The largest gathering of graduate and professional students of the year concluded this weekend after more than 2,000 students participated in the annual basketball campout.
Beginning Friday evening, during the approximately 36 hour event, students in Duke's graduate and professional schools camped out in designated areas of the Blue Zone parking lot. The event was organized and run by the Duke University Basketball Committee. Students were required to sign in at random attendance checks in order to be entered into a lottery—through which winners earn the ability to purchase season tickets for $250. The event—which lasted until Sunday morning—featured activities such as tie-dying, trivia games and a scavenger hunt.
“It’s the only time the University does a concerted effort to get every graduate student in one place,” said Kirk Zafirovski, a student in Fuqua.
Clusters of tents filled the space of one parking lot, but another was filled with decorated rental trucks and RVs. Speakers blasted music from the backs of trucks and people huddled in groups both big and small—lounging in lawn chairs, drinking beer, playing card games and jamming out to music. Beer pong tables lined every other available inch of the parking lot space and a mixture of red solo cups and beer cans cluttered the pavement.
“My favorite part has been meeting all the different people,” said Mary Yarrison, a student in Fuqua School of Business. “There’s no opportunity otherwise. It’s been fun to see who comes out, like all the deans and professors.”
In one area of the parking lot, a giant screen projected the Duke football game against the University of Miami to rows of students sporting campout apparel and the prominent “I heart Shooters” t-shirt.
A DJ booth flashing bright colored lights hosted a dance “stage” where students danced to both pop songs and old classics. During karaoke, one of the students belted it out to Miley Cyrus’ “Party in the USA.”
Food trucks such as Fosters, Only Burger and American Meltdown lined the street to provide eatery options for participants of the event.
“It’s been a really good opportunity to meet new people I’m not in classes with," said Anna Hersh, a student in Fuqua.
Hersh said she was exempt for part of the campout because of a volunteer opportunity, one of many community service events occurring Saturday morning that students could participate in while maintaining eligibility for the lottery.
“I got to shower—it was really nice,” she said.
Check-in horns were blown several times of the night, including a roll call at 3 a.m and another four hours later.
“The maximum amount of sleep you can get is four hours,” said Christopher Diette, a student in Fuqua.
Megan Minter, a student in the School of Medicine, and Drew Thabault, a student in the School of Nursing, were among the people who came out to the event but did not stay for late-night attendance check-ins.
“At least I’ll be sleeping in my own bed,” Minter said.
Not all students who enter the lottery are selected to purchase season tickets. Yarrison added that the groups will usually split the tickets for each game. Students without season tickets can still attend home games through a walk-up line at every home game.
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