COVER DESIGN BY MONTANA WILLIAMS
EXPERIENCE
NEXT LEVEL LIVING 3806 University Drive Durham, NC 27707
|
919 908- 1991 |
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Less than a 6 minute drive or 1 bus stop away from Duke!
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MAIN STREET Luxury studio, 1, 2, and 3 bedroom apartment homes • Gourmet kitchens with granite countertops • Washers & dryers in all apartment homes • Coffee bar and executive conference room • Large demonstration kitchen • 2000+ square foot athletic center • Resort-style saltwater pool plaza • Rooftop lounge • 100% smoke free community • Fully equipped dog spa • 21 and older community, families with children under 18 are welcome.
704 15th Street Durham, NC 27705 • 919.237.3543 • BerkshireMainStreet.com
Berkshire NINTH STREET Luxury studio, 1, 2, and 3 bedroom apartment homes • Gourmet kitchens with granite countertops & satin nickel fixtures • Washers & dryers in all apartment homes • Coffee Bar, Media Room, & Gaming Lounge w/Wi-Fi • 4000+ square foot athletic center • Resort-style saltwater pool plaza • Graduate Student Program available • 100% Smoke Free Community • Walk Score 82 – steps from Ninth Street’s entertainment, shopping, restaurants, and Harris Teeter
749 Ninth Street Durham, NC 27705 • 877-880-5894 • BerkshireNinthStreet.com
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Chronicle staffers offer tips for apartment hunting When apartment hunting, it’s easy to get bogged down in confusing leases and too many options. And for many, this is the first apartment you’ll be renting. To ease the stress, The Chronicle has compiled a list of tips to help you through the apartmenthunting process. • Stick to your budget. Determine how much you can realistically afford to spend and don’t deviate from it.
• Get an estimate from the complex before you visit. Find out if an apartment is affordable before you visit so you don’t get swept up in a home’s appealing features just to find it is out of your price range.
• Choose your location wisely. Make sure to get a sense of the different neighborhoods before you start looking continued on page 5
Live Well. Live West! 1, 2 & 3 Bedroom Apartments Upgraded, stylish interiors with hardwood flooring throughout. Cool amenities. Convenient, with everything you need to enhance your lifestyle. Including a clubhouse, pool and fitness center your friends will envy. Plus, you’re just moments away from Duke University, Southpoint Mall, I-40, and tons of local dining and shopping.
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The Chronicle continued from page 3 at apartments. Does being near downtown matter to you? How about being within walking distance to campus? If you don’t have a car, perhaps you’d like to be on a bus route?
• Count your deposits. Keep track of the different deposits you will need to make for additional expenses like utilities and insurance to make sure they don’t push you over budget.
• Look presentable to the landlord. Dress nicely and bring confidence to your first meeting; have a list of questions ready. First impressions mean a lot.
• Get everything in writing. This goes for your landlords and your roommates. Know exactly what you’re signing up for to avoid unwelcome surprises later.
• Choose roommates wisely. Living off campus brings a whole new set of responsibilities like paying bills, buying
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groceries and cleaning the bathroom. You want to live with someone who is dependable and doesn’t mind sharing the load.
• Purchase renters insurance. Make sure your belongings are covered in case of an emergency.
• Inspect the apartment before you rent and after you move in. Make a note of any problems in the apartment when you move in so they can be addressed right away. You don’t want to be charged for them later.
• Meet the neighbors. Get to know the people you’ll be living near, so you have someone to keep an eye on things when you’re away or to help you if you get locked out. Also, ask how they feel about noise at night and on the weekends. You should always be respectful, but some neighbors are more sensitive than others.
roommate who has a car so you can steal a ride to and from campus if it’s pouring rain or late at night.
• Check the little things before you move in. Find out where you can do laundry, make sure there are plenty of outlets, and find out about cell service and internet connection. It’s easy to fall in love with an apartment’s look or low price, but you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.
• Keep track. Create a shared Google Doc to track roommate expenses so everyone has access to the information and there are no surprises.
• Consider the amenities. We have so many nice off-campus housing options – is a pool important to you? What about a gym or quiet study areas?
• Don’t forget about parking.
• Ask about pets.
Make sure you won’t be forced to park three blocks away. If you don’t have a car, live closer to campus. Maybe look for a
If you have a dog or cat, or are thinking of purchasing one once you are settled, make sure to find out if the apartment complex you’re looking at allows them.
