Winter 2014

R IVAL celebrating the Duke & UNC-CH connection

WHO’S GOT TALENT? UNC and Duke students showcase a range of unusual talents -pg. 20

TOBACCO ROAD BASEBALL : RIVALS IN THE BATTERY Two former UNC and Duke baseball players make an unexpected but noteworthy pair for the Los Angeles Dodgers -pg. 14

TED-X PREVIEW Discover what UNC and Duke students are preparing for the program’s 2014 events on each campus -pg. 11

Volume 9 •Issue 2•WINTER 2013

content Editor in Chief

a letter from the editor

UNC Managing Editor

winter 2013

Photo Editor Art Director Social Media/PR Treasurer

A

fter an alumni event hosted by the Duke Entertainment Media and the Arts Network (DEMAN) in November, I was invited to dinner by a Duke alum I’d met throughout the course of the evening. While I initially felt out of place as the only undergraduate in the group, I soon realized that I was merely one anomaly amongst a hodgepodge of characters composed of a Broadway producer, a film director, a Fulbright Scholar, a talk show host, a stage actress, an aspiring director days from eloping and, well, me.

Despite my initial surprise, I soon realized that I was a part of something very special.

Brought together by good food (thanks, Pop’s!) and Blue Devil blood, our dinner party broke down the barriers of age and experience to laugh, eat and simply enjoy each other’s company. In a matter of hours, we became friends on a deeper level, engaging in a game in which we took turns completing the statement, “If you really knew me, you’d know...”

At the end of the night, we acknowledged the sacredness of that dinner at Pop’s and the fact that a gathering of our entire crew was realistically only a one-time event.

As I walked away from my newfound friends that night, I beamed with happiness, hope and most of all, a deep sense of pride in being a member of the Duke family. Over pizza, ravioli and apple crisp, we

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Sincerely, Lauren Paylor Editor-in-Chief

RIVAL MAGAZINE• VOLUME 9 • ISSUE 2

Lisa LeFever, UNC Aleise Preslar, UNC Moira Gill, UNC Caroline Leland, UNC Eric Kline, UNC

UNC Writers

Lisa LeFever Caroline Leland Erin Kolstad Mark Dawson

Duke Writers

Jake Klein Ryan Hoerger Emmie LeMarchand Anna Mukamal Rachel Fischell Jessica Lee Kristen Shortley

Photographers

connected as human beings sharing a love for the arts and a love for our university, regardless of our wide range of ages and experiences.

Also a lover of food and family, Tony Soprano summed our dinner up well when he said, “Once you're into this family, there's no getting out.” Because it’s true – once you’re into this family, whether it’s Duke or UNC-CH (or a combination of both, in my case), there’s no getting out.

We hope you enjoy our winter issue!

Lauren Paylor, Duke

Aleise Preslar, UNC Kate Schenider, UNC Ellie Wilson, Duke Catalina Villegas, Duke Sarah Houck, Duke

Designers

Moira Gill, UNC Elise Bruguera, Duke Jessica Lee, Duke

Blog

Sherry Zhang, Duke

Cover Design Cover Photo

Moira Gill, UNC Kate Schneider, UNC

Rival is a joint publication between Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill that seeks to reinforce and redefine the historic rivalry. Rival is independently recognized at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is also a member of the Duke University Publications Board.

Funding for Rival Magazine was provided in part by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Student Congress and the Duke University Publications Board.

All content, pictures, graphics, and design are the property of Rival Magazine ©2013-2014. All rights reserved.

Send us your thoughts!

rivalmag1213@gmail.com

in this issue: Alumni Column pg. 25

Tobacco Road Baseball pg. 16-19

Student talent pg. 20-22

Former Rival editor-in-chief writes about her post-grad life abroad in Chilé and the first-time experiences that accompanied it.

Two former UNC and Duke baseball players make an unexpected but noteworthy pair for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

UNC and Duke students showcase a range of unusual talents. Even the dubstep musician Skrillex noticed.

MD-PhD Partnership pg. 8-10

Ted-x Events pg. 11-13

Study Abroad pg. 23

The joint UNC-Duke program held a symposium with keynote speaker and Nobel Prize-Wnning professor from Duke.

Discover what UNC and Duke students are preparing for the program’s 2014 events on each campus.

Duke student Ilana Wolpert shares some of the vernacular language she has picked up while studying in London.

Duke freshman Rachael Nedrow with Skrillex, who featured a clip from her famous YouTube video in his Grammy-winning song “Scary Mosnters and Nice Sprites.”

in every issue:

President Obama greets Dr. Robert Lefkowitz at the White House before his trip to Stockholm.

Read more on page 8. [Photo credit: Duke TODAY]

Pregame pg. 4-5

Tar Tracks | Devil's Advocate pg. 14

Athlete's Corner pg. 24

Read what’s been happening lately in the central hubs of campus life at Duke's Bryan Center and UNC's "pit".

Two columnists share their perspective on an aspect of student life at both UNC and Duke.

Rival’s sports columnist discusses headlines and labels that sports reporters often hastily attach to college athletes.

Top V pg. 6-7

By the book pg. 26

Discover the top five live-music venues that students frequent around both Chapel Hill and Durham.

In this issue, two classes offered at UNC and Duke on the topic of aging and elderly life are compared side by side.

Out of the blue pg. 27 Our OOTB column puts the spotlight on four UNC and Duke students accomplishing great things.

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The Pit at UNC-CH

By Mark Dawson, UNC-CH, Design by Jessica Lee, Duke Photos by Aleise Preslar, UNC-CH

T

pre

nized by the senior class president.

"Senior Pit Day has to happen in the pit as there's no other location In a marketing attempt, UNC that is as central on clubs set up tables in the high campus,” Georgia traffic area known as The Pit. Walker, the current dogs from the Orange County senior class president explains. animal shelter. “They are here just “We try to reach as many seniors for students to pet,” a Helping Paws as possible. Selling T-shirts, receivvolunteer explained to a group of ing donations for the senior gift students gathered around the dogs. and promoting our senior events On a daily basis, solicitation couldn't happen anywhere other tables line the side of the Pit adthan the Pit." vertising everything from the Eve Students for the most part enjoy Carson Memorial 5K to a “Zumbthe hubbub. “I love all the activity. athon” where students can dance The Pit is the heart of campus,” their stress away while benefiting a says sophomore Teddy Gonzalez. good cause. On other days, stuAll the publicity for events in dents might see an elderly man the Pit is fairly effective albeit named Gary Birdsong, also known unconventional. One time I was as the “Pit Preacher,” fervently walking out of the dining hall and waving a bible at students. AlI saw someone with a banana held though he is known for the inflamup to their ear,” sophomore Molmatory remarks, most students do ly Bruce recounts. “I had no idea not take him seriously. what it was about, but they handed “I love Gary. I think he’s funny,” me a flyer [for a student comedy first-year Monique Laborde chuckshow], and I ended up going and les. At night, students lay cardloved it.” board over the brick so that they The Pit, maybe more than can practice break dancing moves. anywhere else, is a testament to Their music and the diversity of people and ideas rhythm catch the at UNC-CH. Here students gathattention of stuer in any type of clothing you dents on the way to can imagine, bringing everything Lenoir Dining Hall from free water bottles to promote for dinner, and it sustainability to friendly puppies to is not uncommon reduce stress. The common thread for students to stop between all of the students is that and watch them they are passionate about their show off their causes, and this passion is what moves. The Pit is The Pit is surrounded by the school stores, two libraries, makes the Pit and UNC-CH so also home to Sea dining hall, and the student union; thus, making it an great. nior Pit Day orgaextremely busy location, especially at noon, as seen here. here’s no telling what a student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill might see at the Pit on any given day. Everything from dancers in outlandish costumes, to fire and brimstone preachers, to groups of dogs from the local animal shelter can be found in and around the indented brick square located between Lenoir Dining Hall and the student stores. It is the hub of campus activity, and one of the things that makes walking across campus a distinctly “Carolina experience.”

The lively sights and sounds of the Pit might catch someone who is unfamiliar with the area offguard. On the second week of November in particular, Dance Marathon was promoting its annual spring event by playing music and hosting games of corn hole. Students in brightly colored clothing and costumes beckoned passers-by to join in the “Cupid Shuffle.” Other students enthusiastically waved signs inscribed with “Ask me about Dance Marathon.” On the other side of the Pit, Helping Paws, a student group of volunteers, allowed students to stop and pet friendly

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game

The Bryan Center Plaza just after the lunchtime rush.

