obscure death. determined, of course, by those self-same But it survives as the Council for Col30 presidents. laborative Action—replete with a new To be a member, a group must do constitution and taken under the wing of two of the following: “uniquely represent gregory morrison Dean Steve Nowicki. a distinct student interest,” serve as an And I see no reason the CCA will be any finish the thought umbrella organization for more than 15 more useful to students than the ICC was. subsidiary organizations, have a funding base of at least DSG President Mike Lefevre should take care of this. $10,000 and/or receive recognition or financial supHe should convene a President’s Council instead port on a continual basis from a high-level university of attending the CCA meetings. This council, squarely office, according to the CCA constitution approved by placed to advise the DSG president, could provide a last year’s Council. How simple! hugely useful avenue for DSG to be in touch with stuNews flash: that structure is not representative of dent opinion and to gauge student needs and responsme. Or likely of you, either. es to potential policy changes. Frankly, a CCA which makes The members of the council, who Are we to have two student claims of representation gets have unique perspectives and in the way of good student lobvaluable opinions, could then be governments? bying of the administration. given the same guidance as DSG And this is an old problem. in general and student-driven A 1997 Chronicle article details the Council’s (then policy making could be coordinated. the ICC’s) involvement in “Race Day,” a day of campusUnder this system, the presidents of the council wide dialogue to assist in then-President Nan Keo- would be convened by the DSG president to review hane’s trademark sensitivity efforts and an appropriate certain specific actionable items relevant to his or her endeavor for the leaders of the largest student groups. agenda and to current University policy debates. Each But a 1998 article details a lawsuit (heard by the meeting of the President’s Council might focus on a DSG Judiciary) filed against the organization by The single issue. For example, the Council might be conChronicle over secret meetings. Meetings open to stu- vened to consider and critique proposed changes in judents would seem a basic requisite at least to maintain dicial policy or to help formulate a student response to the facade of a representative body. the Socioeconomic Diversity Initiative. The presidents, A sampling of ICC agenda items includes campus by informing the student government, would become safety, campus political activism, event registration, un- an integral part of University decision-making. dergraduate research initiatives, student group funding President Lefevre could go a long way in improving and Duke branding. Guest speakers have included such communication with student groups and in leveraging luminaries as Mayor Bill Bell and Provost Peter Lange. a wide array of perspectives if he were to convene his Does any of this sound familiar? own President’s Council: such a body could pose sucIf you read the DSG Senate’s agendas, it surely does. cinct questions and provide meaningful feedback. The new CCA mission is relatively unchanged from With a strong President’s Council associated with that of the old ICC: “To bring a balanced group of stu- DSG and with real power to influence policy, the president leaders together in a forum for collaboration to dents’ fondness for the CCA will vanish. address and act on topics relevant to the undergraduSchisler is 100 percent correct in wanting to use the ate student body.” Kate Schisler, a senior and chair of CCA as “a means of using the power of diverse groups the CCA, sees the council as “a collaborative body and a to come together, understand what the Duke experithink tank.” Her vision is commendable in that it is fo- ence is like for differing groups and work towards crecused more on student group development and commu- ating one Duke.” Unfortunately, the CCA is a flawed nication and less on representation and policy making. vehicle for those aspirations. But, legally speaking, there remains no substantive A council which is a formal advisory body to the difference between the CCA mission and the mission president and which is chaired by the president is emof our student government. powered to effect, in deep and meaningful ways, the Are we to have two student governments? One elect- steps your real representative government can take in ed and one a club open only to your traditional “cam- making Duke a better place. pus leader” types? The end result is stronger advocacy for us “average” When I served as executive vice president of DSG, I students. pushed hard for the ICC to be set loose from DSG’s legitimizing umbrella. Students passed a constitutional amendGregory Morrison is a Trinity senior and former Executive ment passed in September 2009 abolishing the position Vice President of DSG. His column runs every Tuesday.

