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Nurse sues Duke, alleges religious discrimination
ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTEENTH YEAR, ISSUE 29
TO BE FRANK
Former U.S. Rep. Barney Frank reflects on his visit to Duke, career in Congress
Staff Reports The Chronicle
A Catholic nurse has filed a lawsuit against Duke and the Duke University Health System, alleging that they failed to accommodate her religious objections to abortion, birth control and vaccines, and thus violated anti-discrimination laws, according to a report by the News and Observer. The lawsuit, which was filed in federal court Oct. 27, seeks back pay and other damages for Sara Pedro, who took a job as a nurse at Duke hospital in 2016. After assuming her position, Pedro—who previously worked as a nurse for eight years in New York—received an exemption from the hospital from receiving vaccines. She later told the hospital that she was also unable to administer abortions and could not provide contraceptives or vaccines. Pedro’s lawyers contend that Duke eventually put her on administrative leave for “pretextual reasons” possibly linked to a “performance improvement plan.” The lawsuit alleges that the hospital violated the See DISCRIMINATION on Page 4
GPSC calls for resources to reduce smoking By Adam Beyer Digital Content Director
The Graduate and Professional Student Council approved a resolution at its meeting Tuesday that encourages the University to reduce smoking. A proposal for a smoke-free campus was first presented at the previous meeting. However, GPSC members amended the policy to make it less strict after some members raised concerns this week about such a policy’s effects on staff and students who smoke. Under the original proposal, which was recommended by the working group studying the issue, all combustible tobacco products would be banned on campus. A group of volunteers would be tasked with enforcing the ban by handing out cards with resources for quitting to people they see smoking. Some students were worried that would send a bad message. “We would see the undergraduate students, who are fairly privileged by the fact that they’d be getting See GPSC on Page 3
Xinchen Li | Contributing Photographer Former U.S. Rep. Barney Frank spoke at events last Tuesday and Wednesday and had lunch with students Thursday.
By Likhitha Butchireddygari Editor-in-Chief
Barney Frank entered the House of Representatives before most Duke students were born. Frank won his first race in 1980, noting that the reason he was able to run in the first place was because Pope John Paul II told Frank’s predecessor Robert Drinan, a Jesuit priest, and other priests to leave political life. Frank narrowly won both the primary and general election that year with about 52 percent of the vote. At the time, he was hiding the fact that he was gay. “For me, the first pressure for the first seven years I was in Congress was how to deal with the fact that I was a closeted gay man,” said Frank, who was on campus last week. “That was selfimposed pressure on me and I finally figured out that was stupid. It wasn’t worth it. I came out and from then on, the pressure was self-imposed about how to maximize my effectiveness.” Frank’s experiences as a young gay person may have informed his thoughts on free speech, a topic that came up at his talk at the Sanford School of Public Policy last Tuesday. Frank noted that he along with other gay and lesbian people were told that they shouldn’t engage in public displays of affection, such as kissing their partners or holding hands in public because it made other people uncomfortable. “Well, I said, ‘Tough, I’m going to do it,’” he responded. Free speech applies to everyone, he added. If gay people can express affection that makes some people uncomfortable, others should have the right to make anti-gay comments that make gay people uncomfortable.
“It’s either free speech or it’s not free speech,” Frank said. Wes George, a graduate student in the public policy program who attended the talk, said that he disagreed with Frank on this issue and argued that not all speech should be protected. “[For example], you can’t yell fire in a theater,” George said. “I do think hate speech on publicly-funded college campuses should be one of those areas, and I don’t think he necessarily was very responsive to that.” Another topic that came up at a separate event with Frank was Americans’ souring attitude toward their government. At Wednesday’s panel with Frank and Rubenstein Fellow Sarah Bloom Raskin, the former congressman explained that government had become very unpopular after the 2008 financial crisis. He said people would look at government more favorably if politicians did a better job explaining that the programs they advocate for are an aspect of government. Frank also commented on the polarization in Congress, noting that during George W. Bush’s time as president, bipartisan compromise was still happening. However, after Barack Obama’s election, extreme groups like Occupy Wall Street and the Tea Party came to power, the latter being more “smart” about their political efforts. He described how moderate Republicans lost their primary races to more extreme candidates in 2010. “The Republican Party was taken over by the people who were not interested in governance and who were not interested See FRANK on Page 3
Lunch for a Lincoln
Taking over the ‘downtown renaissance’
New DSG dining initiative offers dining options $5 and under at all venues. You can find a list of the options on Duke Dining’s website PAGE 2
Durham mayoral hopefuls Farad Ali and Steve Schewel came to campus to talk affordable housing, Duke’s role in the city PAGE 2
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Mayoral candidates Ali, Schewel talk EVERY VENDOR gentrification, Duke’s role in Durham NOW OFFERS $5 LUNCH OPTION UNIVERSITY
By Ann Gehan
Contributing Reporter
Mayoral candidates Farad Ali and Steve Schewel visited campus Tuesday to talk with students before the upcoming general election. In a roundtable discussion, the two candidates shared their visions for the city of Durham and how Duke students can engage themselves in Durham’s culture of “positive activism.” The event, which was sponsored by Duke Democrats, offered students a chance to ask both Ali, a business consultant and former city council member, and Schewel, Trinity ’73 and a member on the Durham City Council, questions in a more informal setting compared to past roundtables held before the Oct. 10 primaries. Similar to previous events, affordable housing dominated much of the conversation. Both candidates acknowledged the impact that the revitalization of downtown Durham has had in driving up prices both downtown and in adjacent neighborhoods. “Gentrification and its ramifications is the most important issue facing Durham today,” Schewel said. “We’re not going to stop the forces of gentrification, but what we
can do is moderate its effects.” Ali echoed Schewel’s sentiments, adding that the development of downtown Durham and other neighborhoods should be “really intentional” and should reflect Durham’s culture of “inclusion.” He explained his vision for development, especially in the downtown area, making the case for projects that improve “profits, property and people.” With this approach, Ali hoped that economic development in Durham “will be less about developers and affordable housing and more about our community.” Both candidates emphasized the unique role that Duke and its students have in the larger Durham community and the opportunities available for political and civic engagement. The candidates, who are both Democrats, praised Durham voters’ progressive values and commitment to community involvement. Schewel acknowledged that much of the “downtown renaissance” would not have been possible without Duke and its graduates. He also noted that the relationship between Duke and Durham has changed drastically over the years. See CANDIDATES on Page 4
By Bre Bradham Contributing Reporter
A new Duke Dining program introduced Monday seeks to provide affordable lunch options across campus. Daily Devil Deals ensures that every vendor on Duke’s campus offers a lunch option for $5 or less, and seeks to address the inaccessibility and cost of West Campus dining for first-year and low socioeconomic students. Duke Dining has posted a full list online of the deals from each vendor, which include options ranging from fried chicken with a side to a cup of fruit and coffee. Junior Kristina Smith, vice president of services and sustainability for Duke Student Government, wrote a proposal for the program over the summer as a way to address affordability issues on campus.
$5
Maximum price of a meal for lunch at all dining vendors on campus as part of Daily Devil Deals
Selena Qian | Contributing Photographer Farad Ali (pictured above), a business consultant and former member of the Durham City Council, faced off against Steve Schewel, Trinity ‘73 and a current city council member, at an on-campus event ahead of Election Day on Nov. 6.
