December 5, 2007

entrepreneurs

genes

operation

Dukestart-u ip heads speak as part of the wweek's events, PAGE 3

Duke research breaks ground on silenced genes, PAGE 4

Marty Pocius has ankle surgery, will be out for season, PAGE 9

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The Tower of Campus Thought and Action

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Ryan Brown THE CHRONICLE

Alieva, Trask, Brodhead fly to speak withJohnson

by

French workers and students upset “Almost a third of classes this semester

Intruders who broke into the School of Law Web site may have accessed the Social Security numbers of more than 1,400 applicants, officials reported Tuesday.

The incident is being investigated

by Duke and Durham law enforcement after a law school webmaster discovered that the site had been illegally accessed Nov. 29.

The breached site contained information from prospective applicants who requested materials from the admissions office, including the Social Security numbers of some.

“The security and safety of our community is of utmost importance to us,” wrote William Hoye, associate dean ofadmissions for the law school, in an e-mail to the affected applicants. “Duke University works hard to protect the personal information of prospective students and other community members. We are taking all possible steps to address this breach and prevent it from happening again.”

It is unclear if the intruders actually acquired any of the materials, said Melinda Vaughn, executive director of communications for the School ofLaw. Unauthorized links began to appear on the site around 3:30 p.m. Nov. 29, and the site was moved offline immediately after. By Friday morning webmasters had removed the errant links and reinstated the site.

Continued scrutiny, however, revealed

6

SEE LAW SCHOOL ON PAGE 5

Will

Flaherty THE CHRONICLE

Joe Alieva wasn’t flying solo in his first face-to-face talk with Navy head coach Paul Johnson about Duke football’s top job.

President Richard Brodhead and Executive Vice President Tallman Trask accompanied the Director of Athletics on a trip to the Washington, D.C. area Monday in order to personally discuss Duke’s head coaching vacancy with Johnson, a senior Duke official told The Chronicle.

The group flew on a chartered private jet to the Washington metropolitan area Monday, leaving in the late morning and spending the afternoon visiting with Johnson at an undisclosed location.

Although no specific details could be confirmed about the group’s trip, online flight tracking website FlightAware.com indicates that a Cessna Citation 5258 jet registered to Direct Jet Charter of Greensboro left Raleigh-Durham International Airport at 10:50 a.m. Monday

&

Hackers crack law school site

Top admins meet with Navy coach by

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Rioting youths in Paris suburbs are among the sights Dukies studying away from Durham have witnessed

Students in Paris, NYC, L.A, get glimpse at news

SEE JOHNSON ON PAGE 10

Eugene Wang THE CHRONICLE

by

When Daniel Kayello signed up to study abroad in Paris, he expected to take four classes during the week while traveling Europe on the weekends.

Instead, he found himself unable to get to class or travel freely, as strikes brought much ofFrance to a halt in November.

“Exams have been cancelled, classes have been impossible to reach due to students linking arms in the doorways, riot police can be seen everywhere and no one can say with confidence when normality will return,” Kayello, a junior, wrote in an e-mail to The Chronicle Nov. 28.

The Duke in France/EDUCO program was not the only Duke study-abroad program affected by social unrest Strikes in New York

by Broadway stagehands in Novembercaused the Duke in New York: Arts and Media program to adjust its schedule accordingly.

In addition, students travelling to Hollywood for the Duke in Los Angeles program may feel the effects of the Writers Guild ofAmerica strike if it continues into next semester.

SEE RIOTS ON PAGE

New steps taken to cutwater use from staff reports the chronicle

As Durham moves into Stage IV severe mandatory conservation measures for water use, the Uni9 versity has pledged $5 million toward water .I'’’M -' conservation projects.

“Water conservation is not new,” Execuw live Vice President Tallman Trask said in a statement. “This fund will help us move more v quickly to make operational changes at Duke to address the current drought and enhance our ongoing water conservation efforts.”

The money will finance several new initiatives including installing low-flow showerheads and fixing inefficient residential facilities.

Residence Life and Housing Services will replace more than -1,000 showerheads in residence halls. The newly installed fixtures issue only 1.5 gallons per minute—one gallon per minute

T

less than a standard head—and are expected to save thousands of gallons of water per day.

In addition, the University will give 5,000 low-flow showerheads to faculty, staff and students living offcampus. Duke staff will be present at distribution points to answer questions, and a Duke ID will be required to get a fixture.

Currently, Duke is Durham’s largest consumer ofwater. Over past months, the University has attempted to cut water use by moving many campus eateries to disposable plates and cups. In addition, most irrigation systems have been turned off.

Duke’s goal remains to reduce water consumption to meet the city’s restrictions.

The first giveaway will take place Monday, Dec. 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in front of the Chapel. Two further distributions will take place at the Smith Warehouse Work Control Center at 114 S. Buchanan Blvd. Those giveaways will be Tuesday, Dec. 11 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Friday, Dec. 21 in the same time slot.

CHRONICLE FILE PHOTO

Officials at the School ofLawTuesday announced a breach in a site including Soda!Security numbers.

THE CHRONICLE

2 I WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5,2007

Washington battles weather

Global warming summit questioned by

Robin McDowell

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

BALI, Indonesia Never before have so many people converged to try to save the planet from global warming, with more than 10,000 jetting into this Indonesian resort island, from government ministers to Nobel laureates to drought-stricken farmers.

But critics say they are contributing to the very problem they aim to solve.

“Nobody denies this is an important event, but huge numbers of people are going, and their emissions are probably going to be greater than a small African country,” said Chris Goodall, author of the book “How to Live a Low-Carbon Life.”

Interest in climate change is at an alltime high after former Vice President A1 Gore and a team of U.N. scientists won the Nobel Peace Prize for highlighting the dangers of rising temperatures, melting polar ice, worsening droughts and floods, and lengthening heat waves.

Two big climate conferences have been held in less than a month, both in idyllic, far-flung, holiday destinations—first Valencia, Spain, and now Bali. They were preceded by dozens of smaller gatherings. In Bangkok, Paris, Vienna, Washington, New York and Sydney, in Rio de Janeiro, Anchorage, Helsinki and the Indian Ocean island ofKurumba.

The pace is only iexpected to pick up, prompting some to ask if the issue is creating a “cure” industry as various groups claim a stake in efforts to curb global warming.

No, says Yvo de Boer, executive secretary of the U.N. Climate Change Conference.

“Wherever you held it, people would still have to travel to get there,” he said.

“The question is, perhaps: Do you need to do it at all? My answer to that is yes.”

