October 18, 2007

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Students, admins ’chute for children Duke will cancel class for holidays by

Julia Love

THE CHRONICLE

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CameronVanSant THE CHRONICLE

Summer session students will have two more days offreedom starting this year thanks to new calendar changes that will go into effect this summer. Provost Peter Lange said he last week approved a proposal submitted by the University Schedule Committee that will eliminate classes on Day Independence and Memorial Day. Schedule “The Committee gave me good reasons and that’s why I approved Bruce Cunningham it,” he said. University Registrar Bruce Cunningham, chair of the committee, said the change was proposed last year by third-year graduate student Claire Siburt, the Graduate and Professional Student Council representative to the committee. “This was especially important from the graduate student perspective because so many of our graduate students not only attend classes, but also teach them,” Cunningham wrote in an e-mail. Judith Ruderman, vice provost for academic and administrative services and a member of the committee, said the group formed a subcommittee to look into the implications of eliminating classes for the —

SEE SCHEDULE ON PAGE 5

Gazing up at an almost cloudless blue sky in form-fitting, golden yellow, zip-front jump suits, senior Paul Slattery, George McLendon and Terry Sanford, Jr. were bubbling over with nerves and excitement as they prepared to skydive Wednesday. “[This] probably isn’t the dumbest thing I’ve ever done, but it’s in the top 10,” said McLendon, dean of the faculty

of Arts and Sciences. “For me, this is completely reasonable—Paul’s going through his midlife crisis early.” Duke Student Government President Slattery, a senior, McLendon and Sanford, son of the former University president, were preparing to leap to the track of the Duke Center for Living from a height of 13,500 feet. The men were among 10 Duke students and faculty who participated in tandem skydiving with the U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute team in an event sponsored by Duke’s Army Reserve Officer Training Corps program. Students and administrators were paired to bring the campus together in a unique form of social interaction, said Lt. Col. Mark Tribus, a professor of military science. “We really wanted a good cross-section of students and faculty, people who represent Duke well,” he said. To recruit jumpers, Tribus contacted deans, coaches, the Iron Dukes and the Department of Athletics, who referred him to specific students. Tribus said most people agreed to jump “on the spot,” and added that he even had to turn some away. The event was also designed to raise money for the Duke Children’s Hospital. The goal was to raise $lO for each second of free-fall per participant for a total of

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$6,000, and Tribus said the figure will be reached by next week. Sophomore Shari Baker, a Baldwin Scholar, said she signed up for skydiving primarily for the experience, but predicted that the potential to make a difference would help her overcome her fears before her jump. “The charity is what’s going to make me physically jump, knowing that it’s for the kids,” Baker said. “If it were just my

Scooters rev up popularity Ryan Brown THE CHRONICLE

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When Fahad Bishara, a second-year history graduate student, arrived on campus last fall, he needed a cheap, reliable method of transportation between classes and his off-campus apartment.

choice, I’d probably chicken out.” Sanford said he thinks the charity component gave him license to act a little bit

recklessly.

“When people ask me, ‘Why would a 50-year-old man jump off a plane?’ I’ll say,

‘So I can give money to Duke [Children’s]

Hospital.’”

The students and faculty crouched into SEE SKYDIVE ON PAGE 6

Southern flair infuses party by

As a Kuwait native, however, Bishara did not have an American driver’s license and the high price of gas and insurance put a car beyond his means —so he decided to try a motorized scooter. After a year of paying less than three dollars per week for gas and never having to search out a parking spot, Bishara said he could not be happier with his choice, and he is not alone. Citing convenience, lack of expense and concern for the environment, many Duke students, employees and professors have tradedfour wheels for two. Motorcycles and motorized scooters—often referred to as “Vespas for the European brand that originated the vehicles are SEE SCOOTER ON PAGE 5

GUERRERCVTHE CHRONICLE

Students andadministrators skydive with the Ui. Army Golden Knights parachute team Wednesday morning.

Aspot outsidethe Divinity School is packed with scootersand motorcydes.

Ashley Holmstrom THE CHRONICLE

Banjo strains, candlelight and student chatter filled the air above McClendon Tower walkway Wednesday evening as the space was transformed into an enchanting vision of a Southern-inspired gala. The atmosphere of Dukes of Durham: a Southern Comfort, thrown by Duke University Union, was casual yet classy. Some students attended in country-club attire, while others passing through stopped to taste the Southern-style cuisine and say hello to friends before continuing on to their dorms or the Bella Union. “I wanted something on campus that was easily accessible and low-key,” said senior Rebecca Friedman, DUU special projects directorand organizer of the event. “North Carolina is in the South, and there are lots of great things about [the SEE DUKES ON PAGE 4


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