The Chronicle T h e i n d e p e n d e n t d a i ly at D u k e U n i v e r s i t y
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2010
ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTH YEAR, Issue 67
www.dukechronicle.com
board of trustees
Drinking and crawling
Group to discuss entrepreneurship, int’l expansion by Taylor Doherty THE CHRONICLE
$5.5 million over the first five years of the campus’s operation to maintain academic programs and campus operations. The construction is expected to be completed by summer 2012, with classes beginning that Fall. “That number may go down if we’re as successful at raising money as we think we will be in China,” Jones said. Jones’ team is close to finalizing an agreement with a
The Board of Trustees will focus discussion this weekend on entrepreneurship, internationalization and risk assessment. At the close of an eventful semester, administrators noted that the group will spend more time discussing the status of ongoing projects than approving concrete plans. Kimberly Jenkins, Trinity ’76, Graduate School ’77 and ’80, will give a “major presentation” about her plans for expanding Duke’s programs in entrepreneurship, said Board Chair and Democratic state Sen. Dan Blue, Law ’73. Jenkins resigned from the Board this Fall to serve in the newly-created Dan Blue position of senior advisor to the president and provost for innovation and entrepreneurship, a post she assumed Nov. 1. “Kimberly has been a wonderful trustee, a potent trustee,” Brodhead said. “She understood all along that if she was going to take this job, she would have to do it instead of be on the Board. So now we will have this funny thing, which is for Kimberly to come to present to the Board that she herself was a member of until September.”
See council on page 6
See bot on page 4
larsa al-omaishi/The Chronicle
Seniors gathered to celebrate the end of first semester during the annual senior pubcrawl Thursday, hosted by the Senior Class Council.
academic council
First phase of China campus to cost $11M by Lauren Carroll THE CHRONICLE
The completion of “Phase One” of Duke’s new campus in Kunshan, China will require an estimated investment of $11 million, the Academic Council learned Thursday. An initial investment of $5.5 million is needed for design, consulting and construction oversight, said Greg Jones, vice president and vice provost of global strategy and programs. He predicts that Duke will need to contribute an additional
Popular TV show airs episode inspired by Owen PowerPoint by Julia Love THE CHRONICLE
After a raunchy PowerPoint detailing the sexual encounters of a Duke alumna went viral, some sympathetic Dukies found themselves asking a rhetorical question: Could it get any worse? Only in the world of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, apparently. The PowerPoint, originally created by Karen Owen, Trinity ’10, was posted all over the web within days after she e-mailed it to her close friends. Now, two months after the presentation surfaced, Hollywood has picked up the story. In an episode of the show that aired Wednesday night, a young ad mogul named Caitlin winds up dead after a PowerPoint she created ranking the penis sizes of her office conquests—titled “My Lay List: A Scholarly Treatise On Office Relationships”—goes viral. As the investigation into the victim’s death proceeds, detective Olivia Benson rehashes the debate that raged on the blogo-
Women’s Basketball slips by Wisconsin 59-51, Page 7
sphere: “Cutting edge technology but the same ol’ double standard. Guys who sleep around are studs, girls are sluts.” The episode mirrored the details of the real-life scandal so well—just two more men were ranked in a document that was 10 pages shorter than Owen’s presentation—that one blog satirically quipped: “Is Karen Owen in danger?” In an interview with The Chronicle, Owen said she did not watch the episode and is not offended that her character was killed off—she sees it as a distinct work of fiction. Owen agreed to an interview with The Chronicle but declined to be quoted directly in this article. SVU Producer Dan Truly, who wrote the episode, said Caitlin’s death should not be read as a reflection of his feelings about Owen’s actions. “It’s really kind of a selfish thing from a writer’s point of view—it’s easier if the victim dies,” he said. “She could have told us See svu on page 5
special to the chronicle
Wednesday’s “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit” featured a premise that closely paralleled Karen Owen’s now infamous PowerPoint, featuring a young woman murdered after the circulation of her “Lay List.”
Crunch Time Panel offers perspective on financial problems of last few years, PAGE 3
ONTHERECORD
“OK, so I’m gaga for recycling. What’s your story?” —Fourth-year grad student Liz Bloomhardt in “Story time.” See column page 10
2 | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2010 the chronicle
worldandnation onschedule...
Dezemberfest Dezemberfest, 4-8p.m. There will be vendors selling food and crafts, as well as student DJs,. The main quad will be decorated with lights and trees.
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Scott Pilgrim vs. the World Griffith Theater, 7-9p.m. Scott Pilgrim must defeat his new girlfriend’s seven evil exes in order to win her heart. There will be another showing at 9:30. $1 fee.
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SATURDAY:
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Mulan: The singalong Griffith Theater, 11:55p.m.-1:55a.m. Go to the Bryan Center’s Griffith Theater for a singalong version of Mulan.
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“Several hundred Duke students camped out for days—without the luxuries given to students in the spring (like, you know, tents). I talked to members of the walk-up line, made up predominately of freshman, to get their reactions on spending as much as four days outside, under just tarps and in sleeping bags. The overwhelming feeling: Mixed.’” — From The Chronicle Sports Blog sports.chronicleblogs.com
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Contestant Beave Whisper waves to the crowd at the annual Beaver Queen Pageant Friday. The familyfriendly event, held in Duke Park, aims to raise money for the Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association.
“
TODAY:
God sells us all things at the price of labor. — Leonardo da Vinci
”
TODAY IN HISTORY
1967: First heart transplant in South Africa.