“Ifyou don’t put the U.S., the big developing countries, the European Union around the table to craft a solution together, nothing will happen and then the prophecy of scientists in terms ofrising emissions and its consequences will become a reality,” deBoer said.

Bush will not change stance on Iran by

Terrence Hunt

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON Defending his credibility, President George W. Bush said Tuesday that Iran is dangerous and must be squeezed by internationalpressure despite a blockbuster intelligence finding that Tehran halted its nuclear weapons program four years ago.

Bush said the new conclusion—contradicting earlier U.S. assessments—would not prompt him to take off the table the possibility of pre-emptive military action against Iran, Nor will the United States change its policy of trying to isolate Iran diplomatically

and punish it with sanctions, he said.

“Look, Iran was dangerous, Iranis dangerous and Iran will be dangerous if they have the knowledge necessary to make a nuclear weapon,” the president told a White House news conference a day after the release of a new national intelligence estimate representing the consensus of all U.S. spy agencies.

On Capitol Hill, congressional Democrats said they hoped the report would have a cooling effect on the administration’s rhetoric, which they said was hyped and counterproductive. At a campaign debate in lowa, seven Democratic presidential candidates stood in

agreement that the United States should shift its focus with Iran to diplomatic engagement “They should have stopped the saber rattling, should never have started it,” said Sen. Barack Obama, D-Dl. New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton said Bush “should seize this opportunity.” But she also said it was clear that pressure on Iran has had an effect—a point disputed by rival Sen. Joe Biden ofDelaware.

While U.S. intelligence about Iran has changed, Bush showed no inclination to alter course. Iran continues to produce enriched uranium that could be transferred to a secret weapons program, he said.

A storm that battered the Pacific Northwest for two days moved on Tuesday, leaving behind flooded homes, fallen trees and washed-out roads, including the region's largest highway, which was covered with 10 feet of muddy water.

Thieves lack Christmas spirit Authorities are on the lookout for a Grinch who stole the tops off more than two dozen Christmas trees. The thief or thieves raided a farm in eastern Tennessee sometime between Nov. 24 and last week and cut the top off the Fraser firs that were 10 to 12 feet tall.

Rapper Pimp C found dead Pimp C, who spun searing tales of Texas street life into a key role in the rise ofSouthern hip-hop, was found dead in an upscale hotel Tuesday. He was 33.The rapper formed Underground Kingz with partner-in-rhyme Bun B while the pair was in high school.

Sudan frees British teacher A British teacher jailed for letting her students name a teddy bear Muhammad as part of a writing project headed home Monday after being pardoned—ending a case that set off an international outcry and angered many moderate Muslims.

News briefs compiled from wire reports "Don't cry at the beginning of a date. Cry at the end, like do."

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THE CHRONICLE

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5,2007 I 3

Duke celebrates entrepreneurs by

Julia Love

THE CHRONICLE

In the midst ofjob-hunting season for seniors, two recent Duke graduates and a current Blue Devil will be on the other side of the interview process, deciding who will be the best fit for their Internet start-up companies.

As part of the first-ever Entrepreneurship Week, Shoeboxed. com founder Taylor Mingos, Pratt

’o7,SeeMeWin.comfounderßreck

Yunits, Trinity ’O7, and CouponDJ. com co-founder Dan Romero, a sophomore and a member ofThe Chronicle’s independent editorial board, explained how they leaped ahead of the learning curve at the

Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Panel held in Griffith Film Theater Tuesday.

The week’s events are sponsored

by Wyrick Robbins Yates and Ponton LLP, a Raleigh-based law firm.

“There are a lot of students I talk to who have great ideas and just never end up doing it for whatever reason,” Mingos said.

“A lot of people think too small.”

Junior Jeremy Welch, who hosted the discussion, estimated thatapproximately 40 undergraduate students attended the event and said he was pleased with the turnout “Entrepreneurship is not a well-known thing to do on campus,” he said. “There’s a lot of in-

terest in marketing and finance, but entrepreneurship is another story. Considering that, I think it was a solid turnout.”

All three Blue Devils said they started planning their companies on campus and accessed Duke’s resources to transition their business blueprints to actual profit margins.

Yunits, who majored in economics, said the courses he took in computer science and his involvement in The Duke Entrepreneur prepared him for the business world.

Romero said he and CouponDJ.com co-founder Justin Wickett, a sophomore, will examine market research as part of an independent study program next semester. He noted that Duke could do more to foster entrepreneurship by bringing the founders of successful Internet companies to speak on campus.

“If you have that kind of mentality here at Duke, we as a school are smart enough to compete with any of the Stanfords or Harvards,” Romero said.

He added that an on-campus incubator space—a resource center for aspiring entrepreneurs would help students develop their start-up companies withdut offices. Romero and Wickett operate CouponDJ.com from six computers in their dormitory room, and Romero said the hum of the servers can make it difficult —

sleep at night.

Despite these potential limitations, Romero said college can be the perfect time for aspiring en-

to

CHASE OLIVIERI/THE CHRONICLE

Taylor Mingos, Pratt'O7 and founder of Shoeboxed.com, speaks in Griffith Film Theater Tuesday on a panel as part of Duke's first-ever Entrepreneurship Week.

trepreneurs to get a venture off the ground.

“If I start a business in college and fail, it’sjust time spent,” Romero said. ‘You don’t have to provide for a family or anything like that, and you’re almost in a risk-free environment so you can test out a lotof things while keeping your options open for the future.”

CHRIS MCGUIRE/THE CHRONICLE

Union officials voted to put $lO,OOO toward a formal event to be held in February.

DUKE UNIVERSITY UNION

DUU OKs WaDuke formalfor Spring by

Kevin Lincoln

THE CHRONICLE

Plans for a formal event at the Washington Duke Inn that will encourage faculty-student interaction were approved by Duke University Union administrators at their last weekly meeting of the semester Tuesday night.

Members voted to contribute $lO,OOO to paying for the formal, which will likely take place on either Feb. 1 or Feb. 15.

“This is something that I think students would enjoy because they get a chance to talk to their faculty and see their faculty outside of classes,” said junior Rob Carlson, vice president of internal affairs, who presented the proposal for the event.

Union members established

that the formal’s primary purpose would be to provide an opportunity for students and faculty to interact in a more casual setting.

Other groups, such as Campus Council and the Student Organization Finance Committee, are also expected to contribute funds.

Tickets are estimated to be around $lO and will be purchased on food points that will go toward paying for the cost of food and alcohol. Students can purchase their tickets prior to the event or at the door for a slightly

higher charge.

Members also discussed how to best promote faculty attendance at the event. Students are SEE UNION ON PAGE 5

4 | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5,2007

THE CHRONICLE

IK! II fll Approximately 99 percent of a mouse's 30,000 genes have a specific counterpart in humans.