The Plaza at Duke

By Jessica Lee, Duke Design by Jessica Lee, Duke Photos by Sarah Houck, Duke

Y

ou walk through it multiple times a week, but you rarely put it on the list of places you regularly visit on campus. The Bryan Center Plaza at Duke University lies between the Bryan Center and the Main Quad, two of the most heavily traversed locations on West Campus, yet few students stop to think about how much the Plaza factors into their lives.

“I usually visit it four or five times a week, just crossing,” Pratt freshman Christopher Hong says.

He usually walks the Plaza as he travels to eat in the Bryan Center, and he tabled on the Plaza during a recent Thursday afternoon. “Tabling” is when representatives from a club, student council, or other group set up posters and hand-outs at a table on the Plaza to advertise their association to other students.

“I’m part of Duke Engineers for International Development. We’re fundraising right now.”

On the other hand, Robin Soderqvist, a Swedish medical student completing a short-term research project at Duke, does not come to the Plaza very often. “My

lab is on the other end of campus so I’m there two times a week.

I wish I went there more.” Like Hong, his main reason for visiting the Plaza is to get food from the Bryan Center.

Hong recalled several events hosted on the Plaza earlier in the school year. “In the beginning of the year, there were several orientation events,” he says. “There was an international day, and they were giving out international food from the clubs and performing dances.”

Christian Kerr, a member of the Senior Class Council, helps host an event called Senior Plaza Fridays. “Senior Plaza Fridays are an initiative of the Senior Class Council aimed at bringing the senior class together and creating an opportunity for class bonding,” he said. “They run from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and the hope is not to just give away a free lunch and sell T-shirts but really to encourage a large number of The Bryan Center Plaza just seniors to come hang out after the lunchtime rush. as a class on the plaza.

That’s the main purpose of the music that plays throughout. We try to create an atmosphere that will be attractive to sticking around past the obvious benefits of food.”

Vice President for

Student Affairs Dr. Larry Moneta added his thoughts on the Plaza’s appeal. “The popularity of the Plaza has much to do with the large, hard surface space for events, its location central to the University and its adjacency to so many other student support offices. It’s just comfortable, too.”

Before the end of this school year, access to the Plaza from the Main Quad will be closed. Several students, like Hong, worry about how this may impact their routine. “If I wanted to go to Pitchfork Provisions, I’d have to take a detour just to get there,” Hong said.

Pitchfork Provisions is a restaurant in McClendon Tower, which is a short walk away from the Bryan Center—unless Main Quad access is shut down.

Trinity senior Advait Ghuge also visits the Plaza a couple times a week, typically to relax at one of the tables. He is not too concerned about the closure. “They’ll just reroute through the Chapel,” he says.

“The primary sitting area will still be open.”

However inconvenient the pending closure of access may be, rest assured students will still traffic the Plaza to grab a snack from the Bryan Center, or just to chill on the swinging benches in between classes.

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Top V: Durham

By Rachell Fischell, Duke Design by Elise Bruguera, Duke Photos by Sarah Huock, Duke

Casbah stage, where a DJ and MC perform for a crowd.

1. Casbah Located on West Main St., Casbah itself provides a variety of venue styles. Some shows are seated; others are more casual. Some are family friendly, others… not so much.

Tickets are typically required, but as far as venues go, this is one you don’t want to miss. Good lighting, good acoustics and interesting artists coming through all the time!

Although Casbah will be closing temporarily on January 1, they plan to reopen as a bar with games later in 2014.

2. DPAC The Durham Performing Arts Center, located just a short 5 minute drive from Duke’s East campus, brings you an incredible variety of performances from popular artists to Broadway musicals. DPAC’s “something-for-everyone” mantra consistently draws people from all over the Triangle.

the grounds of a mid-century car dealership, Motorco books the Triangle’s top artists in addition to nationally touring artists. This venue is definitely one of the larger ones found in Durham.

4. Duke Coffeehouse The Duke Coffeehouse, conveniently located on Duke’s East campus, provides an outlet for Indie and experimental artists in the area to perform in a cozy environment.

Since 1982, the Coffeehouse has provided the Duke and Durham community with a great place to explore new artists while cranking out

some homework on a weeknight or spending a relaxed weekend with friends.

5. The Pinhook You can expect nothing but the best from your live music experience at The Pinhook. From touring experimental artists to the Triangle’s hottest performers, The Pinhook promises a hotspot for those interested in the Indie music scene in Durham. Boasting Tuesday trivia nights and Monday open mic nights in addition to live performers on the weekends, The Pinhook has it all.

3. Motorco Located between Fullsteam Brewery and Durham’s historic Athletic Park, Motorco presents a rather unique venue for live music performances in Durham. On The Duke Coffeehouse stage and performance area.

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music venues Chapel Hill

By Rachell Fischell, Duke Design by Elise Bruguera, Duke Photos by Aleise Preslar, UNC

1. Cat’s Cradle Although technically in Carborro, Cat’s Cradle is one of the most popular music venues in the Triangle, especially for mid-size Indie artists and well-known local artists.

This venue, situated only about a mile away from UNC-Chapel Hill’s campus, holds 750 people and allows spectators an intimate concert experience regardless of how established the artist may be.

2. Local 506 Local 506, conveniently located on W. Franklin St., is a smaller venue that holds about 250 people.

Boasting mostly local up-and-coming artists, Local 506 is a great place to hear new music. Tickets can be purchases ahead of time with prices typically ranging from $5 to $15. There are only about 30 seats around tables or at the bar available on a first-come, first-served basis for attendees., but this is certainly one of the more fun local venues to visit.

Chapel Hill/Carrboro is known for its Indie music scene. These are just a few of the top spots.

Clockwise from top left: Cat’s Cradle, Chapel Hill Underground, The Cave, Memorial Hall, and Local 506 in Chapel Hill.

marble venue is managed by Carolina Performing Arts. Similar to the DPAC in Durham, Memorial Hall is guaranteed to provide ‘something for everyone.’

tertainment with a variety of games like billiards. And don’t miss out on Monday night Karaoke!

5. The Cave The Cave affords another opportunity for local artists to be heard 4. Chapel Hill Underground 3. Memorial Hall Situated on campus at UNC-CH, Just off of Franklin on Rosemary in a divey venue that nobody can Memorial Hall brings an incredible St., Chapel Hill Underground is a resist. The venue is very laid back variety of performers to the Trian- great place to grab a drink, listen with a lounge and pool table in the gle including jazz artists, American to some live music and enjoy the back. If you’re looking for a place to Roots artists and even special per- evening. Chapel Hill Underground appreciate good local music in a reformers for the holidays. Built be- brings local artists into the spot- laxed environment, The Cave is the tween 1883 and 1885, this gorgeous light while providing additional en- place for you.

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By Sofia Stafford, Duke Design by Moira Gill, UNC-CH

D

espite being 12 miles apart, the Duke University and University of North Carolina Medical Scientist Training Programs (MSTPs) have had relatively little contact.

These MSTPs are two of 75 extremely competitive MD-PhD programs in the country that produce physician scientists who have the unique ability to combine their work in the laboratory with effective treatments for their patients.

Together, the Duke and UNC

to bring students from the programs together to exchange ideas and potentially collaborate on future research.

In the past year, the grant has supported five events to bring students from the programs together, including two dinner research seminars hosted by doctors from both universities and two undergraduate information sessions about the training program. The Tobacco Road Medical Research Symposium took place on November 4, 2013 as the fifth event culminating the partnership grant.

them together.”

Held at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine’s Molecular Biomedical Research Building, the symposium featured student research presentations from graduate students in the MSTPs at Duke and UNC as well as a keynote address by the 2012 Nobel laureate in Chemistry, Dr. Robert J. Lefkowitz, MD. He began his speech by warning the audience that although they might expect for him to talk about his research on G protein-coupled receptors, a field that he has pioneered for 40

Partnership for science,

partnership for the future

MSTPs train around 3% of all future physician-scientists in the country.

A year ago, thanks to a grant from the Kenan-Biddle Partnership, the two programs initiated a student project to collaborate in the professional development of their students. The Kenan-Biddle Partnership, funded by the William R. Kenan Charitable Trust and the Mary Duke Biddle Foundation, offers $5,000 grants to accepted project proposals that enhance the intellectual life at both universities by encouraging collaboration between Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill.