lettertotheeditor Administrators should be on campus for Labor Day I enjoy teaching my classes: that is why I didn’t mind coming in Monday for Labor Day to teach. Not only was my class full, no absences, but my colleagues were there, teaching their own classes and holding office hours. I also rode the bus, found the library open and took advantage of available food services—the campus was bristling with activity. However, when I made the climb from my classroom on the first floor of Allen up to the second floor of the University administration that afternoon, I found the lights off, hallways vacant. I knocked on doors and got no answers. It was clear that everyone was off for the holiday, as has been the case for most, if not all, of the Labor Days since I have been at Duke. Now, I would not suggest that anyone be forced to work

on Labor Day—it is, after all, a national holiday. Nor do I know what those administrators were doing that day—for all I know, they were working at home, or off on a retreat or simply left before I came by. However, it seems a little inconsistent with what I know of effective management to take the day off while your employees have to work. Ergo, I would suggest, for unity’s sake, that the administration consider at least making themselves visible on the holiday, especially if faculty and students are here, enjoying the beautiful weather out the window while sitting under the fluorescent lights of a classroom. Daniel Griffin Graduate and Professional Student Council President Ph.D. Candidate, Classical Studies

A diamond is... controversial

man walks into a bar.... Ouch. No, but seriously. Imagine this: A man walks into a bar. It’s your typical Saturday afternoon—the sun is shining, birds are chirping, the flowers are in bloom. Yadda yadda yadda. The perpetual smell of stale beer lingers in the dingy bar. You see, he’s a regular here and has been ever since he can remember. Saturday afternoon molly lester happy hour is a tradition for our man. It allows him more taste, to reflect, relax and, most less filling importantly, talk sports with the bartenders who all know him by name. “How ‘bout them Blue Devils?” he always asks with a grin. As he saunters back to his stool, he catches the slightest sparkle out of the corner of his eye. Startled by the sudden shimmer, he looks again, certain his eyes have deceived him. The man rubs his eyes in disbelief. Prepared to see nothing upon reopening them, he takes another look. Lo and behold! A diamond, or more likely, a cubic zirconium, lay neglected on the floor. But hey, hope springs eternal. The man looks around. No one else has seen the jewel nor does anyone appear to be looking for it. The contrast between the iridescent shimmer and the dirty bar floor is too much for him to handle. He picks up the stone and puts it in his pocket. Is this diamond his for the taking? Does the ancient common law of “finders keepers, losers weepers” hold validity in this situation? This hypothetical man has led an honest life; he’s never stolen from another and never asks for much. Have the planets fortuitously aligned on this particular Saturday? What if I told you that I know this “man” and that “he” did in fact find a diamond lying on the ground. No, it wasn’t on the floor of Shooters, but it was lying alone and forsaken somewhere in the greater Durham area. Suspicious of its pedigree, he had the stone appraised only to learn that he was the new possessor of a diamond —a genuine, bona fide, honest-to-God, big ol’ shiny diamond. And guess what? It was appraised at $10,000. $10,000! For our man, or any man for that matter, $10,000 is a life-altering amount of money. With 10 grand, he could buy a new car or a new wardrobe or new purebred puppy and pay for all of its shots. He could put the money in the bank or start a small business or pay for, oh, I don’t know, half of his fall semester’s tuition at Duke. He could take a trip to Las Vegas or invest in some unfamiliar stock or buy season tickets to the Durham Bulls games for himself and a few of his closest friends. Our man could quadruple his food points, eat at the Angus Barn twice a week for the entire fall semester and still have enough money left over to satisfy his hall’s late night Randy’s cravings. He could get his ears pierced, buy an identical diamond to the one he found and, as my good friend Lil’ Wayne once so elegantly stated, rock “more ice than a super-sized drink.” I know what you’re thinking. The man should find the rightful owner and return the diamond. It obviously fell out of a jewelry setting and belongs to someone who lives close by… And now I’ll play devil’s advocate. Let’s assume anyone who wears a $10K bauble in college doesn’t need the money. And besides, the man hasn’t seen any posters for a missing diamond. No one has asked him about a lost jewel. As far as he is concerned, it belongs to no one. He can’t simply put up a sign displaying “FOUND: A big diamond. Does it belong to you?” So should he give it to charity? If yes, how does he decide which one? Who needs the money more? The children of Durham or the children of New York? The addicts on the street or the dogs in the pound? The future farmers of America or the under-funded opera? What would you do? I know what he did… Molly Lester is a Trinity senior. Her column runs every other Tuesday.

16 | tuesday, September 7, 2010 the chronicle

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