Silenced gene research gains loud praise Medical helicopter vanishes in Alaska ANCHORAGE, Alaska Authorities launched a search Tuesday fora medical helicopter that vanished while carrying a patient and medical crew.

The Life Guard Alaska helicopter, which was heading from Cordova to an Anchorage hospital, disappeared Monday sometime after 5:18 p.m., authorities said.The helicopter crew had made a satellite phone call around that time, but it was not a distress call, said Coast Guard Lt. John McWhite.

A patient, pilot, paramedic and nurse were aboard the helicopter, said Providence Alaska Medical Center spokeswoman Becky Hultberg.

N.C. commemorates AIDS victims RALEIGH Pieces of an international memorial honoring AIDS victims visited North Carolina last week.

The AIDS Memorial Quilt is called the largest community art project in the world.

It was nominated for a Nobel Peace Price in 1989, and honors people from all over the globe who died from the disease.

The pieces were used to commemorate World AIDS Day Saturday.

Poor refrigeration ruins vaccines Every year, thouDES MOINES, lowa sands of American children go through the tearful, teeth-gritting ordeal of getting their vaccinations, only to be forced to do it all over again. The vaccines were duds, ruined by poor refrigeration.

It is more than a source of distress for parent and child. It is a public health threat, because youngsters given undersfrength vaccines are unprotected against dangerous diseases. And it accounts for a big part of the $2O million in waste incurred by the federal Vaccines for Children program.

By CDC estimates, hundreds of thousands of doses of vaccines against such diseases as flu, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, mumps, measles, chicken pox and the cervical cancer virus are thrown out each year because of poor refrigeration at clinics, hospitals and doctors'offices.

by

Lisa Du

THE CHRONICLE

Imagine knowing that you’re more susto cancer because of nonfunctional genes inherited from your parents.

Such knowledge might soon be available, according to a recent study by Duke researchers, graduate students and undergraduates.

Their study, published in the Dec. 3 issue of journal Genome Research, revealed 156 possible “imprinted” genes in the human genome.

Imprinted genes are like mutated genes in that only one copy is functional. The other inherited copy is turned off and silenced by molecular markers from either the mother or father, leaving no back-up if the one working copy is damaged, said Randy Jirtle, professor of radiation oncology at Duke University Medical Center and a senior author of the study.

The importance ofthese imprinted genes is connected to the epigenome, which is the regulation of genes, he added.

“The copy that’s turned off, that’s marked in the egg or sperm in the previous generation, that’s doneby epigenetic mechanisms,” Jirtle said. “DNA methylation, chromatin changes, histone marks, that type of thing.”

Because the genes are epigenetically

ceptible

marked, they are mor'e susceptible to environmental modifications, said Alexander Hartemink, assistant professor ofcomputer science and a senior author of the study.

Jirtle explained that environmental conditions such as nutrition could turn the gene on or offand can make a person more susceptible to certain diseases and disorders. For example, individuals with two turned-on copies of the gene for insulin-like growth factor II are more prone to have colon, breast or prostate cancer.

“It’s a premalignant environment that’s present in your body basically,” he said.

Since the imprinted genes are already marked in the gamete stages, conditions like cancer, autism and schizophrenia can be detected very early by looking at the epigenome, which can potentially change

CHRIS MCGUIRE/THE

CHRONICLE

Alexander Hartemink, an assistant professor of computer science, wrote an algorithm to identify silenced genes. the whole approach to treatment of such diseases, Jirtle said.

“I think in the long run we’re going to understand diseases better, in particular the role that imprinted genes play,” he added.

Jirtle said the process to find these imprinted genes required a collaborative effort between biology and computer science, and could not have been donewithout either one.

“Every imprinted gene that we have is going to have a characteristic DNA pattern for the female-marked ones and the male-marked imprinted genes,” Jirde said. “And if that is the case, we should be able to use computers to find thosepatterns and they should be uniquely present in genes that are imprinted.”

He said two different machine-learning computer programs were used in identifying genes, and the overlap in the results was the 156 possible imprinted genes in the study.

“We used one existing technology and one we had developed in our own lab to

do the predictions,” said Hartemink, who wrote the algorithm for the program.

Jason Bosko, a senior in the Pratt School of Engineering who helped write the program Sparse Multinomial Logistic Regression, said finding the imprinted genes was similar to a classification problem.

The program had to compare existing information about 40 imprinted and 700 nonimprinted genes to locate unknown imprinted genes in the human genome, he added.

‘You tell the computer some genes that are imprinted, and also some genes that are not imprinted, and you provide a set of descriptors, or features, for each of the genes,” Hartemink said. “Then the computer considers features and combinations of features that are predictive of genes belonging to one class or the other. Eventually, you train the computer to distinguish between these classes by some complicated function of a subset of the features.”

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THE CHRONICLE

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5,2007 I 5

LAW SCHOOL from page 1

UNION from page 3 being encouraged ta invite faculty, who will be able to attend free of charge.

Dean of Undergraduate Education Steve Nowicki has expressed a great deal of support for the formal, Carlson said.

“I think that with Steve Nowicki’s help we can corral a lot of administrators to go to this,” he added.

The event will also operate as an opportunity for a formal function for non-greek students, but greek students are invited to come as well, members said.

In other business: Union members discussed the possibility of having the chief executive officer of Chipotle come to speak on campus next semester.

They added that he might come free of charge, but few details were known.

Membersalso expressed an interest in providing some form of burrito-related perk to students who attend.

dresses and site passwords, also may have been accessed.

The second server did not contain any Social Security numbers. Affected applicants were also contacted that the breach included a server containing sensitive appliTuesday by e-mail and advised to change any passwords cant data and the site was once again taken down the mornthey had on other sites that were the same as the one ing of Dec. 1. Officials then notified the affected students used on the Duke Law site.

As a precaution, the law school bye-mail, providing information to help the applicants monitor their will overhaul its application status“We do have a sense of what tracking page in order to elimicredit and prevent identity theft, Law school administrators also nate the need for a password, happened and how the set up a special phone line and eVaughn wrote in an e-mail to stumail address to provide support intruders got into the site.” dents and professors Tuesday. She for those impacted. that the database containMelinda Vaughn, added Vaughn said an inquiry into ing Social Security numbers has the identity of the hackers is executive director communications also been permanently recalled.

The law school’s Web site, ongoing but University officials “have some ideas.” which has been offline since Dec. “We do have a sense ofwhat hap1, is expected to be reinstated pened and how the intruders got into the site, but it’s still be- Tuesday night or Wednesday morning, Vaughn added.