Army probes eight sets of Russia wins right to host remains in Arlington grave soccer world cup in 2018 WASHINGTON, D.C. — Army criminal investigators are probing how eight sets of cremated remains came to be buried in a single gravesite at Arlington National Cemetery, the latest in a series of revelations that have marred the reputation of the country’s most prestigious military burial ground. The investigation was launched after Kathyrn Condon, director of the Army’s National Cemeteries Program, became “aware of questionable practices” in October, when officials discovered that eight sets of remains were buried under a single headstone that read “Unknown,” Condon said in a statement Thursday morning. In June, the Army’s Inspector General released a scathing report that found widespread problems at the cemetery, including more than 200 unmarked or misidentified graves and at least four urns that had been unearthed.
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ST. PETERSBURG, Russia — Russia won the right to host soccer’s 2018 World Cup, handing Prime Minister Vladimir Putin his third success in attracting global sports events to boost the economy and rebuild the country’s image as an athletic superpower. Sepp Blatter, president of the Federation Internationale de Football Association, soccer’s world governing body, made the announcement after an executive committee vote Thursday in Zurich. Russia topped England and joint bids from Portugal and Spain and Belgium and the Netherlands. Putin didn’t attend the ceremony, though his spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said earlier that the prime minister would fly to Zurich if Russia’s bid were successful, RIA Novosti reported. First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov headed the Russian delegation.
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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2010 | 3
Financial moguls discuss state of global economy by Carter Suryadevara THE CHRONICLE
A group of leading investors discussed lessons learned from the financial crisis in the School of Law Thursday. John Canning Jr., Law ’69 and cofounder and chairman of Madison Dearborn Partners, joined billionaire David Rubenstein, Trinity ’70 and co-founder and managing director of The Carlyle Group, one of the world’s largest private equity firms. Gao Xiqing, Law ’86, and Tony James, president and chief operating officer of The Blackstone Group, joined the panel toward the event’s end following flight delays. Both Rubenstein and Xiqing, president and chief investment officer of the China Investment Corporation, are in Durham this weekend for the Board of Trustees meeting. The panelists offered unique perspectives on the economy. They detailed their own missteps during the financial crisis, describing the economic meltdown in terms of their own experiences. Canning, Xiqing and moderator James Cox, Brainerd Cur-
rie Professor of Law, participated in a similar panel in December 2008, in the middle of the financial crisis and shortly after the fall of Lehman Brothers. “I was in here in December 2008, and no one was feeling too happy then,” Canning said, adding that he remembers feeling “down” and worrying about his own firm’s solvency. Canning and Rubenstein recalled the period prior to the recession when private equity deals reached a peak, and firms continued to make deals even as they acknowledged a recession was in the near future. The temptations for record-breaking profits blinded many financiers from the looming risks. “Our severest downside cases were not severe enough,” Canning said. Toward the end of the discussion, Cox asked the panelists what worried them most as the country emerges from the downturn. “There’s a fear of whether people will remember,” Canning said of past mistakes that led to the recession.
President Richard Brodhead, who also attended the event, calling the discussion an excellent opportunity to learn in an interview after the panel. “Half of these people were here during the darkest downturn of 2008, and it is fascinating to be able to tune back in and see how the world is doing now,” Brodhead said. “These are probably four of the most articulate people that I have ever been in the same room with. It’s just a powerful jolt of education.” Aside from discussion of the economic downturn, Rubenstein spoke about his recent $21.3 million purchase of an authentic copy of the Magna Carta that dates back to 1297. Rubenstein noted
the document served as inspiration to former President Thomas Jefferson and helped shape early American political philosophy. In recognition of its significance to the country, he donated the document to the National Archives Museum in Washington, D.C. The crowd broke out in laughter when Rubenstein recalled donating a rare copy of the Emancipation Proclamation to the White House, where the document now resides in the Oval Office. “I thought it belonged in Lincoln’s bedroom.... But the White House said no one would see it there. It wasn’t the Clinton Administration, and no one goes in there anymore,” Rubenstein joked.
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audrey adu-appiah/The Chronicle
A panel of expert investors gathered to discuss the financial downturn, lessons learned and the future of the global economy in the School of Law Thursday. The panelists included two members of the Board of Trustees.
joanna kim/The Chronicle
Jewish Life at Duke hosted Latkepalooza at the Armadillo Grill Thursday in celebration of Hanukkah. The event featured free latkes, a dreidel competition and beer for students 21 and older.
