Feb. 23, 2011 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

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2011

ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTH YEAR, Issue 103

www.dukechronicle.com

Admins outline house model New dean to bring more than female leadership

by Lauren Carroll THE CHRONICLE

tracy huang/The Chronicle

The new K4 dormitory, which has begun to take shape over the past year, was built to accomodate the new house model.

New system to sort upperclassmen into 70 houses

by Nicole Kyle THE CHRONICLE

As students begin RoomPix 2011, administrators are announcing further details about the house model that will be implemented in Fall 2012.

The house model will feature approximately 70 affiliated and unaffiliated houses—49 on West Campus and up to 23 on Central Campus, said Joe Gonzalez, associate dean for residence life.

The houses will vary in size, with smaller houses accommodating 20 to 30 students and larger houses with 60 to 90 students. Thirty houses will provide space for existing affiliated groups, which includes fraternities and selective living groups.

“We’re definitely putting emphasis on house

community,” Gonzalez said. “There’s great value there, and there is also a desire to maintain and facilitate broader connections and broader community.”

The goal of the house model is three-fold, said Campus Council President Stephen Temple, a senior who has been working closely with Residence Life and Housing Services, administrators and other students to develop the model. “[The model will] create equity within housing, build strong communities and friendships as we see flourish on East Campus and feature a three-class living structure,” he said.

See house model on page 7

Being the second-ever woman to be named dean of the faculty of Arts and Sciences is only one quality that sets Laurie Patton apart from her predecessors.

Patton, Charles Howard Candler professor of religions at Emory University, has extensively researched ritual and the role of women in ancient and modern India. She believes her work, coupled with an interest in female leadership in higher education, will help her provide unique insight and be an innovative administrator.

“While gender is a crucial part of the puzzle, it is only part Laurie Patton of the puzzle,” Patton wrote in an e-mail Tuesday.

“I hope that I can be nimble in responding to the changing demographics and emerging definitions of identity that every new year in higher education brings.”

Patton believes she will also be an effective player as Duke increases its international presence.

Studying religion has taught her how to “translate between cultural worlds,” she said. It has also taught her how to critique and understand globalization, which

will help Duke to develop international partnerships.

Along with her academic background, Patton also said she has a passion for interdisciplinary collaboration, a sense of intellectualism and a love for undergraduate education. In order for Duke to continue to grow, she believes leaders from every discipline must work together whenever possible. In her experience as a scholar, she has found that the best administrators show “intellectual curiosity about how fields work and how they fit together in the university.”

Suzanne Shanahan, associate director for the Kenan Institute for Ethics and member of the search committee that recommended Patton for the job, said she is delighted to see a female filling this post but would have selected Patton regardless of gender. The last female dean was Ernestine Friedl, who served as dean of Trinity College and faculty of Arts and Sciences from 1980 to 1985.

“She could be an android from Pluto, and she’s still the best person for this job, full stop,” Shanahan said. “Yet I’m thrilled to bits that she’s a woman taking on this job.

Both for women students and faculty in Arts and Sciences, to have a woman leader is a great thing after See patton on page 8

Lower property ‘Eating Animals’ chosen crime rates drive as summer reading book fall in overall crime

by Matt Barnett THE CHRONICLE

For the second consecutive year, overall crime levels fell in Durham.

Durham Police Chief Jose Lopez told the City Council Monday that crime rates decreased 1.7 percent last year, The Herald Sun reported. The change reflects a decrease in the number of burglaries, larcenies and vehicle thefts. Together, the number of violent and property crimes decreased from 13,316 in 2009 to 13,087 in 2010, The (Raleigh) News & Observer reported.

In an act of collaboration, Duke and UNC have jointly chosen a summer reading assignment for members of their respective classes of 2015.

Incoming first-years at Duke and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will be assigned to read “Eating Animals” by Jonathan Safran Foer.

The non-fiction book was chosen by a committee of 21 students, faculty and staff from Duke and UNC. The book, which combines investigations of commercial fishing and farming with personal narratives about Foer’s experience with food culture, will serve as what the Duke Summer Reading Selection Committee describes as students’ “first shared intellectual experience.”

“Eating Animals” was selected from more than 500 nominations collected on both campuses, said Associate Dean of Students Todd Adams, co-chair of the selection committee. The collaboration was a result of discussion between deans at both schools, Adams said. He described the book as “a terrific read.”

See crime on page 6

See reading on page 6

from Staff Reports THE CHRONICLE

Engineers seek more study abroad opportunities, Page 3

ONTHERECORD

“There’s a large amount of the discretionary fund in limbo... it’s best for now to rescind the funding.”

­—Senior Academic Affairs Senator Greg Halperin on DukePie. See story page 3

Duke researchers study plant immune system, Page 5

2 | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2011 the chronicle

worldandnation onschedule...

America the Beautiful Women’s Center, 3-5:30p.m.

The Women’s Center will be offering a free viewing of a documentary that explores America and its relationship to beauty.

on the

Leverage Your Skills SW Bay 6, B177, 4-5p.m.

If you are a Ph.D. candidate, come learn how to identfy and market transferable skills into industry, public and private sectors.

5333

THURSDAY:

5951

ESPN Info Session Von Canon C, 4-6p.m.

Meet with representatives from ESPN as they discuss what exactly they do and who exactly they are looking for.

web

“The new Facebook application, AdmissionSplash, launched last week. Students pick their colleges and fill out a questionnaire about their test scores, extracurricular activities, GPA and other related material. Then the application calculates the students’ chances are of getting into each school – fair, good or great. AdmissionSplash was created by two students at George Washington University.”

— From The Playground playground.chronicleblogs.com

olivier Maire/The bloomberg news

The Swiss Alps, shown above, will be part of Google’s ambitious plan to map out over 200 miles of downhill ski runs. Google Maps, in addition to its offering of online road maps and advanced streetlevel photography, will be embarking on this ambitious project this year. Google is moving foward in spite of a contentious court challenge over privacy concerns currently being resolved in Switzerland.

“

TODAY:

Don’t write about Man, write about a man.

— E.B. White

”

TODAY IN HISTORY

1455: Johannes Gutenberg prints the Bible.

FDA has new labeling US stepping carefully system for antipsychotics around Libyan protests WASHINGTON — Johnson & Johnson’s Risperdal and Eli Lilly’s Zyprexa are among more than 20 antipsychotic drugs that federal regulators said may pose risks to newborns when taken by mothers during pregnancy.

The Food and Drug Administration updated labeling for antipsychotic drugs to show potential side effects to children born to mothers on the medicines in the third trimester, the agency said Tuesday in a drug safety communication.

The labeling change is the first in six years to cover all drugs in the class known as atypical antipsychotics. The medications, used for conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, may cause abnormal muscle movements and withdrawal symptoms in newborns, the FDA said. Symptoms can include tremor, sleepiness and difficulty with breathing or feeding.

off the

wire...

