For Campus Council, Alumni Weekend is a matter of unfinished business. In the past few weeks, student legislators have incorporated into their agenda a healthy dose of criticism for Alumni Weekend, an annual event that welcomes back to campus the Blue Devils of past generations.
At a meeting two weeks ago, the members expressed their disapproval of the strain the festivities put on the Main West Campus Quadrangle grass. Thursday night, the council unanimously passed a resolution suggesting to the coordinators of Alumni Weekend that guests no longer have DukeCard access to residence halls or residence hall bathrooms.
Explaining the rationale behind the resolution, Campus Council President Anthony Vitarelli cited mostly security concerns.
"We have limited access to our residence halls for a reason, and normally, if you see someone in your residence hall who you think shouldn't be there, that's a problem," Vitarelli said. "When additional people have access to the bathrooms, then you don't necessarily know if that's an alum or someone who is not supposed to be there."
Vitarelli stressed that the University leadership should be taking every measure to ensure that recent security breaches do not repeat themselves. "In the past couple of years, it's become evident that bathrooms are a particularly vulnerable area."
As they proposed changes to Alumni Weekend, members insisted that what they suggested in no way means disrespect to the alumni who will be attending the event.
"I think it's unfortunate that we have to send a message that they're not part of the community, but the reality is it doesn't matter who it is, as long as they don't live in the residence hall, they shouldn't have access," said Campus Council Communications Coordinator Pasha Majdi.
IN OTHER BUSINESS: Prior to the men's basketball contest against the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill March 6, Campus Council will hold True and Blue, an annual affair that is meant to energize and encourage the Cameron Crazies by providing free Duke paraphernalia.
"It's just a little event to get people excited before the Duke-UNC game," said Vice President of Campus Council Gerald Oliver. "What we're going to do is spray-paint people's hair blue while they're standing in line, we'll apply decal stickers to their faces and we'll also pass out sunglasses so they can wear them during the game."
Normally, Campus Council provides students with free t-shirts, but this year, the members have chosen a cheaper alternative in the sunglasses.
"We think it's something people will actually wear at the game," Oliver said.
Another item on the agenda Thursday night was the discussion of Last Day of Classes. Campus Council is pursuing acclaimed producer and rapper Kanye West for the Last Day of Classes concert, an event the group sponsors annually. The artist has not yet accepted the council's offer of $30,000.
"We're praying that it goes through because Kanye West would be a huge name, because he's a huge up-and-comer," Oliver said.
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