Visiting students upset by new policy limiting their use of recreational facilities

A new University policy barring visiting students from purchasing memberships to recreational facilities on campus came under fire last week—with an online petition declaring the rule "misguided" gaining more than 100 signatures.

Currently, the policy states that visiting students are only allowed as paying guests when accompanied by Duke staff or students, according to the petition. Created May 11, the petition emphasizes the inconvenience of having to buy expensive gym memberships at off-campus locations.

"Visiting students/scholars expect to live a complete 'Duke Experience,' which includes working at top research facilities alongside with some of the most qualified professionals in the world and enjoying Duke's amazing recreational centers and physical/sports training," a portion of the petition reads. "The visiting students and scholars feel a part of the Duke community and are very disappointed that they are not seen or treated as such anymore."

Felicia Tittle, executive director of recreation and physical education, wrote in an email Sunday that a meeting to discuss the policy was scheduled for the week of May 25. She noted the policy change did not come from Duke Recreation and Physical Education, but did not say who enforced the change.

Derek Moreira, a visiting student from Sao Paulo State University in Brazil who posted the petition, said early responses were overwhelmingly positive. The petition garnered more than 50 signatures on the first day.

In comments on the page—25 as of Monday night—users described the change as "unfair" and "unreasonable," expressing confusion regarding the University's decision.

Moreira, who described himself as a dedicated Duke fan, said he was excited to embrace "the full Duke experience" during his time on campus. He added that he did not expect visiting students—who do not pay tuition fees—to be granted complimentary gym access, but did not understand why they could not pay to access the facilities.

"It was really disappointing to come here and realize that, as a visiting student, I'm not welcome to use all the amazing services the university has to offer and that I'm not really seen as a member of the Duke community anymore," Moreira said. "I believe that I speak for many of the visiting students at Duke when I say that we hope this policy gets overturned, so we can proudly say we were, in fact, considered a part of this place."