According to the grant proposal, the purpose of the partnership is to “strengthen physician-scientist training, encourage new scientific and medical collaborations and educate undergraduates and the lay public about the importance of scientific research in human health.” These goals were achieved through a series of events designed

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According to the leaders of the partnership and organizers of the symposium, their goal was to “increase inter-program professional development, share scientific ideas and make lasting friendships.”

Even though the symposium is over, the hope is that it is only the start of the relationship between the Duke and UNC MD-PhD programs.

Marybeth Anderson, a UNCCH graduate student in the MSTP who presented her research on treatments for pancreatic cancer at the symposium, was very excited to be in attendance and for the partnership in general.

“It brings together experts in different fields for a chance to explore topics that UNC-CH doesn’t have experts in, and vice versa,” says Anderson. “Duke and UNCCH are two universities at the top of their fields and we are bringing

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years and for which he ultimately won the Nobel Prize, he would instead split his address into two parts. During the first part of his address, he took the audience through his journey that eventually led to winning the Nobel Prize.

The second part of his speech was dedicated to recounting the experience of being named a Nobel laureate and the whirlwind of a year surrounding the news.

Lefkowitz began by declaring that his path to winning a Nobel Prize is a “tale of two callings.” He was inspired by his family physician and knew since third grade that he wanted to pursue medicine.

“This is what I had to do,” he says.

“I had to be a physician.” The idea of pursuing research of any kind, however, had never entered Lefkowitz’s mind.

He proceeded to recall how working in the lab seemed far away

Photo by Catalina Villegas

Dr. Lefkowitz and his very own personalized Duke basketball jersey. (Nov. 4, 2013)

from his passion for practicing medicine.

Lefkowitz boldly admitted to the audience that he had “pursued medicine in a single-minded way.” However, his efforts at Duke redirected towards research and he began spending increasingly more time in the lab. His research on G-protein coupled receptors is now important in understanding how pharmaceuticals can be used to effectively target the largest receptor family in the human body.

“How do you win a Nobel Prize?” Lefkowitz rhetorically asked the audience.

People around the world across fields, disciplines, passions and strengths seek to find the answer, but only a select few receive the recognition each year. Lefkowitz’s “secret trick,” however, is one we may not expect: to eat dark chocolate that is at least 70% cacao.

“In August 2012, I started eating

one square seven nights a week instead of two times a week, and a year later, I got the call,” says Lefkowitz. While his chocolateeating habit might have only partially contributed to his array of distinctions and honors, including the 2012 Nobel Prize in Chemistry,

it left the audience chuckling and reinforced Lefkowitz’s humor and modesty.

When asked if he was surprised to receive the Nobel Prize, he responded with both a yes and a no. He worked so hard for so long that his colleagues, family

Photo by Catalina Villegas Marybeth Anderson, UNC graduate student in the MSTP program, talks about her research on pancreatic cancer to Sofia Stafford, Rival Staff writer.

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President Obama greets Dr. Robert Lefkowitz at the White House before his trip to Stockholm.

and friends were expecting it to happen at some point. However, Lefkowitz was definitely surprised to learn that he had won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry as opposed to in Medicine since has always considered medicine as his passion and life’s work. Lefkowitz recalled the moment he received the news and all the events that followed, which included receiving 1,500 congratulatory emails from people all over the world, many of which he had never met. Among his favorite experiences following the news was the call he received from Coach Mike Krzyzewski, inviting him to visit one of the first basketball practices of the season and to receive a personalized Duke basketball jersey. He also fondly recalls being greeted by President Obama in the White House’s Oval

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Office with the other 2012 Nobel Prize recipients.

Lefkowitz also provided some insight and advice to the audience, cautioning them by saying that “failing is a constant companion for anyone who wants to do research.” He also emphasizes the importance of realizing that we all have certain gifts and we all have certain deficiencies, and it is unlikely that we will be good at everything.

But how can you know if you’re focusing in the right direction? The Nobel Prize winner told the audience that when you find yourself in the “zone” while working, you’re on your way to finding your calling, your true passions and your true abilities.

He ended his keynote address with one more piece of advice that

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Photo Credit: Duke TODAY

both doctors and non-doctors can apply to their daily lives: “Be patient. I had no idea what the future held in store for me.”

Lefkowitz also commented on the role of the symposium in paving the way for future collaboration between Duke and UNCCH. “It is amazing how insular science can be.” Fortunately, this partnership and the symposium is the start of an incredibly important collaboration between the universities, one that can bring together resources and minds to advance the future of science.

“When I first came to Duke four years ago, there was almost no collaboration,” concluded Lefkowitz.

“But we are moving towards that direction and this is a great example of that.”

TEDxUNC-Chapel Hill and TEDxDuke: Taking Flight and Challenge Accepted TEDxDuke 2013 featured student speakers Femi Sokoya, Eric Scott, John Broadbent, and Shikha Nayar.

By Anna Elizabeth Mukamal, Duke Design by Jessica Lee, Duke Photos by Elle Wilson, Duke

I

t’s official: TED talks are a worldwide phenomenon proponing creative inspiration. An organization dedicated to promoting “ideas worth spreading,” TED defies the capitalistic stereotypes of many successful modern-day organizations. As a nonprofit, TED doesn’t exist to make money off of the ideas it fosters. Instead, it collects and disseminates them in brief talks ranging in duration from three to eighteen minutes.

TED’s simple goal is to make people think in unexpected ways about unprecedented subjects.

TED’s name derives from its events that are at the confluence of technology, entertainment and design. The organization puts on a TED Conference each year on the West Coast, and it also offers TEDGlobal, TEDWomen and TEDYouth, amongst other expansions. While attendees may deem

these events life-changing, they are very expensive and sell out quickly.

For this reason, TED has demonstrated its commitment to reaching as wide an audience as possible by expanding its organized events in an innovative and indirect way through TEDx events. In TEDx, the x denotes “independently organized TED event.” Operating

under the rules and regulations of TED, TEDx events are local projects that provide a similar TED experience on a community basis.

Given that the Research Triangle is a notable intellectual and professional environment, it should come as no surprise that Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill hold annual TEDx events. Emmie LeMarchand, a senior and a member of the TEDxDuke marketing committee, became involved with TED because of its philosophy on sharing ideas. Through the Duke in New York Arts and Media program this summer, LeMarchand interned for TED as a writer for TED.com’s blog.

“TED’s purpose is to share ideas, not to keep them enclosed by claiming them for itself,” says LeMarchand. “It’s really refreshing because TED doesn’t try to make a name for itself, but ironically, that’s precisely the result.” Spending time in such a dynamic workplace over

TEDxDuke 2013 featured student speakers Femi Sokoya, Eric Scott, John Broadbent, and Shikha Nayar.

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Speaker Rachel Lichte presents at the 2013 TEDxDuke conference.

the summer motivated LeMarchand to join the TEDxDuke team this year.

Mark Botterill, a freshman and the chairman of TEDxDuke’s design committee, was also interested in TEDxDuke because of his previous experience with TED. “I set up the first-ever TED event at a high school in the United Kingdom,” he says. “I had to lead an entire team to make that happen.”

This year’s theme for TEDxDuke is “Challenge Accepted: Face the Unexpected.” Botterill says that organizing Duke’s largest-ever TEDx event is a challenge that the organizing committee has accepted for this year. He is responsible for designing the experience of not only the audience, but also the speakers who attend the TEDxDuke event.

“My job is to control everything from how the audience perceives and processes information—for example, last year, there was Play-Doh for each of the audience members to play with while they listened to the talks—to designing flyers, nametags, and the visual layout of the stage,” Botterill says.

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Chenxi “Chex” Yu, one of the three co-curators of TEDxUNC, has a very different role as the overseer of the sponsorship and speakers subcommittee. Working assiduously to lead TEDxUNC, she is no less busy than Botterill at TEDxDuke.

“We started the planning process in April. Immediately after we finished last year’s TEDxUNC event, we started planning this year’s,” Yu says.

She explains that joining the TEDxUNC planning committee requires making it through a rigorous selection process. “We had 200 applicants this year, and there are only 40 slots on the planning committee,” Yu says. “It’s pretty serious—we had a written application and formal interviews.”