“It’s really, really exciting [to see the program implemented] because I think it has the ability to touch many students and affect affordability on our campus in a positive way,” Smith said. She explained that her proposal spurred administrators to reach out to vendors about starting the program. By the time Smith met with Duke Dining administrators at the beginning of the semester to further discuss the project, the vendors were already working to develop options they could offer at a reduced price. The online list of options serves as an aggregated source of the affordable options at each vendor. In an email, Robert Coffey, director of dining services, noted that in some cases options were already available at these prices, but that the See LUNCH on Page 4
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FRANK FROM PAGE 1 in reaching across the aisle,” Frank said. He noted that the polarization, which has been “very one-sided,” has stifled the ability of congress members to compromise. He specifically highlighted the recent bipartisan compromise on health care by Democratic Sen. Patty Murray and Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander, the leaders of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. “They’ve come to an agreement about how to make the health care bill work and the rest of the Republicans said, ‘No, f*** that. We’re not doing that,’” Frank said, noting that Democrats in the Senate were receptive to the idea. Still, Frank did point to an area where compromise is happening in Congress—the Senate Banking Committee. He said that Democrats and Republicans were in “negotiations”
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to improve the Dodd-Frank Act, the financial reform bill that he helped write after the 2008 financial crisis. Although he noted that Dodd-Frank would be tough to repeal, he said there are ways Trump could undermine it, such as appointing people who don’t exercise its powers to the fullest extent. “The basic legislation will stay in effect, but it will be used much less vigorously as long as Trump is president,” Frank said. Both George and senior Sarina Weiss said Frank’s visit to campus offered a great opportunity for students to meet the congressman and hear him speak. “I think it’s extremely important to have speakers like Frank on campus to provide students with a diversity of personal accounts of political careers and opinions,” Weiss wrote in an email. Weiss and George had lunch with Frank, who also visited their Public Policy class. They said that Frank, who has
GPSC
phrasing of a “smoking ban.” “I was talking to some of my constituents FROM PAGE 1 today and I think they put it in a really good way: this is pretty clear tyranny of the majority,” a degree here at Duke, telling the African said Luke Fesko, an economics Ph.D. student. American person serving them their coffee that they should not be smoking,” said Carolin I think that it produces Benack, a Ph.D. student in English. “Also I shame on the part think that it produces shame on the part of the smoker that is counterproductive to them of the smoker that is quitting smoking.” counterproductive to them Kushal Kadakia, executive vice president of quitting smoking. Duke Student Government and a member of the working group, noted that the proposed CAROLIN BENACK resolution was not an affirmation of a specific PH.D. STUDENT IN ENGLISH policy proposal. Rather, it was a statement of student support for the effort. Walid Salah, a clinical research specialist “What we’re doing is marginalizing an already and another member of the working group, marginalized group and imposing a huge noted that obtaining data about staff smoking marginal cost on them while giving almost no was difficult but that it should be viewed as an marginal benefit to anyone else.” addiction and met with compassion. Ultimately, GPSC passed an amended Still, members of the committee version of the resolution that removed language maintained concerns about the resolution’s about specific policy options for smoking inclusion of specific policy language and the cessation. It also added encouragements for
Treatment study for alcohol or marijuana problems and depression, ages 18–21 Study therapy provided at no cost Compensation for assessments
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a reputation of being outspoken, was fairly candid in his remarks to students. For Weiss, who is from Frank’s congressional district, the biggest takeaway from his visit came from his comments on “pessimism” in politics. “The most significant thing he said to me was ‘pessimism is no reason not to do anything’ which definitely gave me a new outlook on what is happening now in politics,” she wrote. “Even when faced with two options that seem poor, that doesn’t give you an excuse not to choose.” Frank said that the only way people are going to change Congress or see reform on important issues like gun regulation is by electing new leaders. Despite low voter turnout among young voters, he was hopeful that young people would vote in upcoming election cycles now that Trump is president. “If that doesn’t get them to vote, I don’t know what to do,” Frank said.
increased services for smokers and sensitivity The remainder of the student fee would revert for marginalized groups. Duke Student to GPSC’s operational funds. Government will discuss a similar resolution Members had questions about the proposal at its Wednesday meeting. and proposed amendments to clarify certain aspects. It will be brought up again at GPSC’s In other business next meeting. GPSC President Rashmi Joglekar, a Ph.D. GPSC also voted to raise the graduate student at the Nicholas School, presented student activities fee to $36.50 from the about her negotiations with Duke University current $35.50. An inflation-only rate increase Union about changing the funding it receives would have been 78 cents. from the graduate student activities fee. The Jacqueline Robinson-Hamm, a Ph.D. union is responsible for setting up campus student in biomedical engineering, received concerts and other programming. GPSC approval for her resolution encouraging Currently, just under half of the $35.50 the University to create a confidential fee goes to DUU—approximately $144,000 reporting system for incidents of sexual assault each year. However, graduate students make and harassment. The method would have the less use of DUU programs. DUU data showed Office for Institutional Equity investigate if that in 2017, approximately 1,200 graduate they noticed patterns in the reports. and professional students attended Last Day GPSC gave final approval of the of Class festivities, down from approximately Emergency Travel Fund proposal discussed 1,800 in 2015. at its last meeting. Under a proposed agreement between The committee will also host a 5K run/ Joglekar and DUU President Lesley Chen- walk event around East Campus for hurricane Young, GPSC would instead purchase 2,000 relief on Nov. 4. Proceeds will support aid to student DUU “passes” for a total of $76,000. Puerto Rico.
Attention Graduate Students: Nominate a Mentor
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LUNCH FROM PAGE 2 program shines a light on those meals. “Many of these Daily Devil Deals are already part of the regular menu offerings and we are just highlighting them,” Coffey wrote. “We really appreciate our local partners and national brands embracing items important to the Duke community like offering a Duke living wage and supporting sustainability initiatives while also maintaining high quality, variety and value.” Smith noted that she got the idea for the wide-spread implementation of the project from the affordable lunch special that Devil’s Krafthouse offers—half of a sandwich and a salad or soup. Andy Perno, owner and operator of Devil’s Krafthouse, said that offering an affordable combination for lunch was a “no-brainer.” He said that it took a while for students to become aware of the special, but now the Krafthouse sells a “good amount of them.”
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“I’m happy with the way that it’s going,” Perno said. “It’s not something I would stop doing, because it’s not like it hurts anything for me.” First-year Tanisha Nalavadi—who frequents Panda Express, Ginger and Soy, CaFé and Chef ’s Kitchen—said that having a $5 lunch option available at all campus vendors helps to alleviate the problem of spending food points and FLEX funds on food. Nalavadi said that she finds the food at Marketplace to be bland. She therefore typically relies on West Campus options for breakfast and lunch, which uses up her food points quicker. Senior Quinn Steven, co-chair of the Duke University Student Dining Advisory Committee, noted that the benefits of a guarantee of having access to $5 lunches is not just limited to students. “It provides a little security about the cost of buying a meal on campus for individuals during the day. If you’re an off-campus person coming to campus for the day, you know that you will have lunch options that are only $5,” Steven said. “If you’re a student who is cost-conscious, you know that you
at least have that one meal allocated at a certain price.” Steven said that vendors are typically happy to do what they can to better serve students, but that it’s important for students to remember that the restauranteurs and their employees have to make a living. She added that DUSDAC has been involved in the rollout of the program and helped facilitate student feedback that led to dining change. In addition to the full list of options available online, signage about the options should soon be present at all locations except for Trinity Café, the Freeman Center and The Commons, wrote Kirsten Marinko, marketing research specialist for Duke Dining, in an email. While the food options available under the new program vary from vendor to vendor, not all are meant to necessarily be full meals. Smith explained that the program is particularly important for Brodhead Center vendors and other locations where students would look to get a full meal.
It provides a little security about the cost of buying a meal on campus for individuals during the day. QUINN STEVEN
TRINITY SENIOR AND CO-CHAIR OF THE DUKE UNIVERSITY STUDENT DINING ADVISORY COMMITTEE
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“Because it is at every on-campus vendor, you have places like Bella Union and [Saladelia Café in Perkins], which are not necessarily places where people are getting full meals,” she said. “Students who are going there wouldn’t say they are expecting to get a full lunch or a full dinner for under $5.” Aside from whether the meals being offered are sufficient for students, Smith noted that she is also seeking feedback on whether there is enough variety of options available for students with dietary restrictions. “The concern before this project was that there weren’t affordable meals necessarily on campus,” she said. “So now that we have affordable meals, [we want to] make those meals sufficient for all students.”
CANDIDATES FROM PAGE 2 “Duke has a critical role to play in our economic development,” Schewel noted. “What Duke does sets the precedent for our city.” Ali repeatedly emphasized Durham’s unique culture in his talking points and encouraged Duke students to take advantage of the distinctive environment during their time on campus. He praised the “activating” nature of life in Durham, highlighting the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People and People’s Alliance as examples of the myriad opportunities available for engagement in activism. “We have a great intelligence pool [in Durham],” Ali said. “The question is how do we work better together?” Despite the candidates’ visions for improvements in Durham, Ali noted that difficulty lies ahead no matter who is elected. “The One Durham model [Ali’s slogan] is going to be hard,” he said. “It’s a hard thing to get people to get rid of ‘isms’ [such as] classism and racism that exist everywhere.” Despite the difficulties, Ali expressed his hope that the next mayor could combine the city’s various resources with its culture of engagement to create change. “Durham is a family,” Ali said. “We don’t need to have the ‘isms’ that separate us…We can make the city we love a city for all.” Early voting for the mayoral and city council races has already started, and continues until Saturday Nov. 4, with Election Day on Nov. 6. Students who live on West and Central campuses can vote at W.I. Patterson Recreation Center on Crest Street. The election polling site for students registered to vote on East Campus is George Watts Elementary School.
DISCRIMINATION FROM PAGE 1 anti-discrimination section of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which provides that employers should avoid interfering with employees’ religious practices. Federal religious accommodation provisions also say that employers must find ways to work around workers’ religious beliefs. Sam Turken contributed reporting.
