Days into the men's basketball season but weeks before its first game, this year's tenting policy continues to undergo revisions. The latest centers around who will remove tents pitched before the start of official Krzyzewskiville registration.
After the Duke University Police Department declined to be the primary means of tent enforcement-the role head line monitor Al Prescott proposed for it-the new tenting policy has been revised to reduce reliance on campus police and increase the responsibilities of line monitors and Facilities Management.
Prescott said he had always intended to employ both Campus Police and facilities personnel in tenting enforcement, but did not actively involve the groups in the process of writing the policy. This omission led to discrepancies between what the policy asked the two organizations to do and what they were willing to do.
"Campus Police will not enforce the rules and regulations established by the tent policy," said Assistant Director of Campus Police Clarence Birkhead.
In recognition of the Campus Police decision, Prescott said he always envisaged that Campus Police would act in a support role. "We understood from the start that DUPD has their own responsibilities," he said. "We want them to have the least involvement they possibly can."
Prescott said if problems arise, he will not hesitate to ask the police for help. "They will assist me however I need it," he said, "but they are not in charge of Krzyzewskiville. We are the governing body of K-ville."
Campus Police will still patrol the area to ensure the safety of the campers and enforce University standards.
In accordance with new Duke Student Government bylaws, the policy calls on grounds employees and line monitors to remove all tents erected prior to the official registration date of Jan. 17, with support from Campus Police if needed.
The policy was written to deter early campers, Prescott said. The initial order of tents will still be determined by the order campers arrive in Krzyzewskiville. But Prescott said he hopes strict enforcement of the rule will deter would-be violators.
In the past, some tenters have returned to campus before the first day of classes to secure the best spots in line. Last year, the first tent was erected Jan. 2, two weeks before the first day of classes, but many early campers merely set up their tents and left. This year, groups will have to maintain a continuous presence to protect their spot in line.
Prescott said he is determined to enforce the policy as written. But the policy places primary enforcement in the hands of facilities personnel, which may cause fresh problems.
Joe Jackson, assistant director of facilities management for grounds and sanitation, explained that although the policy was formally ratified by DSG, his office will take no action unless specifically directed to do so. "We will do what the administration tells us to do," he said.
This means that unless Prescott and his assistant line monitors shoulder the enforcement burden by themselves, the plan depends on Executive Vice President Tallman Trask-who oversees Campus Police and Facilities Management-for support.
Trask admits he has not spent much time considering the issue, except for a brief conversation with Wasiolek. "I believe in the wonderful tradition of Krzyzewskiville, but within limits," he said.
He acknowledged that last year's tenting situation was "a mess," and said he hopes to prevent a repeat of those problems. "If we have a policy," he said, "we need to enforce it."
Trask said he expects to talk to Prescott in the future to agree on his departments' involvement in camping enforcement.
Prescott said he is confident of the administration's support. "Joe [Jackson] is going to help me as much as he can," he said.
In past years, when Facilities Management was in charge of removing tents, astute campers noted that workers checked for tents only during normal work hours. They realized tents could be erected early for priority position, removed for a few hours each day and then returned to the spot in line agreed on by neighbors. Because Campus Police work around the clock, they could have been able to provide a continuous enforcement presence.
Prescott said he will personally enforce the policy at other times, with the cooperation of Campus Police.
Facilities Management generally removes only unmanned tents, but this year Prescott said he plans to take down all tents-manned or unmanned-despite potential resistance from occupants. Prescott said he will use Campus Police to enforce the policy if necessary.
The policy is flexible, Preston added, and many points remain unresolved.
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