Moving off campus? Tips for choosing a roommate W
hile most people have experience with roommates before deciding to move off-campus, apartment living can present unique challenges to the roommate relationship. While questions of dirty dishes and space allocation may persist, offcampus roommates must also navigate issues of rent, utilities and leases. Whether you’re living with your best friend or virtual strangers, consider some of these points with your potential roommates before committing to an off-campus relationship: Determine a fair way to divide rent. While many roommates choose to divide rent evenly, complications can arise when rooms are not equal in size or amenities. Some roommates are willing to pay more for a room with a better view or more windows, but be sure to discuss these issues before the rent is split. Consider having an objective discussion about the pro’s and con’s of each room before selecting rooms. Setting the rent for each room beforehand will allow tenants to consider their own budgets when deciding which room to select. Discuss who will pay for utilities. Paying for utilities is one of the big differences between living on and off-campus. In addition to rent, most tenants will also need to cover bills for water, electric or gas, cable and internet. While some apartment complexes include certain utilities in the cost of
one roommate as the primary leaseholder with all other tenants considered subleesees. In this situation, the leaseholder has sole responsibility for upholding the lease agreement and can generally evict subleesees who do not abide by the terms of the lease. Other landlords will require all roommates to sign on as co-tenants, sharing equal responsibility for the lease. If one co-tenant does not pay rent or breaks a rule, the landlord has the right to evict all roommates. If offered a choice, carefully consider which options best fits you and your roommates.
rent, many expect these costs to be covered independently. Not paying utilities on time can negatively affect your credit score if the utilities company reports delinquent payments and a negative entry from not paying your utilities could impact your payment history calculation, which accounts for 35 percent of your total credit score. Be sure to coordinate with your roommate about how utility costs will be divided and how you will ensure that payments are submitted on time. Carefully consider who you add to your lease. Landlords operate leasing arrangements in different ways. Some may offer the option of choosing
Keep the lines of communication open. Use the conflict resolution skills you learned freshman year! Conflicts between tenants are often inevitable, but the more thought that goes into planning and negotiating prior to moving in, the more comfortable all roommates will be. When problems do arise, address them calmly and directly. Consider your phrasing–rather than addressing the issue in an accusatory manner (“You always turn your rent in late and you keep making excuses”) try talking about how you feel (“I’m afraid we may lose our apartment if we don’t get our rent in on time”). Since you can be evicted based on a single roommate’s actions, get the landlord involved only as a last resort.
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It’s different here. Wi-fi internet cafe Conference rooms and private study desks Free use of guest suite for friends and family Electric vehicle charging stations Two resort-style pools Premier fitness club with on-site fitness director 24-hour coffee and hot tea bar Enormous closets and spacious bathrooms with extra storage Plush lounge with billiard table, shuffle board, and HDTV Movie theater with reclining, leather seats Gorgeous stained concrete or German beech hardwood flooring Controlled access to covered garage parking Social director to plan resident events Outdoor fireplace and poolside grills Walking distance to Duke Medical Center and Duke’s west campus
apart|ment
919.382.8184 2616 Erwin Road · Durham, North Carolina 27705 www.loftsatlakeview.com All leaseholders must be at least 21 years of age.
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5 tips to help you find the best renters insurance Renters insurance may seem expensive if you’re among the more than two-thirds of tenants who lack it. But it’s the best way to avoid losing thousands of dollars if you’re robbed or your apartment is damaged.
N
ew York apartment dweller Rose LichterMarck, 28, had to pay cash to replace all her furniture, housewares and books after a fire in her old building. Cleaning the smell of smoke out of her clothes cost another $2,000, because she didn’t have insurance, she said. Then she had to stay with friends until she found a new apartment. With insurance, the whole experience would have been less painful — and less expensive. A basic policy can be as little as 50 cents a day. But many renters, mostly young adults, think — incorrectly — that their stuff isn’t worth enough to insure, according to Apartments. com, which found in 2010 that 70 percent of tenants don’t buy renters insurance.
Here are five steps to take if you’re considering renters insurance: • Inventory your possessions: Photograph everything you own to get a sense of how much it would cost to replace all your things. While you’re at it, write down the serial numbers of all your electronic devices and appliances. • Seek out discounts: Take note of any special safety precautions in your building that will earn you a break on your monthly premium. If you buy coverage from the same company that insures your car or provides you other types of coverage, that can earn
you a multi-policy discount. • Think about partying: If you like to entertain, renters insurance can be especially helpful. Most policies will offer your guests medical coverage, so if someone visiting your place slips and smacks his head on your kitchen counter, his trip to the emergency room will be covered. • Choose replacement vs. actual value: Most insurers will cover either your belongings’ actual cash value or what it would cost to replace them. A cash value policy will be cheaper, but the payout for things you have to replace will be reduced by how much they’ve depreciated since you bought them. Replacement-cost coverage will cover the cost of replacing your belongings new, now. • Understand your policy’s limits: Basic renters insurance policies cap reimbursements. So be sure to buy the extra coverage you need for pricey items like jewelry, electronics and musical instruments. Some people even carry riders against identity theft. But extra coverage adds up quickly so be clear about your priorities.