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recess
VOLUME 19, ISSUE 29 | NOVEMBER 1, 2017
DEMAN weekend Beyond New York and L.A., page 7
barktoberfest Durham Central Park hosts dog festival, page 8
durham in drag The vibrant drag scene at Duke and beyond, page 9
R 6 | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2017
recess editors What is your spirit Halloween candy?
Will Atkinson ............... bag of pretzels Nina Wilder .......................candy corn Georgina Del Vecho...........bottle caps Dillon Fernando ..................whoppers Christy Kuesel .....................sweetarts Jessica Williams .................milk duds Likhitha Butchireddygari............ floss
on the cover: Small Town Records’ Signed Artist Audition Show, Oct. 19. By Xinchen Li.
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Hitched between the birth and swift death of rock ‘n’ roll on one side and the frenzy of the British Invasion on the other, the era from roughly 1960 to 1964 has been incorrectly painted as a down period for pop music. To many, the death of Buddy Holly and the conscription of Elvis Presley left behind an empty landscape in the charts. Some of the criticism leveled on this period has undoubtedly sexist undertones — this was the peak of the dominance of girl groups — and recording innovations like Phil Spector’s “Wall of Sound” trace their origins to this time. But of all the movements in the early 1960s, one musician towers above them all: Roy Orbison. A few weeks ago, a fellow Recess staffer reflected on the influence of another legend, Townes Van Zandt. If Van Zandt was country music’s patron saint of loneliness, Orbison was the same for pop. His compositions touched heights that few performers, then and now, have matched. Orbison began to find fame with the 1956 single “Ooby Dooby,” but it wasn’t until 1960’s “Only the Lonely” that he really found his voice. Uncomfortable with the faster-paced rock that was favored at the time, Orbison was more suited to orchestral pop, and his greatest ballads — like “Running Scared,” “Crying” and “In Dreams” — follow the latter mode. He found a fan in a young Bob Dylan, who sums up Orbison’s towering place in pop music in his 2004 memoir “Chronicles”: “With Roy, you didn’t know if you were listening to mariachi or opera. He kept you on your toes. With him, it was all about fat and blood. He sounded like he was singing from an Olympian mountaintop and he meant business. … His songs had songs within songs. They shifted from major key to minor key without any logic. Orbison was deadly serious — no pollywog and no
fledgling juvenile. There wasn’t anything else on the radio like him. I’d listen and wait for another song, but next to Roy the playlist was strictly dullsville … gutless and flabby.” I’ve never been particularly swayed by the cult of Dylan, but he had it right on Orbison. When it came to other artists of his time, Orbison often distinguished himself by what he was not. Orbison was not cool. Nor was he particularly sexy, or young, or anything that usually ensures the success of a pop artist. Sporting inches-thick glasses and known for standing stock-still while performing on stage, he was the antithesis of a gyrating Elvis, and his songs reflected this unflagging seriousness.
staff note Orbison claimed that many of his songs came to him in his sleep, and their structures parallel that dream state, the mysterious realm in between waking and sleeping. Eschewing a traditional versechorus format, a typical Orbison song builds from a whispering introduction into an operatic climax marked by the singer’s falsetto. “In Dreams,” for example, never repeats a melodic line, traversing seven unique sections in under three minutes. “Crying,” which was inspired by Ravel’s “Bolero,” similarly builds from an unassuming beginning into a cathartic release. These singles move by their own dreamlike logic: just when it seems a peak
has arrived, a second, even greater climax follows without any hint of expectation. The result is a surprise that’s all the more powerful for the fact that it doesn’t feel at all sudden. It’s fitting that Orbison’s songs have found a home in the films of David Lynch, whose preoccupation with all-American iconography and surreal dreamscapes suits Orbison’s ballads. (Indeed, I can thank Lynch for introducing me to Orbison.) And for a director who specializes in conspicuous music choices, it could be argued that Orbison deserves a measure of credit for the effect these movies achieve. What is “Blue Velvet” without Frank Booth’s maniacal obsession with “In Dreams” (or, rather, “Candy-Colored Clown”)? What is “Mulholland Drive” without “Llorando,” Rebekah del Rio’s a cappella rendition of “Crying,” which soundtracks the movie’s emotional climax? Of course, not all of Orbison’s tracks can be winners. When he departs from the baroque mode and opts for comparatively lighter fare, it feels a bit awkward. (Consider this stirring chorus from 1962’s “Nightlife”: “Nightlife / is so much fun / when you’re in love / and love is young.”) But at their best, even his more typically doo-wop songs manage to subvert the genre, embarking on unexpected harmonic and rhythmic diversions from the triedand-true formula. Unfortunately, Orbison found himself unable to adapt to the changing tastes of the late 1960s, and his legacy will always be limited to those few early years. It’s hard to find an analog to Roy Orbison since then, perhaps because he is so difficult to imitate. For me, he remains one of the few artists whose songs I find myself playing, quite literally, on repeat — like a recurring dream. —Will Atkinson
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WEDNESDAY,NOVEMBER NOVEMBER1, 1, 2017 2017 | 7 WEDNESDAY,
campus arts
How Durham is becoming a destination for creative alumni
By Will Atkinson Recess Editor
For years, New York and Los Angeles have been the dual epicenters of the arts and media world. Duke’s DEMAN Arts & Media Weekend, which gets its name from the Duke Entertainment Media & Arts Network and connects students with industry professionals, tends to reflect this concentration of influence, regularly drawing executives from networks, streaming services and media companies based in the two cities. But a quick scan of the lineup for the eighth annual DEMAN Weekend, which takes place Friday and Saturday at various locations on campus, reveals a striking number of alumni who have put their roots down just steps away from campus. More and more, it seems, alumni in creative fields are making the choice to return to the Triangle. From N.Y. to N.C. Visitors to downtown Durham may recognize Beyù Caffè, which occupies a prime spot in Main Street’s Five Points district. By day, Beyù (pronounced “be you”) operates as a European-style coffeehouse and restaurant, transforming into a jazz club after dark. Before the restaurant opened in December 2009, though, it took a move to New York and back for owner Dorian Bolden, Trinity ’02, to make his unique business model a reality. Working as a financial advisor after graduation, the death of his father prompted Bolden to reevaluate his career path. “I think there was just something pulling at me, once my father passed, [that] kind of made me realize tomorrow’s not guaranteed, and go after life,” Bolden said. He made it his mission to start a restaurant and moved back to North Carolina in July 2005, joining his soonto-be wife, who was beginning medical school at UNC-Chapel Hill. Equally passionate about the business and
cultural ends of his new project, Bolden spent the ensuing years working in local restaurants and honing Beyù’s business model. (It just so happened that this new venture allowed him to work within his two majors at Duke, economics and sociology — something he joked he never thought he’d be able to do.) Having grown up in Atlanta before attending Duke, Bolden saw his hometown reflected in Durham in the combination of small-town feel and urban bustle. He was prescient enough to see that the city’s investment in the downtown infrastructure beginning in the mid2000s — including the construction of the Durham Performing Arts Center and the recent proliferation of music festivals like Art of Cool and Moogfest — boded well for Durham business owners. The cultural and racial makeup of Durham, too, attracted Bolden, who believed the city was “ripe” for a place of community that would bring people together. “This city, it’s about to blow,” Bolden said. Sarah Krueger, Trinity ’12, has found a similar home as WRAL’s Durham bureau reporter. Before joining the Raleighbased TV network, she, too, spent time in New York after graduating from Duke. It was the livability factor, she said, that drew her back to the Triangle. “I find in Durham, I keep a busier social calendar than I did in New York City,” Krueger said. “There’s just so much happening here and it’s such an exciting time for Durham, so I love being back here and being part of it. … And now my love for Durham just grows every day.” Krueger emphasized the power of Duke connections in the progression of her career. Simply being a Duke graduate could be the deciding factor in getting an audience with a potential employer, and she cited multiple unprompted, “cold” emails to fellow alumni that ended up opening up doors for her. The most important trait required for success in the competitive field of media, she said, is persistence.
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James Willamor | Courtesy of Flickr Durham has become a hub for arts and media careers, including some represented at DEMAN Weekend.