Yu expresses that one of TEDxUNC’s biggest goals is to make the event accessible for students and community members by keeping tickets free. To ensure this, Yu says TEDxUNC “needs to raise $40,000 to cover all production expenses: renting Memorial hall, buying food for all event attendees and reimbursing speakers for travel and hotel costs.”

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Yu will lead the TEDxUNC planning committee in applying for grants and reaching out to potential sponsors, UNC-CH alumni and other campus groups. She is so dedicated to this effort because she feels that TEDxUNC fills a special space in the innovation and entrepreneurship community at UNC-CH. “We have venture labs and incubators, but the purpose of those kinds of projects is to produce tangible enterprise,” says Yu. “There’s not a lot of space for coming together and freely talking about ideas, so this is critically needed at UNC-CH.” Like Botterill, Yu took the initiative to organize a TEDxBeijing while studying abroad there two summers ago.

This year, TEDxUNC will feature talks about “Taking Flight,” which is similar to TEDxDuke’s “Challenge Accepted” because both themes explore the process of tackling a challenge or creating something new. “Taking Flight” will feature some talks directly related to flight, but the name serves primarily as a metaphor for grounded ideas going airborne.

According to the TEDxUNC webStudents converse with Jia Jiang at the 2013 TEDxDuke conference.

site, innovation happens in four stages: discovering lift (ideas gaining traction), reaching for altitude (reaching new potentials), gaining turbulence (power of failure) and looking down (vantage points changing our perspective).

In the spirit of traveling to unseen territory, Yu, Botterill and LeMarchand all agree that collaboration between Duke and UNCCH to hold a future TEDxDuke/ UNC event would yield powerful results. They also like the idea of a TEDxTriangle event, which would expand the scope of TEDx events from the university to the community level by bringing together local entrepreneurs, professors, professionals and students.

While large-scale cooperative efforts such as TEDxDuke/UNC and TEDxTriangle may take years to gain momentum, Yu says she can foresee “TEDxUNC working to collaborate with the TEDxDuke planning team as early as this year.”

She promises to advertise TEDxDuke at UNC-CH in order to diversify the audiences at this year’s TEDx events at both universities.

Dr. Jane Thrailkill, a professor of American literature, critical theory and medical humanities in UNC-CH’s Department of English

Dasan Ahanu presents at the 2013 TEDxDuke conference.

and Comparative Literature, feels strongly that in terms of logistics, “the difference between putting on TEDxDuke/ UNC and TEDxTriangle is like taming a mouse versus an elephant.”

Thrailkill claims that practically the whole world knows about the rivalry between Duke and UNCCH, and that the legendary relationship between the universities would generate a lot of enthusiasm.

“So many faculty and students at Duke and UNC-CH have connections with research institutions, professionals and journalists in the Triangle, so there would be no shortage of community-wide participation,” Thrailkill predicts.

Along with various classmates, Yu nominated Thrailkill to speak at TEDxUNC’s 2013 event, “Common Threads,” because Thrailkill works at the intersection of the sciences, healthcare and the humanities. Thrailkill loved the fact that students were organizing TEDxUNC and that it was gaining popularity on campus, so she agreed to speak at the event.

“I chose to do a TEDx talk about delirium since it’s a subject of Edgar

Speaker Jia Jiang presents at the 2013 TEDxDuke conference.

Allen Poe’s work, it’s under-diagnosed in the elderly population and it somehow manages to remain invisible to our cultural consciousness,” Thrailkill says.

The experience of actually delivering the TEDx talk gave Thrailkill a real appreciation for the genre.

“I lecture a lot, both within classes and for academic lectures to audiences, but I must say that the TEDx talk is thrilling because you are tasked with getting the main point across in a limited timeframe,” Thrailkill says.

Thrailkill, primarily a literature professor, is accustomed to working with texts and quotations rather than speaking without notes.

“Overall, it was like being in a ballet performance with a spotlight shining on me,” says Thrailkill.

“Orchestrating it all was trickier than I thought.”

Embracing the theme of accepting challenges and taking flight, Thrailkill spoke at TEDxUNC because she wanted to foster intellectual curiosity. Student leaders at Duke and UNC-CH have the same goal for this year—to plan a TEDx event that does just that.

TEDxDuke will take place on March 22, 2014 in Reynolds Industrial Theater. TEDxUNC is set for February 15, 2014 in Memorial Hall.

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Devil's Advocate Photo courtesy of Emmie Le Marchand Emmie Le Marchand is a Duke senior majoring in English with a minor in French. She is a varsity athlete on the Field Hockey team and a native of Worcester, England.

By Emmie Le Marchand, Duke Design by Elise Bruguera, Duke

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n the claustrophobic and stifling bubble that is Duke’s campus, there is no relationship that goes unnoticed, unscrutinised or unaffected. Everyone knows everybody and not the merest flirtation escapes the student body’s microscopic lens.

College is a pressure cooker of all things academic, athletic and social, leaving only three simple options for a romantic and/or sexual relationship, none of which are the fairytale meet someone, fall in love and live happily ever after.

Here are the three options, each more miserable than the next: Option 1: Hook Up The one who hooks up will be found stalking the dance floor at Shooters, crouching low and ready to make their move as they grind on the mirrors or post up at the bar.

This one can be seen flirting ostensibly in the line at Von Der Heyden, at the bus stop, after class. This one shouts at the boy across the quad “How crazy was last night though?

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I knowwwwww…”

It’s always another night, another well-planned outfit and another twenty minutes of fake fulfillment.

The longest commitment the one who hooks up gets is the one week’s worth of gossip that each conquest supplies. This one is in a long-term relationship with drama.

Option 2: Book Up In this furnace, staying single and concentrating on why you came to Duke in the first place can only been seen as a very sensible decision. Boring, probably, but sensible.

You can focus on your classes, your extracurriculars, yourself. This person wants to have it made before they make a relationship happen.

This person isn’t interested in the college kids on heat but is willing to wait for the sensible, mature worker that appears when the college bubble bursts. No distractions. No fun.

Option 3: Long Distance If the two options above don’t sound miserable enough, a long distance relationship might just be the most pitiful of them all. What is more heartbreaking than endless hours in front of a Skype-screen, when the loss of Wi-Fi means a total meltdown of your emotional self? The only thing worse than being a single third wheel is not being single but still sitting alone next to your roommate and her boyfriend snuggling on the sofa watching a romantic comedy.

Where the single student feels disgust and tastes vomit at the sight of a couple PDA-ing on the quad, the long distance girlfriend feels raging frustration and emptiness, like a whole arm of her life has been

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unceremoniously hacked off.

The most miserable maybe, but this option is the best of the worst.

In a long distance relationship, there is no physical distraction from your hours in the library, only the procrastinatory day dreams that would come in one form or another anyway. In a long distance relationship, there is no all-seeing eye that dissects every development in your relationship. In a long distance relationship, there is no taking a class with your latest beau’s previous hook-up. In a long distance relationship, a vacation is a real treat, the chance to disconnect from school stress and reconnect with the one who relaxes you most in complete privacy from your peers.

Your relationship is your own and for you only.

On a small campus defined by its big mouth, Duke students are a rare and much-envied breed if they can find that special someone amongst their fellow students to nurture a real relationship with. I am part of an athletic team of 21 girls, seven of which are in relationships. Four of these are long distance, one brought her boyfriend to college with her, and two are those incredibly lucky exceptions.

To acknowledge them as exceptions is illustration enough of the unhealthy environment that this small campus is breeding. This is a community divided by a hookup culture that manifests itself in gossip and drama. Until we can get out from behind our microscope and start getting serious, this campus will remain divided into three.

Make your choice wisely.

Tarheel Tracks

Photo courtesy of Caroline Leland UNC junior Caroline Leland is a journalism major who has written for Rival since the beginning of her freshman year.

By Caroline Leland, UNC-CH Design by Elise Bruguera, Duke

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he suburban home is the setting of my greatest fear: the supposed American ideal of the big house at the end of a cul-de-sac, with a dog in the backyard and two kids playing together on the living room floor. Imagining myself there in ten years makes me feel trapped and panicky. And then I imagine commuting to a respectable, but monotonous, office job and I cringe even deeper into my seat.

