The holidays give us wonderful opportunities for spending time with family and friends. The problem for students is that exams and papers have to be taken and written before you can enjoy the festivities, which is often a source of real stress. That's why I recent wrote a "heads up" letter to parents of the University's undergraduates. I wanted them, and especially parents of first-year students, to be aware of that pressure.
It's important that parents know, and that all of you remember, that there are many people here, in various academic and social offices, who care a great deal and who are available to help you cope with those pressures. We want you to succeed, and we want you to let us know if anything is standing in your way.
This column may offer a bit of comic relief, in any case, and the folks at the Medical Center tell us that laughing helps people cope with all kinds of problems, including stress.
So do you ever wonder what's on students' minds? People often ask me what I think of this or that issue, sometimes by letter, but more often now via e-mail, in the course of meetings, office hours and chance encounters at events or games. Sometimes the questions are about "big picture issues," like the curriculum review or the place of selective housing at the University. Others are more specialized and touch on things that, thank my lucky stars, aren't on a president's "to do" list.
Here are some answers to a few of the e-mail questions that have been asked of me recently, in one form or another, by students:
Yes, I do think Krzyzewskiville is a wonderful part of the University; I love to walk through it and catch the spirit. I also appreciate how important it is that the guidelines be fair. Yes, I realize that some of our incredibly resourceful Dukies will be adept at finding loopholes, but I think that it's best left to Duke Student Government to enforce those rules.
I'm sorry that the toilet is overflowing in your suite. I trust that our maintenance staff has arrived to remedy the situation.
No, I'm afraid I don't have a whole bunch of tickets to Blue Devils' basketball games, and yes, that unfortunately is the same answer I have to give to our most generous donors.
Yes, I am aware that the train passing East Campus and Trent can be loud, especially at night. No, I don't know why East was built so close to the tracks.
Sorry to hear about that broken doorknob on your closet! Have they fixed it yet? What have you been wearing in the meantime?
Even if not all those questions touch on issues of fundamental importance, I know they were important to the students who asked them, and I can assure you that somebody at the University takes all of them seriously. Except maybe the trains, which we can't do much about.
I urge all of you to speak up on important issues, including local, national and international policy issues that matter to you and to the world. Your opinion counts and is very much a factor in both faculty and administrative decisions, but only if you voice it. It is not too late to express your opinion on curriculum review to the review committee chaired by Professor of Political Science Peter Lange and, of course, to The Chronicle, which I think has covered the topic exceedingly well. And, because where and how students live is a matter close to your hearts, I hope you will share your opinions with my colleague Judith White on such topics as the proposal to move all sophomores onto West Campus. I know that she will be reaching out to you for comment to share with planners and architects in the months ahead.
My final bit of advice, as you head into the final push of the semester, is to work hard, but remember to get enough sleep. Very few exams over the years have been aced after a succession of all-nighters. Also, you parents will worry less if you don't crash for 24 successive hours the minute you get home. Remember, as I tell alumni at every opportunity, paraphrasing Garrison Keillor, you Dukies "are all good looking, strong and way above average." Sure, that's as corny as it gets; it also happens to be true.
So happy holidays! And come back ready for a great spring semester, on the basketball court and everywhere else.
Nan Keohane is University president.
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