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4 | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2010 the chronicle
Bot from page 1 Brodhead added that many aspects of Duke have long had an entrepreneurial dimension to them, and one of his hopes is that Jenkins can “come and make these parts add up to a whole.” The new focus for Duke is important in the context of an evolving global economy, in which many of the newest big companies are conglomerations of start ups, he added. “Now, a lot of the most interesting business opportunities are finding somebody who has a bright idea but has no idea how to commercialize it, and creating a start up,” Brodhead said. China plans “coming to fruition” The Trustees will also review the University’s international plans, focusing on the campus in Kunshan, China that is expected to be completed in summer 2012. The Board will discuss potential academic programs, the campus’s cost structure and the particulars that “have
to be just right” to get licensed by the Ministry of Education in China, Brodhead said. China has shown signs of eagerness to have an institution of Duke’s caliber in the country, but Brodhead added that there are requirements and regulations with which the University must comply. Given Chinese law, Duke must find a University to serve as its partner in order to establish academic programs, Executive Vice President Tallman Trask said. Greg Jones, vice president and vice provost of global strategy and programs, updated the Academic Council yesterday on financial information concerning the China campus and potential partners. He will also address similar topics with the Board. The Board will also discuss Duke’s objectives in expanding abroad because the University does not want to expand for expansion’s sake, Brodhead noted. “Obviously, our idea is that we want to go in with a very clear sense of what we’re there for and make sure we stick with it,” Brodhead said. “We want to be in China because there’s not a single activity in the world that isn’t going to
involve China as one of its dimensions.... We want to be in a position to learn [about] China and to help our students learn what the Chinese dimension of every subject we teach is.” Risky business The Trustees will also conduct a review of the University’s vulnerabilities to potential external events, Blue said. The threats to Duke’s well-being are evaluated on their potential negative impact and probability of occurrence. They are then recorded with dots on a “heat map,” with high-probability, high-impact events on the top right of the chart. The top challenge remains the global economic climate, just as it was last year, Trask said. The Trustees typically review approximately a dozen risks—issues such as a disruption of government funding or an information technology failure. For the first time this year, risks will also be evaluated on a school-by-school basis, Trask said, which will better recognize the unique challenges for individual programs. Brodhead noted that the University’s increasing internationalization adds challenges to an organization that already does everything from providing food to conducting research. “How do you deal with health issues of students when they’re not on your campus for you to take care of? How do you make sure you obey the law when you’re dealing with 100 different countries with over 400 different legal systems?” Brodhead asked. “I think next year we’re going to have transactions in 100 countries.” Discussion of campus controversies Although neither topics are official agenda items, the Board will discuss both the allegations against Dr. Anil Potti, the cancer researcher who resigned Nov. 19, and the series of events that prompted Brodhead to write a letter to the student body Nov. 15. Potti has become a controversial figure following the discovery of errors in his research and the University’s identification of “issues of substantial concern” in his resumes and applications for research funding. The Trustees have received updates concerning the investigations of Potti beyond what has been made public, Brodhead said. Blue said the Trustees want to ensure that proper protocols acceptable to the scientific community are followed in all reviews of Potti, but he also noted that the Board is not particularly involved in the details of the case. Blue added that the Trustees will more generally discuss campus culture issues, referencing the instances such as the PowerPoint of a Duke alumna’s sexual exploits as an example of “the risks of what bad behavior might mean” for Duke. “Duke students are better than many of these images would lead people to believe. [Duke has] the best students in the world—some of the brightest students in this world, and this conduct is not representative of the student body,” Blue said before complimenting Brodhead’s “timely” letter to students. “It’s good to be reminded that you guys have to take ownership of the things that paint people’s perception of you.” Brodhead said he wrote the e-mail to address not one particular event but rather “the accumulation of stuff.” He noted, however, that there are far more important things happening on the University’s campus than these events, which generated intense but fleeting attention. “What’s really the right word?” Brodhead asked about characterizing the instances that drew attention to Duke this semester. “Were they interesting, or were they uninteresting? Were they uninteresting things treated as if they were interesting?”
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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2010 | 5
svu from page 1 what happened. I needed time to push off those revelations.” The original Law & Order was famous for ripping stories from the headlines, but Truly said that the technique is less effective in the age of the Internet. Scandals have been thoroughly dissected in the blogosphere by the time an episode airs. But Owen’s story was the perfect fodder for a script, he said. “We rip from Section B, Page 24—smaller stories that we can get a couple themes out of,” he said. Michael Malone, a visiting professor of the practice of theater studies, noted that drawing from reality as inspiration for fiction is nothing new—even Shakespeare did it. But he fears the use of the technique has gotten out of hand in recent years. “I have never known a fiction that didn’t have facts in it. But the fundamental point about telling stories is those facts are no excuse for fiction,” he said. “Just because it’s a real story doesn’t make it a good story. I worry we sometimes lose that distinction.” To hold viewers’ interest, Truly explained that he always ensures that the twists of his script deviate considerably from what happen in real life. In any case, he noted, he had to set the Oweninspired episode in an office because the show had recently aired an episode set on a college campus. Mike Schoenfeld, vice president for public affairs and government relations, said he is grateful for the change. “It made it even more oblique for the viewers. I don’t know how many people who watched that might have ultimately made the connection to Duke,” he said. “Something like this is not what you
would necessarily seek out for coverage or attention.” Schoenfeld noted that he is working to increase Hollywood’s evocations of Duke, so long as the point of reference is not a sex scandal. “There are a lot of top colleges that have visibility. Look at ‘Legally Blonde,’” he said. “I would love for Duke to have more than its fair share of references in television and film.” Law & Order: Special Victims Unit has given Duke a recurring role, though perhaps not one Schoenfeld would have chosen. The show also used the 2006 lacrosse case as the basis for an episode, Truly said. “We should name a character ‘Duke’ because of all the stories you’ve given us,” he joked. Ultimately, however, Owen’s PowerPoint says little about Duke as an institution, Truly noted. Sex and alcohol are staples of college life. Truly said he was drawn to Owen by the richness of her voice as a writer. “I thought what she did was funny and clever,” he said. “I was so happy that I didn’t do what this girl did because I’m a writer, so I would have been dumb enough to make a list and try to be witty. I’m just glad that I didn’t have the Internet when I was growing up.” Nevertheless, Truly could only milk Owen’s PowerPoint for four or five scenes—anything more would have felt like a stretch, he said. Caitlin’s murder was resolved well before the episode’s half-way mark, and the detectives moved on without ever mentioning the victim again. Although she wishes Law & Order had not referenced her in the first place, Owen said she was relieved by the plot’s quick pivot. In the end, the story really was not about her at all.
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6 | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2010 the chronicle
council from page 1 foundation in China that will provide significant financial resources for the project as well as several wealthy Chinese individuals who have pledged to provide financial support.
While the Kunshan municipal government is paying for the 200-acre campus and its facilities, Jones will request the additional funding in part for construction oversight that he says will ensure that “Duke standards� are maintained during construction. Jones will present a firmer estimate of the operational bud-
special to The Chronicle
“Phase One� construction of Duke’s new campus in Kunshan, China will cost an estimated initial investment of $5.5 million for design, consulting and construction oversight. Maintenance of campus operations and academic programs will cost an additional $5.5 million over its first five years.
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Members of the Academic Council discussed plans for Duke’s Kunshan campus and the status of Duke Athletics at their meeting Thursday.