Life Revitalized. BRIGHTLEAF
SOLIS BRIGHTLEAF perfectly combines Durham’s authenticity and progress. The modern architecture and distinct finishes of our studio, one, two, and three bedroom floor plans allow you the freedom to find your perfect apartment home without compromise. Amenities range from an outdoor beer garden, clubroom, and veranda to an expansive fitness center with a yoga studio and seasonally heated pool. Minutes from Duke Medical Center, Duke University and Research Triangle Park.
1005 W Main Street • Durham, NC 27701 • 919.251.8599 • solisbrightleaf.com
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Utility providers
Who to call when you’re going to move The following shows utility providers in the Durham area. Durham residents can also call the city’s One Call service for more information, 919-560-1200.
Electricity:
Duke Energy • Apply for electricity by calling 1-800-777-9898 or by visiting the Duke Energy web site. • Orders for electricity are processed MondaySaturday, 8:00am-9:00pm. • Allow 3-5 business days for your order to be processed.
Natural Gas:
PSNC Energy • Apply for gas service by calling 1-877-7762427. • A deposit may be required to set up a new account. The deposit amount is based on the previous usage at your new address. • It can take 2 days to 1 week (peak move-in season) to start gas service.
Water:
City of Durham - Water Management 101 City Hall Plaza (919) 560-4381 Office Hours: 8:00am to 5:00pm, Monday – Friday
Duke Discounts!
• To activate water service, call (919) 560-1200. You will be asked to provide the following: • A $50 deposit or credit reference letter from another utility • A copy of your lease agreement • Social security card or a photo ID
Heating Oil:
Couch Oil Company (919) 286-5408 Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm, Saturday, 9:00am - Noon Don C. Christian Co., Inc. (919) 596-8169 Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00am - 4:00pm
Telephone:
• Apply for phone service by calling 800-4834000. • You may also apply for service by visiting Frontier Communications at Northgate Mall, Telephone: (919) 286-1105 Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10:00am-9:00pm, Sunday 12:00-6:00pm • A deposit may be charged to set up a new account. • A connection charge is required to start your new telephone service. Installation charges
generally appear on your first telephone bill. • Phone connection normally takes 2 business days.
Cable TV:
Spectrum 708 E. Club Blvd.Durham, NC 27704 (919) 220-4481 To order cable television service, call 1-888-4892666. Cable hookup requires payment for installation and one month’s service.
Recycling:
City of Durham Solid Waste Management 1833 Camden Ave Durham, NC 27701 (919) 560-4186 Tidewater Fibre Corporation 1017 S Hoover Rd Durham, NC 27703 (919) 957-8803
Garbage, Trash & Landfill: City of Durham Solid Waste Management 1833 Camden Ave Durham, NC 27701 (919) 560-4185
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Successfully navigating apartment waitlists Y
ou’re a rising senior. Finally! After three years of on-campus living, you are ready to graduate to your own off-campus apartment. You’ve perused the super handy housing guide in The Chronicle, and you’re pretty sure you’ve found the perfect place. Now what? STEP 1: Contact the apartment administration (this information should be located on each apartment ad or on their website). Most apartment complexes require you to submit a rental application along with an application fee to be put on their waitlist. You will also have to put down a security deposit.
you do have a great shot). Each year, an apartment will accept as many rental applications as they think they can accommodate. This estimate is based on annual turnover of apartments, and the demand can fluctuate from yearto-year. If availability is over-estimated, those at the bottom of the waitlist may not get an apartment for the following school year. Again, this is why it is important to apply early! STEP 5: Each apartment has a different timeline by which they will notify you if an apartment is available for you. Inquire with the apartment administration when you should expect to hear
from them. If you do not hear from them after this date, make sure to follow up. If you do make it on the waitlist, but then decide you don’t want to live there, simply contact the apartment administration and ask to be removed from the list. Unfortunately, application fees are typically non-refundable. Some apartments have limited windows during which you can withdraw from their waitlist and be refunded the full amount of your security deposit. However, this is usually within the first few days.