LIBYA — The United States has been unable to get Libya’s permission to evacuate Americans from the country, State Department officials said Tuesday, prompting the administration to temper its response to the Libyan crackdown.

State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said that Libyan officials had promised over the weekend to support U.S. efforts to evacuate American citizens, but that the necessary permits for charter flights hadn’t been granted.

“What we can’t figure out is whether there’s just chaos at the airport, which is entirely possible, or whether the Libyans are not cooperating,” Crowley said in an interview. Earlier, he told a news briefing that the U.S. government is evaluating options to help Americans leave the country by land or sea. Libya has been swept by angry demonstrations for more than a week.

Federal, state and local debt hits record high

“Best Thai food in Durham. I love their Pad Thai and Tom Yum soup.

Prices are reasonable and parking is easy.”

- Pureum K.

“The lunch specials are a great value and the Panang Curry is excellent!”

- Johanna K.

the chronicle

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2011 | 3

Engineers face curricular challenges in study abroad

by Lucy Hicks THE CHRONICLE

As application deadlines for study abroad programs loom, many Trinity students may find that their Pratt counterparts are looking to go abroad—a trend somewhat unique to Duke.

Although the Pratt School of Engineering has a higher study abroad rate than other engineering institutions across the nation, some Duke engineers are finding their globe-trotting ambitions handicapped by the demands of their curriculum.

According to the most recent statistics, about 31 percent of engineers in the Class of 2010 studied abroad, as compared to 47 percent of their Trinity College of Arts and Sciences counterparts. Although engineering students noted that finding study abroad opportunities is not much more difficult than the process is for Trinity students, many said finding abroad programs that offer engineering courses and that do not have language requirements can be challenging.

“I think that there is just more flexibility in the Trinity curriculum and that enables Arts and Science majors to study abroad—let’s say more spontaneously—than the typical engineering student, who must think about it and plan ahead about a year or more in advance,”

Linda Franzoni, Pratt associate dean for undergraduate education, wrote in an e-mail.

Although fewer Pratt students study abroad in comparison to Trinity students, Margaret Riley, director of the Global Education Office for Undergraduates, noted that more engineers at Duke study abroad than peer engineers across the nation. Nationally, 3.2 percent of engineering undergraduates study abroad—just one-tenth of Pratt’s study abroad rate.

“One of the reasons that I chose Duke’s engineering school was that I knew many Pratt engineers have the opportunity to study abroad,” said junior Amanda Britt, who studied in France in the Fall.

In fact, the number of Pratt students choosing to study abroad has increased almost three-fold over a 10-year period. In the 1999-2000 academic year, 32 Duke engineers took courses abroad, whereas 92 engineers went abroad in 20092010. Riley said that Pratt established a study abroad committee in 2001 to approve courses and recommend abroad programs tailored for engineers.

“We have approved programs specifically to make more alternatives available for engineers,” Riley said. “We were See engineers on page 8

Melissa Yeo/The Chronicle

Pratt students have a higher study abroad rate than most engineers, but still have found scheduling more difficult than their Trinity counterparts.

duke student government

Legal concerns prompt proposal to repeal DukePie funding

by Joanna Lichter THE CHRONICLE

After meeting with Larry Moneta last week, Duke Student Government representatives proposed to repeal funding for DukePie, a peer-to-peer file sharing service.

In a meeting Tuesday, senior Greg Halperin said Moneta, vice president for student affairs, raised concerns about the service regarding sharing illegal files. Moneta said

other universities with similar programs, like the University of Connecticut and Cornell University, are trying to eliminate these services due to the large number of legal issues that have surfaced.

“We don’t want the possibility of DSG going through with something the administration is uncomfortable with and has fears of illegal issues with,” said Halperin, an academic affairs senator. “It was very clear

coming out of that meeting [with Moneta] that the program is dead.”

DSG did not vote to repeal the funding as Vice President for Student Affairs Gurdane Bhutani was not at the meeting.

Bhutani, a sophomore, is in charge of the project’s development.

In an interview Tuesday night, Bhutani said he will continue to consult with administrators regarding DukePie over the next

few weeks. Although Bhutani believes the administration raised valid concerns, he thinks DukePie is still possible.

“The argument [the administration] made is essentially that DSG is functionally a part of the University, and to have the Duke name on [DukePie] is dangerous,” Bhutani said. “Honestly, the funding See dsg on page 6

You are invited to hear a presentation by David Hinson, National Director of the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), US Department of Commerce

on Friday, February 25, 2011 at 1:30 PM in the RJR Auditorium of the Fuqua School of Business.

Hinson was appointed by President Barack Obama to head the federal agency with the mission to actively promote the growth and competiveness of minority business enterprises (MBEs). (http://www.mbda.gov/main/people/david-hinson)

4 | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2011 the chronicle

the DUKE

CAREER CENTER

presents

The Fannie Mitchell

EXPERT

IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM featuring

DonalD annino Jr.

T’81 MD, DMD

Surgical Oncologist at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston

Topic:

Careers in Medicine For undergraduate, graduate and professional students

Thursday, Feb. 24

7:00 - 8:00pm

Sociology-Psychology 127 West Campus

Registration: http://tinyurl.com/5umbk97 The Expert in Residence Program features accomplished professionals to share specialized knowledge and provide career advice to students.

www.studentaffairs.duke.edu/career

the chronicle

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2011 | 5

Plant tunes immune system to circadian rhythm

by Robert Dunlap The Chronicle

Early in the morning, as humans fight symptoms of fatigue with a cup of hot coffee, the flowering plant Arabidopsis prepares itself for a battle against morning mildew using its own powerful chemical compounds.

Duke researchers have found that the mustard plant protects itself from fungal attack by cranking up parts of its immune system each morning, demonstrating for the first time that a plant’s immune response is functionally linked to its internal circadian cycle.

“It is a very intriguing and thoughtprovoking idea that there is an anticipation of attack,” said Philip Benfey, Paul Kramer professor of biology. “You think of the anticipation that comes with circadian rhythm with, ‘we get ready to wake up and get coffee,’ but to have an anticipation for warding things off is a new mechanism.”

The research, published in the Feb. 3 edition of Nature, was conducted by Duke biology professor Xinnian Dong and her graduate students Wei Wang and Jinyoung Barnaby. Dong said the Arabidopsis’ daily response developed because the downy mildew Hyaloperonospora releases most of its spores in the morning, habitually spilling them out across the fields and onto the unsuspecting plants. The Arabidopsis plant learned to stockpile its defensive chemicals in the evening and release them early each morning.

“The plant learned when to turn on their defense, when the threat of infection is the highest,” Dong said.

