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Opinion Whitney Beckett on dating after Duke
DUKE UNIVERSITY Ninety-Ninth Year, issue 138
DURHAM, N.C.
FRIDAY, APRIL 16,2004
WWW.CHRONICLE.DUKE.EDU
Vitarelli back for 2nd term by
Issa Hanna
THE CHRONICLE
CHRONICLE FILE PHOTOS
The community discussion of perfectionism has included a speech by professional model Laura Krauss Calenberg, right, and a forum led by Dr. Jim Clack, above.
Talking about ‘effortless perfection’ BY Kiya Bajpai THE CHRONICLE
Ever since The Chronicle published an anonymous guest commentary titled “Effortless Perfection?” Oct. 24, 2003, the campus has been buzzing with its new favorite—or not so favorite —catch phrase. Some are surprised, and others accept it in a nonchalant manner. Some believe, and some don’t. As the year winds down, Duke’s community members have read the editorials, participated in forums, held casual conversations and setded on the idea that there is a problem. The complex issues behind “effortless perfection,” many say, are still visible. Either way, the campus is sick of the phrase. Susan Roth, chair of the Women’s Initiative Executive Committee and one of the authors of its final report, said the phrase “effortless perfection” has certainly stuck—although she’s not entirely sure that is a good thing. “People are talking about things that I don’t think they were talking about before so it has had an impact,” she said, “[but] I don’t think it’s a magical word.... I don’tknow if it captures all that we came to understand [in the Women’s Initiative] from undergraduate life.” Women’s Center Director Donna Lisker, another integral member of the Women’s Initiative, also said the phrase has taken on a
Chafe to start a by Cindy Yee THE CHRONICLE
Graduating seniors may be scrambling to figure out where they will be a month from now, but outgoing Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences William Chafe already has a game plan that is good for at least the next few years. Chafe will hand over the deanship to George McLendon July 1, returning to the history department he first joined over 30 years ago. Before he resumes teaching in Spring 2005, however, he plans to do a fair bit of traveling and writing. In fact, Chafe has three or
life ofits own and has overshadowed other findings of the Women’s Initiative. She is convinced, however, that the problems needed to be brought out in the open and the anonymous column prompted the overwhelming response from Duke students. “Had that [column] not run, I’m not sure the conversation would have gotten as deep as it has,” Lisker said. The issues beyond these deep conversations, she added, won’t disappear, because students come to Duke with the background for such expectations and will likely find that leaving college does not mean the pressures fall away as well. ‘The pressures are not unique to Duke. They don’t come into existence within the Duke gates and go away when you leave,” she said. The common perception of the Duke population is a collection of over-achievers, perfectionists, and socioeconomically advantaged kids. “Effortless perfection is an expensive lifestyle,” Lisker said. Come graduation, the issues just change names, like “becoming a super-mom,” she added. Freshman Laura Mosby also noted that the issues concerning image are not unique to Duke and said similar pressures abounded in her St. Petersburg, FI. high school. “The whole idea ofeveryone being pretty all the time, and thin, I feel like that’s present SEE EFFORTLESS ON PAGE 12
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four books on the docket, the first of which is slated to be published a year from September. This book, he said, is comprised of eight biographical essays dealing with politics and character, highlighting such political figures as ex-U.S. presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Bill Clinton. Chafe said the book is mostly written, with the exception of an epilogue on current President George W. Bush. After stepping down from his post as dean, Chafe will revise the essays for publication. ‘The first book reflects my long-standing interest in politics
chapter in career
and character,” said Chafe, who is also an Alice Mary Baldwin distinguished professor of history. “What causes political leaders to respond as they do, particularly in crisis situations, and how does this relate back to their life experiences?” Chafe said inspiration for his next postdeanship book stems from his long involvement in researching race in America. It will be a new interpretive overview of the age of segregation and will be done in collaboration with Robert
Korstad, associate professor of public policy, and Raymond Gavins, professor of history. The three co-directed the Behind the Veil project together at the Center for DocumenStudies, tary collecting 1,250 interviews with African Americans who lived during the age of Jim Crow laws. SEE CHAFE ON PAGE 12
After over two hours ofspeeches and deliberations, the student legislators of Campus Council elected next year’s four executive officers at the council’s final meeting of the year Thursday night. Current President Anthony Vitarelli, who ran uncontested, recaptured the office of president, while Damian Denoble, a freshman, squeaked past sophomore Chris Kallmeyer for the vice presidency. Freshman Brittany Greenfield was the last candidate standing in a highly contested race for treasurer, and sophomore Katie Cox will be next year’s communications coordinator. Primed for a second term as the leader of the residential life governing body, Vitarelli listed his top three issues for next year—foremost among them the debate over the quadrangle model, a residential system that espouses more cohesion between students living in the same residential quadrangle. The system was recently adopted as a residential goal by the Office of Residence Life and Housing Services. “I just want to know what it is,” Vitarelli said. “Campus Council can help shape the
[quad model] system.” Vitarelli, a junior, also said he hopes the council will overhaul
the housing assignment process and work toward empowering the quad councils across campus. As vice president, Denoble expects to play a large role in crafting policy resolutions concerning residential life across campus. As a freshman, Denoble has only lived on East Campus, but he said he believes he has the skills to fulfill the duties of his new position. “Before I ran, I asked myself what West Campus residence life is like,” Denoble said. “If anyone could have a bird’s eye view of what residential life across campus is like, I have it.” Vitarelli expressed confidence in Denoble. “Damian is going to dominate next year,” Vitarelli said. “As a freshman, he already has an exceptionally comprehensive SEE COUNCIL ON PAGE
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