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get—the second $5.5 million—to the Council in February. “It’s a moderate investment in comparison to the impact we will have in establishing a global presence,� he said. Jones also spoke to the Council about Duke-Kunshan’s entity sponsors and academic partners. In January, Duke formalized a partnership with Shanghai Jiao Tong University. But issues emerged this summer when SJTU revealed that though it was willing to be an academic partner, it would not sponsor Duke-Kunshan’s appeal to the Chinese Ministry of Education for project approval. Still, Jones said the educational ministers are eager to receive Duke’s proposal and will expedite the approval process as soon as the campus finds a sponsor. Jones’ team is currently seeking a “silent sponsor� that will “establish Duke’s name most prominently,� he added. Following the discussion of the Kunshan budget, members of the Academic Council presented analyses of the relationship between Duke’s academic and athletic endeavours. Charles Clotfeter, the Z. Smith Reynolds professor of public policy, called on the Duke administration to acknowledge the reality of “big-time sports.� When he compared eight highly selective universities— four who, like Duke, have substantial athletic programs and four who do not—he found that “students in universities with big-time sports spend less time in class and less time studying... they spend more time in outside activities and are more likely to engage in binge drinking.� Clotfeter also cited, however, the happiness associated with an emotional investment in a sports team as a substantial benefit of a successful athletic program. Richard Hain, a professor and chair of the mathematics department, identified areas where the athletic budget could potentially be cut as the University tries to close its deficit. He specifically referenced athletic subsidies and the anticipated renovation of Wallace Wade Stadium as examples of excessive athletic spending. “The Physics Building is in very poor physical condition,� Hain said, noting that academic needs have been ignored. “There is a U.S. college athletics bubble,� he added. “What will be the consequences for Duke when it inevitably bursts?�
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FRIDAY
December 3, 2010
Duke Volleyball kicks off the first round of the NCAA Tournament tonight against the High Point Panthers in Cameron Indoor Stadium
www.dukechroniclesports.com
Bulldogs may lack bite in championship rematch
DUKE
BUTLER
IZOD CENTER • SATURDAY • 3:15 p.m. • ESPN by Bo Triplett THE CHRONICLE
Eight months ago, over 48 million viewers watched as Duke defeated Butler 61-59 in an epic national title game. The game was fierce and close throughout, ending with a last-second wayward miracle shot from Butler’s Gordon Hayward that still has Duke fans cringing. The game will certainly be fresh in the minds of the Duke and Butler faithful. But viewers can expect a different type of matchup this time around when the No. 1 Blue Devils take on the Bulldogs Saturday at 3:15 p.m. in East Rutherford, N.J. “We’re going to go into New Jersey, and we’re on a mission,” freshman guard Kyrie Irving said. Irving will work hard to see his Blue Devils to victory as he returns to his native state of New Jersey. Duke (7-0) will travel to the Izod Center with an impressive 18-1 record at the Meadowlands. Butler (4-2) will attempt to put a dent in the Blue Devils’ New Jersey dominance as it fights to regain a spot in the Top 25. Few will doubt that Butler is a different team from last year. Hayward, the Bulldogs’ leading scorer last season, left school early for the NBA Draft, going ninth overall to
the Utah Jazz. Junior guard Ronald Nored is questionable for tomorrow’s matchup after he suffered a concussion against Siena Nov. 23. The Bulldogs’ most potent strength lies in the defensive prowess of the team’s guards. Senior Zach Hahn was critical in locking down Duke’s guards in April’s matchup. Head coach Brad Stevens focuses his team’s efforts on keeping opponents out of the transition game, which is Duke’s preferred tempo of play. Senior forward Matt Howard will have his opportunity to make big plays for the Bulldogs. Howard leads Butler in scoring and rebounding, averaging 16 points and 9.7 boards per game. The senior will need to stay out of foul trouble, however, if he hopes to be a threat against the Blue Devils. When the teams met in April, Butler held Duke to 5-of-17 shooting from 3-point range. But the Bulldogs will need new and improved strategies if they hope to keep this year’s squad of sharpshooters from heating up. Duke has an array of players who have posted strong numbers behind the arc. The triple threat of Kyrie Irving, Andre Dawkins and Seth Curry present the key difference from last year’s final. Each of the guards is shooting at least 44-percent
Chronicle file Photo
Nolan Smith faced tough defense from Butler’s guards in April’s national title game, making only 5-of-15 shots. from beyond the arc. Yet, there is no question that the Blue Devils’ guards will be tested by Butler’s defensive pressure. Duke must be wary of turnovers if it hopes to maintain an uptempo style of play. The Blue Devils will look to Miles and Mason Plumlee to gather points in the paint. While Miles needs to elevate his level of play, Mason has been huge for the Blue Devils lately, posting a double-double Wednesday against No. 6 Michigan State. A
key concern for Duke, however, is the status of Mason’s ankle, which he injured in the second half against the Spartans. The Blue Devils are coming off their toughest game of the season, but Duke must remain sharp as it faces a Butler squad hungry to avenge the narrow loss in last season’s national title game. “In order to win later in the year, you have to put two games like that together,” head coach Mike Krzyzewski said. “It’s great for us to be able to have that.”
WOMEN’s BASKETBALL
Blue Devils sweep four-game road trip by Alex Krinsky THE CHRONICLE
ted KNUDSEN/The Chronicle
Karima Christmas displayed her leaping ability Thursday night against Wisconsin, elevating past Badgers Alyssa Karel (left) and Taylor Wurtz (right). The senior forward finished with nine points and five steals.