Data on current students, alumni and law school eming investigated,” she said.

Another site containing data on current applicants, ployees are stored on another server and were not acincluding home addresses, phone numbers, e-mail ad- cessed by the intruders.

of

now is the time to make it your own! sorority & fraternity recruitment meeting this evening! page auditorium 7 PM

Come to learn about the process and meet your recruitment counselor!

The Panhellenic Association & Interfraternity Council will be holding a required information session for all potential new members in Page Auditorium (next to the Duke Chapel on West Campus).

Come and get all your questions about Greek Life answered by the people who know it best!

page auditorium 9 PM

Interfraternity Registration Online at:

greek.studentaffairs.duke.edu

THE CHRONICLE

6 ( WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5,2007

Study Abroad, wrote in an e-mail.

RIOTS from page 1

She added that she is unaware of any student concerns about the riots, but she has been contacted by one worried parent of a student in Paris. “[Her] concerns were assuaged when it was pointed out to her that the situation that faces her daughter is not unique to the students [in] the program in Paris, but is something with which all Parisian residents are

have been cancelled. Weekend trips have been made hugely more expensive and difficult,” Kayello said. “We have had to attend private tutoring sessions at the Duke center in Paris in order to catch up what was missed in class.”

Strikes by rail workers, postal workers, and teachers coping,” Riley many other pubsaid. “As one of lic employees “I tried to go to class... and a our faculty comhave brought guard told me I couldn’t go in.” mented: ‘This much of France to a standstill Leah Fisher, is a unique historical Paris since mid-Nojuniorstudying abroad in Paris moment to be vember. Strikers savored and are protesting President Nicoexperienced to las Sarkozy’s attempts at labor and pension the full in the collective rather than conquered.’” reform.

French students have also protested New York strike causes some delays against Sarkozy’s plans to privately finance Whereas the Duke in France/EDUCO the university system. Students in France fear private financing will lead to harder program has changed its schedule considadmission standards, Kayello said. erably due to the strikes, the Duke in New “I tried to go to class... and a guard told York: Arts and Media program was not simme I couldn’t go in,” junior Leah Fisher ilarly affected by the Broadway stagehand wrote in an e-mail. “The administrators strike. The strike started Nov. 10and ended actually shut the school when they worry Nov. 28.

Although the program may miss a live about the strikers going in and creating trouble.... They had barricaded the gates screening of “The Daily Show” and has rescheduled a performance of the play to keep people out of the buildings.”

She added that some French students “Rock ’n’ Roll,” it has continued mosdy as she talked to said they disapproved of planned, Marianna Torgovnick, director of Duke in New York and professor of Engthe strikes.

“According to them, it’s just a few lish, wrote in an e-mail. guys, usually ones that don’t go to class Junior Doug Clark wrote in an e-mail like trouthat the strike has enhanced his experience causing anyway, and they just ble,” Fisher said. in New York beyond what he expected.

“It’s actually things like the Broadway The staff of Duke in France/EDUCO Strike that makes being in [New York] so has made arrangements for additional tutoring due to the strikes, Associate Dean enjoyable,” he said. ‘You get the feeling Margaret Riley, director of the Office of that you’re... part of the ‘real world’.”

I Wouldn't Be Where I Am Today

Without...

The

Although the Writers Guild of America strike puts 'Saturday Night Live' star Tina Fey on the street, the director of Duke in LA. says it has not been a major distraction for students in the program.

Duke in LA. not affected by strike Jim Thompson, director for the Duke in Los Angeles program, said he does not expect the program to be negatively affected by the screenwriter strike.

“Most of the students work for film production companies and their principal job is to do script coverage,” he said. “There’s no shortage of scripts for these guys to work with.”

The strike affects drama, comedy and late-night television shows the most, and few students express interest in working in television, he added.

“I pointed out [to students] that there was some risk that [a television internship]

wouldn’t be able to take place,” Thompson said. “In fact, I probably have more students lined up for more interesting [media] internships this year than any year I can think of.”

The strike may actually be beneficial for the program, he added. With many screenwriters no longer working, Thompson said he hopes they will have more time to talk to students.

“We have Duke in L.A. alumni who are well-established screenwriters who now have time to come to the classes,” he said.

“In away it’s got a beneficial side for us, but not for anyone who wants to find out what happens on ‘Lost’ this year.”

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THE CHRONICLE

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5,2007 | 7

The Duke Conservative Union presents:

Senator Rick Santorum “The Gathering Storm of the 21st Century: America’s War Against Islamic Fascism” Rick Santorum, a Senior Fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, established and directs EPPC's Program to Protect America's Freedom. He is writing a book on the "gathering storm" of the 21st the challenges posed by radical Islamic fascism and its century growing alliances around the world.

■

-

’

Mr. Santorum served as United States Senator from Pennsylvania from 1995 to 2007 and as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1991 to 1995. As a United States Senator, he was a champion of efforts to counter the threat of radical Islam, to protect victims of religious persecution, and to promote democracy and religious liberty around the world, (source: http://www.eppc.org/programs/ppaf/)

This event was made possible by support from the Intercollegiate Studies Institute, EPPC, and the Pope Center

THE CHRONICLE

8 | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5,2007

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Face-Off Yearbook picked the Duke men's lacrosse team to repeat as champions of the ACC ahead of Virginia, North Carolina and Maryland.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Duke hires Neinas to assist coaching search

PRESS

conference that he planned to conduct the search process in-house. When a reporter asked Alieva specifically whether he would hire Neinas or a similar consultant, the AD responded, “We’ll probably do it ourselves.”

Furthermore, when asked in an interview with The Chronicle last Friday if he had retained Neinas’ services, Alieva simply replied, “I know of a man named Chuck Neinas.”

“At this point, I’m just doing most of the work on my own,” Alieva said in the interview.

But if there is one marquee name in the field of college sports headhunters, Neinas is it. He is widely respected among coaches and athletic directors* and he has a successful track record that includes the hires of Mack Brown at Texas, Mark Richt at Georgia and Bob Stoops at Oklahoma. Neinas is also no stranger to the Triangle, as he was involved in the 2006 head coaching searches at North Carolina and N.C. State.

According to an executive of a leading search firm who wished to remain anonymous, consultants like Neinas can play a variety of roles in a school’s search process. Their services range from providing informal advice to presenting detailed reports to athletic directors and search committees, complete with an extensive list of “best-fit candidates.”

To begin a search, Neinas typically requests that clients fill out a nine-part questionnaire in order to familiarize himself with his clients’ search parameters.

Neinas’ next step is to hit the phones.

