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 january 25, 2011
ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTH YEAR, Issue 82
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Reilly shares findings of BP investigation
young trustee
Semi-finalist pool shows little diversity
by Julian Spector THE CHRONICLE
In the months following the Gulf oil spill last April, a group of experts has searched for answers. Members of the Duke community were presented with first-hand insight into the investigation Monday night. William Reilly, co-chair of the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling, discussed the causes and consequences of the spill, as well as the findings of the commission’s report, during a presentation in Reynolds Industries Theater. The commission released its final report Jan. 11. President Barack Obama appointed Reilly to co-chair the commission with Sen. Bob Graham, D-Fla., in May. The commission’s lack of subpoena power within the oil industry was an initial concern, Reilly said, but this did not prevent the commission from gathering testimony. He attributed the commission’s success to its non-adversarial approach to dealing with oil companies. “An important way in which we proceeded was to show respect for those who spoke before us and for the companies themselves,” Reilly said. “This was not 9/11, though our commission was often compared to [the 9/11 Commission]. Nobody intentionally killed anyone. This was not evil. These were the blunders of well meaning men that had fatal consequences—there’s a big difference.” Reilly comes from a three-pronged background, with roles in environmental organizations, public service and business. He served as president of the World Wildlife Fund from 1985 until his appointment in 1989 as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency under former president George H.W. Bush. He is the founding partner of Aqua International Partners, a private equity and venture capital firm with interests in companies providing water and waterrelated products, and serves on the boards of multiple energy corporations, including ConocoPhillips. Reilly also chairs the Board of Advisors for Duke’s Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions. NicholasInstituteDirectorTimothyProfeta introduced President Richard Brodhead, who discussed the issues raised by the BP oil spill and the role of investigative commissions in response to various crises throughout history. Brodhead commended Reilly’s achievements, including his leadership of the EPA during the Exxon Valdez oil spill and his oversight of the reauthorization of the Clean Air Act, which included cap and trade legislation to See reilly on page 3
Curtis Beach to compete against world’s best, Page 3
by Anna Koelsch THE CHRONICLE
sophia palenberg/The Chronicle
William Reilly discussed conclusions of the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling final report. Fault was attributed to Halliburton and TransOcean along with BP.
In their racial and gender makeup and campus affiliation, this year’s Young Trustee semi-finalists are similar. Four of the eight semifinalists have a current news affiliation with Duke Student Government and analysis the majority of the candidates are white men. Sophomore Christine Larson, chair of the Young Trustee Nominating Committee, said DSG experience tends to make for a “more qualified” candidate. Last year, only one of the seven semi-finalists for YT was affiliated with DSG. “Generally people who have experience with DSG know a lot about issues on campus and are familiar with the interactions between the Board [of Trustees], the University and students,” Larson said. “It doesn’t mean that if you’re not in DSG, you’re not qualified. But that extra little bit may help.” DSG Executive Vice President Pete Schork, a junior, said it makes sense that students affiliated with DSG would be attracted to the YT position. “I think that the kind of people involved See yt on page 3
Perdue: NC should not privatize ABC system by Alejandro Bolívar THE CHRONICLE
Gov. Bev Purdue announced Thursday in Durham that she hopes to keep North Carolina’s Alcohol Beverage Control system as it is now, despite discussions of privatization. Perdue previously contemplated selling the ABC system to relieve the state’s budget deficits. Last year, the 28-member Joint Study Committee on Alcoholic Beverage Control hired a Chicago-based consulting group to estimate how much revenue the state could obtain by privatizing the operation. In her speech, Perdue said a sale would raise approximately $300 million, but she maintained that the one-time payment does not justify the change. Some North Carolina legislators have expressed interest in continuing to consider privatization as an option, but the governor’s rejection of the plan may impede those efforts. “The current ABC system, especially with the new ethical standards in place, is well-run and gives us the third best excise revenue in the country,” Perdue said in her speech. “I am still looking for new and innovative ways to set government straight and tackle our budget issues, but for me, today, selling the ABC system just isn’t the right way.” See abc on page 3
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samantha sheft/The Chronicle
Selling the ABC system would earn North Carolina an estimated $300 million, but Perdue is pursuing other alternatives to relieve state budget defecits.
ONTHERECORD
“We claim to be mature... stakeholders that therefore deserve a seat at the table when big decisions are made.”
—Senior Gregory Morrison in “The changes we seek.” See column page 11