MADISON, Wis.—There’s something about the Kohl Center. There’s something about the fiery red seats, luxury boxes and three massive levels of state-of-the-art amenities that brings out the DUKE 59 best in the Badgers and forces Duke WISC 51 teams to fight for a victory. For the second time during this road trip, the Blue Devils were challenged until the final seconds of the game, but thanks to offensive balance and staunch defense, No. 5 Duke defeated Wisconsin 59-51 Thursday to remain unbeaten this season. “It wasn’t the greatest game for us,” head coach Joanne P. McCallie said. “Any game with six assists for us we’re not going to call a great game. But sometimes you have to deal with adversity and find a way. I think this was a ‘find a way’ kind of game for us.” From the first possession, it was evident that Duke (8-0) would not receive any easy buckets from the Badgers’ relentless defense. Wisconsin head coach Lisa Stone emphasized to her players that they could
give the Blue Devils “no lane,” and they executed. All season Duke has dominated its opponents down low thanks to senior Krystal Thomas, but last night she did not have her best game. Thomas was coming off back-to-back double-doubles, but against the Badgers (2-6), she repeatedly missed open shots and had trouble maneuvering down low. “Perhaps she was a little bit rushed,” McCallie said. “Maybe we didn’t find her as much…. Maybe balance-wise, she wasn’t where she needed to be to finish some of those shots.” Freshman Haley Peters and sophomore Allison Vernerey provided some relief down low, adding six points each, but the Blue Devils were still uncharacteristically ineffective from the post. Although Duke out-rebounded Wisconsin 45-30, it held no advantage in points scored in the paint. Meanwhile, the Badgers received huge performances from guards Taylor Wurtz and Alyssa Karel. Wurtz was 4-for-9 from behind the arc, and one of her treys gave See w. BASKETBALL on page 8
8 | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2010 the chronicle
w. BASKETBALL from page 7
VOLLEYBALL
Duke begins NCAA Tourney play by Jesse Forman THE CHRONICLE
This weekend Cameron Indoor Stadium will play host to three first-round NCAA Tournament games. After going 24-6 this season and winning the ACC Championship, Duke was awarded the No. 12 overall seed out of 64 TournaHigh ment teams. Point The Blue Devils take on High vs. Point (22-12) tonight at 7 p.m, after Ohio battles Pennsylvania, No. 12 and Duke will embrace its home Duke court advantage. FRIDAY, 7 p.m. The Blue Devils won all but Cameron Indoor Stadium one of their 14 games at home this season—going a perfect 9-0 in conference—by making the most of a comfortable atmosphere and a supportive crowd. The Panthers’ struggles on the road this year—as reflected by a 9-10 record away from home—will only compound Duke’s home court advantage. “The home court is absolutely something we are going to try and take advantage of,” head coach Jolene Nagel said. “Since we do not have to travel, the team will be well rested and I think the fact that we get to sleep in our own beds helps a lot. But anything can happen at this point in the season. Anyone can win the tournament so we still need to make sure we come to play, and play well this weekend.” The Blue Devils enter postseason play with high expectations. The team has performed well all season, winning its second ACC title in three years, and had a school-record five players named to the All-ACC team. Junior setter Kel-
the Badgers the lead midway through the second half. Karel was deadly with the ball, using her quick crossover to open up space and create scoring opportunities. She finished with 14 points. “I was so proud of my entire team,” Karel said. “Duke came in here, and we weren’t intimidated…. We know now that we are a good team, and we can compete with anyone.” For Duke, senior Jasmine Thomas was steady as usual, leading the team with 14 points and hitting clutch shots to maintain the lead, and senior Karima Christmas added nine points. However, it was freshman Chelsea Gray who stepped up in the final minute-and-a-half—scoring one jumper and making four free throws—and made sure the Blue Devils walked out of the Kohl Center with a win. “I didn’t feel like I had to score every point or take over the game,” Thomas said. “You saw Chelsea down the stretch, going in and getting to the free throw line, and knocking some free throws down. That’s going to be characteristic of us this season.” Nobody had the hot hand last night, as the Blue Devils shot a mediocre 33 percent from the field, but several players made necessary contributions at crucial points in the game. Both teams fought hard through their own mistakes and their opponent’s defense, but it was Duke that had the talent and experience to come away with the victory. “With our Charlotte game we actually had some experience with a tight game down the stretch, and we closed that one out,” Thomas said. “I think down the stretch our team showed a lot of poise in being able to close this out and feeling like we had been through this before. With having a young team, that experience is going to be important for us because every game is not going to be pretty— every game is not going to be a blowout.”
lie Cantanach won ACC Player of the Year after leading Duke’s offense with 11.4 assists per set. Joining her on the All-ACC team are fellow Blue Devils Becci Burling, Amanda Robertson, Christiana Gray and Ali McCurdy. To top it all off, Nagel won the honor of ACC coach of the year. With such an all-star cast, it isn’t hard to see why the team believes it can continue its success. But individual honors alone will not win the match for the Blue Devils tonight. Despite High Point’s less-than-stellar record, Nagel is wary of the Panthers’ attack. “They run a really fast offense on their side of the net,” Nagel said. “I think we may look to serve hard in this match. We also need to make sure that we have control of the ball when it comes over to our side of the net, so we can prevent them from running their offense at such a fast pace.” High Point will be playing in its first ever NCAA Tournament game, as the Panthers advanced to the competition by winning the Big South tournament title for the first time in program history. They are riding an eight-game winning streak and only dropped a single set during their run to the conference tournament championship. In their last NCAA Tournament appearance in 2009, the Blue Devils lost in the first round to then-No. 24 Tennessee in four sets. This marked the first time since 2004 that Duke had failed to advance to the second round of the Tournament. Volleyball fans are eager for the Blue Devils to get back to their winning ways in the postseason, and if Duke knocks off High Point it will play the winner of the Ohio-Pennsylvania game Saturday at 7 p.m.
RELIGIOUS DIRECTORY
Yep. This counts as church.