Due to NCAA anti-tampering rules, athletic directors and other university officials are prevented from speaking to candidates

Consultant Chuck Neinas has helped schools such as Texas, North Carolina and LSU hire head coaches.

SEE NEINAS ON PAGE 10

by

Will Flaherty THE CHRONICLE

Director of Athletics Joe Alieva has called on one of college football’s most influential individuals to help him a replacement for former head coach Ted Roof.

The Chronicle has learned from a senior Duke official and numerous industry sources that the University has hired renowned football consultant Chuck Neinas to help it in its head coaching search.

A former commissioner of the Big Eight conference and executive with the College Football Association, the superconnected Neinas has been involved in the hiring process of nearly 40 NCAA Division-1 coaches since 1997, when he opened his Boulder, Colo, consultancy, Neinas Sports Services.

The decision to hire Neinas constitutes a change of course for Alieva, who seemed to indicate during a Nov. 26 press

REINHOLD MATAY/THE ASSOCIATED

CHRONICLE FILE

PHOTO

Junior guard Marty Pocius will miss theremainder ofthe season after opting to have surgery on his left ankle.

Pocius will undergo season-ending surgery Junior guard Marty Pocius has decided to have season-ending surgery on his left ankle.

Pocius, who initially injured the ankle playing over the summer in his native Lithuania, reaggravated his injury while fighting for a rebound in Duke’s 78-43 victory over Eastern Kentucky Nov. 25.

The surgery will not be performed until early January so that the swelling in Pocius’ ankle can be go down prior to the operation.

“We are 100 percent behind Marty,” head coach Mike Krzyzewski said. “This is a tough break for him and for the whole team. He worked extremely hard over the summer to be ready for this season and was making a steady contribution to the team. His presence in practice and in games will be missed.”

Pocius had a similar operation at the end of last season on his right ankle. Doctors expect him to make a full recovery for next season.

Pocius had averaged four points and 2.5 rebounds in eight minutes per game in the first four contests of the season. The 6-foot-4 guard had struggled with the bum ankle even before the Eastern Kentucky game, and he was stuck behind several wing players in the rotation.

The junior had received sporadic playing time in his first two seasons, averaging 1.7 points in 6.6 minutes per game. Pocius had a career-high 14 points off the bench in the Blue Devils’ overtime loss to N.C. State in the first round of the ACC Tournament last season.

—from staff reports

Celebrating the 2007 Blue Devils Let’s play a quick memory game: When did Britney Spears shave her head?

Feels like forever ago, doesn’t it?

Actually, it happened earlier this year. February 17 to be precise.

So much has happened, in fact, that it’s hard to keep track of even all the great Duke sports moments of 2007. As we near Kgjß 2008, then, it’s time to look back and give props to the people who made headlines (for good or bad) in each gaien month of this memorable year: January: I salute you, Mr. Cameron Indoor clock manager! Although Jon Scheyer had the official assist on Dave McClure’s buzzer-beating layup against Clemson, everyone knows who the dime on that play really belonged to. With your magical fingers, you compressed the Tigers’ game-tying threepointer into Just 0.6 seconds of game time.

February: I salute you, Duke men’s lacrosse team! You resumed play with a 17-11 pounding of Dartmouth. And there was much rejoicing March: I salute you, Lindsey Harding! Not only did

vaisman

you brick two free throws with 0.1 seconds remaining in a one-point Sweet 16 game, but you were also responsible for the entire Imus imbroglio. Think about it for a second —if you had made those shots from the charity stripe, Rutgers would have been eliminated, and Imus would never have made those comments, sparing us from months and months of coverage of a completely inane story.

April: I salute you, the Lovely Ladies ofDuke! The selfproclaimed three hottest girls at Duke—“there’s not a huge selection”—politely reminded us in a CSTV Hoops Odyssey video thatwhen you’re a “VIP” in the “family,” you don’t “camp out like refugees” for seats. But remember, any type of hookup within the family is “incest” —unless of course it’s with Josh Mcßoberts, who never was in the “family” to begin with.

May: I salute you, NCAA! After the Duke men’s lacrosse team failed to get the storybook ending Hollywood needed, you granted the players an extra year of eligibility to try and get it right.

June: I salute you, Billy King! As the GM of the SEE VAISMAN ON PAGE 12

CHRONICLE FILE PHOTO

Dave McClure's January buzzer-beater to defeat Clemson—with the help of a few extra seconds—was a highlight ofDuke sports in 2007.

THE chronicle

10 I WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5,2007

JOHNSON from page 1 bound forBaltimore-Washington International Airport. The same jet took off on a return flight to RDU at 2:56 Monday afternoon.

This was the only round-trip general aviadon itinerary flown Monday between RDU and any of the Washington area’s three primary airports. Baltimore-Washington International, approximately 25 miles away from Annapolis, Md., is the closest of those airports to the United States Naval Academy.

Monday’s meeting between Johnson and the senior Duke officials seems to indicate that Johnson is among Duke’s top candidates for the vacancy, created when Ted Roof was fired Nov. 26. But Alieva still needs to sell Johnson on a move to Durham, as the coach has deflected recent inquiries about other job openings.

SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

Navy headcoach Paul Johnson met with President Richard Brodhead and JoeAlieva Monday afternoon.

Addressing such rumors after Navy’s 383 win over Army Saturdayjohnson told the Annapolis Capital, “Not one thing I have seen or read has been true.” Johnson did add, however, that he is open to considering other jobs if they are offered to him.

“As any other human being would, if someone calls and asks to talk to me about another job, I may listen,” Johnson said. “But it would take a special deal for me to leave.”

Duke may be willing to do just that.

A report on Nov. 28 in The Annapolis Capital indicated that the University is prepared to pay as much as $2 millionper year to persuade Johnson to accept the job. A $2-million salary would be a fourfold increase over the salary ofRoof, who received $500,000 annually.

No confirmation could be made regarding the potential of a contract offer during Monday’s meeting, and Johnson’s agent Jack Reale was unavailable for comment as of late Monday. The senior Duke official also confirmed that no on-campus visit had been scheduled yet for Johnson.

Duke is not the only school vying for Johnson. The Dallas Morning News has reported that Southern Methodist is willing to offer Johnson a contract equal to or greater than his reported $1.5-million deal with Navy. Johnson was flown into Dallas Monday night for a tour of the campus and the facilities, but the paper did say that no agreement had yet been reached between SMU and Johnson.

Broadway interviews for opening The Chronicle has also learned that Grambling State University head coach Rod Broadway was interviewed on campus

by Alieva Tuesday. Broadway, a former head coach at N.C. Central, led the Tigers to an 8-3 record this season and a SWAC Western Division tide. Broadway was a Duke assistant for 14 seasons from 1981-1994.

