As any tenter can attest, there is little more spine chilling than the sound of a bull horn siren signifying a tent-check in a dark and cold Krzyzewskiville at 3 a.m.
This year, however, Duke Student Government Head Line Monitor Donald Wine hopes that the figures behind the bull horns will be thought of as more than just authority figures, becoming instead valuable resources for weary tenters.
Wine announced Monday his selection of line monitors for the 2003-2004 basketball season. This year, he said, diversity played a role in the selection.
"[While] the actual factor of race didn't play a role, I wanted people from different backgrounds," Wine said. "I wanted to create a group that was more diverse and brought different experiences to the table. I think it was more homogeneous [prior to last year] due to the fact that there wasn't an application process, which was started last year by Jeremy [Morgan, former head line monitor]."
Line monitors this year include Asian, black, Hispanic, Indian and white students, Wine said. Among their ranks are 16 seniors, seven juniors, and five sophomores. Eight of the 28 new line monitors are women.
Fifty-three students applied for the line monitor position this year. The application process, which was similar to the system Morgan implemented last year, consisted of a written application as well as a personal interview with Wine.
Wine said he focused on several characteristics when selecting line monitors. "I was looking for people who were dependable and organized--the general characteristics of good line monitors," he said. He also noted that all of the newly chosen line monitors had either tented or served as a line monitor in the past.
While many of the new line monitors participate in the same organizations--including DSG, the Maxwell House and Mirecourt selective living groups and Kappa Alpha fraternity--students seemed generally pleased with the selection process.
"[The application process] seemed pretty reasonable, like most other positions. Obviously I would have liked to be a line monitor but I am sure that Donald did a good job," said David Rausen, a junior who applied but was not selected. "[Donald] was very fair with things."
Merrill Roller, who was captain of tent one last year for the game against the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, agreed that despite the various associations between the new line monitors, he expects this year's tenting to be enjoyable and successful.
"I noticed that a lot of people are in DSG... [but] that's not really a problem," Roller said. "It's kind of monitored by the tenters too, and I bet they will work really well together."
Roller added that he has faith in Wine to regulate and improve the tenting experience. "[Line monitors] are out there to do their job. Donald is absolutely the man, he will take care of us, and I have no concerns at all," he said.
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