“You have to really want to do it and be committed to it to make it happen,” Krueger said. “Because it’s not a job, for the majority of people, that’s just going to fall into your lap.” The business of creativity Like Bolden, Joshua Setzer, Trinity ’08, and Christophe Lafargue, Trinity ’11, have united a business model with a creative element. At Durham’s Lucid Dream VR, they utilize virtual and augmented reality technologies to assist clients in sales, marketing and training, according to Lucid Dream’s website. Both worked in the business world before joining Lucid Dream. Co-founder and CEO Setzer went into consulting after college and broke into the world of custom design and space planning while working with an architectural family business. Business development director Lafargue had business experience in Durham, too, and joined the team this spring. Citing the video game industry’s “unusually strong footprint” in the Triangle — Epic
Games, for example, has its headquarters in Cary — Setzer reasoned that Durham formed a strong ecosystem for startup businesses, especially in virtual reality, which applies some of the principles of gaming and design to tackle real-world issues. They both recognized the city’s rapid growth in the last decade or so. “The Durham that exists now is virtually unrecognizable from when I was there,” Lafargue said. “And I graduated in 2011.” Lafargue also said that a business focus is a necessity in pursuing a creative career. “I think finding ways to have [business and creativity] complement each other, making sure you do that is kind of an imperative if you want creativity to be a part of your full-time focus, to be sustainable,” he said. Duke and the arts Although most of these local alumni See DEMAN on Page 10
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local arts
Cuteness, costumes and canines abound at a rainy Barktoberfest By Selena Qian Staff Writer
Wet. That’s what best describes the third annual Barktoberfest held Sunday at Durham Central Park. Wet fur, wet grass, wet frisbees, even wet air that held the promise of more rain. When the downpour stopped for a moment, it raised hopes for sunshine and warmth, only to start again not half an hour later. Once the rain ended a second time, the air turned to a sharp cold. Dogs and humans alike shivered in their inadequate coats of fur and clothing. It truly was an afternoon of odd weather, one not even Wes Hohenstein, chief meteorologist for CBS North Carolina, predicted. Hohenstein was the announcer at the event, taking to the small stage at one end of an L-shaped pavilion every few minutes to make announcements of upcoming contests and performances. He also reminded attendees that the event was a fundraiser for Beyond Fences (formerly the Coalition to Unchain Dogs), an organization dedicated to helping pet owners in underserved neighborhoods by providing services such as driving pets to veterinary appointments, spaying or neutering and building fences so animals can roam freely in their yards. Whenever a contest started, the entire crowd gathered toward the stage. McKenzie Beaver, a first-year in the MBA program at the Fuqua School of Business, took second prize in the Pet Human Look-a-Like contest. She dressed both herself and her dog, Zoey, in matching Blue Devil gear. “I do think that Zoey and I look a lot alike in the
photos by selena qian
face,” Beaver said. “One thing that we have in common in particular is we both are constantly smiling.” Other contests included Best Costume (Pet Only), Best Costume (Pet and Human) and Best Pet Trick. While the event was free, contestants were encouraged to donate $3 to Beyond Fences. These contests also inspired a slew of creative costumes, from punny outfits like the “Great Barrier Ruff,” to ones in tune with the spooky side of Halloween, like a costume inspired by Pennywise and Georgie, characters from the horror movie “It.” Characters from “Star Wars,” “Harry Potter,” “Pokemon,” “The Wizard of Oz” and “Twin Peaks,” among other pop culture icons, also made an appearance, their ensembles reinterpreted for the canine. Judging all the contests were a group of local “celebrities,” including two state senators, Mike Woodard (D, District 22) and Floyd McKissick, Jr. (D, District 20), as well as a couple reporters who often write about issues related to pets and community members highly involved with Durham’s animal rescue and shelter efforts. Each competition saw the individual contestants providing the dogs’ names and breeds, and performing or showing off their attire. After everyone in the category had their time in the spotlight, the judges convened to determine the first, second and third place awardees, along with many honorable mentions since this year’s contests were popular — there were around 20 entries for the each of the Best Costume contests. Beyond the stage, a variety of vendors lined the pavilion space. Some booths targeted the dog market while others did not have a direct canine connection.
The tables held all sorts of pet paraphernalia, including bow ties, bandanas, leashes and collars, as well as information for services, ranging from veterinary hospitals to pet sitters and dog training facilities. A couple of real estate companies and food vendors also set up spaces at the event for publicity and to support Beyond Fences. In a grassy area bordered by the pavilion on two sides, the Purina Pro Plan Performance Team (whose name Hohenstein tripped over several times) performed twice, once at noon and again at 2 p.m. The dogs chased down frisbees, jumped many times beyond their standing heights and spun on command. The trainers also gave tips to dog owners about how to train their dogs, demonstrating early training techniques and emphasizing the idea of a “lure,” typically a treat or some kind of toy that the dogs will want to follow. A new resident of Durham, it was Beaver’s first time attending Barktoberfest, and she emphasized how fun the event was. This was also the first year Beyond Fences collaborated with Durham Parks and Recreation to put on Barktoberfest. Beaver first heard about the event at Northgate Dog Park, and since a couple of her friends in the Fuqua MBA program also owned dogs and wanted to attend, they decided to go. Beaver said she enjoyed learning about the different vendors and feeling like part of a community of fellow dog-lovers. “It’s great to have so many options and to have a community that supports dogs so much because they’re so important to us as humans,” Beaver said “Dogs give you such a sense of love and loyalty and dedication that you just really can’t get anywhere else.”
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playground
‘The Room’: A retrospective review of the 2003 ‘disasterpiece’ By Wesley Caretto Contributing Writer
What could I possibly say about “The Room” that hasn’t been said before? The 2003 “disasterpiece” has cemented its handprints on the Internet Walk of Fame. Beautifully awkward scenes like Johnny’s rooftop entrance or the most dialogueefficient flower purchase in history are bizarre enough out of context to be unintentionally captivating. Monthly interactive screenings of “The Room” across the country amass hundreds of attendees, giddy to hurl both insults and plastic spoons at the theater screen. It wasn’t always this way; the movie was panned commercially and critically, leaving theaters after earning back a measly $1,800 at the box office. How did an unremarkable, amateur romantic drama accidentally become a beloved, campy cult comedy? The fascination surrounding “The Room” tells us a lot about film culture and how we as spectators appraise films. Johnny (played by writer/director/ producer/D.B. Cooper’s secret alias Tommy Wiseau) is a banker engaged to Lisa (Juliette Danielle), whom he loves very much. Secretly unhappy living with Johnny, Lisa begins an affair with Johnny’s best friend, Mark (Greg Sestero). If you were hoping for a more intricate plot, I’m sorry. Along the way, Johnny throws a football with his friends in an alleyway, orders dinner at a restaurant, throws a football on the roof with his friends, has two terribly uncomfortable sex scenes, plays football with his friends while they wear tuxedos and drinks a concoction only known as “scotchka.” Secondary characters float through the movie with
minimal impact to the main storyline, even when these moments hint at echoes of real emotional depth. “I got the results of the test back,” Lisa’s mother (Carolynn Minnott) explains early on. “I definitely have breast cancer.” The subplot dies at its inception, with absolutely no reference to the terminal illness later in the movie. The romance between the handsome-
the journey to “The Room” themselves. And, believe me, it’s a journey you’ll want to take. Instead, let’s talk about the other things that went into this movie. Supposedly, “The Room” had a $6 million budget, a portion of which was spent constructing soundstages for a couple scenes, including an alleyway and a green
Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Tommy Wiseau’s “The Room,” known as one of the worst movies ever made, has become a cult classic.
yet-wooden Mark and the unbelievably manipulative Lisa really tries a viewer’s patience, as Mark plays dumb in the face of her quite obvious advances. Mark tells Lisa that Johnny is his best friend a couple times, but somehow he keeps getting roped into sex scenes that double as R&B music videos. Although I don’t feel like anything in this movie is dramatically potent enough to warrant a spoiler warning, I won’t give away much more about the plot for the sake of those readers who haven’t had a chance to take
screen-equipped rooftop. Why couldn’t Wiseau find an alleyway or rooftop where he could shoot on location for much cheaper? While we’re asking questions, why does director of photography Todd Baron keep letting the camera go out of focus? Why is a majority of the dialogue dubbed after filming? Why do we need all these establishing shots of San Francisco? Why are there so many continuity errors regarding time of day, costumes and props? Are the four sex scenes (and the four full-length songs accompanying
them) really necessary? It would be one thing to call “The Room” a poorly made movie, but this level of filmmaking incompetence almost seems intentional. It’s as if each decision was deliberately made in an attempt to create the worst film ever. Maybe the fact that there are absolutely no redeeming qualities in “The Room” is why it’s been called “the ‘Citizen Kane’ of bad movies” by critics over and over again. Each element of filmmaking synthesizes perfectly to create an overall failure of cinema. When I watched it for the first time, one of my friends said, “It’s like if an alien tried to make a movie,” which feels startlingly accurate. As moviegoers, we’re used to watching bad movies made with budgets ten times larger (“Geostorm,” anyone?), but every big-budget flop is molded and shaped by an industry that runs on convention. Even the worst movie widely released in theaters in 2017 feels safe and familiar, blending in with mainstream storytelling and production norms. Wiseau treats “The Room” with Hollywood fanaticism minus the prerequisite industry experience. When we watch it, we experience a disconnect between the familiar movie form and the actual presentation. In other words, every minute of the 100-minute runtime of “The Room” just feels ... off. However, the positive bond formed by collectively enduring the movie is unrivaled. The best parts of humanity can be found in a dark room full of strangers yelling quotes in unison, throwing footballs around and laughing at one another’s jokes, and none of this would be possible without a universally terrible movie to ridicule. So thank you, Mr. Wiseau, for redefining the phrase “so bad, it’s good.”