NEINAS from page 9 without permission from their current employers. Consultants like Neinas, however, are not bound by these regulations and can easily contact top coaching candidates to quickly gauge their availability or interest in particularjobs.

“Search firms can work as intermediaries,” the executive said. “They like to keep it under wraps because there are a lot of openings but a limited number of coaches. And they want to be able to contact these coaches before their names start surfacing because other universities might move in quickly.”

As a result of this, Neinas is legendary for his intense secrecy. He rarely speaks to the media, and he was unavailable for comment on this article despite repeated attempts to reach him.

His desire for confidentiality, however, leads to even more extreme preventative measures. Neinas rarely corresponds by mail or e-mail, has no voice mail recording other than a default “beep” and almost exclusively handles his business with coaches and clients in one-on-one phone conversations or in-person meetings. When Neinas is prepared to present his findings to an athletic director or search committee, he only provides a verbal report, due to the risk of a written submittal eventually turning up in a public-records request.

Such public-records disclosures have shed some light on Neinas’ fees, which are far from cheap. His average charge is $35,000 to 40,000 for assistance with a coaching or athletic director search, according to numerous published reports.

For example, a 2006 report in The San Diego Union-Tribune indicated thatthe University of Colorado was billed $39,051 by

(aum

LAURA

DOUGLAS/CHRONICLE FILE PHOTO

Neinasfor his role in the hiring ofAthletic Director Mike Bohn. In a more local example, an article in The Herald-Sun detailing the hiring of current N.C. State head coach Tom O’Brien stated that Neinas charged the University $35,000 for his assistance in the Wolfpack’s coaching search.

But for a football program that has struggled to compete since Steve Spurrier left for Florida in 1989, Alieva may feel that no cost is too steep if a consultant like Neinas can help him and his six-member search committee find a coach that can return Duke football to relevance.

“Nobody has a crystal ball when it comes to picking coaches,” Alieva said.

“There are a lot of resources out there, and I’ll use all of them.”

Nows

M/7

BETH

Director ofAthletics Joe Alieva is looking for a candidate with head coaching experience to lead Duke.

THE CHRONICLE

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

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No refunds or cancellations after first insertion deadline ADVERTISERS: Please check your advertisement for errors on the first day ofpublication. If you find an error, please call 919-684-3811. The Chronicle only accepts responsibility for the first incorrect day for ads entered by our office staff. We cannot offer make-goodruns for errors in ads placed online by the customer.

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THE CHRONICLE

12 I WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5,2007

VAISMAN from page 9

rejoicing

I salute you Duke women’s noteworthy hapteam!

Nothing golf pened this month, so it’s worth using this space to congratulate you on your three-peat. Rumor has it that every golfer on the squad has been certified in the Heimlich maneuver in order to avoid the choking epidemic that runs rampant in Duke’s other varsity sports.

November: I salute you, Eron Riley!

As Duke’s best offensive weapon, you “supermanned” into the end zone after a long touchdown pass against Clemson.

Well worth the 15-yard penalty and the sole bright spot in a game that featured the defining sequence of Duke football in 2007: Clemson scoring a touchdown, a safety and a return touchdown in 39 seconds. Take that, Mr. Cameron Indoor clock manager!

December; I salute you, Coach K! Not only are the Blue Devils fun to watch this year, but you managed to stun the 349 people who get ESPNU by laughing your way through an infomercial endorsement for a Steve Nash instructional DVD. Can an appearance on a “Head On” commercial be far away?

I apologize in advance for any omissions (I’m sure there are a few), and here’s to another crazy year in 2008!

October;

Philadelphia 76ers, you used your final pick in the first round of the NBA draft to take Finnish guard Petteri Koponen—passing up on fellow Dukie Josh Mcßoberts and completing his free fall from lottery millions to an unguaranteed second round contract.

Although schadenfreude was never sweeter, your decision did deny Duke fans the pleasure of seeing Mcßoberts and Shavlik Randolph sitting on the same bench.

July: I salute you, Lauren Conrad!

Gossip blogs were abuzz with photographs of you and a beaming Josh Mcßoberts —looking like a giant 10year old in a backward baseball cap getting into a taxi cab after a date in L.A. Unfortunately for Josh, he was one-and-done after you deemed him “immature.” And who said The Hills isn’t real?

August: I salute you, fifth-year lacrosse seniors! You announced your intentions to return to Duke for an —

unprecedented extra season, prompting Duke to contemplate renaming the team the “Van Wilders.”

September; I salute you, Duke football! You won! And there was too much

SPECIALTOTHE CHRONICLE

The women's golf team celebrated its third consecutive national championship in May in Daytona Beach, Fla.

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5,2007 | 13

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THE CHRONICLE

14 I WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5,2007

East Campus doesn't need fixing

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Tn partial response to of the things that clearly I Provost Peter Lange’s works. In fact, the current JLlnterim Report on the East Campus model boasts Undergraduate Experience, all of the benefits of dorm members of Campus Coun- living —diversity, communicil have ty and unity, suggested among other editorial a dubious things—that proposal for the creation of Residence Life and Housmore selective living groups ing Services has struggled on East Campus. (and largely failed) to bring The idea is perhaps wellto West Campus. intendoned but not wellEast does currendy host conceived. And in putting some groups resembling seforth this suggestion, Counlective living, but it would be cil members essentially seek inappropriate to compare to fix what is not broken —a them with the living groups on West and increase the move that should be reconsidered, especially in light of number accordingly. As the the much-needed residential only two theme houses on housing changes that could East Campus, Pegram and be made elsewhere.

Brown fill a needed niche When it comes to Duke without fostering exclusivity. residential life, the freshIt should be noted that not man experience is one all students are even aware

that Pegram is a performing arts house, and a number of freshmen who do not put in

the request are simply randomly assigned to it.

The Focus program is also different from the selective living group model on West in a number of crucial ways.

The program has a unique academic basis and purpose in addition to the residential component that places the participants of each Focus group in the same house.

Also, the Focus program has been carefully designed to encourage rather than inhibit interaction between Focus students and non-Focus students. For example, Focus participants are purposely paired with non-Focus roommates, ensuring that the Focus experience

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ontherecord

director of the Duke in Los w if Angeles program, on the ongoing Writers Guild of f America strike. See story page 1.

—Jim Thompson, '

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ing it. In other words, the Focus program adequately addresses what remains the primary concern with simply creating more selective living groups.