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The Nasher Museum of Art seeks Duke Graduate and Undergraduate Students to work as Visitor Services Representatives in the spring semester. Candidates must be able to work at least one four hour shift on either Saturday or Sunday. Previous retail or cash handling experience preferred. Friendly and enthusiastic attitude is a must. Opportunities to study while at work are possible, depending on visitor volume. Send CV or resume and brief letter of interest to David Eck at david. eck@duke.edu.
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GOING, GOING--WILL SOON BE GONE! 4-7 Bedroom Houses still available within blocks of Duke East Campus for the 2011-2012 academic year. Features include central heat and air-conditioning, washer/dryer, dishwasher, security systems. Many homes include great yards, decks and even basements for extra storage. Please call Susan at Bob Schmitz Properties @ 919-4160393 for current availability and to arrange a tour or email susan@BobSchmitzProperties.com for more information.
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XXXDAY, MONTH XX, 2010 | 9
Diversions Shoe Chris Cassatt and Gary Brookins
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The Chronicle TV shows we want to be on: Say Yes to the Dress: �������������������������������������� anthony, twei, carter Teen Mom: �������������������������������������������������������������������� doughyrupp The Paper: �������������������������������������������������������������������������������mbarn Gossip Girl xoxo: �������������������������������������������������������������� bro’s stuff The T.Ocho Show: ������������������������������������� dr. scholl, levittator, plee Bad Girls Club: �������������������������������������������������������������� Photo, cgicd Hell’s Kitchen: ��������������������������������������������������������������������������� xtina The Wire: ������������������������������������������������������������������������������christine Barb Starbuck wants to be a movie star: ��������������������������������� Barb
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Student Advertising Manager:..........................................Amber Su Account Executives:.............................. Phil deGrouchy, Will Geary, Claire Gilhuly, Gini Li, Ina Li, Spencer Li, Christin Martahus, Ben Masselink, Emily Shiau, Kate Zeligson Creative Services Student Manager............................Christine Hall Creative Services:...............................Lauren Bledsoe, Danjie Fang, Caitlin Johnson, Megan Meza Business Assistant:.........................................................Joslyn Dunn
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10 | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2010
“
Trustees diversity must improve This week, The Chron- members are minorities. icle of Higher Education Having a diverse Board with published survey data from regard to gender, race and nathe Association of Govern- tionality is important because ing Boards of Universities the Trustees formulate polices and Colleges reflecting a for the entire University. The general lack of privilege of diversity in the their position editorial makeup of colcomes with the lege trustees nationwide. responsibility of accurately reResults show that institu- flecting the wide array of contions of higher education, es- cerns and interests throughout pecially private schools, have the Duke community. been slow to incorporate apConsidering the longpropriate representations of term pursuit that becoming both women and minorities. a trustee entails and the low Unfortunately, the statistics turnover rate among existregarding the diversity of the ing members, we understand Duke’s Board of Trustees are why diversity in the Board not any better than the norm has lagged behind that of the for private institutions. Whites faculty and student body. comprise more than 87 perThe makeup of the Board cent of Board members na- does not need to precisely tionally, according to the data, mirror the demographics of and only 6 of Duke’s 37 Board the student population, but in
onlinecomment
This is basically like merging the International and Multicultural Center together. I do not see the overlap that they recognize.
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—“trini” commenting on the story “CMA undergoes restructuring.” See more at www.dukechronicle.com.
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order to make effective policy, it must represent Duke’s pursuit of varied perspectives. Having a minority chair, as Duke does in N.C. state Sen. Dan Blue, Law ’73, can be a valuable first step in reflecting a concern for diversity as well as an example for the aspirations of future minority candidates. His appointment and the recent addition of Chinese citizen Gao Xiqing, Law ’86, Duke’s first Asian trustee, are good developments and should provide the necessary footholds for further hiring of individuals from minority and international backgrounds. This study has been published at a pertinent time, as Duke’s Board is in town this weekend to conduct its December meeting. Now is the time for the Trustees to
recognize the deficiencies holding them back from a complete representation of our University’s climate. The Board should make a conscious effort to consistently assemble a pool of candidates that reflect a greater diversity of backgrounds and experience. Provided minority candidates possess the necessary experience and knowledge, they should be actively pursued and included. Today the University graduates more distinguished alumni from diverse backgrounds the ever before. We hope the Board of Trustees will capitalize on our increasingly diverse alumni base. As Duke continues to expand globally, we should also seek more international trustees. Furthermore, the influ-
ence of a diverse Board can trickle down and encourage more consistent diversity within the University’s administration, a problem that this Editorial Board has identified in the past. Real commitment to diversity means incorporating different backgrounds at all levels. The position of the Board as Duke’s highest policymaking body naturally lends itself as a place to start. In reacting to this survey data, Duke should be unwilling to settle for the average. It is time for the University’s Board of Trustees to prioritize diversity and this impetus must come from the Board itself. We are proud of the vibrant diversity that radiates throughout our campus, and we hope to see it better reflected at Duke’s highest levels.