Wang noted that the defense mechanism allows the plant to save energy, which would be wasted later in the day when there is little risk of fungal infection.

During the study, Arabidopsis plants were placed in greenhouses, where lights flickered

on and off in 12-hour cycles to create artificial days. The researchers exposed the plants to Hyaloperonospora spores at dusk on some days and at dawn on others. Dong and her students found that the leaves of plants exposed at dusk would begin to sprout small limbs— the result of a mildew infection. The plants exposed at dawn were surprisingly safe from this sort of infection, supporting the hypothesis that they prepare themselves for battle every morning as a part of their daily cycle.

Dong said it is surprising that these defenses were expressed in a regular and constant daily cycle, even without pathogen presence.

“Imagine if we were normally attacked by viruses at 5:00 in the evening, and you could show that our immune system got ready to go at 4:30,” Benfey said. “It is a

pretty remarkable bit of engineering that went on in these plants.”

The researchers’ hypothesis was further supported by the examination of mutant plants that lacked a key protein responsible for maintaining a daily cycle. These plants were seemingly unprepared for the daily attack of the mildew at dawn and infected more frequently as a result.

Benfey said Dong’s study should tell us something about the world these plants live in and speculated that humans may have evolved similar defense mechanisms if we were forced to fight infection at predictable times.

“Unfortunately, the flu or common cold comes at relatively random times of year, so we would really not have evolved something like this,” he said.

GUIDELINES AND APPLICATION FORMS NOW AVAILABLE AT www.duke.edu/APSI/grants/undergrads.html

for:

1. Sirena WuDunn Memorial Scholarship 2011-12 undergraduate tuition awards 2. Janet B. Chiang Grant awards for undergraduate & graduate projects, and for need-based study in Asia

CONTACT:

courtesy of jinyoung barnaby and xinnian dong

Duke researchers and grad students discover a unique ability of the Arabidopsis plant to engage its immune defense mechanisms at specific parts of the day when it is most vulnerable to mildew infection.

The Asian/Pacific Studies Institute 323A Trent Drive Hall email: mpmoore@duke.edu 684-5073

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: March 4, 2011

FREEMAN A. HRABOWSKI, III

What questions do you want Dr. Hrabowski to answer?

Please submit them prior to his talk to sharon.caple@duke.edu

6 | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2011 the chronicle

reading from page 1 “Foer—a talented and celebrated author—had the formidable task of making us think about our choices around food without sounding preachy,” Adams wrote in an e-mail Tuesday. “The book gives light to the culture that exists around the food we produce and eat, and it raises difficult, yet relevant questions that everyone should consider in examining their own relationship with food.”

Adams said the collaboration presented Duke with a way to celebrate its 10th year of the summer reading program. “Eating Animals” will be UNC’s 13th reading assignment. The committee seeks to book the author in the future to speak as part of the 2011 Orientation Week, though he has not yet been booked.

Although Duke has featured fictional works for the past couple of years, senior Priya Bhat, who sat on the committee as former FirstYear Advisory Counselor board co-chair, said that the book was chosen for its strengths and relevance to freshmen—not because it is non-fiction.

“This book is about being active in the decisions you make... in a way that really connects to the first-year ex-

perience,” Bhat said.

Although the book would appear to be pro-vegetarian, Bhat said that this is not the case.

“It’s not so much an argumentative book,” agreed committee member Nate French, a junior and current co-chair of the FAC Board. “It’s not really a case for vegetarianism as much as a discussion of how we make the decisions we make.”

Although The New York Times gave the book a mixed review, French is confident that freshmen, FACs and other students who choose to read the book will love it.

Foer’s book was one of six finalists that the reading committee considered. The other five books were “The Dew Breaker” by Edwidge Danticat; “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” by Rebecca Skloot; “Losing My Cool” by Thomas Chatterton Williams; “The Sea” by John Banville; and “Shop Class as Soulcraft” by Matthew Crawford.

French drew similarities between “Eating Animals” and last year’s summer reading selection, Ron Currie Jr.’s “Everything Matters.” Although he acknowledged that the books are thematically and structurally different, he said that both encourage intellectual debate.

Crime from page 1 Counts of violent crimes last year did increase, however, including incidents of homicide and aggravated assault. The number of homicides totaled 25, an increase of four, while the number of aggravated assaults grew from 801 to 877, according to

dsg from page 3 [repeal] is not really a big deal... we can just as easily get it back. It is primarily a formality... the money is still sitting there in the account.”

DukePie was granted $2,265 from the legislative discretionary fund at last week’s meeting. At that time, Bhutani said he had discussed DukePie’s legality with a lawyer who voiced no objections to the service. But Halperin insisted that the funding should be repealed given Moneta’s concerns.

“There’s a large amount of the discretionary fund in limbo... it’s best for now to rescind the funding,” Halperin said.

In other business: Vice President for Athletics and Campus Services Chris Brown, a sophomore, discussed the upcoming Tailgate forum, at which students can provide suggestions for alternatives. Brown said DSG may establish a Tailgate committee next year to devise the new structure of the popular Saturday morning ritual.

The Senate also discussed how DSG and individual quad councils will interact given the recent

HUMAN RIGHTS IN ISLAM: THE POLITICS OF CULTURAL TRANSLATION 24 February 2011, 240 Franklin Center BREAKFAST 8:45 OPENING REMARKS

Ellen McLarney Andrew W. Mellon Assistant Professor, Asian & Middle Eastern Studies

9:00 “Don’t Ask Just the Devil: Human Rights & Forgiveness in Iran” Arzoo Osanloo Professor, Law, Societies, & Justice Program, University of Washington

10:30 “Do Muslim Women Have Rights?”

Lila Abu-Lughod Joseph L. Buttenwieser Professor, Columbia University

12:00 LUNCH 1:00 “Human Rights, Universality & Sovereignty: The Relevance & Irrelevance of Shari’a” Abdullahi an-Na‘im Charles Howard Candler Professor of Law, Emory

2:30 “Western Muslims & Human Rights: An Alternative Framework?”

Sherman Jackson Professor, Arabic & Islamic Studies, University of Michigan

4:00 COFFEE BREAK 4:30 CLOSING PANEL

Moderator: miriam cooke, Asian & Middle Eastern Studies Charles Kurzman, Carolina Center for the Study of Middle East & Muslim Civilizations Frances Hasso, International Comparative Studies & Program in Women’s Studies Mohsen Kadivar, Religion Department Ebrahim Moosa, Religion Department Ellen McLarney, Asian & Middle Eastern Studies

6:30-7:30 CLOSING RECEPTION Sponsored by: Anthropology, Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, Duke-UNC Consortium for Middle East Studies, Center for Muslim Life, Duke Human Rights Center, Duke Islamic Studies Center, Josiah Charles Trent Foundation, Mackowski Family Endowment/ Department of Religion, Muslim Student Association, Program in Women’s Studies

The N&O. Overall, however, crime rates are down 31 percent from nine years ago, Lopez said.

