Duke hungry after bye week
Students double as yoga instructors Many dedicated to practicing yoga help fellow students de-stress by teaching classes | Page 3
The Blue Devils will take on Virginia Tech Saturday to start a crucial 4-game stretch | Sports Page 11
The Chronicle T h e i n d e p e n d e n t d a i ly at D u k e U n i v e r s i t y
thursday, october 22, 2015
www.dukechronicle.com
ONE HUNDRED AND ELEVENTH YEAR, Issue 37
‘The worst thing ever’: Campus squirrels run amok Claire Ballentine The Chronicle Squirrels are normally known for running from people, but these days it seems that Duke students are the ones running from squirrels. Although professors assert that behavior exhibited by squirrels on Duke’s campus is not abnormal given their environment, many students have reported experiencing unusual interactions with them across campus. Several students noted how unnerving it is that the squirrels seem to have no fear of people. “I’m terrified of squirrels in general, so when a squirrel pops out of a trash can at me, it’s the worst thing ever,” sophomore Sam Rosso said. “I even avoid specific trash cans that squirrels have popped out of.” Fortunately, there is little chance of squirrels on campus spreading diseases like rabies, said V. Louise Roth, professor of biology. She noted that foxes, raccoons and bats are the primary carriers in the Durham area. “There’s a chance of getting bitten if you take for granted their tameness, but people usually don’t get that close,” she explained. Roth did note that although squirrels are not naturally aggressive animals, they do have remarkably strong teeth and sharp claws—this potential for injury is likely enough to deter many students from interacting too closely with squirrels. “They’re bold,” senior Crockett Stevenson noted. “You can get really near them and they won’t do a thing about it.”
Alex Deckey | The Chronicle Many students have had frightening interactions with campus squirrels, which biology professors say is due to squirrels’ repeated exposure to students.
John Mercer, associate professor of the practice of biology, explained that the squirrels on campus have become acclimated to students through repeated exposure to them. “There are just a lot of people around, and the squirrels are used to eating food left behind by students,” he said. “[The squirrels] have no reason to fear them.” The boldness of the squirrels on campus
has resulted in students experiencing incidents in which squirrels either run uncomfortably close to them or physically touch them. Junior Mark Cullen said that a squirrel jumped out of a trash can outside Brodie Gym and landed on his chest before scampering away. The squirrels do not seem at all intimidated by the presence of students
sitting or walking around campus, added freshman Griffin Haas. “One of my friends was sitting at an outdoor table and a squirrel literally ran across her,” he said. References to the small animals have even appeared on the anonymous social media outlet Yik Yak. One post last year See SQUIRRELS on Page 4
Bass Connections facing challenges despite lofty goals Likhitha Butchireddygari The Chronicle
Special to The Chronicle The goals for the interdisciplinary Bass Connections program include integrating graduate students and sustaining faculty engagement.
|
|
Bass Connections is working to better recruit graduate students and increase the program’s on-campus presence in its third year at Duke. Started two years ago, Bass Connections allows students and faculty to address complicated issues impacting society today through an interdisciplinary lens, explained Hallie Knuffman, director for administration and program development for Bass Connections. During the program’s initial rollout, administrators hoped the program would impact the structure and function of the University in significant ways. Although Knuffman said that Bass has been able to provide enriching experiences for students and faculty, administrators are focusing on several areas— including engagement
|
|
|
and outreach—where the program still faces challenges. Moving forward, Bass administrators are looking at ways of assessing and improving the program. “Duke has a mission of fostering excellent research, excellent teaching and really substantive engagement outreach to society,” said Edward Balleisen, vice provost for interdisciplinary studies. “Bass Connections is about integrating those three things and doing so in a way that pulls together insight and expertise and enthusiasm and commitment from the four corners of the University.” When the first Bass Connection projects were being started, administrators expressed high hopes for the program. In a 2013 interview with The Chronicle, Susan Roth, who was then vice provost for interdisciplinary studies, said that she hoped Bass Connections would influence how the University operates on a day-to-day basis.
INSIDE — News 2 Sports 11 Classified 13 Puzzles 13 Opinion 14 Serving the University since 1905
|
“What we hope for is that it’s not just going to be a program that sits apart in some way, like DukeEngage, that it really is going to influence how things routinely get done around the University,” Roth said. The Bass Connections program has seen moderate growth since its inception, but is still limited to a fairly small slice of the University. According to the program’s website, there are currently 333 participants in Bass Connections projects, including faculty, staff, graduate students and undergraduate students, up from 281 participants in 2014. Moving forward, the administration wants to see more graduate student involvement. Junior Tara Bansal, Duke Student Government vice president for academic affairs and student representative on the Bass Connections Student Advisory Council, noted that graduate students can
@dukechronicle
|
See BASS on Page 4 © 2015 The Chronicle