Tuesday, November 13, 2001
Sunny High 65, Low 36 www.chronicle.duke.edu Vol. 97, No. 56
The Chronicle
In the dance The women’s soccer team received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament, despite a losing record. See page 9
THE INDEPENDENT DAILY AT DUKE UNIVERSITY
University rethinks laptop requirement Administrators question if benefits of proposal outweigh costs to students By DAVE INGRAM The Chronicle
MIKE HVOZDA/REUTERS
THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS and other agencies lift debris from the crash of American Airlines Flight 587 out of the Jamaica Bay. The plane was bound for the Dominican Republic.
Airplane crashes in N.Y.C. By DEEGOIBARGUEN The Associated Press
NEW YORK A jetliner en route to the Dominican Republic broke apart minutes after takeoff and crashed in a waterfront neighborhood Monday, engulfing homes in flames and sowing initial fears of a new terrorist atrocity. All 260 peopie aboard were killed, and at
least six others were reported As night fell, several hunmissing on the ground. dred people working under the “All information we have cur- glare of klieg lights formed rently is that this is an acci- bucket brigades as they sepadent,” said Marion Blakey, chair rated debris into gruesome piles of the National Transportation of luggage, plane parts, house Safety Board. If there was an ex- debris and human remains. Poplosion on the plane—and many lice said bodies were being rewitnesses heard one—it was covered intact; one victim, a probably caused by a mechani- man, was clutching a baby, See CRASH on page 8 � cal failure, investigators said.
that the goals of a laptop pro-
gram often involve technology for technology’s sake,” said Michael Pickett, special assistant to the provost for academic technology. “We believe the most important thing for technology at Duke is to use it to further our goals in teaching, learning and research.” A computer requirement in itself would not further those quired that all upperclassmen goals right now, Pickett said. Inown some type of computer. stead, he added, more planning Administrators have been remust occur to see if laptops searching the experience of would be well-used and how other universities that have re- they would fit in with broader quired laptops, including such plans for technology use. a program’s implications for Pickett did not rule out retechnical support and financial considering the requirement in aid, and have decided that the the future, but said that at this benefits for the classroom may time, laptop use is not prevabe overstated. A final decision lent enough to justify the cost on the requirement is expected to students, the necessary techfrom Provost Peter Lange by nical support and the demands the end ofthe semester. on the planned expansion of See LAPTOP on page 6 “What we have found is
After discussions earlier this year about requiring each incoming undergraduate to own a laptop computer by fall 2002, University administrators are now suggesting such a proposal may be unnecessary. Intended to help integrate technology into students’ lives, the plan would have also re-
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Graduate students face tough time with child care By WHITNEY BECKETT The Chronicle Earning an advanced degree is challenging enough, but raising a child at the same time is even more difficult for some graduate and professional students. And
although the University can provide
mentors and tutors to aid them in their studies, some students say Duke does little to help them in their parenting. The University does not offer a child care program, nor does it give additional stipends to students with children, said Jackie Looney, associate dean ofthe Graduate School. However, it does support a website that refers local day care centers. Looney said she hopes the school will do more in the near future. “Child care is a big issue for any parent, but graduate students feel it double,” Looney said. “Students don’t have a large income and are away from their network of family and friends. It is very difficult.” The Graduate and Professional Student Council is helping circulate a survey to gather information on the child care needs of its constituents. Looney said she hopes the survey will be the first step in the establishment of a child care program. “Once we have a better sense of the demographics—of how many graduate
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and professional students face this and what their needs are—the picture will come to light of what needs to be done,” Looney said. “I do think Duke is in a position to address this issue, but it will take some time.” Looney cited space and costs as possible obstacles that might siow_the process. GPSC President Elayne Heisler said she worried liability issues might indefinitely delay the creation of a day care center sponsored by the University. Heisler also invited graduate and professional students with children to her office today at 5:30 p.m. to provide input for her write-up of child care suggestions. Based on the surveys she read, Heisler said she worried that because the University does not offer child care facilities, students with children often choose schools that do, such as Stanford University, or that their study time suffers because they cannot afford enough hours ofchild care. Anne Elmore, a mother of three and a first-year Divinity student, said she knows people who have not gone back to school because it was not feasible without more support. “Sometimes we think there are not a See CHILD CARE on page 5
A student at the Fuoua School of Business has been diag-
tuberculosis and officials are testing others who may have been in close contact with the student. See page 3
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GWEN LEBERRE/THE CHRONICLE
Saluting the veterans Veterans and community members gather at the Oak Grove Memorial Gardens Monday morning to commemorate Veterans Day, which was Sunday.
At its meeting Monday night, the Durham Board of County Commissioners heard a report on the recent robberies and embezzlements at ABC stores. See page 4
A panel discussed sexual assault at the University at an event Monday night sponsored by the Duke Student Government Community Interaction Committee. See page 4