In the meeting, Lopez also reported progress reducing crime in a twosquare-mile area known as the “Bull’s Eye.” Although the city of Durham covers 200 miles of the county, as of mid-2008, two square miles located in the northeast central part of Durham

were the location of 20 percent of the total shots-fired calls, gang member residences and violent crimes committed with firearms, The Chronicle reported in July 2008.

Lopez said Monday that violent crimes involving guns fell 57 percent since 2007 and calls involving drug activity fell 38 percent, The N&O reported.

merger of DSG and Campus Council, which will take effect next year.

DSG Executive Vice President Pete Schork, a junior, said he would like the governance structure to “develop organically” to maintain the independence of the quad councils.

“The structure appears to be a little less DSG heavy... maintaining the autonomy of the quad councils, but providing them with a legislative link,” he said, adding that the residential governance bylaw outlines possibilities for collaboration.

The quad councils will remain in

place until the University completes its transition to the house model, after which house councils will be formed.

Additionally, DSG approved more than $4,000 for the Duke Student Think Tank Symposium, a March 19 event which seeks to expose students to the world of corporate think tanks and how they attempt to tackle world challenges like the energy crisis.

DSG also approved $2,725.12 to fund advertisements in The Chronicle for the Student Organization Finance Committee to improve student awareness about SOFC events.

addison corriher/The Chronicle

The Duke Student Government Senate discussed at its meeting Tuesday the repeal of funding for DukePie, a file-sharing service that posed several legal issues for the administration.

the chronicle

house model from page 1 The sorting ceremony Freshmen will still be required to live on East Campus, but sophomores, juniors and seniors will be invited to live in their house for up to three years, Gonzalez said.

During RoomPix of their freshman year, affiliated rising sophomores will be placed in their corresponding houses, and unaffiliated students will be placed randomly, Gonzalez said. Residential groups will still conduct recruitment programs similar to the current process.

Gonzalez said decisions such as whether students will be able to switch houses after a year or live in the same room consecutively will be located will be discussed soon.

Administrators will try to place students returning from semesters abroad in their former houses but cannot guarantee that will be possible.

Preservation of blocking under the house model was one of the most important compromises students made with the administration, noted junior Leslie Andriani, chair of the Campus Council-sponsored student committee on the house model.

The student committee is comprised of independent students as well as representatives from Interfraternity Council, National Panhellenic Council, Inter-Greek Council and Selective House Council. The Panhellenic Association does not have official representatives on the committee, though two committee members are in Panhellenic sororities, she added.

Gonzalez said, however, that blocks will have to be smaller–with four to six students–in order to avoid potential domination of one block in a small house.

“We’re still designing the nuances of how a student goes from East to either West or Central, but there is a consensus that there

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2011 | 7

should be a pathway for a block of that size to get into a house together,” he said.

The opening of K4 residence hall— planned for Spring 2012—will accommodate two houses: one of 60 students and one of 90 students. K4 was designed with the house model in mind, Donna Lisker, associate dean of undergraduate education, wrote in an e-mail Tuesday. Lisker has played a lead role in the development of the model.

But even with the addition of K4, depending on student demand beds may be limited for seniors.

“K4 assists when you have almost 150 beds being added, which is very helpful for unaffiliated students, but it doesn’t reposition our ability to accommodate students,” he said.

Space for affiliated groups Gonzalez said the locations of SLGs and fraternities have not yet been determined.

“I would encourage all selectives to assume there is a strong possibility they are not going to be where they are now,” he said. “But then again, they could be.”

Administrators will seek student input, however. RLHS will be hosting two open forums for students to discuss and ask questions about the house model.

Student-administrator collaboration has been key in the developments so far, Temple said, adding that the next step is to reach out to Selective House Council and IFC to discuss how the model will affect them and how houses will be distributed throughout the campuses.

The Panhellenic Association is welcome to join in these conversations, Gonzalez said.

“Some ideas that have been brought up... include the possibility of having a ‘Panhel House’—similar to how we now have a Panhel housing section on Central,” former Panhellenic Association President

Bogna Brzezinska, a senior, wrote in an email Tuesday. “We have not heard anything about the desire for such a change. In my experience, women like being able to live with whomever they choose and not in a designated section.”

IFC President Erskine Love, a senior, also confirmed that IFC will have a role in shaping the new arrangements.

Back to the future The shift to the house model is, at least in name, a return to Duke’s past.

Starting in the 1970s, Duke operated under a house model, but when the University decided to make East an all-freshmen campus in 1995, the house model began to disintegrate, said Steve Nowicki, dean and vice provost of undergraduate education.

“Nobody thought through the consequence of having all sophomores live on West,” Nowicki said. “But then there was no room for juniors and seniors, so the whole idea of a house model was never explicitly done away with—it just died with no one saying, ‘Let’s kill it.’”

In 2002, Duke converted to the quadrangle model, somewhat out of necessity, Nowicki said. When he came to Duke in the early 2000s, he added that one of the first concerns students presented to him was dissatisfaction with the quadrangle model, which they felt did not provide a strong enough sense of inclusion or community. Nowicki then began planning an improved house model.

“It’s Duke’s first deep re-thinking of what it’s trying to do with its residential model since the creation of a first-year campus,” he said.

Nowicki has worked for nearly two-anda-half years to develop plans for the house model with Vice President for Student Affairs Larry Moneta.

Not all details have been finalized, how-

ever. Next year will undoubtedly be a transition year, Lisker said, adding that amending RoomPix and restructuring student governance are at the “top of the agenda.”

“We will continue to answer questions as they arise and to deal with whatever we haven’t anticipated,” Lisker said. “It will require flexibility and patience from everyone, but it will also be exciting to see it all come together.”

Creating communities The house model will also facilitate a shift in Duke residential culture, though Moneta said the shift must be student-led.

Moneta said students will “grow” the houses into communities with distinct personalities. In turn, the University will provide financial and advising support and align dining and other amenities with the house system.

Lisker said the increased autonomy for houses under the new model will hopefully incentivize students to embrace the new system.

“Culture shifts are never easy,” Lisker said. “We expect that the houses will develop their own identities over time, organically, depending on the students who live there.

We want to encourage that identity development through multiple means—friendly competitions in [intramural] sports, social events, signs and benches—as a way to help students feel connected to their houses.”

Nowicki said weaknesses of the current quadrangle model have helped administrators shape a house model that better generates a sense of community at Duke.

“We learned that 400 people in a quad doesn’t create an organic unit here at Duke,” Nowicki said. “[For example], you can live in Few [Quadrangle] and see the whole thing and get from one place to another, but it’s like Hogwarts or something– who knows which way the staircases really go.”