STEP 2: At some apartment complexes, you must now complete a “future resident profile” with your unit preferences, in order to be matched to your ideal apartment. You may also be required to fill out screening criteria forms at this time. STEP 3: Once you have submitted all the required paperwork and fees, confirm with the apartment administration that everything has been received and that all the paperwork is in order (missing signatures can put a serious dent in your quest to land your own apartment). STEP 4: Names are placed on waitlists in the order the application and fees are paid. The earlier they receive your application and fees, the higher your name will be on the list. Apply early! Okay, you’ve applied to your dream off-campus apartment and they’ve notified you that you have been placed on the waitlist. What does that mean? Are you guaranteed an apartment? Unfortunately, being on a waitlist does not guarantee that you will be given an apartment or the apartment style that you want (although
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Experience the Best of Durham and the Research Triangle T
here is a whole world that exists beyond Duke’s campus. The perfect mixture of modern and quaint, Durham boasts the accomplishments of a big city, but flourishes with a small-town soul. to noon. Catch a AAA baseball game at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park (DBAP). See a show or musical at the Durham Performing Arts Center.
Chow down in the South’s Tastiest Town.
Explore Durham Check out fresh fruits and vegetables at the Durham Farmer’s Market, an all-local, produce and craft market open Saturdays from 8am-noon and from April to October, open Wednesdays from 3pm to 6 pm as well. From December to March, open Saturdays from 10am
Explore exhibits at the Museum of Life & Science,the Nasher Museum of Art or the 21C Museum Hotel.
Grab Some Grub in the South’s Food Hub Amidst its restaurants, food trucks, and intimate coffee shops, it’s no wonder that Southern Living Magazine called Durham the South’s Tastiest Town. FAVORITE SPOTS
The Parlour—offers handmade ice cream in a variety of sweet and savory flavors such as salted Bite into a fried snickers butter caramel, sweet potato, and bar at the North Carolina State cilantro and lime. Fair, which comes to Raleigh every Foster’s Market—a gourmet October and offers rides, games, food market and café focusing and food. on scratch-made soups, salads, See a new documentary at the Full casseroles, and sandwiches—and Frame Documentary Film Festival for breakfast, Lucas’ Cinnamon which happens in downtown DurVanilla French toast is a must. ham every April. Monuts—famous for its eclectic
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bagel and biscuit breakfast sandwiches and gourmet cake or yeast donuts. Cocoa Cinnamon—with three locations, Cocoa Cinnamon is one of Durham’s favorite cafes. If coffee isn’t your thing, have no fear as the teas and Mexicaninspired hot chocolates are to die for. Mothers & Sons Trattoria— regional Italian food that changes with the seasons. Make sure to taste the homemade pasta dishes and a glass of something from the extensive wine list. Pizzeria Toro—offers woodfired pizza with toppings such a spicy lamb meatball, clams and prosciutto. Luna Rotisserie and Empanadas—a casual restaurant where the palate of the American South meets the palate of South America, make sure to try their famous “Patacon Pisao” which is a delicious sandwich that uses plantains for bread. Bull City Burger and Brewery— grab a juicy burger and some duck frites. Juju Durham—for experimental
the lifestyle you deserve! ALDEN PLACE AT SOUTH SQUARE
Amenities Include: State of the Art Fitness Center Two Swimming Pools Indoor and Outdoor TV Lounge Dog Park Washer and Dryer Included Monitored Alarms Gourmet Kitchens Our location is convenient to Duke University, Duke University, Duke Hospital, UNC, Fuqua School of Business, Research Triangle Park and Downtown Durham. Alden Place at South Square is in the hub of the business district.
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Asian small plates and tapas. Ponysaurus Brewing—Arguably Durham’s best brewery, come out for a flight or a pint. Sit on one of the picnic benches in the grass or atop the roof strung with twinkle lights. If dark beer is your thing, try the Réserve Ale or Export Stout. The Durham Hotel Rooftop— come at sunset and sip a cocktail while admiring Durham’s skyline. Reservations are recommended on weekends. More fine dining options include Vin Rouge French cuisine, Nana’s New American fare, Parizade Mediterranean fare, Blu Seafood, and Mateo Bar de Tapas.
Get Outside Jog the three-mile Al Buehler Cross Country Trail, which circles the perimeter of the Washington Duke Inn and Golf Course. Walk or run the 1.64 mile East Campus loop. Hit the American Tobacco Trail, which contains 22 miles of lowimpact compacted soil.