Building 'more' selective groups into the first-year experience may only serve to divide freshmen as soon as they arrive on campus. This is a legitimate concern that deserves special attention, particularly in light of the recent push for more interaction among student groups and social cliques on campus following the Campus Culture Initiative.

If the Council’s proposal is a response to the push for more themed-housing, it is important to remember that

not

one of the first columns I wrote sophomore year I projected into the future; “I am sure that I will lookback years from now on all these beliefs and snap analyses of books and realize how young, naive and wrong I once was and how much I have lost in becoming old, wise and right.

This grayed version of me will wish I had 'WtOm chosen a science or at least something more concrete and more substantial to pursue Now I’m not sayeverson ing that I’ve lost all that, or that I one fine morning would change my could. majqrs if I All I’m saying is that I applied to consulting companies earlier this year, which the younger me would never have considered. I will never outlive the shame of doing so. That just isn’t me.

Whenever big change comes along, which at this stage in our lives is very frequendy, we have to look in the mirror and make real decisions. What major you choose, what organizations you join, where to go abroad, what jobs you pursue or what graduate degrees you aspire to are all necessarily based in decisions about who we think we are.

So what can I say about myself? Well, I’ve got one thing that I’m pretty sure my friends would use to describe me: I like Bob Dylan.

I’m wearing a Dylan shirt in my headshot to the side there. My freshman year was spentpretty headphone-immersed, and Bob was my main choice.

I can trace the love affairback to sophomore year of high school. One day, before class started, I was listening to a particularly nasty, high-pitched harmonica solo, when the people sitting next to me burst out laughing and asked what the hell I was listening to.

I guess that’s a pretty embarrassing little memory, but there was something special about that moment: I felt like a rebel. In college, I have come to the sad realization that liking Bob Dylan doesn’t exactly make me a rebel, but it does make me kind of pretentious. That’s something, I guess.

But I don’t think I’m nearly as pretentious as I once was, and, sad as it is to say, Dylan doesn’t mean I

We have Duke in L.A. alumni who are well-established screenwriters who now pave time to come to the classes. In away it's got a beneficial sidefor us, but not for anyone who wants tofind out what happens on “Lost” this year.

supplements community life, rather than supersed-

Jordan

it is not apparent that there has been much clamoring for it on either campus.

Without real demand, it seems unreasonable to seriously consider implementing changes to the first-year experience that could detract from what has proven to be a winning formula.

It is debatable whether freshmen would benefitfrom the proposed changes, while the potential disadvantages are obvious. Nothing is perfect, but it seems that in this case unnecessary tinkering boils down to tampering.

In short, the East Campus model works. And if the quad model on West is any indication, it’s time to funnel energy, creativity and financial resources into improving what doesn’t.

there

as much to me as he once did. There are things that definevery specific stages in our lives and can never mean the same to us again. Its true of music and movies, of course, but it is also true of friends and

relationships: people change.

In the moment everything seems permanent, and only afterwards do we realize how ephemeral even the most important things are.

That’s okay, and, honestly, it’s necessary to survive. The Bible states (and I’m paraphrasing);

“whatever your hands find to do, do it well.”

That’s my outlook on things right now. I honestly have no idea where I’m going to be in six months. I don’tknow what my preoccupations will be or with what group of people I’ll be spending my time, but I know that I’ll throw myself into whatever I find.

I know some of you, even those younger than me, already know what you want the rest of your lives to look like. I am envious in many ways, but that is not my fate.

Because the whole world is out there, waiting to be grabbed. I’m excited to throw myself into something new and different, though it will probably only be for a couple ofyears. Maybe I’ll even try something unconventional while I’m at it.

Now, if the next few years aren’t as useful to my professional development as they might be, that’s just fine. Right now, I’m more worried about my development as a human. If I experience a few things that I wouldn’t put on my resume 30 years down the road, or even on my tombstone, I’m all right with that.

In Woody Allen’s “Crimes and Misdemeanors,” Professor Levy states, “We’re all faced throughout our lives with agonizing decisions, moral choices. Some are on a grand scale, most of these choices are on lesser points. But we define ourselves by the choices we have made. We are, in fact, the sum total of our choices.”

So, if things fade, if Dylan fades today and Allen fades a year from now, the enormity of what they have meant to me and of my choice to love them both will always define me in some way, obvious or hidden.

Jordan Everson is a ofthe semester.

column

Trinity senior. This is his final

THE CHRONICLE

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2007 | 15

commentaries

Don’t walk away

letterstotheeditor Rove speech did allow for academic discourse Reading the description of the Dec. 3 “Conversa-

tion with Karl Rove” event in both The Chronicle’s lead editorial and some other letters and posts, I feel we must have attended different events.

This event was as close to flawless as you are going to get with a controversial speaker. I was proud of the protesters: lots of veryangry people at Page Auditorium at Duke last night But no one prevented other people from hearing, or listening, in any serious way. It was sometimes an unfriendly atmosphere, and maybe even disrespectful. Sure, there were signs and some harsh shouts. But no one is guaranteed a friendly, orrespectful atmosphere. You geta hearing, and nothing more.

Mr. Rove got that And the protesters got to make their point also. A number of conservative students said they were “embarrassed” at the protests. Bull puckey. The audience was restrained, and “respectful” in the formal sense ofnot exercising the heckler’s veto. The protests may upset you, but that’s part of

academic discourse. Let’s give the administration credit A major conservative speaker came to campus, gave a lengthy talk and was not shouted down or even seriously interrupted. That would not have happened at most of the schools we consider to be our peers.

Michael Munger Chair and professor Department of Political Science Protesters represent many Americans’ sentiments What Karl Rove found out first-hand last night is that two-thirds of Americans hate the Bush administration’s policies and lies with a passion.

The protesters represent America’s feelings.