8 | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2011 the chronicle

engineers from page 3 not given specific funds to use in these efforts, but... establishing this as an office priority allowed us to do what we needed to do in order to fund our efforts.”

Some engineers, however, said that barriers still exist to studying abroad. Many said that Pratt’s core major requirements do not allow them the flexibility to spend a semester abroad, and others noted that potential language barriers could be a hindrance. Pratt does not have a foreign language requirement in its curriculum.

“From an engineer’s standpoint, if you go to a country where English is the native language you don’t have to take classes in a foreign language, which was attractive to me because I haven’t taken any foreign languages since high school,”

said sophomore Jack Frush, who hopes to study abroad at the University of New South Wales next Fall.

The two most popular study abroad programs for engineers are offered at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia and at Queen Mary, University of London, Riley said. Pratt Dean Tom Katsouleas added that engineers can study abroad through many other Duke-approved programs.

Although most Pratt students choose to study abroad through those non-Duke administered, but approved programs, Franzoni said the University has worked to establish Duke-administered programs in non-English speaking countries that cater to engineers. Duke in Berlin, for instance, offers an engineering track that runs in the Spring and during part of the summer. The program includes an intensive German for

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engineers course, but allows students to take up to two engineering courses while abroad.

Duke is also looking into establishing engineering programs at other international locations.

“Duke in Madrid is another example of a program where Global Ed is working with our office to try to find engineering offerings in English that students could take alongside the courses that are normally offered through Duke in Madrid,” Franzoni said. “There are challenges with scheduling and content—we are making progress.”

patton from page 1 so many years of not having one.”

Steve Nowicki, dean and vice provost of undergraduate education, immediately knew Patton was a “terrific candidate” for the position after meeting her, and said he is excited to work with a female dean. He added, though, that he does not necessarily believe it will change the character of the position.

“In my career, I’ve worked with a lot of women as leaders,” Nowicki said. “How that might change the operation of her office is hard to say, but I think it’s good to have that dimension and perspective, and I embrace it.”

President Richard Brodhead and Provost Peter Lange announced Patton’s appointment last Wednesday. Patton will replace Alvin Crumbliss, who was selected as interim dean of Trinity College and dean of the faculty of Arts and Sciences in May after George McLendon stepped down to become provost of Rice University. Patton will formally assume responsibilities July 1, concurrent with planning for academic year 2011-2012.

While living in France for a semester, Britt said she was able to complete some engineering requirements with the Georgia Tech-Lorraine study abroad program. Britt added that two other Duke students participated in the program, but more Duke engineers would have been interested in the opportunity.

“I think if more students knew about the Georgia Tech-Lorraine program, study abroad would be an even more popular option for Pratt students,” Britt said. “I’m hoping more engineers will study abroad with GTL next year.”

Gary Laderman, chair of the religion department at Emory and long-time colleague of Patton, said she embodies her own definition of an educational leader.

Patton has held several diverse leadership roles at Emory, including her current role as director of Faculty Development and Excellence, chair of Emory’s religion department from 2000 to 2007 and founder and co-convenor of the Religions and the Human Spirit Strategic Plan.

“She’s a great leader. She’s a team leader, she works well with people, she has a strong sense of collaboration that stretches way beyond the humanities,” Laderman said.

“She’s got a lot of energy and can make a lot of things happen.”

Nowicki expects Patton’s enthusiasm for interdepartmental teamwork to benefit Duke as it strives to promote the liberal arts outside of Trinity College.

“I think the fact that Laurie is already committed to interdisciplinarity is terrific,” Nowicki said. “I would expect her to continue to accelerate the development of an interdisciplinary approach to the liberal arts.”

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No. 1 DUKE

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WEDNESDAY February 23, 2011

Duke Baseball topped Campbell by seven runs at Jack Coombs Field yesterday Check out our newly renamed blog, The Blue Zone

www.dukechroniclesports.com

No. 24 TEMPLE

CAMERON • WEDNESDAY • 7 p.m. • ESPN2

Non-conference matchup to prep Duke for tourney

by Bo Triplett THE CHRONICLE

Today’s matchup in Cameron Indoor Stadium will mark the first game since the Blue Devils returned to the top of the AP poll Monday. No. 1 Duke (25-2) will take on No. 24 Temple (21-5) in what promises to be a fierce and competitive game to mark the Blue Devils’ final nonconference contest of the season.

Duke has a history of scheduling nonconference opponents late in the year.

These matchups generally put the Blue Devils up against potential NCAA Tournament opponents.

“These type of games are great preparation because they allow us to escape the familiarity of the ACC,” associate head coach Chris Collins said. “When we see a team like Temple, we learn to adjust to the quick preparation that we will surely see in the tournament.”

History is on the Blue Devils’ side as Duke holds a 17-9 record against the Owls, including a 7-1 mark at Cameron. Duke has won eight consecutive games in the series.

For the Blue Devils to continue their winning ways against Temple, they’ll continue to look to Nolan Smith, who is now averaging 21.7 points per game. The senior guard

scored 28 points in Monday’s matchup against Georgia Tech, and he continues to establish himself as a legitimate contender for national player of the year.

Possibly his and Duke’s biggest challenge will be containing junior guard Ramone Moore. Moore leads the Owls in scoring with 15.4 points and 3.2 assists per game. He is an athletic and versatile guard who will look to pressure the Blue Devils on the perimeter.

“He shoots the ball well and is good off the dribble,” Collins said. “We are going to put different guys on him. Our goal is not to shut him out, but force him to take a lot of shots. He is going to have to work hard for his points.”

Senior forward Lavoy Allen will also be difficult for Duke to stop. Temple’s career rebounding leader, Allen brought down 12 boards in a victory over Saint Joseph’s Sunday. The Blue Devils will look to find a way to weaken Allen’s defensive presence.

Duke is familiar with Allen: This summer he teamed up with Duke seniors Smith and Kyle Singler on the Team USA Select Squad.

Stopping Allen will be up to Mason Chronicle file photo

See m. basketball on page 10

Duke brings a history of recent success against Temple into tonight’s contest, winning eight consecutive games.

A NEW CHAPTER FOR PAULUS Is this his first step back to the Duke bench?

by Jason Palmatary THE CHRONICLE

From freshman starting point guard to senior sixth man, Duke basketball player to Syracuse quarterback—the career trajectory of Greg Paulus has never ceased to surprise.

Now, Paulus is embarking on the latest chapter of his life as an assistant coach for the Navy basketball team.

Some may wonder how or why the former face of one of college basketball’s most storied programs ended up as part of Billy Lange’s staff on the middling Patriot League squad. The reality is that Paulus has had no shortage of options since graduating from Duke, spending the last year and a half pursuing two sports, a master’s degree and both playing and coaching careers.