Find great gifts at Vaguely clothing and accessories. Reminiscent, Chet Miller or Go to Runaway to shop for Morgan Imports. For fine art, visit clothes alongside the owner’s art. Zola Craft Gallery. For a new book or, to hear a Brightleaf Square also offers visiting author speak, visit The shopping options such as Regulator Bookshop on Ninth Lounge in the Sarah P. Duke Schoolkids Records, James Street. Gardens. Grab a picnic lunch and Kennedy Antiques and Vert For all of your national brands, a book for some pleasure reading, & Vogue, which sells artisanal you can fulfill all your shopping or sunbathe on the spacious needs at Southpoint Mall, South Lawn. Become acquainted located only a 15-minute drive with the gardens’ resident ducks from Duke’s campus. and geese at the pond in the Culberson Asiatic Arboretum. Or, learn about the Southeast’s natural environment by walking through the Bloomquist Garden of Native Plants. Try hiking along the scenic Eno River State Park. Over 3,900 acres of rugged river landscape is perfect for a hike, fishing, canoeing, picnicking and swimming.
Visit or volunteer at the Duke Campus Farm. Learn about sustainable agriculture while munching on whatever’s in seasons. Make sure to wear clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty!
Catch a baseball game at the DBAP.
Retail Therapy Shopping local in Durham is key, and Ninth Street—located directly off of East Campus— offers stores that show off the Durham community’s artistic flare.
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Hitting the jackpot: Duke undergraduates who have been living together for four years
Anabel Thurman and Isabel Senior
Kit Devine and Evi Alexopoulos
Gustavo Andrade and Jose Ortega
Blaire Rikard and Andie Carroll
By John Markis
Anabel Thurman and Isabel Senior
During this trip, Isabel’s friend had an upcoming midterm and needed to study, so “the ‘Bels” shared a twin-sized, deflated air mattress together as they reminisced about their first day on campus.
secured a stellar roommate.
I
f choosing a college roommate is like buying a lottery ticket, then these students hit the jackpot. For these five sets of roommates, a four-year roommate pairing defined a large part of their Duke experience. Here are the stories of Anabel and Isabel, Kit and Evi, Heesu and Allison, Blaire and Andie, and Gustavo and Jose.
Even before they became friends, seniors Anabel and Isabel had learned to live as roommates. During their Blue Devil Days, when high school seniors come to campus as they prepare to make their college decision, each went to visit a friend from high school. It happened that their hosts were best friends, so the group of four enjoyed meals together and navigated campus before Anabel and Isabel had even officially accepted their places at Duke.
The next morning, Isabel asked Anabel to become roommates with her should they both decide to become Blue Devils. Unbeknownst to Anabel, Anabel’s own mother had seen the strong bond between the pair and encouraged Isabel to prompt the idea. Thanks to that gentle push, Anabel came to Duke with the knowledge that she had
Throughout the years, the ‘Bels have joined the same sorority, taken self-timer photos before they go out, bought each other snacks—including Anabel’s favorite, packets of honey—and made music videos. The two even bought matching bed sheets. On Valentine’s Day, the roommates made plans to spend time with each other, because this friendship epitomizes the best of any love story. “Some might have a best friend,
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and some might have someone they live really well with, but I have a best friend who is also the person I live with,” Anabel wrote in an email to The Chronicle. “I feel most comfortable and myself around Isabel.” Beyond these signs of genuine friendship is a deep, unshakable trust in one another. The two are simply grateful for one another’s presence, especially since they will soon leave the comfort of Duke for the real world. However, that change is unlikely to shake the ‘Bels’ bond. “Anabel is probably one of the people I know best in the world,” Isabel wrote in an email.“It’s nice to know I always have someone at home who I can rely on.”
Heesu Park and Allison Wu The prospects of finding a college roommate was daunting. But for Heesu and Allison, they didn’t have to look beyond the music stand to find their future roommate. Having attended the same high school in Washington, D.C., both played cello and sat next to each other in the orchestra. The warm amicability between the two as well as the drive to make one another better
proved to be the ideal basis for their college friendship. Knowing one another well before college lent itself to stability in the relationship. So although Heesu and Allison are part of different friend groups and spend time apart, they retain a close bond within the room. “It can be a little overwhelming to live with someone and hang out with them all the time, and that often gives rise to tension,” Heesu wrote. Still, that space apart does not entail emotional separation, and the two still feel totally in sync four years later. The two have also grown to do the little things for each other, like leaving sticky notes of encouragement before an important day. As an environment where “each person is able to confide in the other and talk about things she’s going through,” as Allison put it, their room has provided comfort and ability for emotional growth, a major component of each’s development through college. The Chronicle requested a photo of Heesu and Allison, but they
didn’t respond with one in time for publication.
