It's over.
I have two columns left. This one (the last Giuliani's Corner) and next week's senior column are the only remaining times I have the privilege to address the Duke community. Thus, I have decided to make this a two-part series on my parting thoughts of Duke. Fittingly, the last Giuliani's Corner will be dedicated to the problems that plague our University. Next week, I will focus on some of the things that are right with our small world.
When I started Giuliani's Corner, I did not even mean for that name to follow me throughout my columnist career. I wrote a column while still a Chronicle staff member, and that title fit that article well. When another space for a column opened, I was told that the column name, as per Chronicle policy, was permanent. Thus I was stuck with Giuliani's Corner. I still like the title, even though I could have thought of a better one. I thought it brought a strong message about what the column would be; it wouldn't mess around. It would be raw and tough with a hint of overconfidence. It would be an extension of my work behind the mask of STONE COLD, only it would be serious and I would mean the things I say.
Throughout this column's life, I have always focused on one thing: common sense. I noticed quickly after arriving here that common sense is not so common around here. It could be due to the rampant substance abuse or the fact that so many people drive cars that cost more than a year of tuition here. I contend it is a little of both, but nonetheless, the lack of rational thought is a problem.
If we are such an elite school, how is it no one noticed when Alpine Bagels ripped us off for months in the beginning of the year? It was only a few weeks after my column ran that they decided to paint the real prices on some ugly blocks to cover the old prices. How could anyone let a vendor charge them more than the posted price every day and not say anything about it? The same point extends to the Pitts, where prices and labels that identify the food are only sporadically displayed if at all. I get the same breakfast every Monday and Wednesday, yet I pay one of four different prices for it depending on whether or not the cashier feels like hitting a few extra buttons. Sure, this is a little point, but these anomalies happen every day, and all our bright young minds do not seem to take notice.
I also find it funny that every small issue must be made into a big protest. The Chronicle ad, abortion, farmworkers, sweatshops or whatever the flavor of the month is. These causes go in and out of style at a rate that would dizzy a sorority girl who spends more time on her back than Shane Battier. What are these people's majors? Why do they have time to sit on the walkway and harass other students? Please let me know, because in my Duke career I took these things called classes that required studying and oftentimes had associated labs. These activities really limited my free time during the day to an hour for lunch if I were lucky. I guess if bitching and moaning were really important to me, I would find time to do it, but even then it seems pointless.
But perhaps the thing I dislike most about Duke is the fact that they lied to me. They lied to all of us. They sold a false image of the University to us when we were still kids. They sold us an intellectual wonderland where they promised a world-class education coupled with good weather and basketball. At the age of 15, I came down to visit, and they sold me this image. When I was 16, they had already accepted me here. That is a young age to be lied to by smooth-talking Southern folks. Soon after my arrival here, I realized that we are nothing more than an over-hyped regional school for kids who are either athletes or whose parents contribute to University Development-which means giving lots of cash so Nan can have another Ivory backscratcher. I also saw that the intellectual climate is probably more stimulating and fulfilling in the Primate Center's lemur cages.
The good thing, though, is that these things can change. Not in my time, but maybe in 10 or 50 years we will look more like schools we pretend to compete with.
My only hope is this: That someday in the future, when the time comes to discourage my children from applying to Duke, my objections will be unfounded.
Dave Nigro is a Trinity senior.
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