GRAPHIC BY ADDISON CORRIHER/The Chronicle

See paulus on page 11

Greg Paulus used to knock down 3-pointers for the Blue Devils. Just two years later, he is in the coaching game as an assistant for the Navy Midshipmen.

10 | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2011 the chronicle

m. basketball from page 9 Plumlee and Ryan Kelly, who will look to continue the team’s success on defense.

Plumlee has been huge on both ends of the court, shooting 71 percent from the field in the last six games and carrying a season average of 8.7 rebounds per game. If he can continue his hot streak the Blue Devils will be strong in the paint.

Duke will also look to guards Seth Curry and Tyler Thornton to make an impact on the game. Curry has been shooting a solid 42 percent from beyond the arc. The sophomore guard has also held up his duties on defense, snatching a team-high 42 steals this year.

Freshman guard Thornton also seems to have found his place within the Blue Devils’ roster. His defensive pressure has earned him minutes this season, and he could be instrumental in stopping Moore in tonight’s matchup.

“We always use [games like this] to simulate the [NCAA] Tournament, playing a team that’s going to be a high seed in the Tournament,” Smith said Sunday. “They’re a top 25 team, and it’s going to help us stay focused.

We can’t lose focus going out of conference....

It’s going to be a big-time game.”

baseball

Duke tops Camels in Tuesday contest In his first career start, freshman Drew Van Orden limited opposing batters to two runs and three hits in six innings, as he and the rest of the Blue Devils shut down Campbell 9-2 in a chilly midweek matchup at Jack Field.

DUKE 9 Coombs On offense, CAMP 2 Duke (3-1) was paced by designated hitter Dennis O’Grady, who went 1-for-2 with two walks, knocking in two runs and scoring two more. The versatile Grady, who has started two games at first base and also was named ACC Pitcher of the Week Monday, drove in his two RBIs in the Blue Devils’ seven-run third inning. Freshman David Perkins also drove in two runs and junior Joe Pedevillano added another on the first triple of his career and the Blue Devils’ first of the young season.

Duke’s offense was aided by its continued aggressive baserunning. The Blue Devils stole six bases and were not caught once. On the season, six different Blue Devils have swiped a base, and the team is 15-for-19 in stolen base attempts. At the plate, though, patience has been the name of the game—Duke drew nine walks, which ties the seasonhigh set last game.

Pitchers Ben Grisz and Marcus Stroman combined to pitch three scoreless relief innings to finish off the Fighting Camels (3-2). On the day, Campbell was limited to just four hits.

CORRECTION The Feb. 21 article “Blue Devil Women Finish 4th at ACCs” had two errors. The Duke women’s team as a whole finished seventh, rather than fourth as the title said. The article also contained an error in reporting Cara Vogel’s placement in the 200-yard backstroke: Vogel finished 12th, not fourth. The Chronicle regrets the errors.

tHanh-Ha NGUYEN/The Chronicle

Freshman Drew Van Orden won his second game of the year after throwing six innings of three-hit ball.

— from staff reports

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2011 | 11

paulus from page 9

under a great coach in Coach K all stood out to me from the very beginning,” Lange said.

During the process, Paulus consulted Due to a NCAA rule that granted him his former coach Mike Krzyzewski and an extra year of eligibility in another members of Duke’s coaching tree insport, the former high school Parade- cluding Mike Brey, Tommy Amaker and All-American quarterback traded in his Jeff Capel. As a former coach at a service high tops for shoulder pads and spent a academy in his own right, Krzyzewski’s recyear at his hometown Syracuse. Despite ommendation that Annapolis would be a leading the Orange to just a 4-8 record great launching point for Paulus’s coachin 2009, Paulus’s season could be char- ing career was all the encouragement he acterized as a success from both a statis- needed to accept a job he has coveted tical and personal standpoint. since he was a highly touted recruit.

“Syracuse was an unbelievable expe“I’ve always wanted to be a coach,” Paurience,” Paulus said. “If I had to make lus said. “To get a chance to be a coach at that decision again, I would 100 times 24 years old, I thought that was too good out of 100. It was of an opportua once-in-a-lifenity to pass up. I “As Greg elevates to higher time experience, knew that getting and I was able to my first start here levels, he will have cut his get my master’s would be a great degree in comopportunity, and teeth on true coaching.” munications.” it has been exact— Billy Lange ly what I thought Paulus’s abilities on the gridit would.” iron were impresUpon taking sive enough that the New Orleans Saints the position on Lange’s staff after ancalled him an hour after the NFL Draft other assistant departed for a Division III and invited him down for a tryout. He per- head coaching post, the ex-Dukie dove formed well enough in his initial tryout that head first into his new job. As low man he was invited to the veterans minicamp, al- on the totem pole, Paulus got a chance though he ultimately wasn’t offered a spot to delve into many different coaching rein training camp. sponsibilities including working players During this same time period, the Syra- out, advising the team’s perimeter playcuse native also heard from professional ers, scouting recruits both live and on basketball teams overseas that were inter- tape and preparing film for review by the ested in his services. Through a connec- other coaches and players. tion that he had made on the Navy staff, Lange pointed out that Paulus’s multhough, Paulus was introduced to Lange tiple responsibilities as a film coordinaat the Final Four. He parlayed that meet- tor and on-floor coach and recruiter are ing into a chance to work the Midshipmen a rarity in Division I basketball. At a sersummer basketball camps, and he eventu- vice academy, young coaches don’t have ally landed a job interview. to be classified into a distinct role, and “His character, enthusiasm, passion for Lange feels this flexibility allows Paulus teaching and pedigree having played at Duke the best opportunity to gain exposure to

Tom Mihalek/ap

Greg Paulus now works with head coach Billy Lange, who is impressed so far with his young assistant. all aspects of coaching. Another benefit that working in a mid-major conference offers is the ability to do the maximum amount of coaching.

“When you coach at an academy, you learn how to coach,” Lange said. “You can’t take anything for granted. Things that you assume when you play with J.J. Redick and Shelden Williams, you have to teach here. As Greg elevates to higher levels, he will have cut his teeth on true coaching, not having taken anything for granted.”

At this point, Paulus knows very little about how his coaching career will progress. His focus has simply been to bring all of his talents and perspective to the Navy program, and in doing so he has received positive reviews. In turn, Paulus is trying to access the program from as many different angles as he can, so that if another opportunity presents itself down the road, he will be all the more ready.

And he wouldn’t rule out that an opportunity could bring him back to Durham, N.C. at some point in the future.

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2011 | 13

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14 | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2011

Grades matter Students care about students posted an average grades—a lot.