Is life in suburbia an idea that one grows into? Is my dread of a 9 to 5 office job something I need to just accept? The more I think about it, the more I convince myself it’s okay to not be dreaming of getting married, having kids and commuting to the office from my nice suburban home. I don’t know how widespread that projected ideal is

among my generation, but I know I shouldn’t feel aberrant for wanting something different. I’m not even sure what I want, but I know it’s not this traditional American image of success.

At selective universities like UNC-CH and Duke, it’s easy to get trapped inside a narrow, imposed definition of success. This definition varies by subject of study, but largely I’ve found that it pushes for a high-paying corporate job in a big city. And then, right on top of that, general American culture promotes that image of the brick family home with the white fence.

But what if that’s not what I want? Why am I surrounded by people who seem convinced they know better than me how to be “successful”? Why is it so hard for me to commit to pursuing my own ideas of success?

I often struggle with a sense of desperate anxiety over finding the right career path. I once read a story about a man who, while working in the office, accidentally spilled coffee on his desk. His immediate reaction was to automatically hit “Control+Z” on his keyboard (the shortcut for “undo”). In that moment, he suddenly realized his life had become so artificial that his subconscious wasn’t distinguishing between the real world and the digital world.

That idea terrifies me, and the digital future is a big part of why entering the professional world is scary. We’re living more and more in front of lit-up screens, yet I’m convinced I would wither a little bit every day I spent working in front

of a computer.

I don’t want that, nor do I want the suburban house with two kids and a dog. So where does this leave me? Homeless and unemployed?

The career advising I’ve received in college — both from official university sources as well as from many of my high-achieving peers — has given me the impression that if I’m not looking for the “right” things, then I’m doomed to an anonymous life of continuous financial struggle.

This could be my fate, but beyond making enough to pay the bills and eat out once in awhile, I know that money won’t buy me happiness. I know what makes me happy: intellectual stimulation, creative freedom, spending time outside and forging meaningful connections with the people around me.

I know it’s not a novel thing to defy a perceived norm, but each person doing it knows he or she must do it deliberately and confidently — and therefore must think it out thoroughly. I also know wanting a corporate job or suburban home is not necessarily a mainstream thing.

I’m sure there are plenty of people who never feel the pressure of that expectation. But I do believe this model is a pervasive expectation at elite universities like ours and I don’t think it should be.

I don’t want to imply it’s a bad thing, either. I just hope I can maintain the tenacity to hold onto my own definition of success, reminding myself of the unique combination of factors I need to be happy — and having the foresight to respect that, independent of everything else.

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‘Cap’ and ‘Fedex’: Photo from Duke Athletics

Tobacco Road Batterymates

By Jake Klein, Duke Design by Elise Bruguera, Duke

Photo from Getty Images via Rival.com Chris Capuano, upper right, fires a pitch during his days as a Blue Devil. Tim Federowicz, above, rounds the bases during a game with UNC-CH.

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baseball battery isn’t all that different from an electric one; it makes the game move. Nothing slows baseball’s already sluggish pace more than a pitcher and catcher who can’t get on the same page.

But when they are in sync, the game finds a beautiful rhythm reminiscent of the sport’s glory days.

It may be surprising to learn that the Los Angeles Dodgers employed a “Rival Battery” during the 2013 season. Pitcher and former Blue Devil Chris Capuano was frequently caught by Tar Heel Tim Federowicz, a pairing that history would suggest shouldn’t have worked.

When Mike Piazza caught his nemesis Roger Clemens in the 2004 All Star Game, opposing hitters miraculously knew what pitches were coming before Clemens even throw them. It would be absurd to say that Federowicz would tip Capuano’s pitches and sabotage the Dodgers’ chances of winning. Still, a Blue Devil and Tar Heel could never form the chemistry a well-functioning battery needs. Or could they?

Baseball games, and the individual at bats that comprise them, are often compared to a chess game, a series of moves and countermoves meant to gain an advantage over the opposition. Managers frequently bring in pitchers they think will have an edge over the current hitter only to see their counterpart send in a pinch-hitter and muck everything up. Nevertheless, pitching is actually closer to a poker game.

Real pitching, like Texas Hold ‘em, comes down to deception, reading the opponent, and confidence. Few

pitchers throw hard enough to consistently get swings and misses with their fastball, and even the ones that can have a little extra movement on their heater.

For the rest, the key is getting the hitter to think the pitch is something different from what they threw. Real pitching is throwing a curveball when the batter expects the heater or a sinker that starts out straight but breaks just enough at the last moment to miss the barrel of the bat. That said, a pitcher still

successful Major League pitcher.

The 1996 valedictorian of Cathedral High School in Springfield, Massachusetts was drafted in the 45th round of the MLB Amateur Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates. In the sport with the lowest success rate amongst draft picks (less than one tenth of draftees make a Major League roster), Capuano found himself in no man’s land at the bottom of the draft. Most players taken that low accept their fate as career minor leaguers or hone their skills in college. Capuano choose the latter. Baseball just didn’t seem like the best career option for the son of a financial planner, especially when he was weighing acceptance letters from Duke, Yale University and Dartmouth College.

After originally signing a letter of intent with Yale, Capuano chose Duke and the higher level of athletic competition in the ACC. Still, baseball almost seemed like an afterthought. By the time he was draft eligible again after his junior year, he had graduated with an economics degree, a 3.86 GPA and a membership in Phi Beta Kappa, the most prestigious collegiate honor society. While most prospects were worrying about their draft stock, Capuano was more concerned with the stock market, sending resumes to investment banks Morgan Stanley and the now defunct Lehman Brothers. Nevertheless, he was drafted, this time in the 8th round by the Arizona Diamondbacks.

With a better shot at the majors and a $140,000 signing bonus, he put Wall Street aside to give pitching a try.

Pitcher and former Blue Devil Chris Capuano was frequently caught by Tar Heel Tim Federowicz, a pairing that history would suggest shouldn’t have worked. has to know when to go all in and challenge the hitter with the fastball. This is where reading the batter comes in. Pitchers have to know when to be aggressive and when to fold, not giving the hitter a good pitch to swing at. But at the end of the day, it all comes down to confidence. Pitchers have to trust the pitch they’re throwing or they’ll quickly go bust.

At first glance, Chris Capuano doesn’t seem like he would be a

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It took Cap four years to make it to the majors, earning his “cup of coffee” with the D-backs in 2003.

He was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers the following off-season.

Capuano’s first season with the Brew Crew didn’t go so well, finishing with a losing record of six wins and eight losses, but he broke out the following season, setting career bests in wins (18), starts (35) and strikeouts (176). Capuano’s stock continued to rise in 2006. His 221 innings pitched, 25 quality starts, and two shutouts were career highs, and he represented the National League at the All Star Game.

Unfortunately, his career began a steep downturn the next year. 2007 was a regression year, featuring his worst ERA and a temporary demotion to the bullpen. But before he could bounce back, Capuano learned that he would need to have Tommy John Surgery, an elbow ligament replacement procedure, before the start of the 2008 season. Rehab for Tommy John usually takes about a year with most pitchers returning within 18 months. However, Capuano missed the entirety of the 2008 and 2009 seasons. He spent one more, unremarkable season with the Brewers before signing with the New York Mets as a free agent. His tenure with the Mets was short, only lasting a year, but he remained healthy for the entire season. The Los Angeles Dodgers gave him a two year deal after the season. Capuano immediately returned their investment, posting a career best 3.72 ERA, mostly with veteran catcher

Matt Treanor. But when the team let Treanor go at the end of the year, there was an opening at the backup catcher spot.

There’s much more to being a catcher than simply catching a ball.

If pitchers have to know how to read hitters, then a catcher has to be able read his pitcher. Catchers have the difficult task of calling their batterymates’ pitches. Successful pitch calling requires a balance between knowing the right pitch and the one the pitcher wants throw. Ask for a pitch the pitcher doesn’t like and he might not be fully confident in it.

plate. And, as per tradition, they came up just short, losing both series to Oregon State. The only “unusual” element of Federowicz’s baseball background is his idolization of Derek Jeter, who plays shortstop instead of catcher.

Federowicz compiled a .319 average with the Tar Heels and was a first team Freshman All-American. His efforts were rewarded by the World Series Champion Boston Red Sox when they selected him in the 7th round of the 2008 draft.

