Student leaders from Duke and North Carolina Central University met Monday night to discuss how to improve relations between the two institutions.
The effort to unite the two Durham-based universities located only a few miles apart comes in the wake of allegations that members of the Duke men's lacrosse team raped and assaulted a student from NCCU. Some of the resulting media coverage has highlighted differences in race, class and background between the respective student bodies.
The estimated 30 student leaders at the meeting were not timid about expressing their views on the current state of inter-institution affairs.
Student Government Association President Renee Clark, an NCCU senior and Durham native, said having parents who are graduates of both institutions has given her a particularly keen perspective on the schools' relationship-or lack thereof.
"We have to be realistic. There is no relationship [between Duke and NCCU], especially on the student level," she said.
Duke student leaders expressed a willingness to promote relations.
"We need to find ways not to let [the allegations] tear us apart, but bring us together," said Duke Student Government President Jesse Longoria, a senior. "We're not against each other."
Although several solutions-including establishing collaborative social programming-were proposed at the meeting to bridge the social distance between the schools, the discussion often focused on dispelling existing stereotypes.
"I've seen both sides.... There is a stigma that is attached with being a student at Duke University," Clark said, explaining that there is a sense of privilege that is associated with attending the University.
Many of the attendees were in favor of having liaisons at each school who would focus on developing and fostering relationships among students at the two institutions.
Incoming DSG President Elliott Wolf, a sophomore, confirmed Monday night that next year's community liaison-a cabinet-appointed position-will fill this role.
Wolf added that he might consider establishing a separate liaison position specific to NCCU.
Student leaders from both schools acknowledged that Duke students' engagement with the Durham community is lacking, which may contribute to the strained town-gown relations.
The group discussed the possibility of imposing community service requirements-a practice already customary at NCCU-for Duke students, a suggestion at which one Duke student leader in attendance started choking.
"We're in this community-this community is about us," said incoming NCCU SGA Vice President Tomasi Larry, a sophomore, stressing the need for greater community involvement at Duke. "Regardless of whether these kids are underprivileged, they all are our future, so we have to invest in them."
Other student leaders suggested that the schools collaborate to promote educational programs and encourage social integration aimed toward fostering relations between the two universities.
Others were in favor of establishing a "Bull City Classic," where sports teams from the two schools would compete in a weeklong series of games.
Some students, however, were skeptical about the potential for success of such events."Duke is going to sit with Duke, and NCCU is going to sit with NCCU," noted NCCU freshman Winston Fairley. "You're going to sit with who you're comfortable with."
Others disagreed, claiming the intermingling and open discussion present Monday will spread among the respective student bodies, as long as the leaders set an example.
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