GPA of around 3.4. By comThis explains why the parison, our grading poliColumbia Daily Spectator cies seem austere. caused quite a stir when it reGrade inflation still prescently reported that a shock- ents a problem. Disparities ing number of between the sciColumbia stuences and the editorial dents boast 4.0 humanities and GPAs. For those curious, one social sciences have left many in 12 Columbia undergradu- students who are set on attendates earned GPAs of 4.0 or ing graduate school or netting higher last semester. During a competitive job feeling sour. the 2005-2006 school year, 52 And rightly so—grades have percent of grades given out real meaning to employers were As and A-s. and admissions officers.

This has prompted recent At its heart, grade infladiscussions at Princeton and tion is an academic issue. It the University of Pennsylva- poses a question about what nia about just how much air kind of students we should to let that out of the bloated seek to be, and what kinds grade balloon. of students our professors Duke has not indulged should demand we become. in inflation as deeply as As such, it will take both stuColumbia. In 2007, Duke dents and professors to solve

“

onlinecomment

Can’t agree with getting rid of the track. It’s a wonderful facility that has hosted the NCAA meet, and Duke has turned out some terrific athletes in the past few years. If you want to add capacity, build up, not over..

”

—“BD” commenting on the editorial “Overhaul Wallace Wade.”

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I

the grade inflation problem.

Grades give students an academic standard for which to strive. A great education entails professors challenging students to achieve more than students think they can, and students rising to meet the challenge. Grades give professors a way to encourage this intellectual struggle and to reward excellent scholarship.

For this system to work professors have to award grades justly, and students have to feel that grades have meaning. This does not always happen. Professors start to hand out too many As. Students begin to see grades as entitlements instead of awards. When education loses this sense of rigor, it becomes effete and meaningless. Case

in point—humanities classes, which typically have higher average grades, are often written off as easy. They are widely viewed as good electives, but not a core curriculum for serious students.

Many universities and schools have grappled with grade inflation. Princeton demands that departments only give As and A-s to 35 percent of enrolled students per semester. At Duke, the Sanford School of Public Policy sets strict constraints on grade distributions in its undergraduate courses, as do other departments.

But setting hard and fast limits on grades is to miss part of what makes grades valuable. Earning a grade should not be about gaming some professor’s procrustean grade

distribution chart or trouncing your peers. Grade deflation can cause students to obsess over competition with their peers. This cutthroat atmosphere is a far cry from the open dialogue of true intellectual engagement.

We cannot fix grade inflation with strict requirements, but more vigilance is necessary. Professors need to remember that grading rigorously is a fundamental part of teaching. Departments should hold their professors to rigorous standards.

Students need to accept that grades are not an entitlement—not something to be bargained over, but something to strive for.

This joint effort can keep grades, and education, meaningful.

Don’t be a loser

’m in a unique position when it comes to the Given that I have a job and that my work expewhole I’m-a-graduating-senior-and-I-need-to- rience only consists of two summer internships, I figure-out-what-I’m-gonna-do-after-college know I risk sounding hypocritical and overly idething because I’ve had a job lined alistic by writing this column. But up for over four years. Allow me to hear me out. explain.

We’re pretty quick to label peoI’m an international student ple as losers, even though we’re well from Singapore, where a number aware it’s one of the most hurtful of government agencies and private things you could call someone. Nevcompanies offer full scholarships to er been kissed? Loser. Socially inrecent high school graduates. Most ept? Loser. Living with your parents scholarship recipients choose to go after college? Loser. If you don’t daniel wong to college in America or the United have something concrete lined up loving life, Kingdom. These recipients’ tuition for after graduation, it seems almost loving lives is fully covered and they also receive guaranteed that some people are a monthly stipend. going to think you’re a loser.

Since few colleges offer needThis idea of losers implies that blind admission to international students, secur- there are winners, which further implies that life is ing a scholarship seems to be the only way for some sort of race. It’s a notion I disagree with. Life many Singaporean students to get an overseas isn’t meant to be a ladder-climbing competition education. The scholarship application process to see who can get to the top first. After all, there is extremely competitive, and many students— are clearly people who have reached the top of the myself included—go into it thinking that it’d be ladder—entrepreneurs, politicians, entertainers, great to walk away with just a single offer. Any athletes—but who still aren’t happy. one will do!

I believe it’s less about our position on the ladThe scholarship, however, comes with strings der and more about whether our ladder is leanattached. You need to work for the agency or ing against the right wall. We often get so caught company for a certain number of years after up asking the “how” questions—How can I make graduation (typically six), and you also need to my resume look better? How do I ensure I get the maintain a minimum GPA (usually somewhere job?—that we forget to ask the “why” questions, in the range of 3.75). If your GPA slips below the ones that clarify our true motivations. Definthat, you’re in danger of losing your scholar- ing our motivations for choosing a particular caship. So if you know some Singaporean kids reer is an essential part of confirming that the ladwho are really intense about grades, there’s a der is, indeed, leaning against the right wall. good chance it’s because there’s a few hundred Our career is an important part of our life, thousand dollars riding on their academic per- but we need to recognize that it’s only one eleformance. ment of our life’s purpose. We have many roles— After that lengthy explanation, the bottom employee, entrepreneur, parent, friend, son, line is that I’m on one of these scholarships. I’ve daughter—we must utilize in order to fulfill that known—even before freshman year—that I’ll be purpose, and it’s vital that we don’t confuse the working for Singapore Airlines after I graduate. former with the latter.

A lot of my friends who are seniors are looking If you’re a senior and you’re uncertain about for jobs or waiting to hear back from grad schools. what you’re doing after graduation, I hope you’ve It’s obviously a nerve-racking experience. I’ve realized that life is not a competition, that you heard them say things like, “I’m not sure if I have have a future and that you’re definitely not a loser. a future,” “I’m just gonna apply to more random You’re not a loser if you start climbing the ladder jobs and grad schools,” and “I’ll take whatever I later than others, and you’re not a loser if you can get.” I can identify, because many similar don’t reach the top. thoughts crossed my mind when I was 18 and apBut—and I say this to all of us who have been plying for scholarships. blessed with resources and the liberty to choose— I’ve had four years to think about the signifi- we shortchange ourselves if we willingly decide to cance of a job and career, in light of the fact that climb a ladder that’s leaning against the wrong I know where I’ll be working for at least the next wall. Let’s make sure that doesn’t happen; let’s ask few years. I’ve concluded that there’s one power- why before we ask how. ful factor that fuels our desire to promptly finalize our post-graduation plans: the fear of being a Daniel Wong is a Pratt Senior. His column runs evloser. ery other Wednesday.

the chronicle

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2011 | 15

commentaries

House model: an update

n Fall 2012 Duke will be debuting a new residen- decide not to use all of Central for the house modtial system, which we are calling the “Duke house” el). After spending their first year on East Campus, model. A committee of undergraduate students, sophomores will move to a house on West or Cenadministrators and faculty members has been work- tral, where they will be welcomed by the juniors and ing on this concept for close to two seniors already living there. Blocking years. Though our work continues, we will not disappear, but block size will are now far enough along to begin to diminish to four to six people in ordonna lisker explain the principles and design of der to ensure diverse membership in joe gonzalez our new residential system. the houses. Once residents of a house, First, the principles: When Duke students may stay there until graduahouse model students talk about their residential tion. If they choose to study abroad, committee experience, most point to East Camwe cannot guarantee their return to pus as a highlight. They extol the sense their own house, though we will try. of community on East, the diversity and the friendly Allowing for study abroad and seniors choosing to and open environment. Though students enjoy the move off-campus, we expect about 50 percent of convenience and independence of West and Central each house to be sophomores, and the rest juniors campuses, they often remain connected to their ini- and seniors. Over time, houses will develop their own tial identity as residents of their East Campus houses. identities and personalities.