local arts
A look inside the growing drag scene at Duke and in Durham
By Sarah Derris Staff Writer
When the lights dim and a drag queen takes the stage, she is, for that moment, utterly free — to be herself, free of societal pressure to conform to the gender binary’s norms. Drag shows are over-the-top, characterized by dynamic drag personas in big hair and loud makeup, lip-synching to poppy club hits and death-dropping — a physical feat in itself. These queens and kings are made up of not only cisgender individuals, but also gender fluid, gender non-binary and transgender people who challenge the boundaries of social order and creativity. Drag has a rich cultural history, encompassing cross-dressing performances from Ancient Greek tragedies to Shakespearian comedies and, more currently, as deliberate parodies of norms prescribed to gender and sexuality. The term “drag queen” has etymological ties to the Polari vernacular — a type of British slang popularized by gay men and the theater community in the 19th and 20th centuries. Drag, while maintaining a turbulent presence in popular culture, is developing agency within the art world as well. The Durham drag community is a colorful and vibrant group of performers, including self-proclaimed “Drag Diva” Vivica C. Coxx and local drag king Spray
Jay, who retain a delicate balance between evocative and provocative. The queens and kings frequent local venues including The Pinhook and The Bar for nighttime performances. The community, notably “The House of Coxx,” fosters a sense of compassion and inclusivity and provides mentorship for amateurs. Duke, having a prominent presence in the Durham community, inevitably intersects with the Durham drag scene. Senior and longtime Gilbert-Addoms resident assistant Cole Wicker is a visible member of both the drag and LGBTQ+ communities with his vivacious drag persona, Madame Margaret Snatcher. “Margaret Snatcher is a big girl — I always like to joke that she has a big personality to match her big hips. She has this big and flamboyant personality, much like myself, but at the same time she’s also kind,” Wicker said. “I want to be a person that’s kind both in and out of drag — so she’s there, she’s ready for the party but she’s also there to get along with people and have fun.” For many, coming to terms with their sexuality can be a time of confusion or anxiety. Although there are many oncampus resources to soothe this time, including the Women’s Center or the Center for Gender and Sexual Diversity, Wicker found solace in friends who were accepting and supportive of his fascination with drag. The Durham drag community,
Nina Wilder | Contributing Photographer Cole Wicker’s Madame Margaret Snatcher performs at a drag show on Duke’s East Campus in April.
particularly local queen Naomi Dix, was especially integral to facilitating the transition into his drag persona. “I came out my sophomore year and in the past, before coming out, I had done gender bender days and drag pageants in high school — they were meant as jokes, but I always kind of liked it,” Wicker said. “When I came out, I felt that the whole concept of gender, gender flexibility — just doing whatever you want and being who you want was really cool. So, I went out and bought some makeup and kind of hoped everything would fall into place. I found a drag mother, Naomi Dix, and she took me under her wing and we
built this relationship where she helped me quickly improve.” Wicker noted some famous personalities that proved particularly influential, including ’70s drag icon Divine (see: John Waters’ “Pink Flamingos”) and notorious RuPaul queens Alaska, Katya and Trixie Mattel. In wake of popular television shows like “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and increased visibility of trans celebrities including Laverne Cox and, perhaps more contentiously, Caitlyn Jenner, this decade of drag and an increasingly sturdy LGBTQ+ media presence seems to be See DRAG on Page 10
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DEMAN FROM PAGE 7 had experience in arts and media while at Duke — Bolden was in the marching band, while Krueger worked with Duke Student Broadcasting and served on The Chronicle editorial board for a year — many did not necessarily expect to go into creative careers. For many students at Duke, the perceived prevalence of STEM and business careers can make arts, media or entertainment seem unfeasible. Institutional support for the arts on campus has grown tremendously over the last decade, but the perception that arts are secondary remains. Despite graduating recently, Becky Holmes, Trinity ’15, said she experienced these common expectations while at Duke. Holmes, who founded the Raleigh-based organic food company Ello Raw while she was still an undergraduate, acknowledged that Duke’s support of the arts surpasses that of many other elite schools. But when she switched her major from economics to dance, she said, the move was not “looked upon very highly” by
her peers. “There’s still the sense of, if you major in arts at Duke, you have to have a second major that’s your quote-endquote ‘real major,’ which is very unfortunate, but I do still think it’s that case,” Holmes said. Bolden argued that this was more a matter of expectation than anything else. “I think one of the challenges is students don’t always know that Duke will support the arts,” he said. “And so a lot of the times, it’s always been that challenge at Duke, where it’s the expectation of, ‘Okay, I’m waiting for the university to provide me with,’ as opposed to saying, ‘Well, if you want it, just go after it, and here are the resources to help you do it.’” Certainly, an event like DEMAN Weekend attempts to provide students with these resources. Between Friday’s keynote conversation, various panels on Friday and Saturday and opportunities for portfolio reviews and networking, the weekend gives students access to figures in the arts and media world — a chance that rarely comes around after these four years.
Alu lumni mni Fi Film lmma mmake ker Homecom Ho comin ing ing ng
present
Amanda knox
Q&A to follow w/ director/executive producer Brian McGinn ‘07!
About the Filmmaker Brian McGinn (Trinity'07, F/V/D Certificate) is a documentary film director and producer based in Los Angeles. While at Duke, he made a short film based on a Nick Hornby short story, as well as a number of short documentaries under the tutelage of Gary Hawkins & Josh Gibson. His acclaimed documentary features include American Teacher (2011), The Record Breaker (2013), and Amanda Knox (2016). He also directs and executive produces the 4-time Emmynominated, IDA award-winning Netflix show Chef’s Table, which he developed with David Gelb.
(Rod Blackhurst & Brian McGinn, 2016, 92 min, Denmark/USA, English and Italian w/ English subtitles, Color, Digital) W s she a cold-blooded psychopath who brutally murdered her roommate or a Wa naive student abroad trapped in an endless nightmare? In the Netflix Original Documentary Amanda Kn K ox ox, x, Duke alumnus Brian McGinn teams up with codirector Rod Blackhurst (Tribeca Audience Award-winner,r,r Here r Alone) and re producer Mette Heide (Peabody Award-winner,r,r India's's' Daughte t r) te r to explore the notorious case that made headlines around the world. 2017 Primetime Emmy Award nominee for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special and Outstanding Writing fo f r Nonfiction Programming! "Blackhurst and McGinn do a vise-tightening job with the unpacking the facts as we now know them, as we never knew them (including rarely seen court documents and police video), and as they were originally distorted beyond all reason.” -- Robert Abele, Th T eWr Wra Wr rap S onsore Sp r d by re b the Duke k En ke E tertainment,t,t Media and Arts t Netwo ts w rk (D wo ( EM EMA MAN) N , Arts t of the Movi ts v ng Image vi ( MI)I)I, Duke (A k Alumni Association, Office of the Vi ke V ce Provo v st fo vo f r the Arts ts, ts s, and #A # rts t tig ts i ators ig r. rs
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GRIFFITH FILM THEATER Free Screening! movingimageDuke
“If you have that clarity that you want to work in a creative space, make the commitment early to getting in,” Setzer said. “If you know you have that creative thread in you … it’s easier to honor it earlier than it is to, let’s say, sublimate it temporarily and then try to bring it back out.” And the abundance of locally-based alumni on DEMAN’s roster makes it clear that New York and Los Angeles are not the only gateways to the creative world, a sentiment shared by Krueger: “How Duke alums are so prevalent in this area still, I think, is a great testament to Duke and to the area … that so many of us are still around and loving what we do and where we do it.”