Story time I’d like to tell you a story. When I’m done, I’d quest a bin in the first place. (Laziness? Apathy? like you to tell me yours. I’ll explain, but first: How Bad marketing skills?) Direct intervention seemed the most effective. Then there were students who Green Devil Became Green Devil. All I wanted was a recycling bin. Innocent wanted bins but were in buildings that were not served by Duke Recycles. Denied. enough. And a bureaucratic trap we walked Before I first came to Duke as right into trying to remedy. a graduate student, I worked in an The clearest point we deteroffice building—a “real” person, mined was that the size of the I liked to say, with a paycheck. In project, the duration and the time my cubicle, there were the normal required to execute it were about things: a picture of my mom, a comthe maximum we, as students with puter with a huge CRT monitor, a other obligations, had time to stapler (not red). There were also two bins under my desk, one for liz bloomhardt implement. This was an important lesson, because alas, our original trash and one for recycling. Every green devil goal of integrated pick-up service night or morning when I was gone, was still a good chunk of time, efthe trash and recycling would magically disappear. Pretty cool, huh? I thought it was fort and the stars aligning away. There are still a few bins left through the prolike that everywhere. Then I got into grad school, moved south and gram, and anyone that wants a bin can get one by into an office on campus. There was only a trash ordering through Duke Recycles for a small fee. bin. A cardboard box had been designated as the They also have several sizes. Sure, recycling led to other things, and then to recycling bin but it had to be kept away from the trash, lest it be confused for extra rubbish. When other, other things and then to this column, but I will it was full of paper, magazines and empty bottles, always carry a soft spot for this initial introduction to my office mate and I would take a field trip out being a citizen of the Duke community. Of course, into the hall, around to the front of the building once you become aware of an issue, it tends to stay with you as well (or I’ve just gone crazy for recycling). and upstairs to the sorting station. Since participating in this project two or so This just didn’t make sense. Were we the only ones doing this? What happened to the recycla- years ago, I have started to notice recycling stable materials in rooms without a cardboard box? tions everywhere I go. This means that at road Shouldn’t there be a closer sorting station? It was races I notice the teams sorting water bottles; I clear to me that the whole process should be easi- have lost my tour group taking pictures of the reer and integrated with the existing trash service. cycling station in what amounts to the back alley My colleagues agreed. of the White House; and, when I was in the conSo we mobilized, and the Graduate and Pro- servation mecca that is the Galapagos Islands over fessional Student Council Green Team was born, Thanksgiving—you guessed it—I had my picture complete with an official logo made by the Duke taken with some super huge recycling bins in the Innovative Design Agency. We were well on our way, main port town of Puerta Ayora. and a plan was taking shape. Before we could tackle Green devil indeed. the big fish of having the recycling taken out at the (Oh, and the Ecuadorians have paper, plastic same time as the trash, we would impress the ad- and compost sorting stations all over the place! ministration with a small scale office recycling bin How cool is that? I had trouble finding a regular program and demonstrate through survey data that trash can.) people wanted their recycling taken out for them, OK, so I’m gaga for recycling. What’s your story? but that office bins were awesome! In the vein of “StoryCorps,” or “This America It only sort of worked out that way. The GPSC Life,” I want to hear from you. Think of it as the Green Team Recycling Bin Distribution Pilot Pro- Green Devil Recording Project. No matter how gram (RBDPP, catchy right?) was deemed a mod- small or how big, no matter the corner of campus, eerate success. Those who got office recycling bins mail me, and we can record your sustainable stories, through the program confirmed that they are anecdotes or experiences in an interview that might awesome and they are used. just appear in this column. I know I’m not the only But there were also lessons learned. For start- one out there, because I’ve already met some of you, ers, it turns out large populations of graduate so e-mail me at dukegreendevil@gmail.com. students don’t have offices, so they had no need for an office bin, but central locations are imporLiz Bloomhardt is a fourth-year graduate student in tant. And it was hard work getting people to re- mechanical engineering.
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T
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2010 | 11
commentaries
The holiday season
hanksgiving has come and gone not its name. and, as we move now into DecemFurthermore, there is a component ber, the holiday season is upon us to atheism that by definition divorces it, with all that it bears in tow: in its sense of the collecexams, shopping, travel tive, from all other reliand, for one particular gious communities. While stretch of highway in New religious communities Jersey, religious dispute. are oftentimes solidified The controversy finds through ethnic identiits origin in a billboard fication and traditional that, standing along I-495 practices that bring their en route to the Lincoln members together both chris bassil Tunnel, currently displays physically and otherwise, the nativity scene under a the atheist community exjust a minute large white slogan: “You ists primarily void of these know it’s a myth. This seaingrained seasonal rallies, son, celebrate reason!” The message, perhaps as a result not only of its belief which went up last week and which system but also of its limited history as was paid for by a national atheist orga- an acceptable affiliation. To put it more nization known as American Atheists, plainly, nobody ever looks back with nosrepresents a sort of escalation in athe- talgia on their atheist grandparents’ solist advertising that was formerly to be stice traditions, simply because they usufound mostly in public transportation, ally didn’t exist. Atheism lacks the unified although different groups were respon- longevity of world religions. It’s easier sible for those campaigns. to understand, then, the ways in which Predictably, it did not take long for members of that community might feel the victimized party to respond. In just more isolated, and the reasons for which a week’s time the Catholic League for an organization might implement a pubReligious and Civil Rights had commis- lic show of support in a particularly othersioned a billboard of its own, featuring a minded atmosphere. more intimate nativity scene and the reThat other-minded atmosphere extaliatory, albeit slightly less lyrical, slogan: tends past just the holiday season, too, “You know it’s real. This season, celebrate in a nation where only 15 percent of the Jesus.” Catholic League President Bill population identifies itself as “without Donohue was quoted in The New York religion,” a classification which itself inTimes as saying that the response should cludes at least five categories other than not be taken as “a statement against athe- atheism. American Atheists may also be ists or agnostics, most of whom are good attempting to cull non-believers out of an people,” but rather as a rejection of “ag- obscure apathy for that reason, in pursuit gressive, militant atheism.” Of course, of a more realized public and political he also went on to suggest that “they be- influence, although the realm of athelieve in nothing, they stand for nothing ism’s political influence is an interestand they think we came from nothing,” ing one as well. After all, a 2007 Gallup demonstrating a profound lack not only Poll demonstrated atheist as the single of appreciation for the complex biologi- least desirable descriptor a well-qualified cal foundations and mechanisms of life presidential candidate could have, comand evolution, but probably credibility as ing in last behind, in order, Catholic, well. African-American, Jew, woman, Hispanic, That, however, is beside the point. Mormon, triple-divorcee, 72-year-old and What’s not beside the point is whether or homosexual. not this amounts to anything more than Now, it’s difficult to sustain a discusinfantile mudslinging, which it very well sion in such generalized terms, because may not. Even if it doesn’t, though, it does of the risk of typecasting. Many might provide a rare platform for an examina- agree with what’s been said but still find tion of atheism’s place in America and if the public spat to be in poor taste durthat place will be changing shape anytime ing what is supposed to be such a festive soon. season, especially when the billboards in Some critics of the American Athe- question are unlikely to contribute to any ist billboard, for example, feel that it is real sense of progress in either direction. intrusive, and that the organization, its The measures could even have the oppomembers and all those sympathetic are site of their intended effects, alienating free to believe whatever they choose, but the more pacified of their respective folin arrogantly advocating for the suprem- lowers and couching them firmly on the acy of their belief are breaking a bound- sidelines. ary of personal privacy and respect. Taken Of course, that brings us back to from an angle of practicality and day-to- where we started, and where most of day consideration, that is probably true. us seem to enjoy spending the season, When viewed in a larger, more histori- which is not on either side of a debate cally and philosophically focused context, (or highway) but rather on the couch, though, the allegation that atheism’s self- basking in the non-discriminatory readvocacy borders on intrusive is likely to laxation that, ironically enough, only a fall apart as at least somewhat overstated commercial Christmas can provide. in relation to its current rival. If ever there were a religious disposition maligned for Chris Bassil is a Trinity junior. His column its expansionist tendencies, atheism was runs every Friday.
