The independent news organization of Duke University
Duke Student Government will welcome new first-years to the Senate Sept. 22.
“People aren’t just showing up to take the free T-shirt: they’re also staying around for a little bit and engaging with other students."
The policies are meant to “overview the entire election process [to] make sure all the rules are spelled out,” said Devan Desai, a junior and Senate president pro tempore.
While student groups are planning their first meetings of the year, Duke’s COVID-19 guidelines are ever-changing, resulting in clubs navigating a variety of meeting formats.
Forbes’ revamped methodology accounts for alumni salary, average federal student loan debt and five-year repayment rates, student return on investment, retention rate and graduation rate. The rankings also take into consideration the number of students who make the Forbes American Leaders List and earn doctoral degrees and prominent fellowships.
“I’m really weary about some of the inadvertently classist habits there have been in previous years of rush, so as someone who’s fully funding their own college experience it’s definitely a reservation I have,” sophomore Zoe Ali said.
Although senior Elliot Kelly enjoys the free coffee from Panera, he does miss the Good Egg from Au Bon Pain, which he said was the best breakfast sandwich on campus. He said that while Panera sandwich options are decent, none can compare with the Good Egg. However, he loves Panera’s cinnamon crunch bagel.
Duke has reported 126 positive COVID-19 tests for the period from Aug. 30 to Sept. 5, with a positivity rate of 0.52%.
Amid heightening COVID-19 restrictions and stricter mask mandates, many non-Greek selective living groups have had to reimagine their rush processes to comply with Duke’s safety standards. While some say they have yet to receive direct guidance from Duke, SLG leaders are doing their best to interpret the University's school-wide guidelines.
Student groups who volunteer with children have had to make their efforts virtual due to COVID-19 concerns. While some have had success with virtual workshops, others find children are reluctant to log onto Zoom activities after a full day of virtual school.
Quinton Smith, associate director of the Mary Lou, reenacted a long-standing tradition at the Center, where students touch the statue of a Sankofa bird first as a new student, then in their senior year during final honors.
Jerome Lynch will assume the role on Jan. 1, 2022, according to a Thursday press release.
Many parents are not happy with Duke’s new COVID-19 guidelines, with some even considering pulling their children from the University. Some parents are demanding that their kids deserve a normal college experience. Others question Duke’s decision to host large orientation events. And others have concerns “about anything that degrades the quality of the education and the experience that our children are getting.”
Duke Student Government Senate conducted their second meeting this academic year Wednesday, confirming committee nominees, updating Student Organization Finance Committee policy and chartering and recognizing organizations.
After three students tested positive and three were quarantined in his class of 65 students last week, David Banks decided to move his course online Monday night.
Multiple students believed they had until 4 p.m. to complete their test, but several testing sites closed at 1 p.m. This confusion resulted in fears that students would lose access to housing and dining over the weekend.
There was a “significant increase in the volume of cases and resolutions issued” due to COVID-19.
“Our highest priority will always be health and safety and, like everything else at Duke, the schedule for the weekend is subject to change on short notice if necessary."
Some who tested positive were told they had to stay in their dorm rooms for the night because Student Health was too busy.
“So much of what got me through last year was white-knuckling through every second of every day saying it won't always be like this—there will be good times again."