He worked his way up the minor leagues, making a name for himself with his excellent defense. But before he could reach the Majors, the Bo Sox traded Federowicz in 2011 to the Dodgers. Being traded is supposed to be hard for developing prospects, but someone forgot to tell that to Federowicz. He hit better in the Dodgers Organization while playing for their top affiliate having never gotten above the Red Sox second tier. He made his Major League Debut on September 11th of the same year. Federowicz only played in a handful of games that year and returned to the minors for the majority of 2012. But with backup Treanor out of the way, he had a chance to make the team out of spring training for 2013.

Chris Capuano wasn’t quite sure where he fit into the Dodgers 2013 plans. He was one of eight pitchers vying for five spots in the starting rotation, and three of those spots already belonged to ace Clayton Kershaw and high priced free agents Zack Greinke and Hyun-Jin Ryu. Federowicz’s role was much

Backstops also have to play therapist to their pitchers, keeping tabs on their emotions and knowing when to give them a little in-game pep talk.

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But if he’s leaning toward the wrong pitch, only his catcher can tell him otherwise. If that isn’t enough of a hardship, backstops also have to play therapist to their pitchers, keeping tabs on their emotions and knowing when to give them a little in-game pep talk.

Tim Federowicz had a much more traditional baseball background than his batterymate. Growing up in Apex, North Carolina, “Fedex” was exposed to the talent and tradition of Triangle baseball. Naturally, Federowicz wound up catching at UNC-CH. As usual, those Tar Heel teams were successful, reaching the College World Series final in each of his first two seasons behind the

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more defined early on. But as the backup to star-in-the-making, AJ Ellis, how much playing time could he expect? Cap began the season in the bullpen, but a long list of injuries opened a spot for him. He struggled in his first start, which ended early after he too got hurt. He got roughed up again in his return from the disabled list. Then manager Don Mattingly made a change.

Cap and Fedex’s first start together was a solid outing. Capuano lasted six and a third innings, giving up only one run and earning up his

first win of the season. Federowicz also picked up his first hit of the season in that game. The Tobacco Road Batterymates went 4-1 in 14 of Capuano’s 20 starts this season.

In those starts, Cap’s ERA of 3.48 was half a run better than his ERA with the rest of the Dodgers catchers going back to 2012. He didn’t win a single game all season without Federowicz behind the plate.

The relationship between pitcher and catcher isn’t something that can be generalized. Some pitchers respond well to being challenged.

Federowicz hands Capuano (35) the ball during a win against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Others expect the catcher to put down their fingers and catch the pitch. Statisticians will say the Rival Battery’s success was due to a small sample size and would return to Capuano’s career numbers over time. The world will never know if they’re right. The Dodgers declined their option on Cap, making him a free agent this off-season. Whether their success was a fluke or the work of a battery in perfect sync, Cap and Fedex proved rivals can work together, at least on the baseball diamond.

Photo from Getty Images via USA Today

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Skipping & Stacking:

Nedrow competing at the 2012 World Sport Stacking Championships in Germany. (Provided by Rachael Nedrow)

Expanding the Ordinary Into the Extraordinary

By Erin Kolstad, UNC-CH Design by Jessica Lee, Duke Photos by Kate Schneider, UNC-CH

W

hile all students at Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill must be talented in order to be accepted into one of the two elite universities, some are simply more talented than others. These special talents can range from singing to painting,

Robinson of UNC-CH is a World Champion jump roper in multiple events.

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or to more eccentric and unique skills like jump roping, or speed cup stacking.

Jessica Robinson, a sophomore at UNC-CH, is a national champion at jumping rope, and Rachael Nedrow, a freshman at Duke, is a record-holding sport stacker whose shouts of shock and joy can be heard in a Grammy-winning Skrillex song. Cups and jump ropes seem like common household items, but Nedrow and Robinson have turned them into

award-winning hobbies. Both of these girls are amazingly talented and represent the uniqueness and individuality encouraged by both the Blue Devils and the Tar Heels.

Rachael Nedrow

N

ot many people can say that their voices have been used to win a Grammy, but Duke freshman Rachael Nedrow can be counted among them. And that’s not even the coolest thing about her. When most people think about cups, they either think of drinking from them or the Cup Song from Pitch Perfect. However, Nedrow can take ordinary cups and turn them into a dazzling display of mind-blowing speed and hand-eye coordination.

Nedrow began to stack cups five years ago, and her skills at constructing stacks of cups and quickly breaking them down have grown exponentially.

“I was in middle school and I just saw it on the Internet and thought it was really cool,” says Nedrow. “Then I just got some cups out of my cupboard and I tried it. I went out and bought the special stacking cups and just practiced a ton.”

Once Nedrow tried the unique hobby, she could not stop. She constantly practiced to get her times down in the three different stacking styles. Sport stacking, also known as cup stacking or speed stacking, consists of three styles of stacking: the 3-3-3, the 3-6-3 and the Cycle. The 3-3-3 uses nine cups that must be stacked up, then stacked down in the same order in which they were stacked up. The 3-6-3 uses twelve cups and is the same as the 3-3-3, except the middle stack of three is replaced with a stack of six. Nowadays, Nedrow’s personal record for the 3-3-3 is about one and a half seconds, and it is 2 seconds for the 3-6-3.

Nedrow says her favorite type of stacking is the Cycle because “it is the largest stacking routine and

Nedrow with Skrillex at his concert in Portland, Oregon on October 27, 2011. (Provided by Rachel Nedrow)

The audio of Nedrow’s famous YouTube “OMG” cup stacking video with over 4 million hits is featured in the Skrillex song “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites.”

it is the most challenging.” Comprised of multiple stacks and pyramids, the Cycle is a sequence of the 3-6-3 stack, followed by a 6-6 stack of two pyramids of six cups, and then a 1-10-1 stack of a pyramid made of ten cups. This sequence culminates in a down-stacked 3-63. For the Cycle, Nedrow’s personal record is 6.03 seconds.

These routines have taken Nedrow to multiple competitions around the nation and the globe. She has won multiple regional competitions, including the Oregon State Championships twice. Globally, she has competed at the 2012 World Sport Stacking Championships in Germany. Nedrow’s lightning-fast hands have made her one of the best female sport stackers in the country. At the 2013 World Sport Stacking Championships, Nedrow was selected as the fastest female sport stacker in the nation and the second fastest female stacker in the world.

Since she started sport stacking, Nedrow has posted videos on YouTube of her practicing these routines. One in particular, titled “7.00!!! OMG!!! NEW PB! OMG!!

OMG!!! SO CLOSE TO SIX!!

OOMMGG!!!” has become amazingly popular. In the video, a 13 year-old Nedrow gets her personal best of 7.00 seconds. Since, she was aiming for six seconds, her time was so close that she just did not know how to react. Consequently, she started yelling “Oh my gosh” repeatedly.

“My reaction was a combination of shock and happiness, so I obviously couldn’t express myself very eloquently,” says Nedrow.

The YouTube video of Nedrow’s reaction has gone viral and amassed over 4,200,000 views online, in part because it was sampled in a song by Sonny Moore, better known as the artist Skrillex. Listeners can clearly recognize the “Oh my gosh” from Nedrow’s reaction video in “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites,” a Grammy-winning dubstep song from Skrillex’s album of

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the same name.

“Its really cool!” says Nedrow when asked how she feels about her voice being sampled in the song. “People are always like ‘Wait, you’re that girl’ and I’m like ‘Yeah, isn’t it weird?’” When Skrillex came to perform in Portland, Oregon on October 27, 2011, Nedrow went on stage with him to do a stacking routine and exclaim “Oh my gosh!”

tricks back-to-back, Robinson is close. We all have tight friendships awarded more points in competiand are great friends, inside and tions than by doing one hard trick outside of practice and competifollowed by simple jumps. These tions.” impressive tricks and combinations While studying at UNC-CH, have led Robinson to win multiple Robinson continues to jump rope medals and awards in national and practice. “My partner also goes competitions. to Carolina, so we can practice In the fourteen years since she our pairs routines together.” Since began jump-roping, Robinson has competitions do not have age limgone on to win national chamits, she can keep jumping until her pionships as a member of the rope wears out.