Skeletons in the closet
S
keletons molder in most of our quelling the brutes with billy clubs and closets. They certainly do in mine, pepper spray following the Terps victory and there are some real beauties, over Duke up there last March, snapping and the ones I can actually share with as it did their six-game losing streak to you include the truly odithe Devils. Any lingering ous—I proudly pulled the affection I may have had lever for Jimmy Carter in for Maryland athletics is the first election I was lelong since dissipated. Sogally allowed to vote, for journs as an undergrad at example, and stayed up the University of Vermont late watching the returns and later as a medical stuto jeer and hoot along dent and house officer at with my friends as Gerald thomas sporn Georgetown didn’t fosFord was turned out of ter any particular loyalty table for one office. Just look how that to athletic teams either. turned out. At Vermont in my day, it There are also the simply embarrass- was all about men’s ice hockey with the ing and those referable to indiscretion choice seats in the drafty field house and the foibles of callow youth. I once reserved for the local business commupaid nearly 10 dollars to hear Bad Com- nity. I didn’t stand a chance. My years at pany and Ted Nugent in concert. But Georgetown fell during the era of John worst of all, growing up in suburban Thompson and its attendant and McCaWashington, D.C. I was, in my larval rthyite Hoya Paranoia. Despite having a state, a Maryland fan. Cameron-esque arena on campus, the Back then, the only things I knew Hoyas played most of their games at the about Duke was that it was the alma Capital Centre in Landover MD, thereby mater of the parents of some down-the- splitting the distance between D.C. and street friends of mine and that it was Baltimore, but thumbing most students situated even more to the south. Years and those of us who lived adjacent to the later I would hear my chief of Medicine University in the eye. at Georgetown sonorously intone recolScience has struggled to explain why lections of his colleagues at Mr. Duke’s people develop such fierce allegiances to Hospital and life at the medical school sports teams. Some believe the psycholback in the day, but my first exposure to ogy of the sports fan is rooted in group a Dukie was in the form of my friends’ identity, a vestigial remnant of primitive dad, who’d sit in front of the TV in his tribal and warrior culture. Others point shorts, drinking beer, shouting and curs- to the biochemical and hormonally mediing at the perennially hapless Redskins. ated events experienced as fans cheer on I preferred the Terrapins, revered their teams. And some believe intense inTerp basketball, coach Lefty Driesell terest in a sports team serves as a buffer and above all else, the university’s out- against depression and fosters a sense of standing lacrosse team. Maryland’s Cole belonging and self-worth. It is likely that Field House was also the home court for the combination of profound sociologic, a number of games for the local NBA emotional and physiologic phenomena all franchise, the Baltimore Bullets, and as a contribute to the explosion in the popukid, I saw all the legends play there: Wilt, larity of sports events over the past several Kareem, Havlicek, Jerry West, Earl Mon- decades. Collegiate and sports rivalries roe, Walt Frazier, Willis Reed and Duke’s can also strip pretense and infuse familJack Marin who played for the Bullets. iarity into otherwise sterile workplace reFine times. lationships, sometimes at the expense of The last time I pulled for Maryland politesse. Learning my wife had attended was on a cold winter night in a nearly de- Auburn, a colleague who was an Alabama serted roadhouse at a Delaware beach in alum recoiled in shock and revulsion. The January of 1988. That particular night the difference between Alabama and Auburn, Terps were taking on Duke in Cameron, she sniffed, is the difference between culand Maryland, still reeling from the death ture and agriculture. Well now. of Len Bias and what amounted to the We are all works in progress in an enddismissal of Lefty in its wake, managed less cycle of experience, enlightenment to upset the Devils 72-69. Duke would and rebirth. For me, I have been in Dursurvive the loss and advance to the Final ham now for nearly eighteen years and Four that Spring and finish out the 1987- my metamorphosis, at least in the sphere 88 season in the AP poll at number five. of institutional and team loyalties, seems Maryland now plays its home games at complete. the Comcast Center, an even more beastly hive of thuggery and loutish behavior Dr. Thomas Sporn is an associate professor than its predecessor, as witnessed by the in the Department of Pathology. This is his spectacle of swarms of police in riot gear, final column of the semester.
12 | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2010
the chronicle
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