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The Chronicles
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2006
THE INDEPENDENT DAILY AT DUKE UNIVERSITY
ONE HI NBRED AND
SECOND YEAR. ISSIE C 3
Frats say they'll stay on campus Students Presidents cite benefits chime in IFC, national affiliations on culture Mingyang Liu THE CHRONICLE
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With the new letters of Phi Theta Sigma, the members of the former Theta Chi chapter at Duke are enjoying their newfound freedom from the Interfratemity Council and national fraternity affiliations. Despite Phi Theta Sigma President Collin news Jones’ initial expectations, however, other analysis IFC fraternities said* they are not planning to follow the group offcampus. “I think the relationship [with the University] is a mutually beneficial one,” said senior Evan Sherman, president of Alpha Epsilon Tf fraternity. "“We clal and philanthropic programming to the University, and they provide us with housing apd taking care of legal liability, which is something you lose when you go off campus.” Dave Westol, chief executive officer for the national office of Theta Chi fraternity, also recognized the help offered by University to its student organizations. “Duke is providing a lot of administrative support,” he said. “It struck me and several others that someone would say the University is not supporting the greek community because we see the opposite.” As of this semester, the chapter owed more than $20,000 to the national fraternity, Westol said. The debt has been an ongoing issue and was one of the reasons that led nearly 40 members of Theta Chi to leave the fraternity in fall 2004. “The guys were a group of seniors who were just apathetic and didn’t want to pay
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CHRONICLE FILE PHOTO
UnlikeTheta Chi, which disaffiliated, severalon-campus frats like Pi Kappa Alpha have said they will remain in IFC. the debt, which was about half-to-twothirds of what it is today,” Westol said. The national fraternity offered to work with the members and relieve them of more than 50 percent of the amount owed in order to keep the chapter alive. Nevertheless, the financial troubles sparked the idea about disaffiliation more than a year ago, said Jones, a junior. It was not, however, a major reason for the final decision, he added. “The main reason was the lack of rea-
sons to be affiliated,” Jones said. “Everything on campus fraternities can do, for the most part, off-campus fraternities can do—most of the time, easier and better.” Jones said he has had conversations with other IFC fraternity members about the possibility of disaffiliating. “In light of what we’ve done and the reactions that the campus has given us, a lot of those fraternities who have dis-
Meg Bourdillon THE CHRONICLE
A sea of raised hands—but few raised voices—filled the Faculty Commons Wednesday afternoon. About 50 students gathered there for the Campus Culture Initiative’s town hall meeting, the second of three forums for faculty, students and staff, respectively. Attendees passed two around microphones, taking turns sharing the aspects of University life they found most satisfying, disappointing or in need of change. Students also inquired Elliott Wolf about die CGl’s agenda and discussed potendal ways to bridge ( vides on campus. “People don’tfeel a part of a cohesive social life,” senior Rachel Weeks said. Explaining that students need to “democratize” social activities, she added, “It’s okay to be in a fraternity. It’s okay to be an athlete.” CCI Chair Robert Thompson, dean of Trinity College of Arts and Sciences and vice provost for undergraduate education, opened the meeting by outlining the CCl’s progress since the initiative began in April. He encouraged continuing student input. “We have the opportunity to look at a number of issues simultaneously and to look at how they affect each other,” Thompson said. “The opportunity to make
SEE FRATERNITIES ON PAGE 7
SEE
STUDENTS/CCI ON PAGE 7
sell Wal-Mart to Durham Junior Dukies opt for $4 prescription Plaza students From Pisa talk about their decisions drugs in N.C. to
.
to stay
by
Leslie Griffith
THE CHRONICLE
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Duke in Durham, Fall 2006—the program in which “Gothic” is 20th century, the drinking age is still 21 and some juniors may find themselves a little bit lonely. Although a record-setting 475 students —including about 40 percent of the Class of 2008—are scattered across the globe, juniors said the impact of their absent classmates on campus culture is undeniable. But they’re not letting it cramp their style. Those who remain in Durham said they’ve been able to take positions of leadership, get ahead in fulfilling major requirements and meet SEE ABROAD ON PAGE
9
McGowan Jasten CHRONICLE THE
North Carolina residents looking to buy generic pharmaceuticals may soon turn to Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., which recently rolled back the prices of some generic drugs to $4 for a month’s supply. Target Corp.—the nation’s No. 2 discount retailer announced plans last week to implement a program similar to those at Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club, which offer a discounted monthly rate for 314 prescriptions in North Carolina and 14 other states. “We’re doing what we do best—rolling back prices and making things more available for the everyday person,” —
SEE
WAL-MART ON PAGE 6