Kit Devine and Evi Alexopoulos With both growing up in Rye, New York, a town with about 16,000 inhabitants, one wouldn’t be shocked if seniors Kit and Evi had crossed paths before coming to Duke. However, different high schools and interests had led them to different paths. When both opted for random roommates as first-years, the last possibility on their mind was that their homes would be merely down the street from each other. The two quickly arranged plans at a local coffee shop to discuss the logistics of becoming roommates, yet something funny happened along the way—the two became friends. Over a shared passion for “Parks and Recreation” and an anticipation of the upcoming semester, they bonded. Through the first few weeks of school, when most are still searching for their friend group and may feel adrift at times, both Kit and Evi appreciated knowing the other’s habits and feeling
comfortable with their living partner. “When Evi originally rushed sororities, I had a mini freak-out about finding a new roommate, but you can’t break this bond,” Kit wrote in an email to The Chronicle. “We just work super well together, and we’re lucky our living habits mesh so well on top of being amazing friends.” But there was never any thought that the two would part ways. “I wouldn’t have it any other way... and I’m lucky that the person HRL randomly assigned me four years ago turned out to be one of my favorite people here,” Kit wrote. As the two’s relationship progressed, certain activities cemented into their schedule, such as runs to Harris Teeter on Sunday afternoons. Additionally, the two have adopted vernacular in everyday speech, such as Kit’s embrace of Evi’s tendency to call friends “girl.” Especially since the two moved into an apartment, the kitchen table has served as the meeting point for conversations ranging continued on page 14
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continued from page 13 from talks about their futures to delegating responsibilities and chores. This spot, “the place to vent about anything and everything,” as Evi terms it, has bolstered their friendship and provided a sense of comfort amidst their hectic schedules.
Gustavo Andrade and Jose Ortega Sometimes, a flight delay and allergies are the ingredients to a great friendship. Just ask Gustavo, Pratt ‘19, and Jose, Trinity ‘19, who met at the Latino Student Recruitment Weekend before their first years on campus. As a harbinger of what was to come, the two were paired with the same host in the same room, yet Gustavo’s flight to Durham was delayed so that he arrived in the middle of the night. To make matters worse, his Uber dropped him off at the Bryan Center when he needed to be on East Campus. Unfortunately, Gustavo wasn’t familiar enough with the school to realize the difference, and an intense amount of pollen in the air was making him drowsy.
Eventually, Jose ventured out to West to gather Gustavo, even though he himself had been at Duke for all of one day. The two reached the dorm safely, but not without a great first memory. Over the next four years, Gustavo and Jose grew closer and closer. Shared Mexican-American heritage provided the initial context for their relationship, but soon they were participating in many of the same hobbies, from following the same workout patterns and attending the same parties to the more mundane, such as laundry runs and eating meals together while on synchronized sleep schedules. “We have the occasional discussion on who is doing dishes or taking out the trash tomorrow, but I can’t remember a single time that Jose and I had an argument,” Gustavo wrote in an email to The Chronicle. After graduation, both Gustavo and Jose stayed in Durham and decided to room together for another year. Life may seem more unstable at times, with bills to pay and careers to pursue, but the consistency of a friendly face at home alleviates much of that stress. “It’s rare to have such a close
relationship with a person, someone you never argue with and who shares so much in common with you,” Jose wrote in an email to The Chronicle. “I can’t separate my time at Duke without Gus popping in my head.”
study abroad, as each has elected to travel during summer months and school vacations so as not to disrupt the continuity. Most interesting is that the two have remained in the same physical room for the last three years.
Blaire Rikard and Andie Carroll
Over the past four years, Blaire and Andie have made an intentional effort to be a part of one another’s lives.
When seniors Blaire and Andie first connected on Facebook and contemplated becoming roommates, the two wanted to meet in person before confirming either way. Blaire lives in South Carolina and Andie in Virginia, so they travelled a few hours to meet for dinner. Soon enough, despite their drastically different academic and professional interests, they saw in each other a kind, compassionate person who would make for a great roommate—and the decision was finalized. Even though the two are in different sororities, they eschewed living in section for the sake of staying together. While each had strong friend groups within their sororities, their bond as roommates was special. This same logic has applied to
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“It’s great to have time set aside each week to catch up with each other,” Blaire wrote in an email. Every Thursday evening, the two explore a restaurant in Durham, with Pizzeria Toro being a favorite. Although each grew up as an only child, they feel as though they have gained a sibling through what began as a nervous encounter. Andie put it best. “Although we don’t fight or steal clothes, I would definitely say she’s the sister I never had,” she wrote in an email.