Super Skippers and travel across In their own vibrantly unique ump roping may seem like a the globe to compete, culminatways, Rachael Nedrow and Jessica mundane game that girls in ing with a performance in front Robinson are the exemplification pigtails play on the playground of the Bird’s Nest, the Olympic of the individuality celebrated at while singing chants about CinStadium in China. She has comboth UNC-CH and Duke. Their derella and hot feet. However, peted against teams from Belgium, passion and excellence in their athletes like Jessica Robinson take Australia and Africa, beating them selected fields has lead both girls to this child’s play to the next level. all. Super Skippers is consistently be nationally recognized for their They contort their bodies and flip the top ranked jump-roping squad skills at sport stacking and jump through the air while simultanein the nation. roping, respectively. While some ously keeping rhythm and jumping At Grand Nationals, Robinson may think their talents are a little over a speeding rope. Robinson and her squad won first for the odd, neither of the girls seem to began jump roping in the first speed relay, first for female double care as they continue to excel and grade and joined a team called the Dutch speed 2 x 60, first for double expand their talents far beyond the Super Skippers during the summer Dutch freestyle and third for feplayground and the Cup Song. before third grade. Since then, she male double Dutch speed 4 has become a master of all different x 45. Individually, Robin- Photo provided by Jessica Robinson types of jumping. son won first place overall There are two main categories for female single freestyle in competitive jump roping – and second for female speed and freestyle. Speed consists pairs freestyle, in which of trying to get as many jumps as Robinson and her partner possible, while freestyle actualperformed a synchronized ly performs a routine filled with routine. tricks and stunts. Robinson said Robinson has delegated her two favorite tricks are the Kamuch time to the strenumikaze and the double-under mule ous and time-consuming kick. The Kamikaze is like a pushsport, but her passion up, but she swings the rope comfor jump roping is just as pletely around her body when she strong as when she first pushes off the ground, and then began fourteen years ago. falls back into the pushup position.

“I got into it young and Robinson’s other favorite trick, the I just can’t get bored with double under mule kick, involves it,” says Robinson. “It is a mule kick where she kicks her partly because it's a unique feet into the air, swings the rope sport but also because my around herself twice, then lands teammates and I are really back on her hands. By doing these

Jessica Robinson

J

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The Width and Breadth of it

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By Ilana Wolpert, Duke Design by Moira Gill, UNC-CH

tudying abroad in London has forced me to assimilate into British culture. Not that I’m complaining - the slight British accent I’ve already adopted has allowed me to fully become the native Brit/future Hogwarts student I’ve always wanted to be.

However, amongst my adventures searching for the Leaky Cauldron and trying to catch a glimpse of the #RoyalBaby, I’ve attempted to become an expert at British lingo. One of my best mates (see, look how well I’m doing!) here happens to be British, and as a result of hanging out too much with her, my speech has changed dramatically. While I know I’ll be a pariah among my friends when I’ll inevitably use phrases like “cheerio” and “jolly good” once I get home, I feel as though I need to share my extensive new vocabulary with the rest of the world. So here it is, an inside look at the words of the Brits: Toilets/”The loo” = the bathroom/ the restroom.

Brits have learned that the occasional slip up of the phrase “bathroom” by an American means you really are going to the toilets, but do NOT say you have to use the restroom. No one knows what that is. They might think you’re going to have a nap.

Quid = multiple pounds (as in the money, not weight).

So, if a dress at TopShop costs 50 pounds, you might say, “I really love that dress and want to buy it, but it’s 50 quid and that is more

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than is in my checking account.”

This is real British slang. I have picked it up because I am hip like that.

Keen = eager.

If a guy that you’ve just met the night before has been texting you nonstop, you would say “Oh wow, he’s quite keen.” He also might be desperate/have a slight fishlike odor. You’d also use this to describe overexcitement, like if you’re really keen on going to the gym one day and keep talking about, but then get too lazy after the sun sets at 4:15 PM and not actually go. “Sun” is kind of a relative term, since one typically only sees the sun 2-3 times per week here in foggy London town.

Bin = trash can. Rubbish = trash.

I never remember to say “bin” instead of trash can, but I love saying “rubbish” so much that I try to work it into sentences as much as possible. Even when it doesn’t fit.

Tip: use it as an outraged exclamation, as in “That’s rubbish!” If Hagrid can do it, so can you.

Chips = French fries. Crisps = chips.

I will forever be doomed to confuse and anger people at the pub with this one.

Fag = cigarette.

My friend Alexis didn’t know about this one until a few nights ago, when we were watching a movie with some of our flatmates.

One of our flatmates stood up and said he was popping out to “light a fag.” The look on her face was priceless.

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Cheers = thank you, kind of.

If someone holds the door open for you, you’d say “cheers.” It could also mean goodbye, see you later, or could be used in a toast if you’re drinking with friends.

British people use it all sorts of ways, and there really aren’t any rules for this word’s usage. I keep using it to thank my radiator for staying on and not allowing me to freeze in the English winter. It sounds a lot better with a British accent, as do most things.

Cheeky = smart, clever, flippant, basically an all around smart aleck.

Someone’s sense of humor would be described as cheeky if they were really sarcastic and obnoxious all the time. Like the other day, when my flatmate thought it would be funny to ask me if I was dressing up as a ghost for Halloween, “you know, because you’re so pale.”

Fetch = cool, awesome, good.

It’s like slang, you know, from England! OKAY FINE, I’ll stop trying to make fetch happen. I know it’s never going to happen.

So, there it is, an American’s commentary on the most basic forms of British lingo.

While there are definitely parts of the good ol’ US of A that I know I miss, I think we definitely need to campaign for our own American royal family. I can volunteer as queen.

Athlete's

By Ryan Hoerger, Duke Edited by Brian Stubbe, Duke Design by Moira Gill, UNC-CH

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t Duke and UNC-CH, we love our college basketball.

But often, for those who don’t live in a college hoops-crazed region, the college game is nothing but a stepping stone to the NBA. And that’s why Duke’s Jabari Parker, Kansas’ Andrew Wiggins and Kentucky’s Julius Randle have been under the microscope for the past few years, long before enrolling in college. From the hype of recruit rankings, to the media circus surrounding their high school careers, to the massive preseason expectations, they were marked as superstars in the college game and projected future NBA studs before they even set foot on a college court. At times, the media’s fascination seemed to be on the level of LeBron James’ free agency exploits in the summer of 2010.

The hype isn’t misplaced; this trio IS talented, as we saw on the floor of the United Center in Chicago on November 12 for the State Farm Champions Classic. Randle posted 27 points and 13 rebounds in Kentucky’s loss to Michigan State, while Parker and Wiggins tallied 27 points and 22 points, respectively, in Kansas’ triumph over Duke. All will be high firstround picks whenever they enter the NBA Draft, and will likely go onto very successful professional careers.

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Corner However, the media’s coverage of the freshmen thus far has bordered on sensationalism. Wiggins graced the cover of a recent ESPN Magazine issue; Parker was dubbed “the next LeBron James” by a Sports Illustrated cover while still in high school. After his performance against the Jayhawks, ESPN’s Michael Wilbon called Parker “the best player in basketball; not the best freshman, the best player.”

Parker may continue to put up these gaudy numbers, but it seemed a little premature to anoint him to the college basketball throne so early in his career. Two games into his career and he’s the best player in the sport? Let’s see him continue his dominance for a while longer before jumping to that conclusion.

There is also the team to consider. Success on the basketball court requires more than just one extremely talented individual.

Yes, Kentucky had six McDonald’s All-Americans, Randle included, in the lineup against Michigan State. But those freshmen, however talented they may be, hadn’t yet learned to play as a team, while the Spartans clearly knew how to play in and win the big games: together.

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Amidst the freshmen hype, we have also seemingly forgotten about the great players who stuck around for more than one year.

Michigan State’s Keith Appling, Gary Harris, and Adreian Payne flew under the radar in the week leading up to the Champions Classic. C.J. Fair of Syracuse, Joe Harris of Virginia, and Russ Smith of Louisville are all outstanding players worthy of more media attention. Had offcourt issues not arisen in connection with his name, P.J. Hairston of UNC-CH would likely be similarly under-hyped.

At some point, maybe people will realize the unfair pressures they’ve been throwing onto 18-year-old kids by comparing them to established superstars with years of NBA experience. For now, I suggest we sit back and enjoy the basketball that these kids display on a nightly basis, without feeling the need to qualify, compare, or rank every aspect of their game.

Let us enjoy basketball and avoid detracting from the college game by getting caught up in speculation about future NBA MVP’s. At least put off the freshman madness until March is over.

