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(11/27/01 5:00am)
Administrators recently formalized an emphasis on teaching and service in the promotions process, clearly outlining for junior and tenured faculty alike exactly how to advance. Although the new rules are only a codification of the current Appointments, Tenure and Promotions Committee's process, making those rules officially part of the promotion from associate professor to full professor was the right step. These official promotion rules, which mandate fulfillment of two of three criteria--scholarship, teaching and service--honor professors who have been both strong researchers and, after gaining tenure, strong teachers or leaders, even if they have not finished that key field-impacting work.
(11/26/01 5:00am)
Saving and extending life represents a fundamental pursuit of the medical community, and Sunday's announcement of the first cloning of a human embryo serves as a stepping stone to that goal. The new capability--which may facilitate procedures like growing transplantable organs using the patient's own DNA and treating such debilitating conditions as multiple sclerosis--faces a myriad of ethical issues. But public officials must realize that stopping live-saving research may be unethical in itself.
(11/20/01 5:00am)
In case you were confused, the following is a joke.
(11/19/01 5:00am)
Last week, the University announced that it will not renew its contract with New Era Cap Company due to allegations of unsafe working conditions in the corporation's Derby, N.Y., factory. A review revealed that the company has not implemented a program to protect workers from injury and illness in the workplace, citing among other things that the rate of muscolo-skeletal disorders and of accidental needle punctures there are well above the national average.
(11/16/01 5:00am)
When University officials announced last January their intention to require laptop ownership for incoming classes, the move appeared to be a prudent way of incorporating technology into Duke's curriculum. The uses for computers have expanded exponentially in the past decade; a forward-looking institution would understandably want to incorporate such hardware. Still, support for the idea may have been overzealous, and officials have wisely realized that on several levels, Duke may not be ready for such a major change.
(11/15/01 5:00am)
With the northern alliance in possession of Kabul and the Taliban only in control of 20 percent of the country, Afghanistan will soon need a new government to replace its failing regime. The northern alliance acknowledges that it cannot take control of the country, and neighboring countries like Pakistan would not readily accept that solution. How the succession is handled will profoundly affect the stability of Central Asia.
(11/14/01 5:00am)
As the U.S. economy suffers a marked downturn, most Americans are spending less money than they did just a few months ago. One person who has bucked this trend, however, is Michael Bloomberg.
(11/13/01 5:00am)
One week ago today, the voters of Durham went to the polls to choose their mayor. This time, not only were they armed with information from local election guides, but they went there with another thought in mind--that the Democratic National Committee had endorsed challenger Bill Bell against incumbent Nick Tennyson.
(11/12/01 5:00am)
After a series of renovations, dining officials reopened the historic Oak Room earlier this year under new management. Its return is a welcome addition to a campus with no other sit-down options. The restaurant must now rediscover its identity as an alternative aimed at students.
(11/12/01 5:00am)
Protecting the environment remains an important issue, but this cause is often ignored in practical application. Even small steps that involve a little inconvenience but have potentially large benefits are worthwhile in daily practice. One example of this is eliminating the use of foam by the University's dining facilities.
(11/09/01 5:00am)
Smoking is a habit that affects not only those that smoke, but also the people nearest to them. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the close atmosphere of the college dormitory. As a result, Campus Council recently called for the University to implement a campus-wide rule in residential halls, prohibiting students from lighting up in their dorm rooms. However, University administrators should be careful before turning such proposals into official policy.
(11/08/01 5:00am)
The Divinity School, located next to the Chapel at the heart of a campus, was founded in large part for religious training. Its purpose is to teach a particular dogma, not to explore and analyze multiple faiths; the Department of Religion--located within the liberal arts branch of the University--is supposed to provide a secular approach to spiritual matters. Unfortunately, the overlap of professors from the Divinity School and those in the religion department damages religion's studies.
(11/07/01 5:00am)
Last Thursday night, the University released the future locations of the 26 undergraduate selective living groups. Housing officials were able to give 11 groups their top choice, and 11 other groups spaces within their top 10 picks. Commendably, only four groups did not receive housing within any of their choices, but the placement of some groups indicates a lack of concern for their respective characters.
(11/06/01 5:00am)
Today's election marks an important day for the city of Durham. Not only will voters select their mayor, but they will also elect members in their reshaped, smaller Durham City Council and direct the city's future through referenda. Residents should vote as the outcome will significantly affect Durham's future.
(11/05/01 5:00am)
Every two years, the people of Durham choose their mayor, and this year they face a familiar slate of issues before the city: high crime, rapid development and an underachieving education system. In Tuesday's election, voters have an opportunity to make progress for change.
(11/01/01 5:00am)
Officials at venues around the country have tightened security following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and the University is no exception. Here, Duke officials have announced that they will no longer allow fans to re-enter Cameron Indoor Stadium after leaving or allow students to bring their bookbags inside the facility. Although the bookbag policy creates a minor convenience, this second measure will do little to increase security and reflects an overreaction to the attacks.
(11/01/01 5:00am)
Diversity has been a buzzword at Duke for some time. The University has proven it values a student body that represents a plethora of backgrounds, beliefs and lifestyles.
(10/31/01 5:00am)
In order to make way for all sophomores to live on West Campus, the University seems to be neglecting the interests of seniors in the new housing lottery system. Particularly, the Division of Student Affairs has sent a message that independent seniors should either live in singles on West, or else on Central or off-campus. The division has done so by giving juniors priority in selecting doubles and triples.
(10/30/01 5:00am)
In the midst of the United States' war against the Taliban and worldwide terrorist networks, too little attention has been paid to the escalation of violence in Israel and the Palestinian-occupied territories that surround it following of the murder of Israeli tourism minister Rehavam Zeevi by Palestinian militants.
(10/25/01 4:00am)
In the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, many have looked for reforms to prevent the tragedies from occurring again. One such proposal seeks to improve the tracking of international students. Although the premise that a country should be able to know the general purpose for a foreign visitor's presence in the country is acceptable, it is imperative that this plan not be executed hastily out of an emotional reaction to the tragedy.