Your editorial today does not.

fames Phillips Senior research associate Department of Biochemistry

Strangers with kindness

The

approaching holiday season makes me her friend’s house for dinner. This friend welcomed sappy, so when choosing a column topic for four strange Dukies, cooked a delectable Thanksgiving feast, and when the topic switched to what we would be this week—finals, Karl Rove, how the Republican debate on YouTube got me all riled up, doing next year, she told us the intimate details of her Durham’s water crisis, another column on leaderown life journey. Despite the risk, she opened up her home (and true to cliche, her heart too). ship —my mind, you Yet another example. This semester I am teaching might say, filled with a speaker-based house course. Accomplished women sugarplums and candy canes. Since Karl Rove in diverse fields set aside an evening to talk with us. is, alas, not a sugarThey could easily tread the safe path, sharing only their successes and conventional life lessons (“Always plum or anything quite so pleasant, my focus persevere,” “Work hard”). Instead they truthfully redrifted elsewhere veal their vulnerabilities and their failures too. JenYes, my current rac e| nifer Ahem-Dodson of the Office ofService Learning mclaUQhlill spoke from the heart about how she discovered real, procrastination breaks Jr constitute download- effortless imperfection authentic leadership. Katie Hood, Trinity ’96, a past Panhel president and a medical research foundation ing Christmas music on Ruckus and then singing “Chestnuts Roasting on CEO, told us the truth about balancing work and faman Open Fire” at the top of my lungs. ily. Sheila Curran of the Career Center recounted her As I blast the “Love Actually” soundtrack my career journey and the difficult sacrifices she has had mind wanders to home, my only motivation for getto make along the way. Each class I left refreshed, takting through the next two weeks, senior thesis and en aback by their candor. Despite the risk ofrejection, all. I look forward to seeing my dad’s seven sisters they kindly shared their battle stories so we could add decked out in sequin-bedazzled holiday sweatshirts their wisdom to our own arsenals. and catching up with my friends over s’mores and And, finally, in the past two weeks I have been coffee at Kayak’s. We talk into the wee hours of the calling nonprofit organizations for my senior thesis morning, occasionally frantically dashing outside to research. They know that I am unimportant: I am feed the meter—only because over the years we have not calling from The Chronicle of Philanthropy or accumulated a hefty pile ofWash U. parking tickets The New York Times and I am not going to be puband we fear that one day they might actually make lished in prestigious journals. Nevertheless, they call us pay them. me back, clear their schedules for a short chat and Thus, rather than to pontificate, this wintry feeling answer my questions frankly. Despite the risk of wastinspired me to write about something sentimental: I ed precious time, they put forth the effort to help marvel at the kindness of strangers. me learn.

It all began at the end of last semester. In typical All in all, thekindness in these stories is risky beRachel fashion, I waited until 3 a.m. to begin packcause it involves trusting others. Whether helping a ing and ran . stranger or droplat.te f' :or my ping that tough As I blast the “Love Actually” exterior, we hope flight to D.G.. that others won’t They’re callsoundtrack my mind wanders home, ing my name use our personal over the instories to hurt us my only motivation for getting tercom, I’m or burn us, just next two weeks, senior through like we hope that sprinting to security with carry-on is packed thesis and all. four with gym clothes carryons and. the and not illegal contraband. security clerk scolds me to “consolidate my bags,” an impossible But even when I occasionally get burned, I find task. I begin cursing myself for booking an Amerithese conversations and interactions rewarding. It can flight (Southwest always lets me bend the rules), is when we let down our guard that we see the huwhen a kind man helps me out. He tells the lady that man-ness in others. Stereotypes disintegrate and two of the bags are his, goes through security and judging without knowing ends. then hands them back to me at the end. I could have As I hum along to another Christmas song, “My been smuggling crack cocaine in one of those bags! Grown-Up Christmas List,” this sentiment takes over: Or even worse, I could have violated the travel-size I want a final Duke semester where kindness and honliquid rule and included a full-size shampoo. Despite esty trump itemized to-do lists, new bonds form and old ones solidify. the risk, he trusted me.

Another example. This Thanksgiving I stayed in Rachel McLaughlin is a Trinity senior. This is her final Durham. Intent on ensuring that I still got some turkey, column of the semester. a professor invited me and three fellow seniors over to

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Conversations

at Duke are great. Whatever odd or fanciful subject you can think of, there’s probably a group of students on campus talking about it right now. If you’ve never been up at four in the morning, lounging around a common room and discussing in minute detail the artistic merit of some B-list movie from the ’Bos, then you’ve missed out.

But there’s one topic that has a more-than-even chance to make a Dukie turn off, tune out and clam up faster than you can say “taboo.” It inspires either fear or ferocious boredom in Oliver sherouse nearly everyone to whom you you tell me mention it. When you read the word in just a second, you’ll likely as not turn back a page and have another go at the crossword. That subject is politics.

Now, even if you didn’t stop reading, you’re probably saying, “Wait a minute. Just two days ago we had a sellout crowd for Karl Rove, and protests to boot,” and that’s true enough, but you’d be hard pressed to find 10 attendees (or protesters) who are interested in Rove’s policies. Rove is a tactics man, not a policy man, and it is his proximity to power rather than his ideas on government that draws crowds.

And so for any government official more than one level removed from the president, or any political issue that requires substance rather than slogans, one finds a remarkable reticence on the part of the student body to get involved.

Quick test: hands up if you can name the North Carolina state senator for this district. My guess is, if you asked that out loud on the bus or the lecture hall where you’re reading this, you’d get a nice set of full pockets.

So what’s the deal? I think most students get turned off politics by two assumptions; politics don’t affect them, and students don’t have any power anyway. And it turns out both are patently false.

Politics affect your life every day. Do you have student loans? Turns out it’s Congress who sets your interest rates, and that’s just on the national level. Everything from the drinking age to the drought management plan is a political issue, decided by politicians. Public officials, from the mom on the school board up to officials of the federal government, have and will continue to have a huge impact on the daily life of students who simply ignore them.

Which brings me back to the second misconception I mentioned. It seems that people have really bought into the idea that any political action takes a huge machine, or that you need a corporate backer and a political action committee to get something accomplished even at the local level.

For these people I have only two words: Ron Paul, Medical School ’6l.

Six months ago he was dismissed as a gadfly and an oddity on the fringes of the race for the Republican presidential nomination. I had heard him speak at Duke my freshman year and thought he had some ideas worth airing, so I told a few friends about him arid even sent a little cash in to help him get the message out. And it turns out I wasn’t alone.

Thanks to the spontaneous action of tens of thousands of average people, Paul is now on track to raise more money than any other Republican in the race this quarter. Media coverage has gone from “don’t be surprised if he’s not invited to the next debate” to “don’t be surprised if he’s third in lowa, or even if he wins New Hampshire.” He’s no front-runner, but he can’t be ignored any more.

So if that’s what’s possible through word ofmouth and hard work in the presidential race, you just can’t tell me that there’s nothing you can do in Durham, or in North Carolina or in your home city and state.

Now, I can tell you that every vote is important and that we’re all special and unique snowflakes until I’m blue in the face, but you know as well as I do that that isn’t exactly true.

Even in a democracy—especially in a democracy—some people do have more influence than others. But although it’s true that money and position give some people an advantage, the most influential are those who work hardest for what they believe in.

You just have to decide what it is you want from politics. Do the work. Get it done. Unless, of course, you’d just rather talk about something else.

Oliver Sherouse is a Trinity junior. This is his final column

semester.

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16 | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5,2007

THE CHRONICLE

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