“Nobody won a Nobel Peace Prize, or any kind of prize, doing something they hate,” said Chairman of the Board of Trustees David Rubenstein to an audience of students Thursday night.
Rubenstein was responding to a question about whether he advises choosing a major of interest or one that is simply resume-boosting—one of many questions posed at a Duke Student Government-hosted Town Hall forum with Rubenstein and President Richard Brodhead. The meeting was designed to serve as an effort to strengthen the connection between Brodhead, the Board of Trustees and the student body.
“It’s a great idea because everyone on campus knows who they are, but not how they interact,” said Town Hall moderator Lavanya Sunder, a junior and DSG president. “It’s a cool way to get them connected to the student body.”
Students submitted questions for the meeting to DSG throughout the past month. The meeting addressed a variety of issues, ranging from Duke's curriculum to campus construction.
Choosing the right major
Brodhead and Rubenstein both shared advice for students who feel pressured to pursue academic paths that enhance their job prospects, as opposed to ones that appeal to them intellectually.
Rubenstein said that when interviewing applicants for jobs, he generally does not pay attention to their major.
“I couldn't care less whether they are an engineer... or they’re humanities,” Rubenstein said. “If you study in things you’re not interested in, you won’t enjoy your undergraduate experience, and you probably won’t enjoy the job you get. You have to find something you love in life."
Rubenstein added that in most cases, the skillset from majoring in a particular subject does not leverage certain individuals over others. The important skill-set one gains from college, he said, involves learning how to manage one's time, think intellectually and cooperate with others.
Opportunities in Kunshan
Both Rubenstein and Brodhead emphasized the potential opportunities that can come from success of Duke Kunshan University.
“If you could be the school that actually figures out how to create, starting from scratch, the version of liberal arts education that can become a paradigm of education in China—the value to Duke’s reputation, the value of the students we would draw, the value of the research base we would establish there will be incredible,” Brodhead said.
He added that some of Duke’s colleagues in global health already have major partnerships growing in Kunshan.
When asked about the challenges imposed on DKU by the Chinese government's control of freedom of speech and research, both speakers responded that Duke has the right to disband from the joint venture should academic freedom be impaired.
Rubenstein added that DKU is incomparable to any other university program that currently exists there, and is an experiment worth trying out.
“In your lifetime, it is clear that the most important economy in the world will be China," Rubenstein said. "All of you should recognize that if you’re in the business world, and you’re not doing business in China, you’re not in the business world.”
Advantages of campus construction
Many students submitted questions regarding the effect of construction on student life.
“It wasn’t designed to be an obstacle course,” Rubenstein said. “It is a bit of an annoyance at times, perhaps, but there are so many greater annoyances in life, so I wouldn’t be concerned about walking around construction.”
Rubenstein added that the construction will provide many benefits, even for those who will graduate before its completion.
“Let me tell you about the advantage you are going to get," Rubenstein said. “Ten or twenty years from now if Duke is a better University because of the construction and all the things we’re doing now, people will think you’re smarter than you really are.”
Other topics discussed at the meeting included financial aid, the use of Duke's endowment to invest in alternative energy, LGBT life at Duke, the changing curriculum and philanthropic endeavors.
“To have both President Brodhead and Chairman Rubenstein on stage together in such a candid setting is a great opportunity, and I was glad to see such a great turnout,” said sophomore Annie Adair. “Both offered invaluable advice to Duke students, in regards to both their time at Duke, and upon graduation.”
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