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
monday, february 21, 2011
ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTH YEAR, Issue 101
www.dukechronicle.com
State dems face A historic plant with a modern mission challenges in Renovated East Campus Steam Plant furthers carbon-neutrality effort new legislature by Julian Spector
by Yeshwanth Kandimalla
THE CHRONICLE
Towering 175 feet above Campus Drive, the smokestack of the East Campus Steam Plant stands as a striking reminder of Duke’s past. Although visibly notable, the stack no longer serves any practical purpose. A $26 million renovation completed in 2009 converted the coal heating plant to a natural gas steam plant. “The stack today is nothing but decorative architectural feature,” said Russell Thompson, director of utilities and engineering for Facilities Management. Although the plant was constructed in 1929, the renovation equipped the facility with sustainable natural gas boilers and reduced the University’s overall carbon footprint by 9 percent. “It started off with just absolutely beautiful architecture and brickwork,” Thompson said. “Nobody builds a building like this anymore. Especially for a power plant.” Facilities Management’s environmentally and fiscally sustainable approach led to the steam plant’s recent designation as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold building. Including the LEED recognition, the plant has garnered nine awards to date, recognizing the building for excellence in construction,
THE CHRONICLE
With a Republican majority in the North Carolina General Assembly for the first time in more than a century, Democratic legislators of Durham County may have to consider altering their goals for influencing legislation. Members of the General Assembly representing Durham—all Democrats— met with the Durham County Board of Commissioners and local officials Friday to discuss goals for the 2011-12 year. The state lawmakers at the meeting included state senators Bob Atwater and Floyd McKissick Jr. and house representatives Henry Michaux Jr., Larry Hall and W.A. Wilkins. The meeting opened with comments from lawmakers about the current political climate of the N.C. General Assembly. In November, Republicans gained control of the State House of Representatives and the State Senate for the first time since 1870. The new makeup of the state legislature will lead to more conservative policies and practices in the organization, Hall said, including deep and potentially problematic cuts to the state budget. “[Republicans] haven’t governed since the late 19th century, and sometimes I think they’re bringing back practices from the late 19th century,” Michaux said. Lawmakers discussed the county’s legislative agenda, in particular the authority to develop a Local Preference Program— a measure McKissick believes is unlikely to pass. The Local Preference Program would give Durham County greater authority in awarding contracts to local businesses. Its supporters argue that it will encourage local economic development, but some state officials criticize the measure as expensive. “[The Republicans] think Durham is too liberal,” McKissick explained. “They might consider other, smaller counties where they have more political support for a local preference program.” Durham BOCC Vice Chair Ellen Reckhow suggested a $1 cigarette tax in addition to the current tax on the products, noting that it would deter individuals from smoking and generate an estimated $334.3 million annually. Michaux believes Republicans will not support the bill because they do not want to increase taxes in the near future. Wilkins noted, however, that agenda items related to public safety and law See legislation on page 5
House passes budget proposal eliminating CPB funding, Page 3
See steam plant on page 6
alex pherribo/The Chronicle
79 DUKE
GT 57 FIRED UP
T from Coach K spurs Duke win by Laura Keeley THE CHRONICLE
nate glencer/The Chronicle
After head coach Mike Krzyzewski was called for his first technical foul of the year, Duke outscored Georgia Tech 24-10 in the remainder of the first half.
In Seth Curry’s locker, a piece of paper hangs on the inside of one door. On it is a quote from author Maya Angelou: “Brotherhood is a condition people have to work for.” That brotherhood also includes the coaching staff, as head coach Mike Krzyzewski took a technical foul for his team midway through the first half that sparked the No. 5 Blue Devils’ 79-57 rout of Georgia Tech. “It really fired us up,” Seth Curry said of the call against Krzyzewski. “It’s not something you see often. Coach is really fighting for us, and we try to go out there and fight for him, too.” With Duke trailing 14-13 and 10:16 left in the first half, freshman guard Tyler Thornton was whistled for a foul on the Yellow Jackets’ Iman Shumpert—the Blue Devils’ eighth of the
ONTHERECORD
“They all sound hilarious until they happen to you, and each of them is a coward’s way to get out.”
—Senior Harrison Lee in “Come fly without me.” See column page 11
See m. basketball on sportswrap 4
dPS elects sophomore as new president, Page 3