Alumni Column

The "Q" Word

By Allie Barnes, UNC-CH ‘13 Design by Moira Gill, UNC-CH

I

n August, I moved to Santiago, Chile, to be an au pair. It was perfect- a chance to live abroad and truly experience a foreign culture as something other than a tourist. An opportunity to isolate myself from almost everything I knew to personally grow. And, perhaps most importantly, it was a time to connect to children and help them develop into brave, balanced young women. Yet days shy of my three month anniversary in Chile, I did something I haven’t done since I walked away from ballet classes when I was nine years old: I quit.

The simple truth of my experience in Chile is that I was unhappy.

Of course, in the beginning there were many challenges of dealing with culture shock and a loneliness of being 3,500 miles away from everything I knew, so how I felt at first was bound to air on the side of unpleasant. But as time went on I began to realize I was not just uncomfortably adjusting, but adjusting to an uncomfortable situation.

Instead of being seen as a helper for my host parents, I was being forced to become a mother figure.

I was working at least 65 hours a week, had minimal privacy (I was sharing a bedroom with a twoyear-old) and was in charge of the major discipline of the three girls.

Like many au pairs before me, I realized I was not a good fit for the family. I was being taken advantage of and I was miserable.

I was faced with a major dilemma. Do I keep my word and remain with the family for a year like I agreed to? Or do I leave and find another way to spend the year?

While my heart was screaming that I leave, it was almost inconceivable for my brain to process even the consideration of leaving.

In all my time as an inbetweener at UNC-CH and Duke, quitting was considered the Most Shameful Choice. The high standard of excellence at both universities perpetuates a “never give up” attitude, and the students spread themselves too thin balancing classes, jobs, research, clubs, volunteer work and organizations. Under the ever-present pressure to build an outstanding resume, there is almost a sense of pride in just how little free time one has. But with everyone striving for the same goal of developing into an “impressive” young adult, quitting is never an acceptable option.

That’s not to say everyone sticks with each activity they sign up for freshman year. But when a club membership or even a class grade falls to the wayside, it’s generally because there’s not enough time; it’s never pinpointed as a lack of competence or, God forbid, a lack

of skill. Not following through with something suddenly becomes acceptable when it’s a reflection upon time management and not upon ability. After all, can’t we do anything we set our minds to, if the circumstances are right?

After weeks of deliberation and inner turmoil, I decided to give my two weeks notice and move on to greener pastures. Although quitting isn’t usually seen as something to be proud of in college, walking away from something in the real world can be a representation of strength. In leaving Chile, I stood up for myself and refused to be taken advantage of any longer. I valued happiness above pride.

I channeled the self-awareness to accept defeat and be truly satisfied with my efforts. And for me, the experience in itself was valuable enough to be worth the months of sadness and discontent.

College life tends to warp what’s important, with resumes and credentials valued above a balanced, healthy and enjoyable lifestyle.

Now that grade point averages and tests are no longer realisms, I’ve learned the essential pulse of life is happiness. Without a goal of becoming a more desirable candidate or completing a degree, Chile taught me to make sure it’s worth it because unhappiness doesn’t simply go away. And that I have the power to walk away and be happy.

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By the Book

By Anna Mukamal Design by Moira Gill

In our By the Book section, we compare the syllabi of two similar courses – one from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and one from Duke University. This issue we examine service learning classes about aging, adulthood and elderly life at each university.

Duke Course name:

Aging and Health

UNC Chapel Hill Psychology of Adulthood and Aging

Course number:

SOCIOL 263

PSYCH 502

Professor

Deborah Gold

Elizabeth Jordan

Offered in Spring 2014?

Yes

Yes -None (students read scholarly journal articles and book chapters)

Required Books:

-Aging with Grace by David Snowdon -With Shaking Hands by Samantha Solimeo -The Pleasure Was Mine by Tommy Hays -Health Promotion and Aging: Practial Applications For Health Professionals by David Haber

Number of quizzes:

0

Number of exams:

0 -1 annotated bibliography (midterm) -1 final research paper -8 short précis

1 final exam -1 paper per week based on readings -2 reflection papers describing volunteer experiences/related reading material

Course grade:

-Service learning requirements -Midterm research paper -Journal article précis -Class participation -Final research paper

-Class participation -Quality of written work -Completion of volunteer commitment -Final exam

Attendance policy:

Mandatory

Mandatory Required 30-hour service learning component: volunteering with adults in local rehabilitation center, adult day care or senior living community

Beyond the classroom:

Required 20-hour service learning component: volunteering with adults in local area (examples: Durham Regent Independent Living Facility, Spring Arbor of Durham Assisted Living, Grace Healthcare of Durham Nursing Home)

0

Number of papers:

26

RIVAL MAGAZINE• VOLUME 9 • ISSUE 2

Out of the Blue If you do not recognize the name Russell VanZomeren, you might still recognize the man.

He is one of the leaders of Carolina Fever, the group of crazed students who cheer violently at a variety of sporting events, ranging from football to field hockey. His favorite sporting event to watch is volleyball because “every play is packed with action.” The History and Peace, War, and Defense double major from Shelby, North Carolina is the Public Relations Chair for Carolina Fever. In this role, he is in charge of teaching new students cheers, sending out weekly emails and alerting members to the upcoming games and events.

In addition to his workwith Carolina Fever, VanZomeren is a member of the Carolina Athletic Projects Committee and works with UNC Dance Marathon and Nourish UNC. Personally, VanZomeren says his favorite cheer is the “2,3,4 cheer in which we rock back and forth and make mystical ‘Ooooooooo’ sounds.”

His other favorite cheer is “Carolina Victory” because it signifies that his beloved Tar Heels were once again victorious. ■ Emily McGinty (Duke ’13) is a Farm Fellow at the Duke Campus Farm, where she engages in the farm’s production and educational sides by planting produce and hosting class visits. “I get to grow food, think about food, talk and teach about food every day!” says McGinty. Besides food, she is also interested in journalism. “Although I am not pursuing full-time work as a journalist, I love long-form reporting and am easily hooked by political headlines,” says McGinty. “I hope to write casually for online political media or magazines simply because I love asking questions and sharing stories.” McGinty, the former managing editor for Rival, became involved with the magazine as

Writers: Jessica Lee (Duke), Sofia Stafford (Duke), Erin Kolstad (UNC-CH), and Kate Schneider (UNC-CH)

Have you ever wanted to know who is behind the fabulous updates on the Duke Student Instagram, Tumblr and Twitter accounts? Duke junior Sarah Haas, a native of North Carolina, has been instrumental in building and growing Duke’s social media following in order to amplify student voice and bring the community closer together. Her passion for connecting Duke students through online platforms began when she received an internship in social media for the Office of News & Communications last year.

This experience strengthened her belief in the importance of human connection and community. As the newly selected First Year Advisory Council (FAC) Board Co-Chair for the Class of 2018, Haas and her co-chair, Lizete Dos Santos, have already turned their focus to finding ways to make the first-year transition as smooth as possible. Haas hopes to serve as a mentor to incoming first year students so that they feel comfortable enough to be their authentic selves and explore all that the university has to offer. just like the Duke community has done for her. Keep up with her updates by following the Duke Students Instagram account (dukestudents) and @dukestudents on Twitter! ■ UNC-CH sophomore Salvatore Savarese never lets a minute of his day go to waste. As a member of the Naval ROTC program at UNC-CH, Savarese can be found performing his weekly fitness training at 6 am and attending Navy Lab late into the night, where the midshipmen learn about becoming successful naval officers. Next semester he will act as a squad leader, which entails even more leadership, time and responsibility. Always staying active, Savarese played on two intramural football teams in the fall, currently plays intramural soccer and will play intramural softball in the spring. He is also a member of the UNC-CH Club Baseball team. Savarese just recently completed his

a freshman, when she shared her umbrella with the managing editor at the bus stop and chatted about weekend plans. “Upon telling her I wanted to visit the Durham Farmer’s Market, she mentioned she worked for a magazine that hoped to feature a story about local farmers’ markets…it’s all history from there!” says McGinty. ■

second “Tough Mudder” race since May, which is a 12-mile obstacle course that is a severe test of strength and stamina, and supports the Wounded Warrior Project.

Savarese is currently double majoring in Peace, War and Defense, and Global Studies with a concentration in International Politics in the Middle East. ■

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