A can of Crystal Pepsi. Proof of dual citizenship. A bowling shoe. Proof of donation to a sperm bank. This weekend, more than 500 students searched for these and 172 other items as part of the Duke University Union's latest event--Devil Hunt 2002.
After a year of considering new ways to best serve students through programming initiatives, the Union's leaders were thrilled when 77 teams of five to 10 students signed up for this weekend's event. Junior Andrea Dugas, chair of the Union's special events committee, said about 45 of those groups actually brought items to Union judges Sunday.
"We had expected between 15 and 20 teams," Dugas said. "For the most part, we needed more manpower from the Union [as more groups signed up]."
The event comes as not only the Union but also student groups and the Division of Student Affairs begin brainstorming more creative ways to interest students in on-campus social events--particularly as an increasing number of social events move off campus.
The Union, for example, has been involved in bringing live music to the Armadillo Grill for the past
Larry Moneta, vice president for student affairs, said he hoped to encourage similar events from all student groups.
"We're going to spend this next year experimenting," he said. "We want to think out loud about what it will take to enliven the Bryan Center."
Moneta said next fall's discussions about structuring a student "village" of the Bryan Center, West Union Building, Page Auditorium and Flowers Building, will be as central as last semester's residential life conversations. Student Affairs is in the midst of organizing a new residential system for next year, which will be based on a quadrangle system for social programming and student services.
While planning continues for both the quad system and student village, Moneta has encouraged the Union to reconsider its role as campus life changes.
"The Union is having a more direct focus," said Beecham. "How can we provide fun alternative activities to students? It's a little intellectual, a little creative, but it's bringing people together for something they normally wouldn't be doing."
Beecham said the scavenger hunt was inspired by a larger, similar event at the University of Chicago and that in the future, the Union may plan even more such programs, such as a trivia night involving faculty, undergraduates and graduate students.
Senior Jessica Tracey, Cable 13 committee chair of the Union, said Devil Hunt brought out the creativity of Duke students.
"It was fun to see how creative people could get in trying to find some of the more difficult items," she said. "One of the items was hot Krispy Kreme doughnuts. A lot of people poured tobasco sauce over the doughnuts."
Beecham said she did not know exactly why so many students were attracted to the event, but pointed, in part, to a $1,000 prize for the team that won.
"I thought it would be fun," said junior Bhavin Parikh. "I didn't really have to do much this weekend. I'm really into stuff like this."
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