DRAG FROM PAGE 9 simultaneously ushering in a pop culture renaissance and an epoch of mainstream relevance. Drag history and culture are the focal points of various museum exhibitions and showcases, including “Coming Out,” an art display in Birmingham, U.K. — which marks 50 years since the 1967 Sexual Offences Act — and the 2015 “What a Drag!” exhibit that highlighted some of Key West’s most dazzling leading drag queens. Despite growing media popularity, there remains a segment of American society that will not tolerate the notion of men in drag. Others find that drag caricatures women, “appropriating” their form or even reinforcing gendered stereotypes. For Wicker, however, drag is a means of artistic self-expression that operates to poke fun at, rather than reinforce, the often extreme expectations society has on women. “When people talk about drag I want to be as respectful of individuals in the community as possible. I think, traditionally, drag has been called female impersonation and that raises the issue of if the actions of drag queens are exploitative in terms of mocking women, and I don’t think so,” Wicker said. “The way I do drag, I wear really big hair and eye makeup because it’s about being extreme all around. It’s about exaggerating parts of myself that I already have as well. Instead of trying to fit the mold of an ideal woman, drag queens are taking society’s expectations and blowing them to extreme and sometimes ridiculous proportions.” It would be ludicrous to assume that life as a drag queen is always glitz and glamour. For Wicker, managing a balance with school and involvement in the Durham drag community can be a difficult task that often means budgeting hours to prepare Margaret for public appearances. Beyond physical difficulties, some family and community members are still skeptical of Cole’s — who is a North Carolina native — passion for drag. Given North Carolina’s rocky past with trans rights, most prominently former governor Pat McCrory’s controversial House Bill 2, discomfort or apprehension about openly identifying with the Durham drag or LGBTQ+ communities is justifiable. “Being a student and being a drag queen is hard and putting effort into what I want to wear can be costly and time-consuming. Even more difficult, though, is that there are still community members and family members who still don’t like or accept drag — they find something inherently wrong with a male identifying individual dressed as a woman or vice versa,” Wicker commented. “Margaret is always a part of myself, not just when I’m in drag — and I want to be able to embrace that. But it’s hard — especially in North Carolina, it’s not always easy to be yourself.” For now, while the fight to diminish prejudice and the demand for equality persists, drag will continue to exist on the edge of the norm, offering a safe space for those who feel marginalized by society and pushing the boundaries of self-expression and identity. For those who are interested in delving into the world of drag or are questioning their sexuality, Wicker offers some words of advice: “Find a friend whom you can trust and grow together because, as with being new to any community, it can be hard starting from scratch. For some it may not be their time or may not be safe to embrace who they want to be, and I encourage those to hold on to what they love and to know one day it will be their time and it will be safe. Your first time can be scary, but just know that for Duke and Durham, there are always people here that will be excited and ready to support you.”
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WOMEN’S TENNIS
SEARCH FOR PERFECTION
McCarthy and Hamlin look to wrap up fall season without a doubles defeat By Spencer Levy Contributing Reporter
With many teams, the next five days present an opportunity to gain top-level doubles experience. But for Duke, those mild expectations pale in comparison. Four Blue Devils will travel to Indian Wells, Calif. to compete in the Oracle ITA National Fall Championships Nov. 1-5. Facing an array of challenging singles and doubles matches, the team will lean on its previous success this fall slate and attempt to set a gold standard for future Duke teams. The junior duo of Kaitlyn McCarthy and Ellyse Hamlin sit at the top of the draw sheet as the No. 1 seed in this final national tournament of the fall circuit. Joining the recent ITA All-American national champions are senior Samantha Harris and freshman Kelly Chen—who lost in the semifinals of the same event. They hold the No. 3 seed, giving the Blue Devils two of the three top doubles seeds. “Any time you have success, you may have a target on your back, but that is what we want. We want to be in that position.” Duke head coach Jamie Ashworth said. “We have to welcome that with open arms…. We have to not only expect that but want that, and that’s what’s going to make us better in the long run. That’s a good kind of pressure to have.”
COLUMN
Ranking the Blue Devils
Then, it was time for the ITA All-American Championships. Five wins later, the Duke pair flew home with some championship hardware. And with the top seed, their perfect record may move to 13-0 when Championship Sunday rolls around. “We [need to] play with a lot of confidence. Obviously, we should have a
There are 15 men between the ages of 18 and 22 on the Blue Devils’ roster heading into the season. Knowing Mike Krzyzewski, approximately eight of those 15 men will actually play basketball between November and March. But judging by last year’s injury luck, all 15 will play meaningful minutes somehow, so here’s a ranking of the entire roster, only measured in small part by basketball talent. T14. Jordan Goldwire, Mike Buckmire Goldwire figures to play little behind the other guards already on the roster, but both Goldwire and Buckmire have fan-favorite potential due to their ability to look like normal college students instead of future millionaire giants. 13. Alex O’Connell What goes for O’Connell largely goes for Goldwire and Buckmire, but he takes the higher ranking of the three because he earns points for a very fashionable haircut. O’Connell also advances in the rankings for being a Duke lifer, as his dad played for the Blue Devils in the 1970s. Points must also be subtracted for choosing to wear No. 15, an omen that he will leave after one year. I’m
See W. TENNIS on Page 12
See M. BASKETBALL on Page 13
Sid Bhaskara
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Junior Kaitlyn McCarthy will team up with classmate Ellyse Hamlin as the top seed at this week’s ITA Fall Championships. The top seeds that the Blue Devils possess are not an accident. It is a product of hard work in practice and a cohesive bond between two teammates. The ITA No. 25 junior classmates began their doubles success this summer when they won the ITA National Summer Championships. To open the fall season, McCarthy and Hamlin swept through the Duke James Bonk Invitational with three wins.
COLUMN
The solution to Duke’s woes? Run the football Watching Duke’s offense last Saturday was a tough task. The Blue Devils’ drive chart in the first half read: punt, punt, interception, fumble, punt, field goal, punt, punt, end of half. The second half was no better, featuring two punts and two turnovers on downs. The loss at Virginia Tech was not an isolated event. Since its Sept. 23 win against North Carolina, Duke’s offense has fallen off a cliff. In the five games since, the Blue Devils have not scored more than 21 points and are currently tied for 93rd in the country in points per game. This failure to put points on the board falls squarely on the shoulders of head coach David Cutcliffe, offensive coordinator Zac Roper and redshirt sophomore quarterback Daniel Jones. Jones in particular was one of the catalysts behind Duke’s undefeated start, but he has regressed mightily since then. The Charlotte native has been woeful during the Blue Devils’ losing streak, throwing for more than 200 yards twice and contributing just three touchdowns with five interceptions. The
Andrew Donohue
balanced offense that Cutcliffe and Roper prefer uses the passing game to force defenders out of the box, opening up running lanes for Duke’s talented backfield. Although Jones has certainly missed on his share of passes, there has also been a crippling lack of short, easy throws that allow the quarterback to get in a rhythm and establish an early rapport with his receivers. Instead, Roper has often dialed up a steady diet of deep and intermediate passes that the Blue Devils have struggled to complete, which was on full display in Duke’s second and third possessions of the Virginia Tech game. The second drive took a grand total of three plays and 51 seconds, featuring two bad passes and a short completion, giving the defense next to no break.The next drive was even worse, with Jones forcing a ball into double coverage deep down the field that led to an easy interception on the first play. With drives like these, it is no wonder the Blue Devils finished the game with just three points and Jones only had 82 yards passing, his worst output of his college career. Cutcliffe and longtime lieutenant Roper have earned the benefit of the doubt over the years with their roles in coaching several overachieving
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Daniel Jones finished with a career-low 82 passing yards against Virginia Tech and threw a first-quarter interception deep into double coverage. Blue Devil teams. But after such a promising start to the year including three wins against Power 5 opponents, Duke is now in danger of missing a bowl for the second straight year. Considering the personnel available and Jones’s sizable struggles, the Blue Devils should
move forward as a run-based attack. Senior Shaun Wilson and redshirt freshman Brittain Brown may be the two best offensive players on the team and have combined to rush for almost 1,100 yards. See FOOTBALL on Page 12
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
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Engaging responsibly This Wednesday, the newest round of hopeful DukeEngage applicants will be submitting the last of their forms for the well-known service learning program. This deadline marks another year of curious and excited scholars ready to commit themselves to an immersive eight weeks of living abroad and working on a wide variety of humanitarian projects. However, as wonderful as this opportunity may appear on the surface, it isn’t free of valid and important critique. The core components of this program require—and have much to gain from—serious consideration of questions surrounding western saviorism and student intent. With this, as well as the nearing paperwork submission deadlines in mind, questions of how Duke students should be approaching these types of international undertakings are more than worth exploring in earnest. When applying to DukeEngage, like any other summer program, it’s useful to reflect on motivations for seeking entry. While a possible allure could be the opportunity to travel to another country and experience an entirely different part of the world, the main purpose of the various group programs is a form of community engagement to benefit the specific regions students will be living in. However, a mistake often made by overly eager Duke
onlinecomment “These organizations are juvenile and elitist, but stay away from measures to ban them. Freedom of association includes the right to be and look foolish.” —Don Dotson responding to “The last bastion of the boys’ club,” published on Oct. 27, 2017.
LETTERS POLICY The Chronicle welcomes submissions in the form of letters to the editor or guest columns. Submissions must include the author’s name, signature, department or class, and for purposes of identification, phone number and local address. Letters should not exceed 325 words; contact the editorial department for information regarding guest columns. The Chronicle will not publish anonymous or form letters or letters that are promotional in nature. The Chronicle reserves the right to edit letters and guest columns for length, clarity and style and the right to withhold letters based on the discretion of the editorial page editor.
