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I could write an exhaustive list detailing all the egregious things that Larry Moneta has done to the students at Duke during his time here. One offense, however, stands above the rest. Last week, Larry Moneta verbally confirmed what I already knew: as the vice president for student affairs, he does not care about the students or what they have to say.
Since discussion of the new model first began, there has been talk about the house model being nothing more than a way for the administration to kick fraternities off of West Campus. Although it has not yet been confirmed that next year more fraternities and selective living groups will be moved to Central Campus, SLGs should consider themselves lucky. For a system whose stated purpose is to foster a greater sense of community for Duke’s independent students, I am hard pressed to find one change in the new house model that actually benefits them.
Arriving on campus this year, I was reminded of just how quickly my first year flew by. It seems like just yesterday I was doing ice-breaking exercises with my First-Year Advisory Counselor (FAC), meeting with my RA for the first time and wandering over to West Campus with a group of two-day-old friends in search of a party. This year, there were ice breakers and RA meetings, but there was a noticeable lack of parties on West Campus.
Well, it’s April, and that can only mean one thing. It’s time for campus to be invaded by a myriad of high school seniors with obnoxiously large name tags and the enthusiasm that so often characterizes those who have yet to become jaded by the pressures of college. Although some students here tend to find tour groups filled with inquisitive parents and overwhelmed students irritating and bothersome, I personally consider them my favorite part of the West Campus scenery. Seeing them reminds me of my first visit to campus and of every reason why I love this school so much. It reignites in me the excitement that I had upon first stepping into the Duke Chapel. And that’s exactly why I’ll be hosting two prospective freshmen during this week’s Blue Devil Days.
Less than a week ago, the Duke University administration revealed the most recent estimates for the school’s planned campus in Kunshan, China. What we were once told would cost $5.5 million in construction costs and a total of $11 million over five years has been magnified to a now whopping $37 million to complete phase one construction and a total of roughly $70.5 million over six years. To put that in perspective, $37 million represents just under 2 percent of the University’s operating costs for the fiscal year 2008. That may not seem like very much, but certainly it isn’t a figure to be overlooked. Thus, it seems appropriate that the new China campus has spawned numerous Chronicle articles reporting on and discussing the issue. Not surprisingly, many have been quick to criticize the University for what appears to be a lack of transparency about Duke’s stake in the Kunshan campus. Concerns have also been raised about the checkered past of Wuhan University, Duke’s “silent partner” in the venture.
Last year, Newsweek ranked Duke as the eighth most diverse school in the country. To most students, this probably doesn’t mean much, especially when compared to our academic and athletic accolades. Nevertheless, a school’s level of diversity is a very telling factor. It should come as no surprise that of the top 10 national universities (as ranked by US News and World Report), eight are also listed amongst the 25 most diverse. At the modern university, learning is expected to occur both inside and outside the classroom with the anticipated result of developing well-rounded and globally aware students.
Today, this Californian woke up and decided the weather was finally suitable for breaking out the shorts and Rainbows, which can only mean one thing: Spring is upon us. During this time of year, there are a few occurrences you can pretty much bank on. The first is that you’ll gain at least five pounds during Mardi Gras and probably not remember any of it. The second is that you’ll have to listen to all of your Catholic friends complain about how they shouldn’t have given up chocolate for Lent, only so they can eat their way through all 40 days and 40 nights worth in the course of three hours on Easter morning. Finally, and most importantly, you can be sure that next week all of your friends will be taking California, Florida and Mexico by storm in an unofficial race to see who can grind on the most strangers, drink the most margaritas and puke them up the fastest. Yet this nonstop lifestyle is nothing new to Duke students.
As much as I love Duke, there are times I feel out of place here. It seems everyone I meet either lives in North Carolina, is a fourth-generation legacy or has dreamt of coming to Duke from infancy. I certainly fall into none of those categories. I’m from San Diego and hadn’t even considered Duke as a possibility until my junior year of high school. Duke was the last school I visited, January of my senior year, and from then on the decision was clear. I knew Duke was where I wanted to be, but there was admittedly a lot about the school I didn’t know.
As the alcohol-induced haze settles on this last Sunday of rush, I have a million thoughts flying through my mind. By the time you read this, all decisions governing the future of greek life will be made; but as I write this, the fraternal scenario with which I will be presented has yet to be seen. It seems the appropriate choice, if not the only option at present, is for me to reflect on the last 500 hours of partying, sleeplessness and man-flirting.
I’d like to start out by making clear that I do not envy Pratt students for a second. As many people would tell you, students in the Pratt School of Engineering have a very intense course load with little flexibility for elective courses. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that everything is fine and dandy for the students in the Trinity College of Arts, Sciences and Unnecessarily Complicated and Extensive General Education Requirements.
