The Last Day of Classes will see a few changes this year to promote a safer, healthier celebration.
LDOC will be treated much like the night of the National Championship game. Campus will be closed off to those not affiliated with Duke and police will ensure that motor vehicles coming through campus are part of the Duke community. Duke students will also be required to carry their DukeCards with them at all times.
“All of the students had various experiences last year or in prior years, and [the LDOC committee] came to the conclusion that part of the challenge comes with managing and dealing with students who are not Duke students,” Dean of Students Sue Wasiolek said.
LDOC Committee co-Chair Christie Falco, a senior, noted that last year, thousands of non-Duke affiliates came onto campus on LDOC.
In addition to a closed campus, students will be limited to carrying six beers on their person, six less than last year’s limit.
“It is really hard to get administrators and faculty to feel good when you’re saying you can have 12 beers,” Falco said. “Drinking needs to be kept under control—finish six and get more.”
Falco added that the committee and administrators are also cracking down on drinking games like beer pong and chugging on the quad.
Tom Szigethy, associate dean and director of the Substance Abuse Prevention and Health Promotion Center, said the emergency medical services tent will be moved to a more visible location near the Chapel so that students can see where it is and take responsibility for helping each other.
“Hopefully this will make students more aware that choices they may make can possibly put them in that tent,” Szigethy said.
Containers that students can carry with them will be limited to 24 ounces, instead of 30 ounces like last year, and the LDOC committee will be handing out free 24-ounce water bottles.
“It’s a safety thing,” Falco said. “We don’t want entire boxes of Franzia.”
There will be various events scheduled throughout the day. Activities include a Chapel climb, Mulan sing-along and a campus-wide barbecue in Krzyzewskiville. Much of the programming is scheduled for either earlier or later in the day because police have said the heaviest drinking occurs around mid-afternoon, Falco said.
“We’re trying to curb that heavy drinking,” Falco said. “We want to revitalize LDOC and make it more inclusive for those who do not drink.”
With all of these scheduled events, however, LDOC will still be a regular day of class.
“Classes come first and foremost,” Vice President for Student Affairs Larry Moneta said. “The events are really intended for students to occupy their time between classes or if they don’t have classes.”
Some administrators have heard anecdotes about students going to class intoxicated or drinking alcohol in class. Wasiolek noted that she has even heard about professors providing alcohol for their students.
But Moneta assured that most faculty members are responsible.
“Those [professors] must be the saddest creations on earth, but those faculty members are so far and few in between,” he said.
Moneta noted that Lee Baker, dean of academic affairs of Trinity College, would be sending a message to all faculty about asking students who come to class intoxicated to leave.
“We’re certainly aware of that type of behavior and the reality is that students should hold students accountable,” Moneta said. “That is just embarrassing.”
Christine Pesetski, assistant dean for off-campus and mediation services, said the A-team, which is made up of faculty, staff and students, will be the initial enforcers and monitors of the event. She added that enforcement depends on student behavior and cooperation.
“The conduct system is not if x [action] then y [consequence],” Pesetski said. “It depends on many things—if the person is over 21, if they were being disruptive, any past incidents.”
Despite the policy changes, Falco noted that the LDOC committee is not trying to stop students from drinking or having fun.
“We are fundamentally trying to start making people aware that LDOC is a privilege, not a right,” Falco said. “There were way too many medical emergencies last year. Things are getting a little out of control.... We are trying to start the trend of a safer and more under-control festivities.”
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