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LIKHITHA BUTCHIREDDYGARI, Editor HANK TUCKER, Sports Editor KENRICK CAI, News Editor SAM TURKEN, Managing Editor VIR PATEL, Senior Editor ADAM BEYER, Digital Strategy Team Director IAN JAFFE, Photography Editor JACKSON PRINCE, Editorial Page Editor ALAN KO, Editorial Board Chair SYDNEY ROBERTS, Editorial Board Chair CHRISSY BECK, General Manager ISABELLE DOAN, University News Department Head JOYCE ER, University News Department Head BRE BRADHAM, Local & National News Head NATHAN LUZUM, Health & Science News Head SHAGUN VASHISTH, Health & Science News Head JIM LIU, News Photography Editor WILL ATKINSON, Recess Editor NINA WILDER, Recess Managing Editor SUJAL MANOHAR, Recess Photography Editor SANJEEV DASGUPTA, Sports Photography Editor MITCHELL GLADSTONE, Sports Managing Editor LEAH ABRAMS, Editorial Page Managing Editor CARLY STERN, Editorial Page Managing Editor NEAL VAIDYA, Audio Editor JAMIE COHEN, Social Media Editor JEREMY CHEN, Graphic Design Editor CLAIRE BALLENTINE, Towerview Editor JUAN BERMUDEZ, Online Photography Editor NEELESH MOORTHY, Towerview Editor NEELESH MOORTHY, Investigations Editor ABIGAIL XIE, Investigations Editor CAROLYN CHANG, Towerview Photography Editor CAROLINE BROCKETT, Recruitment Chair CLAIRE BALLENTINE, Recruitment Chair SHAGUN VASHISTH, Recruitment Chair SARAH KERMAN, Senior News Reporter KATHERINE BERKO, Senior News Reporter LEXI KADIS, Senior News Reporter MEGAN HAVEN, Advertising Director JULIE MOORE, Creative Director The Chronicle is published by the Duke Student Publishing Company, Inc., a non-profit corporation independent of Duke University. The opinions expressed in this newspaper are not necessarily those of Duke University, its students, faculty, staff, administration or trustees. Unsigned editorials represent the majority view of the editorial board. Columns, letters and cartoons represent the views of the authors. To reach the Editorial Office at 301 Flowers Building, call 684-2663 or fax 684-4696. To reach the Business Office at 1517 Hull Avenue call 684-3811. To reach the Advertising Office at 2022 Campus Drive call 684-3811. One copy per person; additional copies may be purchased for .25 at The Chronicle Business office at the address above. @ 2017 Duke Student Publishing Company
undergraduates is the assumption that they can solve a complex, multifaceted social or economic ill with a simple summer project. Students may have a wide variety of skills to offer and a profoundly genuine desire to help, but it’s important to reign in the impulse to act as a benevolent Western savior, especially in areas with a history of being negatively affected by colonization and imperialism.
Editorial Board Understanding the contemporary international positionality and historical relations of a host country can help students understand the political dynamics of their presence in that nation. For those who are accepted, the prospect of living in a foreign country can be equal parts exciting and daunting—especially for students who haven’t left the shores of the United States before. After all, you’re expected to leave behind the simple familiarities of home like ease of communication and cultural fluency. It is this potential discomfort that can cause students to find themselves sometimes using negative or critical language to describe the living conditions of a foreign country, especially those with lower GDPs and average population incomes.
While these knee-jerk reactions and complaints may seem innocuous if only muttered between fellow students, they are steeped in superiority and disrespect. It would serve future DukeEngage participants well to reserve condemnations and think critically about why such negative thoughts arise in the first place, as they almost always involve a degree of privilege, particularly in the context of foreign experiences. Programs like DukeEngage contain so much potential for allowing Duke students to interact with the world beyond the gothic architecture of campus. However, if these trips truly wish to fulfill their mission of creating insightful and knowledgeable global citizens that care deeply about improving the lives of people everywhere, there needs to be continued emphasis on the intermingling social and political dynamics whenever Westerners set foot on foreign soil. Even if the intentions of students are pure and they believe in the creed of selfless, humanitarian service, it can be easy to fall into problematic habits and demeanors. Ultimately, it’s the duty of DukeEngage and future participants to pledge their devotion to understanding the complicated role they play and how easily they can cause more harm than good.
Celebrate, don’t appropriate
A
s I get older, I find myself experiencing things differently than I had in my past. Specifically, national holidays and events that have always had a presence in my upbringing serve now as times were I can observe change in my interpretations. Halloween once served as a time when I could expect everything to be put aside for a nationwide quest of sugary sweets. Candy was a childhood delight we were conditioned to resist. It was only offered when
Jorge Arredondo DUKE MEN’S PROJECT we ate our entire dinner or fulfilled some other paternalistic expectation; the risks and rarity of getting candy as a child made the eventual reward all the more sweet. In this sense, Halloween functioned as a purge-like event, where children could satisfy their desire for sugary sweets without any limit or caveat. These days, while most of us don’t go out in search of that sugary goodness, we do find ourselves behaving in a purge-like manner, indulging ourselves in different sorts of desire. Halloween is described as a time where we experience a “thinning of the veil” between the world we navigate and another world beyond our own. In considering an alternate existence beyond our understanding, we push away from the governing binaries that have become embedded in our day-to-day lives.You can observe this in the practice of dressing up in Halloween costumes. While some folks don’t think too much about their choice of costume, others spend the entire month trying to find that perfect disguise. Nonetheless, costume choice is essentially product of a person’s thoughts and reflects their interpretation of their world. This is why we see different inflections of household cultural figures or our favorite throwback cartoons. This is also how we run into the issue of cultural appropriation. A culturally insensitive costume is based on an insensitive interpretation of someone’s culture and a person’s thoughts about that culture. Whether a person appropriating is aware of it or not, they are indulging hidden desires of marginalization or fetishization; a desire to possess something that is not—or is beyond—their own identity. The problem is that costumes like these only engages the surface. On the other hand, the indulgence of desires
doesn’t always have to be at the cost of someone else’s representation. If anything, these desires can lead a person to examine and realize something deeper about their representation, or better yet, their identity. For instance, Halloween gives some trans folk the freedom to express themselves uninhibitedly as they explore and express their interpretation of gender. These actions can be seen as desires from within, desires that society has forced people to push into the deepest crevices of their being. As a gay cis man, Halloween allows me to explore traditional notions of femininity and masculinity and transform them in a way that suits me. There’s nothing quite like complementing my cis-male body with fishnets. While fishnets are not solely a part of my Halloween celebration, there is something about the holiday, the “thinning of the veil” that empowers me to make bold, courageous choices. If you take anything from this article, it’s to respect people’s celebrations, while also being able to discern between a valid celebration and one that invalidates an entire group of people. If a costume is solely based on a superficial interpretation of someone else’s culture, it is cultural appropriation. However, if a costume makes you think twice solely because you aren’t used to seeing someone covered head to toe in glitter, you should respect their choice and applaud their courage. We ought to respect people’s desires as long as they are coming from a place of truth. Desires from a place of truth are those that would free us from the binds of conformity and allow us to be our most genuine versions of ourselves. To live in this place of truth is to be courageous even when the whole world turns their back to us. Getting to this place is no easy task, and it requires some serious reflection and personal transformation. It all starts with just a little bit of love. While some of us have more normative desires, others have been told that our desires, identities and modes of expression are not valid. Halloween is often painted as this spooky pagan holiday, but it should be seen as an occasion for love, respect, and expression. For those on the margins, Halloween’s sweetest treat might be to have some of what’s normally denied, accepted.
Jorge Arredondo is a junior and member of the Duke Men’s Project leadership team. Duke Men’s Project’s column, “the biweekly manwich,” runs on alternate Wednesdays.
