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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2005
100thAmiiversarv
THE INDEPENDENT DAILY AT DUKE UNIVERSITY
•
ONE HUNDREDTH YEAR, ISSUE 96
Task force to consider
Unking by
Laura Newman THE CHRONICLE
Linking has been the talk of the town lately, and now the administration is stepping in. Eddie Hull, executive director of housing services and dean of residence life, announced this week his plan to create a West Campus Housing Strategies Task Force. The task force will address Campus Council’s recommendation to eliminate the linking process and make significant changes to the block-
ing model. A Campus Council resolution that passed last week argued that the current linking policy discourages students from blocking with friends living in other dorms because doing so significantly increases their chance of ending up in Edens Quadrangle. The proposed changes call for a proportional distribution of sophomores across all six West Campus quads—but with priority given to juniors and seniors who want to continue to live in the same quad. Campus Council also suggested increasing the maximum number of students able to block together from eight to 16. “Campus Council has given us a resolution that is worth serious consideration,” said Associate Dean for Residence Life Joe Gonzalez, who will chair task force. “By having a task force look at the issue, it helps guarantee a possible and strong outcome.” SEE LINKING ON PAGE 10
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
proposed
Iking park with gardens and a street lined with shops catering to student needs.
Students weigh in on Central plans by
Steve Veres
THE CHRONICLE
A cinema. A concert hall. A bar. A recreational center. Some sort of library unit. All these are possible amenities on a rebuilt Central Campus. But at a town hall meeting Tuesday night the only thing administrators had to offer students was a preliminary vision of the construction project that will change the University. Seven top University officials who are spearheading the planning teams for Central Campus addressed students’ questions and concerns about the future development, but few specific details of the epic project have been decided, so concrete answers were hard to come by. “On a 20 year timetable, this is the most important thing we could do,” Provost Peter Lange said. “What we tried
it in the new project. Officials promthat noise policies, bike routes, transtion service and environmental issues d all be considered during the planprocess. his is a transformative opportunity for Lange said, noting that the proposed •ct could potentially add six million e feet of building space to the camWEIYITAN/THE CHRONICLE pus, increasing the size ofcampus by more Administrators gather at a town hall meeting for stu- than 50 percent. “This is close to the scale dents to express concerns about Central Campus. of the building of West Campus.” Administrators said the only requireto do tonight is to give you a picture of ment for the redevelopment of Central where we are at. If you leave here thinking Campus is 1,200 beds which need be comthat there must be another secret plan, you pleted by Fall 2007. To accomplish that are wrong.” goal, Lange said the earliest construction Students expressed concern about the would begin is Spring 2006. current state of Central Campus, wanting to ensure that existing problems do not SEE CENTRAL ON PAGE 9
New restaurant likely to roost above Marketplace by
In the effort to offerfreshmen greater dining options, Johnny Rocket's is one eatery contending to fill the vacant area above the Marketplace.
Kerry Mclntosh THE CHRONICLE
By next fall, either Johnny Rocket’s, Red Robin, or Elmo’s may call East Campus its new home if one of the popular restaurants is able to secure a restaurant contract currently in early stages of negotiation. The initiative by University Dining Services and the Duke University Student Dining Advisory Committee to bring one of these eateries to campus is part of the larger plan to expand dining options for freshmen. Although there is no definite timeline for opening the on-campus restaurant, Jim Wulforst, director of dining services, said he hopes plans will get moving as soon as possible. No real contacts have been made yet, but Wulforst intends to begin discussions with architects in coming weeks. “We hope to have narrowed the options down by April and hopefully start something going over the summer,” Wulforst said. Other vendors in addition to Elmo’s, Johnny Rocket’s and Red Robin may still be able to obtain the coveted Upper East Side space above the Marketplace, as the
process is still in preliminary stages. The goal, Wulforst said, “is to have a food venue that mirrors what we have on West, which is fun and exciting, and fills the niche for serving students after hours.” An adjacent lounge with a wide screen television and ping pong and pool tables are also possibilities. The addition of a restaurant in the conveniently located space above the Marketplace also takes advantage of prime vacant space. “We have been trying for a long dme to create a late-night dining option on East,” said junior David Gastwirth, one of the co-chairs of DUSDAC. “The upper level of the Marketplace would work well because it is a space of 2,400 square feet and is underused.” Although money has been budgeted for a concept, the total cost for constructing and opening the East CampUs restaurant is not final. Wulforst said it is too early to speculate because of the numerous possibilities that could arise. “The concept can manifest itself in many different ways, and there is no telling where it will go,” he explained. SEE EAST DINING ON PAGE 9