We want to extend that sense of community to the What of SLGs? They will become houses like any upperclass years. We‘ve also noted fundamental in- other. Students who affiliate with SLGs will live there; equities in the residential experience between stu- unaffiliated students will live in unaffiliated houses. dents affiliated with selective living groups (SLGs, in- Administratively run groups like Wellness and the cluding both fraternities and non-fraternal groups) Baldwin Scholars will also become houses. In the first as compared to the experience of independent year of implementation, SLGs will be placed on West students. The former enjoy predictability and stabil- and Central Campus in houses sized appropriately for ity; they can return to their SLG year after year with their membership; we will not move them just to move the same group of people. The latter—independent them, but cannot guarantee current locations either. students—typically move from year to year, which dis- Our goal is a vibrant, stable residential environment rupts community and does not foster a sense of be- where students feel a sense of belonging both to their longing. The Duke house model will offer the same smaller house and to the larger Duke community. privileges and amenities to all students, whether or Want to hear more? We’ll be holding open fonot they affiliate with an SLG. rums where you can ask questions and contribute to After two years of hard work, we have developed the ongoing decision-making. Some questions are the framework of a system that will promote equity settled, but many are not; we welcome your input. and increase community. It starts with the Duke We will hold the first forum Monday Feb. 28 at 9 house: small communities (they average in the 40 to p.m. in 139 Social Sciences. The second forum will 60 resident range) on West and Central campuses. be Monday March 28 at 9 p.m. on East Campus, locaWe scrutinized the blueprints to create individual tion to be determined and announced. Hope to see houses: a vertical or horizontal collection of rooms, you there! depending on the architecture, each with a dedicated common room. There will be 49 such houses Donna Lisker and Joe Gonzalez are co-chairs of the on West, and up to 23 on Central (though we may House Model Committee.

The cyber revolution

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t used to be that word of mouth, newspapers and letters were the most efficient ways to communicate. People could spend days or weeks waiting for a postcard from a family member, and groups of people would need to plan months ahead of time for gatherings. Back then, information moved at a snail’s pace. By today’s standards, Paul Revere’s midnight ride would be unnecessary: An email or text would have worked just fine. Technologies, like the Internet and cellphones, have transmilap mehta formed communication. what i think i think The Internet has revolutionized the way humans socialize and obtain information. A letter nowadays would seem archaic, a postcard anachronistic, however sentimental either may be. I can’t remember the last time I opened a book for the purpose of research, or if I ever have at all. I merely have to open my laptop, click on Google Chrome and all the information I will ever need is right at my fingertips. Why would I bother with an index or a table of contents when I have a search bar?

Although the ease with which we obtain information has devalued communication and traditional media, the Internet revolution has obvious benefits. What used to take days or weeks now takes a couple of seconds. One person can invite hundreds of other people to an event via Facebook. Twitter allows us to keep up with what our favorite celebrities are doing or thinking at all times.

More importantly, to people for whom communication has been limited, social networking provides the ability to organize, galvanize and mobilize from behind a computer screen or from a cellphone. This was made apparent by the recent overthrow of the Egyptian government. In response to the assault and death of Alexandria blogger and businessman Khaled Said, a Google marketing executive, Wael Ghonim, created the Facebook page “We Are All Khaled Said.” The page generated outrage among Egyptian citizens and sparked a popular movement against the Mubarak regime.

For the various dictatorships that exist around the world, perhaps there is no greater threat to their rule than the Internet. Governments can restrict access (as in North Korea) or ban certain websites, but some citizens manage to find ways to circumvent filters and firewalls. In addition, Internet proxies make completely eliminating the power of the Internet very difficult. Despite what oppressive governments may teach in schools, and the propaganda that they try to infuse into the minds of people, these governments cannot completely control the websites that their citizens visit. The truth, however diluted or polluted it may be, is now accessible to anyone with a stable connection.

Young Egyptians recognized the injustices being perpetrated by their government, such as the murder of Khaled Said, so they took advantage of the one resource that would provide uncensored information and allow them to mobilize quickly.

The Egyptian government was either unaware of or powerless to prevent the uprising. They saw no picket signs, no shouting and no protest—to them all seemed well. The government did not realize that a real revolution was picking up steam in quiet cyber cafes and cubicles across Egypt.

Because of the rapid flow of information, similar protests erupted in Iran and Libya shortly after the uprising in Egypt Jan. 25. Citizens of these Arab nations are using the Internet in similar ways to organize opposition to oppressive regimes.

Many people lament the disconnect that the Internet has created between people. What if, instead, it serves as a vehicle for bringing us together? Viral videos, often used for humorous or commercial purposes, can also spread footage of atrocities, unite people in outrage and ultimately provide fertilizer for the seeds of revolution.

In his book, “Future Hype: The Myths of Technology Change,” Bob Seidensticker points out that “a technology isn’t inherently good or bad, but it will have an impact, which is why it’s not neutral.” The Internet has resulted in people taking for granted the ability to communicate and obtain information in a matter of seconds. Information was once a valuable luxury, but it is now a cheaply obtained commodity. However, the Internet also has come to serve as a means for people without a voice to express themselves. By using the Internet as a source of information and communication, those who have been rendered silent in the past finally have the freedom to overcome their oppressors.

Milap Mehta is a Trinity junior. His column runs every other Wednesday.

16 | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2011

the chronicle

The Sanford School of Public Policy presents

The 2011 Crown Lecture in Ethics

Good Persons, Good Workers, Good Citizens: What they are; how they can be nurtured Harvard Professor Howard Gardner, best known for his work on multiple intelligences, examines the idea of good work—work that is meaningful, ethical and of the highest quality. Gardner will discuss the insights gathered through 15 years of research into good work—who does it, how it is supported and how it can be thwarted.

Gardner is the Hobbs Professor of Cognition and Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

E-mail jko@duke.edu (919) 613-7315

www.sanford.duke.edu

Thursday, Feb. 24 5:30 pm Fleishman Commons Sanford Building Free and open to the public

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