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A repeal and replace of the GOP M
y number one pet peeve with politicians is the constant and blatant hypocrisy that is often exposed during the passage—or lack thereof— of key legislation. The Tax Reform Act of 1986 is ample proof that many politicians will do whatever it takes to get elected—or in many cases, prevent themselves from losing. What if I told you that in the 1986 Congress, Senators Al Gore, Joe Biden, Harry Reid as well as Congressman Chuck Schumer, voted for the Reagan-championed Tax Reform Act that lowered the top marginal income tax rate to 28 percent? Ironically, now-Senate Minority Leader Schumer recently denounced capitalism as a whole, claiming that it has “broken down” and that the “old Adam Smith idea of competition” is “gone.” It’s somewhat amusing to see that when the economy was booming with immense GDP and job growth, Mr. Schumer, along with 96 other senators, thought it was valid to vote in favor of free market and progrowth policies. With the Democratic Party on an interminable march to the left, I assume that Mr. Schumer has now realized that he will keep his seat only if he moves left with the party, regardless of whether he truly embraces destroying the free market. In defense of the Democrats, they are not the only ones at fault here. For years, GOP leadership railed against the Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare). Repeal and replace will not happen until it is politically convenient for Republicans. Knowing that President Obama would veto their legislation, House and Senate Republicans sent a strong message to the President’s desk
in 2015 by passing a bill that repealed most of the ACA. This was a smart political tactic that helped energize their base and get many of them re-elected in 2016. However, the truth is that Obamacare expanded benefits to many people who previously did not have access to such benefits, meaning that repealing the bill could be quite damaging politically. Republicans have unfortunately found it difficult to come through on their campaign
then and demonize them now. Republicans ran vigorously on platforms of repeal and replace, but choked during crunch time. Often running as conservatives who embrace entitlement reform, Republicans in opposition of the original Senate “Repeal and Replace” bill knowingly rejected a bill that would have cut $772 billion in the medicaid budget by 2026 and reduced the federal deficit by $321 billion in that same period of time. Free-market “champions” such as Mike Lee
If health care reforms fails completely, the only thing being repealed and replaced in Congress will be the GOP. Mitchell Siegel TRUTH BE TOLD
promises, for the time being, even when they have a president who is willing to sign any marginally more conservative health bill that gets to his desk. Some GOP leaders are realizing that the potential backlash from yanking benefits from their constituents could end up being political suicide if the health insurance market doesn’t improve rapidly enough before a major election cycle. The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board summarized the situation on July 18th of this year: “narrow political and ideological preferences” were put “ahead of practical legislative progress.” These “Obamacare Republicans” are just as hypocritical as the Democrats of the 1980’s who praised tax cuts
substantially destabilized marketplace. He is also correct to want to take initiative now and prevent further damage from happening. In a time of intense ideological diversity and a dangerous lack of conviction within the party, that effort appears dead… for now. Though Congressional attempts at “repeal and replace” appear to have failed for now, Obamacare adversaries should not be too pessimistic. President Trump can continue to weaken the law through executive measures, as he already has done by eliminating costsharing subsidies to insurers, expanding short-term health plans, and directing federal agencies to discover ways to sell insurance across state lines. Although it wouldn’t be the ideal conservative solution, bipartisan legislation would likely be better than leaving the health care law as it is. If the American people want an actual overhaul of the ACA, multiple factors need to coalesce. First, citizens need to hold their elected officials accountable and pressure them both in town halls and at the ballot box. Second, ideological divisions and inflated personal egos within the party need to deteriorate. And lastly, the economic environment must call for “repeal and replace” just like it called for Chuck Schumer, Harry Reid, and the rest to play ball with Reaganomics in the 1980s. If health care reforms fails completely, the only thing being repealed and replaced in Congress will be the GOP.
and Rand Paul consistently thwarted progress toward a freer market. Some GOP Senators were even opposed to the tax cuts within the bill. If tax reform, immigration, and infrastructure are legislated in this same manner, the GOP might as well personally hand over power to the Democrats in 2020. Obamacare’s strict mandates, price fixes, and regulations are already causing the healthcare market to implode, causing rising premiums, higher deductibles, and fewer coverage options. In addition, the law’s Medicaid expansion accelerates the bursting of the national debt bubble. President Trump is correct when he says Mitchell Siegel is a Trinity sophomore. His that leaving Obamacare alone will abruptly column, “truth be told,” runs on alternate force cooperation in the future due to a Wednesdays.
Pre-med, but with a purpose B
eing pre-med is hard. All of us premed students know that well. Sure, organic chemistry and physics suck, but actually applying to medical school means so much more than that. As a group, many of us feel a desire to go abroad and engage with communities that are pertinent to our medical interests. Plus, medical schools stress the importance being hands-on outside of the classroom.
Cliff Haley COLUMNIST
So, naturally, many of us seek out international programs that explore the world of medicine. Do we have good intentions? Yes. Are we eager to help? Of course. Are we actually helpful? Quite frankly, not always. Despite our intentions, pre-med students often fail to be beneficial in the countries and programs they work for when abroad. As member of this pre-med community, I feel an urge to help people who are in need. Yet, what one might not realize that the work they do in other countries can actually negatively affect them and the people they “help.” How can this happen? Centered around participation in procedures for which students are unqualified, detrimental volunteerism attracts large chunks of undergraduate students, especially pre-medical students. When students are presented with unique medical opportunities, such as delivering a baby or suturing a wound, they proceed with enthusiasm since they think both parties are benefiting. Such a mindset, however, is dangerous. Detrimental volunteerism is harmful because it involves providing aid that cannot
be sustained. Most of the communities in which students perform volunteer work are of lower socioeconomic status and lack proper infrastructure. These underlying issues are what prompt students and universities to help. Yet, especially in the field of medicine, providing aid for a short period of time only helps for that time period. Soon after, the clinics that students assisted fail to sustain the progress set into motion. These clinics experience a brief moment of efficiency to only decline back to their normal routines, damaging the community’s health care structure. In addition, detrimental volunteerism reflects negatively on the students. By going into a community unqualified and performing unrefined medical procedures, students violate the standards of bioethics. Anyone who is not properly trained and certified in a particular field should not be operating in that field because they run the risk of potentially hurting other people. Professionals have been in the career long enough to know how to properly apply their knowledge and skills to offer help safely. Amateurs, like undergraduate students, have not been in their career path long enough to have this knowledge and skill, and therefore run the risk of being more harmful than helpful. The issue of detrimental volunteerism directly violates the Duke Community Standard that we, as a university, created. Premedical students working abroad may not be lying or cheating per say, but they sometimes fail to conduct themselves honorably in such endeavors. A direct violation of the Community Standard is something to be further examined. It is important to start asking ourselves: how do we conduct ourselves honorably when representing Duke in other communities? The issue at hand is that undergraduate students have no business performing
medical procedures without a medical degree. Students are fooled by the illusion that they are helping out and that they are taking advantage of unique opportunities. Such an illusion is easily explainable, and perhaps mildly understandable. Pre-medical students feel an enormous amount of pressure to excel in all aspects of their undergraduate career. In addition, these students want to stand out to medical schools by displaying unparalleled stories of active participation in the healing process. I know as a fellow pre-med student that I feel this exact same pressure. Not only do feel the need to actually get a decent grade in organic chemistry, but I also want to be active in the medical community outside Duke’s doors. Although it is important to introspect and evaluate how exactly we, as students, can do better, it is equally important to examine how Duke may or may not be contributing to this issue. As this issue of what is ethical and would is not could burden a large range of undergraduate students, how does Duke specifically compare in terms of upholding the Community Standard? Duke offers a wide variety of international and domestic programs such Bass Connections and DukeEngage, which often offer medically orientated programs. How does Duke avoid this of detrimental volunteerism? The answer isn’t so simple. “We have modules with case studies,” Meredith Casper, Assistant Director for Assessment and Development for DukeEngage said, “They help to inform students on how unethical scenarios arise and how these situations have the potential to not only harm others but themselves as well.” Clearly, DukeEngage is proactive in ensuring students are well equipped with the knowledge of what is ethical and what is not before going abroad. Students, prior to going abroad, should be well versed in what is
deemed as acceptable and what is not. This is how Duke starts to play a role in their students’ actions around the world. Dr. Eric Mlyn, the Assistant Vice Provost for Civic Engagement, said that in terms of making ethical decisions, “our students will be different.” It is reassuring to know that the Duke community plays an active role in developing its students’ ability to make ethical decisions. The DukeEngage program demonstrates that in order to be aware of the implications of your actions in a foreign country, you need to know what could deemed as an ethical violation. The culture demonstrated through DukeEngage reflects how Duke is active in their responsibility of student actions and cultivates a more ethically aware community. Duke seems to have a strong grasp on the ethical obligation of volunteers working in other communities and educate their students well. Precautions and actions taken by Duke to groom a better, more ethically aware student body sets us apart from other universities. Duke is an incredible place to chase your wildest dreams and indulge your intellectual passions, and it is also a very socially aware environment. The community, whether it be DukeEngage, professors, or fellow students, works to discuss issues that are not always talked about on other college campuses. It is important to note I’m not only trying to inform fellow pre-med students; such detrimental volunteerism can be applied to virtually any other field. No matter if your dreams lie within education, service learning, health, law, or any other discipline, your actions can affect large communities in negative ways if you aren’t careful. Sometimes you need to step away from your graduate school application and say, “Am I really helping the people around me?” Cliff Haley is a Trinity first-year. His column runs once monthly.
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