Photo credit: Special to the Chronicle. The Chronicle requested a photo of Heesu and Allison, but they didn’t respond with one in time for publication.
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nearDuke.com MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020 | 17
Dean Sue addresses big questions in charting a path forward for Duke residential life doesn’t have to be with every single member. Living in Gilbert-Addoms now—this is my seventh year—that sense of community has been different every year. I can’t necessarily put my finger on it, but it’s something that I talk to students about all the time, and ask them about. ‘Does this feel like home to you? Is this a community for you?’ And when students say it’s not, I feel like we have work to do, all of us.
By Jake Satisky
S
ue Wasiolek, or “Dean Sue,” will be shifting from her role as dean of students to the senior adviser of Mary Pat McMahon, vice provost/ vice president for student affairs, and Gary Bennett, vice provost for undergraduate education starting for the 2020-21 academic year. She will be tasked with thinking more critically about the housing experience at Duke, such as through implementing the recommendations from the 2018-2019 Board of Trustees residential task force. Dean Sue sat down with editor-in-chief Jake Satisky to talk about questions she’s considering as she prepares to assume her upcoming role after Commencement. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. SW: Where did you live sophomore year? JS: I lived in Keohane 4B. SW: What house? JS: Blue Ridge. SW: So why didn’t you say Blue Ridge? Why did you say Keohane 4B? JS: Um… SW: That’s one of my pet peeves. We live in a house system. JS: I feel like most people don’t know where the houses are. SW: So it’s a location thing? JS: Well, I’ve always thought the independent experience is a lot like living in an apartment complex. SW: That couldn’t be farther from my experience as an undergrad at Duke living in an independent
house my entire time here. It was a home, it was a community, it was with the people that I felt cared about me. That’s what a house experience to me, whether it’s independent, selective or Greek. JS: What do you think made that independent house feel like a home for you? SW: You know, I wish I could answer that; I’m not sure that I can. But, there are a lot of differences, and one was that we got placed there—I got placed there my freshman year and the expectation was that I would stay there, which I did. There wasn’t as much movement, and I think my hope is that will happen now with Central not being here, that people will land someplace, perhaps their sophomore year, and have a better experience. So, that’s part of what I hope to have a chance to think about is, what does community mean today? What does stability mean? And how can we create climated environment opportunity for students on West Campus to identify with a community? Because my sense is that people identify with a community freshman year, maybe not everybody, but many people did. JS: I would agree, I felt a good community in my dorm—I don’t know I’ve stuck with all of them— but I’m still friends with a lot of people from my freshman year. SW: And to have a community doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to have lifelong friends, or even acquaintances—hopefully that happens, that’s an awesome outcome, and hopefully will be an outcome with some people, but it
JS: How important is transparency in all of this? Duke is thinking of new housing policies. They had a task force; and they wrapped up their report and they released a page of their summary of what they found. But it didn’t really say that much. How transparent do you think Duke needs to be about what it’s thinking about and what moves it wants to make? SW: I sort of had the same question when I first heard about and saw the task force report. But after giving it some thought, I think it was really the right way to do it because they were as transparent as they should have been because they didn’t reach any definitive plans. They didn’t make any policies. They basically outlined or identified the areas in which they felt the institution had to focus moving forward, and then said, ‘take this, run with this, get all the people that need to be involved involved, brainstorm and then implement.’ And so, my hope is that we can get a lot of people brainstorming. What do student faculty interactions mean today? What does it mean to the students? What does it mean to the faculty? What does that look like outside the classroom? And in particular, how might that connect with the residential experience? So we are a lot further along today than we were a year ago today simply because people are talking about it. It’s on the table. There’s a bright light shining down on it. I think it’s very clear that this is a priority for the institution. Where do we go from here? I don’t know, but I’m excited about being a part of it. JS: How has the conversation around housing evolved since you’ve been here? Has it been like this at any point, with so much focus on it?
