The new Central Campus will literally be on a completely different level from current buildings.
Larry Moneta, vice president for student affairs, presented the latest plans for Phase I of the renovation of Central Campus-part of which will be 30 feet below Anderson Street-to Campus Council members at the Council's general body meeting Thursday. New rules for the Last Day of Classes were also presented.
Moneta said because of the topography of the land involved in Phase I-900,000 square feet between Anderson and Erwin Streets-there is a consensus that the land space will be optimal at the lower level.
"This will align the area, taking into account the peaks and valleys of the land," Moneta said, adding it will not be perfectly level.
Once Phase I is complete, a new bus route will be in place between East Campus and West Campus, significantly shortening the distance between the two campuses, to about half, Moneta said.
The new bus will run from Bell Tower Dormitory on East, through the new Duke Way-approximately where Yearby Road now sits-and end at the back of the Allen Building on West. The changes will help lower traffic in the Duke Chapel circle.
The current East-West bus route, running along Campus Drive, will continue taking students to venues such as the Nasher Museum of Art and the Freeman Center for Jewish Life.
Moneta said he hopes to decrease students' bus use by creating new walkways. One will go from Central to Ninth Street and another will connect to West Campus by a bridge built over the Sarah P. Duke Gardens.
"[The bridge] is more feasible than you think," Moneta said, adding that the walk each way will be approximately five minutes.
New buildings on Central will be mixed-use spaces, with academic and retail space on the ground floor and residential areas above.
Although Central Campus will have about 1,100 beds, Moneta noted that this will not guarantee every student on-campus housing.
Moneta stressed the environmental sustainability of the new Central Campus. "This is a major green project," he said.
The plans need to be approved by the Board of Trustees, whose next meeting is on May 13, before further details can be worked out, Moneta said.
"I love the ideas that have been put out for Central," said junior Jay Ganatra, president of Campus Council. "I think it's going to be amazing, completely revolutionizing Duke."
Christine Pesetski, program coordinator for the Office of Mediation Services, presented members with new LDOC celebration rules and regulations.
Similar to past years, LDOC will be a "Bring Your Own Beverage" event. This year, however, students must have their beverages with them at all times, cannot share alcohol with others and will not be allowed to bring labeled hard beverages. If students violate these regulations, their drinks will be poured out.
Members voiced many concerns regarding the changes.
"If you put restrictions on us, it's not going to stop us, it's going to move us," said junior Brittany Greenfield, outgoing Facilities and Services Committee chair. "[Students will drink] behind closed doors and that's the most dangerous situation."
Ganatra noted no changes can be made this year but hopes the Council's concerns will be taken into consideration next year.
The Council unanimously passed a resolution supporting the University's handling of the current lacrosse allegations.
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