SW: It’s been ever evolving. I think we have had a number of times over the last 40 years where there has been a very strong emphasis on housing in conversations. And it’s usually come about as result of numbers and spaces, and facilities. The Women’s College merged with the men’s, Trinity College—what does that mean? We now have this merger of men and women, east and west. I came right after that conversation to Duke as an undergrad—what does that mean? Then, in the early 80s, the School of Nursing closed—the School of Nursing as we knew it then, with a traditional bachelor’s degree. There was Trinity, School of Engineering—now Pratt, and there was Nursing. So they had two buildings over on the North Campus, as we called it: Hanes and Hanes Annex. Hanes Annex is now the John Hope Franklin Center, but it was a residence hall. When those two residence halls closed for the School of Nursing, there was an opportunity for Trinity and Pratt to use that space. Then Central Campus continued to evolve from a graduate and professional student campus exclusively to an undergraduate campus, exclusively. What did that period of time look like, and how did that happen? So there has always been a lot of moving parts, and I think what is different right now that has not been the case in the last 40 years, 45 or 46 years, is that we’re at a point where we’ve got East Campus, and we’ve got West Campus. We know that we wish to replace 300 Swift, so it’s almost from a facilities standpoint, somewhat more stable than it has been for decades. So we’re at a point where we can actually start to think about a more systematic, understandable, grounded-in-the-curriculum and everything-we-stand-for approach to the residential experience. We know we need another residence hall, or two, but that shouldn’t keep us from thinking about, are we doing all that we need to do on East? What is that transition like from East to West? How can we make that transition less disruptive? How can we make the sophomore year meaningful and enable sophomores to kindof avoid that traditional ‘sophomore slump’? How do we consider junior continued on page 19
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The Chronicle continued from page 17 study abroad experience in that whole rubric? And what does that experience look like for the seniors who choose to continue to stay on campus? We can actually look at that in a way that all students can almost have a similar type of experience. The Hollows is different from Kilgo, right? And we recognize that as well. I think the focus right now is going to be on all those transitional elements while trying to do two things: create a sense of community and identify the ways to create the most effective ways to create opportunities for student-faculty engagement in a residential setting. JS: How much responsibility for housing community falls on the students themselves, and how much falls on Duke apparati, like RAs or the housing models themselves? SW: That’s a great question, and having been an RA before, many years ago for two years, I used to ask that question all the time, even back then, like, ‘to what extent am I responsible for creating community?’ I think about this every day as a faculty-in-residence on East. What can I do? What should I be doing to create community? And when
nearDuke.com MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020 | 19
students don’t take advantage of whatever might be offered that I think is enhancing community, am I obligated in some way to reach out to those students? Am I obligated to remind them that this is a community? Do they in fact have an obligation to contribute as a community member to the residential experience? They’re all great questions. Should we, as a university, permit students to just live in our residence halls? Should we permit them to just come and go, as if they live in an apartment? Should we expect more? Because I do think the residential experience is different for every student, and yet we have expectations related to their classroom work. If in fact the residential experience is a foundational aspect of the Duke undergraduate experience, should we be defining some expectations of what it means to be a member of the Duke residential community? It is a partnership. Now that I’ve said all that, I also believe that students find community all over this campus. And my feeling is that we can’t force you to find community in your dorm, but we also need to make certain that whatever that community is, we need to put our best foot forward so that it is
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JS: What do you think are the biggest obstacles toward getting us there? A lot of housing changes have been a new building opening up or an old building closing, or moving freshmen to East or removing Central. Now people are settled, what are the big obstacles to more sincere reform? SW: I don’t know that I would call them obstacles. I think we’ve got a lot of things that are necessary that are already in place. We perhaps just need to reexamine how we’re utilizing those things and what kind of resources we are directing towards those apparati, or those particular offerings. I think the RA staff is great, and the RC staff is awesome. I think our graduate residents are phenomenal. I think this notion of having a house council in each house of students is exactly what we need to be thinking about. And yet somehow, we’re missing all
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of our opportunities because students are put into a position right now, like this week, during their freshman year to try to make this choice as to where they’re going to live next year, particularly those who are in independent houses. Does the selective house process contribute to a certain level of disruption? Does that need to look a little different? I don’t know, maybe it’s perfect the way it is. But somehow there are these points along the way that detract from community instead of contributing to it. I’m not sure what those are and to what extent they may contribute, but I hope we will examine all of those. Students right now have a lot of choices but don’t always get into the choices that they want. They don’t always get into a Greek organization that they wanted, they don’t get into a selective house that they wanted. They might not even get into an independent house that they wanted. Is choice the best way to go? Should we be having as many options as we do? Is that contributing to this lack of optimization of community? Lots of questions. I hope that’s part of my new role. To be in a position to ask a lot of questions and to help us all move forward in finding those answers.
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something you consider because it offers something meaningful and fun. And if you choose to not align with that community in a meaningful way, maybe so be it, but we’ve put our best foot forward and I’m not sure we’re there yet. I want to be a part of the team, the group and the initiative that gets us there.
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